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Someone asked me recently if I was going to delete some of the older entries. I hesitate doing that, because I feel this page is a good indication of how often an expatriate changes their mind about their new country - and I think it defines how I grew and accepted life in Germany .
September 21, 2005: It's hard to believe I haven't updated this in 9 months. Lots has happened. First off, my sister and brother-in-law had a baby girl. Carley Elizabeth was born on June 15th and has the wildest hair you have ever seen. Mom jokes that she is a punk rocker, because it stands straight up. I have someone to take care of myself. I got a West Highland terrier named Lily back in June as well. She is absolutely adorable and thinks she is a cat. She loves lying on the back of the sofa and watching the cars go by through the window.
I am teaching two nights a week at Kent State University and really enjoying it. I am teaching a class called Documents in Multilingual Contexts, which is really just a fancy word for Web design and learning how to effectively use Word. I am also taking a course in software localization.
Other than the fact I actually worked a few hours at the FBI's Cleveland office, there isn't a whole lot to report. It's just business as usual. Lots of translations on the board and not enough time in the day.
January 18, 2005: Well, it's a new year, and I had the misfortune of celebrating New Year's Eve alone, flat on my back with the stomach flu. I was particularly bummed out, because I had really looked forward to attending First Night in Akron with several friends. Hopefully it won't reflect on the rest of the year, which started with a whimper and has begun to pick up work-wise. I had the best months ever in November and December, so I was able to take it easy for a little while to let my arm rest. I am also teaching again at Kent State University. This time I'm teaching Terminology and Computer Applications to the first-year students - not just the German-speaking students this time.
I have been very busy with Northeast Ohio Translators Association and the American Translators Association - not to mention the fact that I just single-handedly recruited 11 new translators to help translate German News and plan to keep the teams organized. NOTA is now boasting 125 members, and we gained three new members alone from our Trados seminar, which I presented at Kent State with a colleague last week. The conference in Toronto in November was fabulous. I gave two presentations (on Web design and Internet privacy), met lots of neat new people, and got to catch up with some of my friends. I even got to visit my friend Alistair from my old Translingua days. He's living just outside Toronto and came into town during the conference for a lovely dinner, and then I spent a few days hanging out with him in Kitchener.
My niece is also keeping me entertained. I get to see her quite often and melt when I hear her call me "Aunt Jill" (right now it sounds more like "Zjil", but I'll take it - she's only 16 months old). My sister and her husband are expecting a second addition to the family in June, so we are also looking forward to that.
March 3, 2004: I am happy to report that work has picked up tremendously. I started an e-mail marketing campaign in February and had my first free day yesterday, which I used to prepare my tax forms and send them to my CPA. For the first time in several years I am not worried about where I will get the money for my taxes, because I have found some clients who pay a fair word rate, pay within 30 days and have work for me practically every day.
I am planning to attend an ATA conference in April on translating and interpreting for the federal government so I can hopefully finally take advantage of my security clearance. I am also hoping to visit some friends in DC while I am there. My colleague Anne and I also just submitted our proposal for the upcoming ATA conference in Toronto. We hope to present "Web Design Made Simple for Language Professionals" again since it was so well-received in Phoenix.
Lots of fun career stuff to report. Besides my niece and visiting Jarod this weekend in Pittsburgh, that is pretty much the only thing going on in my life at the moment. How sad is that? I really need to work on getting a social life...
August 18, 2003: It's been quite a year. My sister and her husband are expecting their first baby, Sommer, any day now. My tenure as the President of the Northeast Ohio Translators Association has been successful thus far. I like to think I have brought some life back into the group. I'm busy right now planning a presentation for the American Translators Association conference in Phoenix. I have also been asked to teach at Kent State this Fall. I am finally earning some nice money. I've had some rough patches, but things have definitely been getting better.
October 4, 2002: I have been busy collecting furniture and decorating my new apartment. Career-wise things are right on track I just registered to attend the American Translators Association Conference in Atlanta and was recently elected as the President of the Northeast Ohio Translators Association. I have organized a monthly discussion group for translators at Borders in Solon, and it will hopefully become more and more popular as time goes on. I unfortunately had to cancel my trip to Germany last month, because money would have been too tight as a result. Good thing I did, because it looks like I may have to buy a new computer in the very near future. My computer has some bad sectors as a result of a lightning strike a few weeks ago (I also had to buy a new modem). I really miss my friends in Germany and wish I could have gone, but the flights were just too expensive. I hope to go back in May when the flights are a bit cheaper. I am also discussing working in-house for a company near Pittsburgh, so who knows what the future will hold for me.
August 9, 2002: Wow, what a difference a few months make. I moved into my own place on July 13th. I have a great little apartment in the 2nd floor of a century home - with a great balcony and the most beautiful bathroom you have ever seen. I have a bit of work to do on the office and the dining room set should be arriving any day now. The house is right around the corner from my part-time job at Borders (a 5-minute walk!), so I will be saving lots of time and money on gas and car repairs. I am also able to have friends over for drinks or a movie. I have been working very hard lately and finally delivered my 107-page translation after 2 months of working on it. Tonight I had a free night and didn't know what to do with myself! I am updating my web site and then plan to turn off the computer and read a book on my comfortable new sofa. I am planning a trip to Germany in September (hopefully if all goes well) and a trip to Canada to visit my friend Alistair, who just moved there from Germany last month. And of course, the big Christmas trip to New York City. Jarod and I have 2nd row for Les Miserable and 29th row for Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular. I can't wait!
May 5, 2002: I'm slowly starting to feel settled back in the U.S. I actually went out with friends on Friday and Saturday night this weekend. I saw Spider-Man on Friday and really enjoyed it. I worked on Saturday but tried to go out for a drink with some coworkers after work. I have been able to save a bit of money and will soon be moving out of my parents' home. Whether I move in with my friend Jaime or get my own place depends on a few things, but I have been pricing places and hope to move out in the next month or so. Right now my biggest news is that I am off to Florida for a well-deserved vacation. I've been working so much that I am "urlaubsreif" (ready for a vacation).
January 10, 2002: It's been a rough couple of months. It isn't easy to move back in with your parents after being on your own for the last 10 years. I had a good Christmas. I sent out 50 Christmas cards to Europe this year. We went to Severance Hall to hear the Cleveland Orchestra's Brass and Organ concert and sat in some box seats, which was nice. I'm still waiting to hear from the U.S. government. However, in the meantime, I have a job at Borders (a rather large bookstore that has a café and music department). It gets me out of the house, and I am meeting some really nice people. Plus there is live music on the weekends. I've started a new thing where I am concentrating on improving myself. I'm writing in a journal (something I have never done successfully) and will be going to a gym with one of my Border's co-workers who happens to live nearby.
July 25, 2001: My move back to the US went surprisingly smoothly. I picked up the things I shipped myself the week after I arrived. Everything came through the move beautifully - even the mugs and other breakables. Getting through Customs wasn't as bad as I expected. I'm also very surprised how little I had to pay for my 7 boxes. Shipping through a moving company was *much* cheaper than sending things through the Deutsche Post. I still can't get over how smoothly the move went. I put a lot of time and energy into the planning of it though, so I guess it was to be expected. Still, I'm pleased.
Just a word of warning to those of you who might someday move to the States and want to bring your multi-system VCRs with you. They don't work with the American TVs; they only work with PAL or multi-system televisions. After a bit of searching into alternatives I found the best bet is to order a multi-system TV through E-Bay. Unfortunately I had already purchased a beautiful 25" Magnavox television, so I am waiting until I get my own apartment to order the 21" multi-system Hitachi I found on E-Bay (through a dealer so I expect it will be available in a few months too). However, if you also have a multi-system TV you'll be all set. My multi-system VCR did not blow up when I plugged it in - it simply wouldn't display a picture. Apparently it has something to do with the 55 MHz output in America as opposed to the 60 MHz output in Europe. Frankly it was a bit over my head. All I know is that it doesn't work on NTSC televisions but it will on PAL monitors and TVs. :-)
The job with Siemens has officially fallen through. I finally heard from my contact (the one who forgot my job interview after I had driven to Erlangen to meet her), and her supervisor has decided not to hire anyone for the position. I am still conducting a job search on this end and am considering working at Borders Books part-time (they offer benefits) until something else comes up. With my translation jobs from my German customers and my Internet research job in Germany I will hopefully be able to earn a nice living here. Another bright spot: my former professor formed a start-up translation software company recently and plans to hire me when he gets funding (hopefully in approximately 4-6 months). Until then I am living at my parents and trying to keep my sanity. I love my parents to death, but after 6 years of independence it isn't easy having my father looking over my shoulder at every turn.
I am going out with old friends and plan on attending an Unaffiliated Happy Hour in downtown Cleveland next week to meet some new people and maybe network a bit. The group was founded last September by three women who wanted to meet after work and brought some pals with them. They brought some pals, and they brought some pals, and so on and so on. Now the e-mail mailing list has approximately 150-200 members, and approx. 50-60 people get together every two weeks at a prearranged place in downtown Cleveland for fun events. They are planning a roving dinner party to check out various restaurants with 9 other people with a dessert social at the end where everyone comes together at one place. It sounds like a blast. I can't wait.
The day after I arrived we had a welcome-home barbecue with my family and friends (Jarod came out from Pittsburgh for it). The weather has been wonderful here (we are actually having a drought). Two weekends ago I went to Blossom Music Center (an open-air concert arena where you can bring a picnic supper and sit on the lawn) to hear the Cleveland Orchestra perform Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Catfish Suite. The next day I attended Harborfest to watch the "Tall Ships" (old-fashioned ships with sails) and other boats on the lake. Last weekend I was busy translating and attended a concert at Kent State by the Miami String Quartet, who performed works by Mendelssohn, Beethoven and DeBussy (my personal favorite). After the concert we went out for an icy cold mug of A&W rootbeer at the A&W drive-in. This weekend will hopefully be spent barbecuing, translating and riding my friend's See-Doo (jet ski) on Lake Erie. Last night we had some neighbors over and sat around drinking wine and enjoying the German Schweinebraten, red cabbage and raspberry torte that I made special just for them. Who said America doesn't have culture? :-)
April 1, 2001: I've finally gotten around to fixing the navigation between my two web sites. It's about time. I'm also about to fly home for the next couple weeks for my sister's wedding. I hope to line up a few job interviews while I am there. It's weird packing this time, because I am sorting through things and trying to figure out what I am going to bring back to the States with me and when and how. I am bringing two extremely large suitcases with me on Tuesday and lots of carry-ons. The airlines are going to love me. But at least the plane probably won't be that full. I can hardly wait to go home, so I figure this is a good sign that I have made the right decision to move back in July.
February 9, 2001: Spring has sprung. Here it is the beginning of February and the crocuses are blooming, the birds are singing and the Rhine is going over its bank yet again. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow in Pennsylvania and that means 6 more weeks of winter for those at home in the States, but we don't see any sign of it here. It's funny, because last Friday it actually *snowed* in Bonn. Now it seems like that was months ago. I've been really busy working two jobs and translating, so I haven't been doing a good job keeping up with friends or updating my web site as much as I should. But I have my Palm Pilot back and working again, so things are looking up...
January 18, 2001: I have finally decided to move home, after living in Bonn for almost 6 years. It is funny, but I truly consider Bonn to be my home. I realized how well I know Bonn last night when I was out with Jeremy and Gary when I was able to tell Jeremy the quickest way to the restaurant and where a place to park was that would a) most likely be available and b) wouldn't cost anything. Then the guys were amazed that I had been to their newest "find", the Indian Palace, a couple times already. I will move home with a heavy heart, but I know deep down that it is the right thing to do. All of the signs are leading me home at the moment. Things may change before October 1st, but I doubt it. This is the first time I have ever stated a move date, and I have already packed some boxes to go home with Jarod next week. The place is already starting to look a bit bare - and I have 8 more months to go before I leave. If I don't move now I probably never will. I had a brilliant time at home this Christmas and I really need to give this a go. I will continue to do the work I do here - just from Cleveland instead of Bonn. It couldn't be easier. Now to just figure out the cheapest way to transport all my *stuff* that I have collected over the last 5+ years...
November 21, 2000: Another year has gone by, and I have been so busy
that I haven't gotten around to updating this page except for the couple
sentences in July. My family came to visit me this year. Mom & Dad came in
May, and we had a fantastic time. My sister Holly flew in to Nuremberg on
business for a whirlwind visit in October. It was great to see her - even if it
was only for 48 hours.
I started doing Tae-Bo twice a week at a dance studio down the street from me.
What a great work-out! I am also getting some allergy tests done to determine
what food I am allergic to. Once I get that cleared up hopefully some of this
extra weight I have put on in the past ten years will drop off again. So that is
a bright point to look forward to.
I spent the year tracking down old friends from high school and college on the
Internet. I've started regular e-mail correspondence with a couple old
girlfriends from high school and that is a total kick. I found my friend Rob in
March and, as fate would have it, was able to visit him and his family just two
weeks later in Florida, since I was visiting my cousin in Orlando and he was
only 2 hours away on the Gulf Coast. It was just like we had seen each other
yesterday and not 12 years ago... Now I've tracked down my friend and former
fellow Darrow resident advisor, Carl, from BGSU. I look forward to visiting him
in December when I'm home for Christmas.
Ah, Christmas. This year my friend Jarod and I are going to New York City for
two days to see Phantom of the Opera and Radio City Music Hall's Christmas
Spectacular. Plus, I got us tickets to Late Night with Conan O'Brien, so our
trip is complete. It is going to be great - and I might actually get to see
Central Park this time. Imagine - I've been to NYC three times and never saw Central
Park...
My sister is getting married this coming April and has asked me to be a
bridesmaid and sing at her wedding. We are all very excited about this, because
her fiancé Brad is a wonderful guy and makes her very happy. And he was smart
enough to win big-time points with Dad by formally asking him for her hand in
marriage. Way to go, Brad.
July 18, 2000: Well, I guess the only new thing is my brand-new, refurbished Web site at my very own domain. I got a promotion at work and am training a co-worker how to do the Internet research for our customer, which has freed me up to learn Web design to design the research Web site - and in the process update mine. Other than that it is business as usual.
November 20, 1999: My, how time flies when you're having fun. And
boy, have I been having fun. As we enter this holiday season, I just want to
reflect on the last year and be thankful for everything that has happened over
the last year. Last year at this time, I was packing my bags to move back home.
Now I have a new apartment, money in the bank, a full calendar of appointments
with friends and lots of work. Quite the nice life if I do say so myself. Some
highlights of this summer were a trip to Warner Brothers Movie World with "the
girls" and softball with "J.F.K." and the "Bandits". I
especially enjoyed the wonderful weather we had this year by spending a lot of
time, mainly with my buddy Andrew, in the local beer garden on the Rhine, which
is a five-minute walk away. There is nothing better than a nice cold beer on a
moonlit night with the Rhine gracefully flowing by reflecting the moon and the
stars - well, maybe watching the sun set over the Petersburg beforehand, but
still...
The Fall was just as spectacular, and I absorbed every view I
could of the brillant, colorful hills around Bonn (usually viewed in the early
afternoon sunshine on my way to work). And today it actually snowed. So we have
had the "complete" 4 seasons this year (a welcome change to the
previous gray and rainy Summer, Fall, Winter and Springs). I am singing in a
choir and am getting into the holiday spirit. I am hosting a couple Christmas
parties for my friends here soon and am looking forward to ushering in the Year
2000 with friends in the Rheinau park with fireworks, champagne and sparklers.
It just doesn't get any better than this.
Pardon me for getting too
religious, but the Lord really has watched over me this year. And I thank him
for everything - my apartment, my health, my success, my friends, the change of
seasons, and all that I have experienced this year. I am curious to see what the
new year will bring. May it be just as joyful and bountiful for you as the last
year has been for me.
April 23, 1999: It has been a busy few months. I finally paid off all my debts that have been hanging over my head for the past year. Talk about a relief. Now to start saving money for retirement... My new apartment is wonderful. I am pretty much settled in now and ready to plan a big party. Look for the invitations soon. :-) I have been busy with translations and proofreading, and the Bonner Übersetzer- und DolmetscherForum Website is also keeping me busy. I feel like I have finally achieved good standing amongst my colleagues. I am designing our homepage and am quite proud of how it is turning out.
February 5, 1999: So much has happened in the past few months. I was
honestly planning on moving home and had even taken some stuff home with me, but
things got a lot better once I returned from Christmas. I was in Prague with a
bunch of colleagues the first week in January (only a couple days after
returning) and had a great time. Prague is my favorite city in Europe. I'll get
a page together soon - I promise. I have also begun taking voice lessons. Two
weeks 
ago an apartment fell into my lap. It is exactly what I am looking for - 3
rooms (an office for a tax write-off), enclosed balcony, bathtub, lots of storage space, close
to the Rhine and "Klein Amerika" (the American settlement). It's perfect. I wasn't
looking, but I snatched it up. I move at the end of the month and already found
someone to take over my apartment. I never thought so many people would respond
to my ad. One guy even called tonight - a week later. So I am going to stick
around for a while. I also got a letter from the Finanzamt (see below) in which
they inform me that they are accepting my terms for my 1997 tax payment. And I
worked my tail off in January and earned enough to cover them and my deposit for
the apartment. Everything just seems to be falling into place in my life. The
cynical part of me wonders when it will be coming to an end...
October 6 1998: I am broke, but happy. The German IRS (Finanzamt) has sucked me dry in the past ten months, and buying a car and a computer within a week of each other and buying my ticket home for Christmas this month didn't help either. I wish I could get my head above my debts, but it isn't easy when a customer doesn't pay an invoice that was due three months ago. But despite having no money, I am still going to Prague this coming weekend. I really like Prague and can hardly wait. And I would go through it all again for my car. It is so nice to be able to make plans that I couldn't do before - like play softball (which I did this summer). Before I would have to bike all the way there and would have been tired after the ride. Instead I just hopped into the car and was there in fifteen minutes. And I got to know a lot of really great people ;-)
September 16 1998: Jane had her baby last night. It's a boy!!! Christopher Lukas - a little over 7 pounds, 4 ounces and 21 inches. A Virgo just like me. Jane will have her hands full :-) All of her girlfriends are going to spoil him...
August 30 1998: Celebrated my birthday tonight in the Quiet Man. I was really happy to see so many people show up for my party. The wine and relaxing to my new classical CD after the party was nice too - maybe even the best part ;-).
July 2 1998: I bought a car, a phone and a computer in the past week or so, so I guess I am really planning on staying. I fell in love at first sight with my car. It is the love of my life at the moment.
June 1998: OK, the weather has gotten better, so I am feeling a
little better about Germany. People just seem friendlier when it is sunny. I
actually have had complete strangers chat with me recently. That in itself is
astounding. But the
biggest shock for me was going to the circus with my friend
Thomas. After the circus, people smiled at one another - and one guy even
apologized to me for bumping into me! Even Thomas (a German) noticed it and
commented that the people here need to go to the circus more often. Plus, I finally
got my German driving license, so I want to get a car and drive for at least a
year. The damn thing cost me more than my computer... Plus, the pastor at the
American Protestant Church here is an incredible speaker. I have never
concentrated on a sermon in my life, but his are so interesting. I will probably
never have another opportunity to hear such a great pastor. Although, I will
try. So, for those reasons (and a few more little ones), I have decided to stick
it out for at least another year.
May 1998: I am debating whether to move home or not. I have been here three years now and miss the States. I also miss being around my own culture - friendly, outgoing and caring strangers. Don't get me wrong. I have met some very nice people here, but I am sick and tired of not being treated like a human being on the street by strangers. The Germans don't respect each other - often bumping into each other without apologizing or yelling at perfect strangers. A smile to a stranger can do wonders. My friends with whom I have discussed this ask me why they should greet total strangers. I guess I just miss the mutual respect and consideration the Americans give total strangers. A smile goes a long way. The person who receives the smile then passes it on to someone else and everyone feels good.