Category Friends and Family Adventures

An exchange student and an American come together again

Anna--The Adventurer

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Jenny F. with her 2 daughters and boyfriend

Way back when, okay, so in 1996 and 1997 my family hosted an exchange student from Germany–and we have kept in touch all these years.

Before leaving Colorado, I wrote to Jenny, telling her I would be moving to Germany–and she came to see me.

The last time I had seen Jenny in person, I was 15, she was 18. Now, we are older ( a lady never reveals her true age) and Jenny has two beautiful daughters.

Jenny and her family drove 6 hours to spend a weekend with us the Black Forrest and A joyous day makes all the difference.

We enjoyed the Botanical Gardens (Karlsruhe, Germany), Schloss Karlsruhe and so much more. It is awesome to get to see old friends and spend time together.

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Jenny, Thomas, Leoni, Sara, Marcel on the Rhein (German side, France across the river)

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

Celebrating my ’21st’ birthday abroad

Anna--The Adventurer

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany with a dinner in the backyard

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany–family and friends in Ettlingen, Germany

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany with Fabian and his sisters

I turned 21 today, for the 13th time but who is counting??

It is truly the first time, though, that I have celebrated a birthday abroad and it has been wonderful. Thomas hosted a dinner celebration in the backyard for my special day, with family and friends attending.

Celebrating my Birthday in Germany

Celebrating my Birthday in Germany

 

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

Country Roads, Rheinstetten

Anna--The Adventurer

Sunday Drives are always lovely, especially with suprises.

The Rhein, with aid from heavy rains, ran over its banks. There is a levy that blocks the road from Rheinstetten to the next town as it is unsafe to cross–being flooded.

An adventure is wonderful–with a small price of just 2 liters of gasoline in the car and natures amazing ebbs.

 

Don’t forget to check out my eBay

 

A Brazilian Portugese Lullaby for a New Baby Boy!

Anna--The Adventurer

acacia

My dearest friend delivered a beautiful baby boy, Eli ‘Peanut’ C. has arrived!! Mommy and baby are doing well.

I am a new Auntie today!! What a blessing!!!

When I received the news, I shrieked with joy and the street musicians kindly played a special lullaby for the new baby.

 

 

 

 

Mammoth Lacrosse–Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

Anna--The Adventurer

American Lacrosse

             Colorado Mammoths

Going to the yoo with Kevin H.

Goofy friends with Kevin H.

Pepsie Center, Denver, Colorado

Friends watching the Mammoth Lacrosse Game at the Pepsi Center, Prive Box, Denver, Colorado

Mammoth Lacrosse

Watching Mammoth Lacross, Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

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Tanner, Margaret, and Haake enjyoing the game from box seats.

 

 

What a fun, wonderful evening!! Friends and family enjoyed a Colorado Mammoths Lacross game and the crowds were roaring!! The skill and agility of the athletes was astounding!!!

 

 

Turning over a new leaf

Anna--The Adventurer

Hundreds of letters have been exchanged between us.

A long history of letters…and we wrote.

 

So, as our story continues on, Thomas and I have continued to write, sharing our lives and friendship through letters..and now we have been very dear, good sweet friends for almost 20 years. We continued to write when one day….

Thomas asked me to come to Germany, not for a vacation, but for something more, something special. Thomas wrote:

I hope you will come to Germany and stay for a long while. I would like to opportunity to date you, make a future with you, and get to know you even better than I already do.  Please, come and stay. ‘ (small excerpt).

 

Upon receiving, reading and re reading the letter, I discussed this with my sister and Acacia, asking their advice and thoughts on it–for the power of girlfriends and sisters is something very unique (but that is a discussion for another day).  They both hooped and hollered with joy, with the confidence and hope for all good things.

I wrote to Thomas asking him when he would like me to go, a very big decision for me..and we continued to write letters.

So, now comes the point, that I know I am moving to Germany, at least for a while, as Thomas wrote back and said when I can and am ready, that he wants to welcome me in his home when I am ready…now for preparations.

As we discuss what the future for us holds….we continue to write letters.

And suddenly you know.... its time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings:

A visit–or two over the years between friends

Anna--The Adventurer

2001 Thomas came to Colorado for my Highschool Graduation

2001 Thomas came to Colorado for my Highschool Graduation

May of 2001, Thomas,  the man

Graduation Day with Acacia Clough

Graduation Day with Acacia Clough

I met on the train,  travel

ed from Germany to Colorado, USA, for my Highschool graduation and stayed with my family for 2 weeks. We went to Estes Park, Colorado for a visit one day. Thomas met all of my giant family, and that is no small feat…and

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Thomas and I on the Outerbanks, N.C.

We continued to write letters.

Anna and Thomas @ Carolina's Diner, Archdale, N.C. 2005

Anna and Thomas @ Carolina’s Diner, Archdale, N.C. 2005

April 2005 I was living in North Carolina, going to college, studying Fine Art at first and later on Graphic Design and Advertising. Thomas came for  10 visit, where we spent 6 days on the Outer Banks.  Our friendship continued to deepen and strengthen and…

We continued to write letters.

December 2013-January 2014–I had moved back to Colorado in May of 2012–and once again, my family (sister, brothers, parents, etc) decided to take a family vacation in the dead of Winter to Europe for Christmas.

Anna And Chub

My brother and I in Germany.

My youngest brother, at the time was living in Regensburg,

Thomas and I out for coffee, January 2014, Germany

Thomas and I out for coffee, January 2014, Germany

Germany, having moved from Heidelburg in previous weeks.  So, after spending time in his city, I split ways for a few days to visit Thomas in Ettlingen, Germany. I surely couldn’t go to Germany without seeing Thomas, my friend

and penpal.

Something changed between Thomas and I but…

We continued to write letters.

The Beginnings of….an adventure

Anna--The Adventurer

The start of my adventure

The Beginnings of Something wonderful

Decemeber,1997—My family and I were on vacation in Holland, riding the ICE train to Germany. My family, being 6 of us, 7 with my Uncle, were a large group, especially with our luggage.  My family filled the compartment and thus, I sat across the aisle at a small table, next to the window, where the chairs were bolted to the floorboards of the train.

A German man sat across from me, in the empty available seat, witha  rucksack in-tow and nothing more than that and a newspaper.  He struck up a conversation, after a bit, and within 3 hours, we exchanged mailing addresses and he disembarked from the train at his stop.

Letters were written, postcards exchanged and an old–fashioned pen-pal friendship blossomed.
We continued to write letters over time–sharing the simple things of life and…thus began something exquisite