Europe is in my heritage, and it has been a part of my story ever since I had my first Swedish penpal in elementary school. Over the past few months, many of my worlds have collided, as I reunited and renewed friendships with those who accompanied me on other segments on my journey. Here are a few examples:

My French friend Julie came to visit me for a few days in August. It was the first time since transitioning to Germany that I saw someone in-person that I had met during my time in Toulouse.

Her visit encouraged me greatly, and it was amazing to exchange stories of how God has been working in our lives.  It was also fun to be French in Berlin.  La vie est belle ! 

I saw my German friend Corinna while she was doing a continuing education program in Berlin. We actually met at language school in France, and now we can converse in three languages (English, German and French). 

I learned more about the humanitarian work that she does and also got to edit the text for the Legends of Nature website  she was working on. Now I need to travel to the other side of Germany to visit her!

I first met Johanna more than a decade ago when she was a German exchange student at Minot High School. Through the wonders of technology, we have still had contact with each other over the years. I took my first cross-country German bus trip to go visit her and meet her husband and two-year-old daughter. 

We reversed roles from our high school days. Now she was the one correcting my grammar and pronunciation and letting me be a part of her family. 

I met my German friend Melanie on my spiritual retreat last fall in France. I learned this fall that she had never been to her country's capital and, being that I was living here, it seemed like the perfect time to come to Berlin. 

We had a wonderful time reconnecting and also having many culinary adventures across the city. Somehow we always seem to be going through similar situations, making it easy to relate to and pray for each other.

Ich wohne in Berlin. 

Translation: I live in Berlin. 

Now that my residence is registered, I can officially say that I live here.  Berlin is a large city with 12 districts. In my almost three weeks here, I have only really taken in a few cross-sections of the city. There is still so much to learn and get to know!

I started language classes the day after my arrival, and the website I am working on for the team needs to be launched by the beginning of March. So to say that it has been (and will continue to be)  a whirlwind might be an understatement. 

Snow has fallen multiple times since I arrived. I really wasn't missing the cold of North Dakota. The temperatures don't get nearly as frigid, but latitudinally I am four degrees farther north than where I grew up in Minot, ND. The latitude is almost on par with Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Berlin is very international, and this is more reflective in food choices than when I was in France. There are restaurants serving cuisine from all around the world. There are also plenty of German restaurants serving wurst, schnitzel and beer. 

My German doesn't go too much beyond basic questions and answers, but I am understanding more everyday and starting to get a handle on the three German genders of nouns (masculine, feminine and neutral). 

My new colleagues have been welcoming. I got to meet everyone during our all-staff meeting in my first week. We don't see each other all the time, but I have enjoyed getting to know them and the city better in everyday situations as they have invited me into their lives. 

It's hard to really sum up everything that I have been taking in. For now, I am trying to savor taking in a new city with new eyes (and ears, mouth and nose). First impressions are important.

"Home" is no longer a place. It is people. 

Minot, ND is home because my family lives there. Fargo-Moorhead is home because my community and church live there. Toulouse, France is home because some people I dearly love live there. I hope Berlin, Germany will also become home.

I got to visit a couple of my homes for the holidays. My travels took me to Fargo, ND; Minot, ND; Grand Forks, ND; Moorhead, MN; Minneapolis, MN (briefly); and Chicago, IL.

Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss people until you are there with them again. There is nothing that can quite replace the tangible presence of a loved one. Hugs. I had missed them.

I can't put into words how much it meant to be with all of you in the United States. You took care of me. You listened to my stories and my heart. You encouraged me. You fed me.  You brought me where I need to go. You believed in me. You gave to me. You prayed with me. You sent me revived and refreshed. Thank you!

Here are a few photos from my time with all of you:

I'm leaving on a jet plane, or rather, several, from the USA to France to Germany.

I will depart the U.S. on Jan. 10. I'll arrive in France on Jan. 11 to play my last clarinet ensemble concert (and repack my bags).  The next morning, Jan. 12, I will fly to Berlin. 

The transition is going to be pretty fast and furious, but I am ready to embark on this next adventure (or at least I will be in a couple weeks :)). If you want to know more, contact me.