It’s a busy week in Toulouse. Not only did the first Starbucks in the city open this morning (complete with people lined up well outside the door for hours to be the “first in”), it’s also a week marked by ongoing protests over changes to France’s labor laws. The reform under debate makes it easier…
Tag: Germany
Cologne and Back Again
Today marks seven days of living in limbo from when we were approached about making a last-minute move to Doha from France. On Tuesday, we thought we had the greenlight to go. The very next day, however, we learned of a health insurance challenge the company hadn’t anticipated, so now we’re back to wondering where…
Frankfurt’s Fab Five: Must-Do’s in “Mainhattan”
Today is our last full day in Frankfurt. We’ve only spent a couple of months here, but I find myself a bit sad to be leaving the city already. Tomorrow we head back to Toulouse where we thought we’d be waiting out the last couple months of my pregnancy. As is the story of our…
A Farewell to Frankfurt
This is a week of beginnings and endings. Today marks the start my third trimester (cue the “Jaws” theme song—she’s coming!). It’s also our last week in Frankfurt. In honor of these last 12ish weeks of pregnancy, I thought I’d share a fun meme I found on Pinterest. Who doesn’t like a little Napoleon Dynamite?…
Expat Reflections: The Saddest Journey of All
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve written. I wish I could say it’s because we’ve been so busy traveling and exploring that I haven’t had time to post an update. Unfortunately, it’s because my dad lost his battle with cancer on March 9. Dad was first diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer…
Apfelwein and Hand Cheese: A Night out in Frankfurt
We’ve officially been living in Frankfurt for one week. It’s been a fairly easy transition coming from France, though I realize living in Toulouse for nine months made us pick up some new habits we definitely didn’t have in the U.S.–like shopping almost daily. In Toulouse I’d grocery shop for one to two days’ worth…
On the Move Again: Frankfurt, Germany
Last week I mentioned an impending move to Germany. Over the weekend, that move happened. For the next month and a half, we will be living in Frankfurt am Main (or Frankfurt on the Main River). Life has a funny way of working out. As I’ve mentioned before, I studied German in high school and…
A Tale of Three European Christmas Markets
I think I’ve dreamt about visiting a German Christmas market since I was in high school learning German and studying the country’s customs and cultures. Visions of stalls piled high with sweets and festive treats filled my head. The image of lights twinkling and decorated trees towering over snowy streets beckoned me from afar. Once…
First Impressions of Frankfurt
We have our next big move coming up in a few weeks–to Frankfurt, Germany. Most of the places we are sent, we likely won’t be able to do an advance scouting mission. Fortunately, Matt had some meetings here this week so we were able to come up early and check out places to live. …
How to Spend A Day in Berlin
While in Hamburg, we learned that Berlin was only a 90-minute train trip away. Being so close, we decided we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit another German city—and one so mired in history at that. We booked last-minute tickets which set us back about €200, but it was completely worth it. Early Sunday…
Eat, Drink, Move (Repeat) 