Winter Wonderland

Potsdam, Germany

06:00pm

Winter is here

Hey guys,

I am sorry for not blogging for quite some time.

This year has been filled with joy and changes.

For those who don’t know yet, I will be moving back to Berlin by the end of January 2011 because I was able to get a new job. I will be working at the German Heart Center in Berlin as a so called jumper. Meaning I will be worked into 3 different wards (Children’s ICU, Children’s IMC and ICU).

I am very much excited about it, though also a bit sad to leave my current work family. It amazed me how many people actually are wishing me all the best, that I’ll be missed and not to forget them. The current pediatric nursing class stepped up to me, thanked me and wished me well with a hand-made card. I was pretty much close to tears. Some parents also thanked me. It is amazing how many people you touch – I feel so grateful that there are so many amazing people in my life.

My new apartment will be one floor underneath her apartment. I am so excited!

A couple of month ago I started to learn German sign language. This has interested me for a long time. When I was a kid I met my great, great uncle Günther, who had lost his hearing when he was a child. He was able to sign some and taught me. During the next year I helped him with official visits, banking problems and translated as much as I could. He got distant around fall, I confronted him and he told me off very harshly. So, we turned away. I’ve regretted that ever since. He’d been pushing us away because he didn’t want us to hurt too much when he died. He killed himself that December.

Ever since then I wanted to learn sign language, some of my ambition was guilt I guess. I want to be able to sign, to be able to communicate. Not just a little but a lot. The other part of it is to learn, to be able to communicate with many more people. Through the course I have met 3 more amazing people. One of them is Daniel, our teacher. Daniel is deaf, though able to speak and lip read. He is very smart and has a wicked sense of humor. As you might have noticed, I am quite taken with him.

Yesterday was my annually Christmas party. A lot of friends have been there, as well as my mom and her partner. The food was good, the company even better. This really is what Christmas is all about. Being with friends and family, spreading love and joy.

Please don’t forget to remember those who have no family or friends or joy at Christmas. Go out gift a homeless with a hot tea and a sandwich, donate clothes or money, call a friend that you haven’t contacted for a while, if you believe in a God, pray for those in need. Sometimes all it takes is to gift someone with a smile.

I wish all of you a joyous Christmas season. Arrive safely in the New Year. Stay healthy. Find love, give love.

Yours,

Andrea

Family

Potsdam, Germany
08:00 pm
Warm, sun is leaving


I have decided to let the feelings settle.You asked for more and here it is.

A couple of weeks ago I visited my great aunt in Teschendorf, which is a small village close to Berlin. I used to spend summers here with my great grand ma. A lot has changed, but some things stay the same. Like the old wooded gate to the barn.

I used to play in it, with the bunnies, steal fruits from the fruit garden behind it and climb the trees. Playing hide and seek with my great cousins.
Being there again, spending time with my great aunts and cousins was great. It was the 70th birthday of one of my great aunts and some family was there. The food was good, I played with the children, talked and laughed a lot. The part of my dad's family that was there is my favorite. Open, lovely people, that appreciate each other.
One of my cousins has a trampoline, which is a lot of fun and hard sport. Enjoy.

Much love,Andrea

Friend or Foe

Potsdam, Germany
10:00pm
Warm with a touch of cold

I know. It's been long.
In the last couple of month I felt like I distanced myself from my friends here, specially those in Berlin.

Like I had somewhat changed. Maybe became too arrogant or too self absorbed.
Most I haven't seen since February. Though some I have seen regularly.
With most I haven't even talked on the phone, unless one needed something from me.

Tonight I have realized, yes, I have changed, and no I haven't.

Changed in so far that I stopped tolerating some behavior, I don't run and try to catch people which don't really seem interested in keeping my friendship. Yes, in these aspects I am colder.

I am still the same with staying close to those I love, that I am able to appreciate and be appreciated in return.

You are probably wondering why I am posting this, today, after nearly not blogging for a year, because I was severely disappointed by a person I considered a close friend. He acted like an idiot and not only hurt the other persons feelings, but mine (and some other people's), too.

I won't tolerate that. I won't accept it.
Much love nevertheless, Andrea