expat life

Expat-Repat : After 6 years in Germany, Qualities I Want To Take Home

Expat-Repat : After 6 years in Germany, Qualities I Want To Take Home

After 6 years as an expat living in Germany - I wanted to list down some qualities that I love about German life that I hope to take home with us (and not forget once we’ve re-settled into American life).

Life as an Expat Family in Germany during a Global Pandemic

Life as an Expat Family in Germany during a Global Pandemic

2020 - what a year, eh? A global pandemic is not easy on anyone, but it posed some interested struggles on expat families.

Expat families typically have to rely on each other more than others - that is the nature of being an expat. You are an outsider navigating an unknown country so your spouse/family become even more important.

But this year of being in literal lockdown / quarantine in our tiny Nuremberg apartment away from relatives definitely made us stronger (and crazier) as a family.

15 Months of Parental Leave as an Expat in Germany: How to Make the Most of Every Month

15 Months of Parental Leave as an Expat in Germany: How to Make the Most of Every Month

Living in Germany as an expat can sometimes feel.. lonely… and then spending a year out of work on maternity leave can feel even more alienating. Don’t get me wrong - I am grateful for my year of maternity leave. But - I loved my job, I loved working with my team, I loved working out at Crossfit every morning. And all of that came to a halt, and I was home alone every day with my (adorable) little baby girl.

Between Andrew and I, I am the more ‘social-needy’ one in the relationship. I love being around people, making new friends & working on projects in a group. So I was honestly worried that I would be jealous and spiteful when Andrew would come home from work telling me about his day.

So here are some of the ways I navigated through those fears, and made some of the most amazing memories (and friends) on that year off.

The Pros & Cons of a Road Trip Through Europe with a Baby

The Pros & Cons of a Road Trip Through Europe with a Baby

With our combined parental leave we decided to do a 23 day road trip through Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia & Austria.

Yes, a 23 day road trip with a 3 month old.

You have no idea how many times people told us “you are so BRAVE for traveling with an infant!”, and I am here to tell you… this was the BEST time to travel with a baby!

Obviously traveling with a baby will never be as easy as traveling before having one, but that should never stop you from continuing to travel and experiencing the world!

Here are some pros & cons to road tripping through Europe with a baby!

Surprising our Family with our Baby Announcement & Gender Reveal | Holidays 2017

Surprising our Family with our Baby Announcement & Gender Reveal | Holidays 2017

While we were home from Germany over the holidays we surprised our family on Christmas morning with our baby announcement. Here is a little compilation video of their reactions! We also did a ‘gender reveal’ party on New Years Eve… which in the end.. was wrong! (The cake said boy, but we found out later we are having a GIRL!)

We are PREGNANT! Having a baby in Germany vs the US

We are PREGNANT! Having a baby in Germany vs the US

We have some news - we are pregnant!! Since we've announced the news, I've gotten quite a few questions about the differences of having a baby in Germany vs the US. As this is our first pregnancy, I don't have much to compare it to, but I've done my best to answer some of the questions!