Yes, I am still alive… If you need me, you can probably find me underneath the biggest pile of unpacking detritus and a mountain of stuff that we have somehow accumulated and squirreled away in our temporary homes over the years (and appeared to have completely forgotten about until now…)!
It’s been a funny old few weeks. I had meant to get back online and posting well before now, but relocating and settling the family in to what is effectively a new country for a few of us (as they were so tiny when we lived here (and of course one of them wasn’t actually around at all!) last time around), takes time. Not to mention that I have been pretty much without a computer, as my old trusty old lap top lost a few screws in the move (literally, they all fell out the bottom!) and gave up the ghost for good…
Those last days in any temporary homeland always seem slightly surreal. When the call finally comes that you are indeed leaving – a call that admittedly you would have given your right arm for on the bad days – suddenly only the good days start to play in the kopfkino in your head (German for head cinema. I love that expression!) and you find yourself desperately not wanting to leave anywhere. Five years is a long time in a place that you often fought to call home. You invest a lot of blood sweat and tears into an unfamiliar life wherever it might be, so ripping up those roots to start all over again (especially when thanks to work demands, you don’t get a say where your next home is!) is often bittersweet. Then comes the reluctance to start packing up and letting the moving process begin, as having done it all before, you are well aware of all the exhaustion and upheaval (and all the mountains of stuff!) that lies ahead…
As happened when we left Copenhagen, I went through a funny kind of mourning process shortly before we left. It felt completely necessary to not only say goodbye to the people who had become our Munich “not family” and community over the years, but I also found myself having to say goodbye to places as well. Many of which were the places we first visited as a family. The locations we spent the most time in, that had become favourites with us all. Of course Bavaria is quite a big place, so that meant a lot of traipsing about saying goodbye, but secretly I was hugely grateful for the distraction, as underneath it all it I felt slightly heart-broken about leaving it all behind…
No matter how much life abroad has driven me absolutely insane at times, what with various bureaucracy and language frustrations, the baby hat police, and various other situations (that I won’t delve into now) that make you think “why the bloody hell are we doing this”? On the flip side of course, there are plenty of wonderful moments when you think “THIS. This, is exactly why we are doing this”. After all, this was where our older babies had a fabulous few years of global education in the most beautiful school. Where they learned to converse pretty well in another language (they don’t take after me with language ability!), and where they learnt to make the most of the stunning countryside (and often other countries) on their doorstep. We all learned to enjoy hiking for hours in some of Mother Nature’s finest works of art (alright perhaps not the Eagle’s nest hike!), and some of us learnt to perfect the art of chucking ourselves down the same scenery in the winter months. This was where the Small People had the absolute freedom to be children, and where they learned to be true global citizens in an international community. This is where we spent five (seven if we include Denmark) valuable life changing years of being a family abroad, and of course where we became a family of five.
And now, as we embark on what is likely to be a relatively short chapter at home in England (before that phone rings again!), I am going to endeavour to make the most of our time at home. You have no idea how much I will miss “being foreign” though, and all that (and those) we have left behind in Bavaria…
Back in a couple of days (promise!) with a tour of our temporary new little city…
Ps. The photos obviously don’t go with the post, but in the kopfkino in my head, it’s this kind of amazing scenery (taken in Austria in December!) I am going to miss the most. x
Eline @ Emmy + LIEN says
I think the pictures go with the post perfectly! You’re absolutely right to call it a kind of mourning process. Just before we left Italy we crammed in loads of must-sees as well, and I remember bursting into tears at the shore of Lake Como… A good nine months after we’d moved an Italian song on the radio had the same effect. It has nothing to do with how happy you are in the new place – in my case, very – and everything with the fact 5 years lived so intensely just take a while to process. Over year later the kopfkino gets me less, but always when I least expect it. I’m sure it’s the same for you and your time in Copenhagen!
Emma says
Thank you. It’s true, I often think about our time in Copenhagen (quite often with rose tinted glasses nowadays if I am honest! :D) and I will always remember our time in Munich. It’s weird being back. I feel like I am living in a weird kind of alternative universe currently, but I know it will get easier… Hope all is well and you are able to put your feet up from time to time! x
Cara says
Feeling with you!
What sort if jobs do you guys have that a phone call determines when and where yiy are leaving? Are you secret agents?
Emma says
I am actually married to James Bond… Not really – he just has the kind of job that often dictates that we work somewhere for a while. Nothing exciting, believe me! :D
Midlife Singlemum says
If you’re going to be back in Blighty then Cambridge is a great place to be with a beauty and majesty of its own. I’m going to enjoy exploring it and the surrounding countryside with you.
Emma says
Thanks Rachel! Lots to explore, and an airport close by! :D
Victoria says
It must feel really strange. Hope you’re feeling a bit more settled this week xxx
Emma says
So strange… Thank you. Was lovely to see you the other day! xxx
Elizabeth says
I feel you! We are still in that weird in between phase where we know we are leaving but don’t know where to yet. I’m sure we’ll hit the packing stage soon enough.
Emma says
It will be boxes galore before you know it! Good luck with it all! :) x
marta - lalibretaroja says
New good aventures will come, and hopefully we will read them! And Bavaria is always here for you ;)
Emma says
Thanks so much Marta! I will be back to visit very soon. x
Leslie says
All the best Emma..keep the posts coming!
Emma says
Thanks Leslie. Will do! xx