Julia Nowadays

I type this on a Saturday morning with Julia by my side.  Six years after returning from Europe, Julia still has some memories of our time over there. 

Greg: What do you remember about our time in Europe?
Julia: I remember our trip to Paris...climbing the Eiffel Tower and how my legs were tired.  I was jealous of Luke that he didn't have to climb up the tower
Greg: We were cheap and walked up instead of taking the elevator
Julia: I also remember the Imperial War Museum in London.  There was a trap door room where kids slept (London Blitz exhibit) and I realized I realized wouldn't want to live in such a small room. 
Greg: What about food?
Julia: I just remember eating Kinder Eggs.  Did you know you can get them over here?  They are fake ones though.
Greg: Do you remember anything about our house in Bann?
Julia: I remember having neighbors downstairs and also I was very "yelly" whenever mom tried to brush my hair.  She learned her lesson not to do that again. 
Greg: What about your schools?  Remember any of them?
Julia: I barely remember CLA (Kindsbach).  They had a party where they had a bouncy house where I jumped with my old friend Reagan. 
Greg: Where do you want to visit when you return to Europe?
Julia: I'm looking forward to returning to Paris, Brugges, Amsterdam (Anne Frank House), Bann to see our old house on Kniebrechtstrasse, London, Dublin [breaks into singing Molly Malone].  I also want to have a two day layover in New York so I can get acquainted with the city before continuing to Europe.
Greg: What about a layover in Iceland.
Julia: No.
Greg: How do you feel about spending your summer in Europe?
Julia: I'm sad I won't get to see friends but happy to be with my dad. 

Hello Again, Europe! Did You Miss Me?

Just when I thought it was time to let the sun set on this blog, I'm headed back to Europe...Poland to be specific.  This summer I will be working in the town of Szczecin which is on the western border of the country.  Before 1945, this town was called Stettin and was inhabited by ethic Germans but that all changed when the borders of the country shifted west after the defeat of Nazi Germany.  The Germans essentially moved out in the post war years only to be repopulated by the Poles and one American (70 years later for the latter). 

Unlike our "Three Year European Vacation" in Ramstein, this will be different for a number of reasons.  First, I'm going there solo and the family is returning to So Cal although they will be with me over the summers. Going unaccompanied sucks.  Second, the closest American military base is 5 hours away in Vilsek in Bavaria.  Szczecin isn't exactly Little America like Kaiserslautern.  Peanut butter and tortilla chips are not exactly readily available.  Third, this assignment should be shorter than our time in Ramstein.  Finally, I've never been to Poland and don't know a word of Polish.  I know it's a Catholic country, they make cool pottery, and they get stuck in the middle of world wars but that may be the extend of it.  Looking forward to learning more about this Central European country!  More to come later--