Love Without Borders

Happy 75th anniversary to AFS-USA, celebrating 7-plus decades of connecting students and families through foreign-exchange programs across the globe!

Although AFS wasn't the particular program that brought Lukas to our lives in 2014 (loving our snowy Easter) or sent Carter over to his home in Germany in 2015, foreign-exchange programs are special to us. And especially this one since it employs our baby!

As Carter has told us: AFS-USA honors the legacy of its founders—volunteer WWI and WWII American Field Service ambulance drivers—who emerged from the wars with a bold mission: to help prevent future conflict through cultural exchange and understanding.

As a partner in the global AFS network, AFS-USA offers international exchange and education opportunities in over 45 countries and hosts exchange students from 80 countries. This cultural exchange helps people come together, across typical divides, to make a more peaceful and just world. That’s the #AFSEffect. 

Carter has a dual role working in marketing and providing support to host families. This hasn't landed him in Germany again or anything, but after talking to him today and he said it was 80-plus degrees in Raleigh, I'm pretty convinced he's in a good place.

I know I've said it before – even this week – if you can host a foreign student (even for a month like we did) or send your child to study abroad (I know it's hard to let them go), do it. It's life changing.

We're proud of our boy for his role in continuing to make that happen for others.

Advent-urous

It seems strange that since I've been counting UP to the number of days working from home during the pandemic that now I'll be pivoting and heading the other direction. Oh, not to return to the office. It's time for the countdown to Christmas.

Let the Advent Advent-ures begin!

I seriously do miss selling Advent calendars for the school German club fundraiser. Now I just search the cupboards and freezers for treats each day. Can you say "no portion control”? It's not the kind of Adventure my scale needs.

December is also signaling the winter sports season. I say that knocking on wood since with everything else in this crazy year, we can only count on what's happening today. Too many unknown factors to let us look too much further.

So I took Advent-age of a "game on" situation and went the Assumption girls basketball game. Crowd sizes will continue to be limited all season but I'll get to a few to shoot photos for the school and the yearbook. Tonight was stressful game agains rival Auburndale. We lost in OT. Ugh! Jessie (above) was double digits in points so I'll spotlight that one photo. 

Hey, OT means it's past my bedtime. I'll look at the other 500 photos tomorrow. That gives me something to look forward to... since there's no German chocolate in the house.

Happy countdown to Christmas!

Crash Course

While I'm prepping for scrap camp next month, I'm going through pictures for my 2015 album. This is definitely a flashback photo!

Here Mr. College was just visiting campus after begin accepted at UW-Platteville. "Every day is a great day to be a Pioneer!" says Pioneer Pete.

When Mr. C called me tonight, I think he was paraphrasing a bit. Like every day after finals are done is a great day! He had a "winterim" accounting course that was basically a three-week crash course. Meet for 3 or so hours daily and squeeze in a semester's worth in 21 days.

Wouldn't recommend it. It's nice to get a class out of the way, but brains – even young ones with lots of room to store new stuff – can get overloaded. Carter had his final and is done until the "real" spring semester starts next week already. Not much of a break.

He did have some exciting news recently. He'll be doing an internship in the foreign studies office right on campus for the spring semester. That is so awesome and right up his alley. He's pretty excited and thrilled to check that "must do internship" box off his list before graduation in December.

OK. He looks so young and cute up there with Pioneer Pete. There's not way I'm introducing that grownup graduation talk into this conversation. One day or course or semester at a time!

It's a great day to have a kid who's a Pioneer!

Das iz a Sneak Peek

When hubby texted me at work and asked if he could open my mail, I knew my scrapbook arrived! Turned out pretty nice if I do say so myself. Who wants to see it?

No big surprises in there since I blogged about most things. Still, for people who don't read my blog or even have a computer (both our parents), it'll be good to have all the 56 pages of memories in one place. A few of my favorites...

Carter's place!

How we got around...

How others got around.

Viva la France! Pages one and two of many!

Strasbourg street scenes. Lots of art and graffiti and a combination of both!

The cathedral! So many window. So very beautiful.

Sun didn't shine a ton when I was there but we don't always need sun for great pictures. But when we do...

Spoiler alert! Last page and my favorite!

I'll just be toting the big 12" x 12" book around if you wanna take a peek. You just let me know. Danke!

My Son Shine

Can you see the rainbow arc around the sun dog over the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport? Very cool. This is what happens when you have time on your hands and you're already locked into your parking ramp.

Why was I there so early?

First, thank the weatherman for being wrong. Sunny skies and no snow to hamper my drive over. Secondly, light traffic for a late Saturday afternoon. Third, my copy of the itinerary had Mr. World Traveler landing at 6:51 p.m. When I got to the airport, the time said 7:44 p.m. So I really had time on my hands!

Oh, and fourth, I was just really, really, slightly excited to see my boy again! So to pass the minutes I did walk around and got my steps in for the day...

But don't think I didn't ponder shenanigans. You really can't leave me unsupervised anywhere with time to kill. At least I kept my lips zipped before taking over the vacant Freedom of Expression Booth. So tempting. If only I had an opinion on something. Ha.

Then finally... this! Welcome home, sweetie!

So good to hug him again! And it was nice to have company on the long drive back to Wisconsin Rapids. A little over 3 hours with one stop for caffeine. Then the man who had been up for 24+ hours (like I had been when returned) stopped fighting the sleep, reclined the seat, and slept awhile. Can't blame him!

Jim, who had attended a surprise 80th birthday party for his uncle, waited up for us. Catching up was brief as it's really past everyone's bedtime in this house. We'll all sleep good tonight. From tiredness and just knowing we're all safely under one roof again.

Feeling blessed. Sweet dreams!

The Road Ends Here

I'm sure the NCAA trademarked that phrase somewhere, but I think we all know The Road Ends Here – on Blue Jay Drive. It's good to be home safely and without too many headaches. I actually pulled into the driveway about 10:30 p.m., which was quite literally 24 hours after my alarm went off "this morning."

Since Carter and I said our goodbyes last night, I was packed up and headed to the bus station by 6:30 a.m. This pretty blue place is the train station. I took a short cut through there to get to the bus –  because I knew how! Figures I just get to know my way around the town and I'm gone.

My farewell! It was a culture shock getting to America and being able to read all the signs! I'll admit it was pretty challenging navigating through the Frankfurt Airport (again), but I made it. I slept a huge chunk of the 8 hours to New York City. Still, I was not prepared for re-entering the country. My country.

Nothing can quite describe the sea of humanity that is customs. Way in back you see the yellow/blue signs for each line. In total, there are 60 of them. Not joking. Hundreds if not thousands of people waiting to enter America. Slightly more organized than herding cats, I'd say.

Of course, right away they confuse you when one line is for "US Citizens" and another is for "Permanent Residents." I mean, what if I'm both? A permanent resident in the U.S as a legal citizen? I should have looked that up ahead of time. Oh well, I found another clueless woman and we bonded over our confusion and need to get to our connecting flights. Took an hour and thankfully I had a two-hour layover this time.

Felt good about the last leg of the trip since we had the Dalai Lama or his doppleganger riding with us. It was a bit turbulent but we made it the Minneapolis 20 minutes ahead of schedule! Which several Virginia fans were happy about. They were anxious to get to the stadium!

Me too! Just kidding. This is my niece's view. My sister and brother-in-law picked me up at MSP and I hopped in my car at their house in Hudson and hit the road.

Made a few stops for caffeine and a half-dozens brake-slamming honks for the many, many deer out tonight. Got home in time to see the end of the hoops game. Now I want to shower and hit the sack. But those darn Red Bulls have kicked in.

I told you traveling ain't for sissies. But it is oh so worth it! My heart is full.

Gute Nacht!

Prince Charming

Our view last night.

Got to see the famous Heidelberg Castle today. Pretty much what the city is known for. It attracts a million visitors a year. But I'm guessing a lot of them don't get there the same route did.

 Uphill. Like straight uphill. The whole time our calves were screaming, "Can you feel me now?" This business of vacationing in Europe isn't for sissies. Another 12 miles of steps today.

It was a gorgeous day, though. Sunny and mid 60s.

Once we got up top, the view was amazing. You can see all of Heidelberg nestled in the hills surrounding it.

And the castle... so huge! You can capture an image from the distance, but once you're in it, on it and inside it, you just can't get it all.

I did take plenty of pictures I'll share this week. After hiking around, we headed back down the hill and had lunch. Later, we hiked again -- this time on Philosopher's Way.

 Yup. Another tough climb!

Offered fantastic views of the city from the opposite river bank as down town and the castle.

There were gorgeous flowers in bloom up there, too. Ahh spring!

 Plus I found my tree! Why is there an R painted on the tree? I have no idea.

 After our trek back down, we rewarded ourselves with some  very authentic gelato. "Prost!" It's always good to toast a good drink or good ice cream!

Then, just like that,  the sun set on my trip. Am going to bed so I can get up at 530 a.m. and make my way back to America.

Probably gave Carter a dozen goodbye hugs and kisses, but he reminded me I'll see him 20 days. I can handle this now.

I'll share more pictures etc after my uneventful trip home (fingers crossed) and my recovery from jet lag.

Ciao for now!

Bon Jour and Stuff

When you want croissants for breakfast, just hop a train to France. Because we can!

We actually had talked about doing the trip then booked our tickets last night.  We hit the tracks a litte after 9 a.m. It's only about a two-hour ride to Strasbourg, one of their capitals and right on the border. Why not take advantage of seeing another country when you can?

This is me being brave climbing on top of a dam. You can see the Notre Dame Cathedral on the distant background.  That was the highlight of the day!

Pictures don't do it justice because it is too big to fit in one frame. But here are a few...

It was very impressive. Glad we got to see that. Also got some shopping done and some eating. Had French dishes at a cafe, then of course, found ice cream.

For those keeping score at home, I've now eaten some variation of ice cream in 7 countries. No wonder I'm exhausted. And fat.

That's OK. Pretty sure we walked it off. Another day with more than 10 miles of walking. No, I don't know metric equivalent but I'm sure it's plenty o' steps.

There's more to share but it's almost midnight, we got back in time for a late dinner and I'm decidedly exhausted.

Au revoir!

Finding My Way Around

After the not-so-direct route to get to Heidelberg,  I found it's quite easy to get around once you get here.

Today while Carter had class, I slept in until 9 (I needed it!), then ventured off to Old Town, as they call it. I got my own bus pass, found my way on the street tram to and from Old Town, and didn't get kicked out of the country for being an obnoxious tourist. Yet.

I did goof around taking a mix of silly selfies and unique architecture pictures.  Plus I finally saw the big Holy Ghost Church, which is pretty much visible from anywhere in the city!

After classes, Carter and I went back downtown to eat lunch and sightsee and shop. Rain held off but temp just reached 50. Still fine with me!

A few pictures before I hit the sack...

 Hopa trees are in bloom!

Statue by university. 

He's got his arm around me but he looks sketchy.

Definitely don't trust this guy!

Thought I found my knight in shining armor but...

But then I saw this guy. That Austin smirk and dimples will get you in trouble in any country!

We're on what is literally called Old Bridge. Castle Heidelberg is on the hill in the background. We plan to get a closer look at it Sunday when it's super nice out.

May try this photo again if the sun shines.

 So here is das big church!

My healthy breakfast! Coconut gelato. Yum

I also got non-healthy treats at the Lindt store. Yep, somebody's getting chocolate!

Surprising how much is blooming. Gives me hope I'll return to spring. Not that I'm giving any thought to going home!

Got a few full days ahead. Going to bed (since we are 7 hours ahead).

Sorry again for any typos.  Hard to do this on my phone but blogging helps me keep track of what I did!

 Gute nacht!