In German there is a phrase for the few days between Christmas and New Years Eve. It is the time between the years.
This year's time between the years has been quite turbulent: I spent time seeing the friends I hadn't seen back in Chicago, packed and unpacked my things, unpacked and packed the things I would take to Germany, spent lots of time with my family, and then left Chicago unable to sit still even a second because I felt so excited about this next stage of life.
I arrived safely in Berlin, grinning the whole way there.
Days before, I had arranged with my landlady (my lovely uncle and aunt's next door neighbor) that I would drop my luggage off at the apartment before I would take a train down to Frankfurt to stay with Fabi and his family.
It was lovely to see the place where I will be spending the next few months, to start putting my things into place, to chat with my landlady Eva and get to know her a little, start exploring the neighborhood, take a nap.
Still, I was so excited and happy that finding a calm headspace was hard. Mostly I was also so eager to see Fabi. And Pia!!! Almost 5 months of not seeing each other is almost 5 months too long.
In the afternoon I made dinner for my uncle, aunt, and cousin. I was happy to see them, too, to catch up about the past half year, to see familiar faces.
Finally on my way to the train station, I made a new friend and out of coincidence met an old friend. How small the world is, after all...
The train ride was terrible. I really just wanted to get to Frankfurt, see Fabi, lie down...
I made it, finally, and seeing Fabi was everything that I had wished for and expected.
The first day back in Friedrichsdorf, the little town where I had spent my childhood and early adolescence was magical. I was up early and had breakfast with Fabi’s family, chatting and talking about many different things at once. Later in the morning my favorite person came to visit - Pia, my closest, favorite, best friend, even if she hates these bloomy words. It was as if we had never left, and at the same time recognized the immense change that had taken place in the 9 years that had passed since I moved away, for both of us. She came with her partner, a good friend of Fabi’s, which created a closeness that I had not expected. It was as if we all had been together for much more than just a few minutes, there were no awkward pauses, no suspiciousness, no need for exploration or protection that might have been the case had we not all known each other for years. To me it felt like a small family. Much more so than I could have imagined. Pia suggested toward the late afternoon that we have cake and coffee with some old friends that I had not seen in many years, and that she also only sees a few times a year. I was totally for it. Not only did I get t see some people who I had not seen in a while, we also went on a walk through the woods - something that I had missed so very much. Fabi joined us later, and when we went back to his house we went to the sauna to relax a bit before going to bed.
I wasn’t too fit the next day, but i went for a walk with Pia. we had breakfast together at one of the small bakeries and walked through the woods. there is nothing nicer than to have fields and woods in front of your doorstep. I missed it so much. And having your favorite person just a few steps away… we haven’t lived this close for 9 years.
Later in the evening Pia and Harun joined us for a night of board games, which is another thing that I have missed so much.
the 31st was a bit of a chaotic day, still not feeling well I wondered how the evening would go. I worked out for a little while and starte watching Sense 8 again. if you have not seen it, this is a shameless plug. It is so worth your time.
Before heading out to meet Fabi’s friends, we made dinner with Pia and Harun. It was such a mess, but that was a bit to be expected since it involved Pia and me in the kitchen. We made Piña Colada and it was a disaster while the boys made pasta and sauce.
It was fun to almost all of the same people that I had met just a year ago and catch up a bit. Mostly though I spent time with Pia, which made the party so much more fun. Since we only arrived a bit before midnight, the time flew by between playing drinking games and dancing and chatting. Seeing all the fireworks was a delight, kissing Fabi happy New Year was amazing, and firing off a firework was exhilarating. Not sure I would do that one again. The night continued, I had too much to drink, and things go as they go. Pia, Haurun, Fabi and I left around 4:30 and made our way home.
The first of January was quite a lazy day, I was even more sick than before and generally didn’t feel too good, even though I was hardly hung over. I ate breakfast again with Fabi’s relatives, they are visiting form Uruguay, and it was comforting to talk in Spanish for a bit before dozing and watching some TV.
Now I just got back from a walk through the sunny fields with Pia and am sitting on the porch wrapped in my jacket enjoying the warm sun rays.
I wish you all joy and love and peace in this new year. May you all find the strength that you carry within you.
Lots of love.
