Shouting Out Some Thank-You's

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It's been nice being home. I've caught with family and friends, shared my stories, and enjoyed the complete comfort that comes from sleeping under your own roof. Coming home makes it even easier to appreciate the things you love most. I've taken over "Pepper duty"--running my dog at lunchtime everyday, no matter how cold or rainy it is outside. And I don't think there's been a day where I haven't played or watched basketball. It's been a lot of fun helping out the Greylock team, spending time with friends on the team, and of course, going one-on-one with my brother Sam. 

Snowy Williamstown

Now I'm ready to look forward. As the snow piles have come and gone here in the Berkshires, I've started to think about that Florida sunshine more and more. There's a lot to wrap up before I leave, but I couldn't be more excited for my next adventure. At the same time, Germany remains with me every day. It's hard to stomach that I might not be going back for many months. I miss the Judsons, I miss the freedom, and I miss the childlike excitement I felt every time I stepped off the train in a new place. I wish I already had plans in place to go back, but I know it'll happen sooner than later. I want to share my love of Germany with whomever is willing to make the trip. That being said, I can't imagine Germany without all of the people I met during my four months. Before I look forward any more, I need finish my blog posts about Germany, at least for now. First off, some shout-outs to all those I need to thank. 

It wouldn't have been possible without...

As my final week came to a close, figuring out how to thank all of the people who reached out to me while I was in Germany seemed like a daunting task. For every handwritten note or typed letter, I could have found five more deserving people. While some recipients were obvious, I struggled with the notion that I wouldn't be saying a proper thank you to everyone who deserved it. Many of these people knew very little about me, and while they may notice my absence, they definitely won't be offended that I didn't give them some token of thanks. Still, I find myself thinking about these people. That's why my first shout-out goes to everyone who didn't know my name or why I was in Germany but decided to open up to me. I've been telling friends back home that I experienced something new every day, and this has a lot to do with the dozens of people that I barely knew but with whom I shared a passing moment each day and week.

I need to thank my teammates and coaches at the DJK Bad Homburg club. Without their effort to make my experience easy and fun, my six days a week of soccer wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable. The nighttime practices were always something I had to fall back on, always something to look forward to. Special thanks to Marc Bretschneider, who took the challenge of having an American on his team and ran with it. I definitely miss those guys, and especially Marc's coaching.

I visited a lot of places during my four months. Sure, the solo day trips to discover new cities were a ton of fun, but my favorite memories came when I met up with people in my travels. I couldn't possibly name them all, but to all those who went out of their way to make my travel that much better, a huge thank you. To name a few: Lucas Ebeler, Blake Little, and Ian and Lauren Clausen--you guys are the best.

I spent a lot of time at the Accadis International School, and no one made a greater impact on my experience there than Darryl Cormier. Coach C and I spent so many hours together; not only did I learn so much about teaching and working with kids, but I also found a tremendous friend. Darryl understood where I was coming from. Not so long ago, he had been the young and unexperienced foreigner in Germany. He was able to relate to everything I was going through, whether it be sports or travel or preparing for college. I can't imagine my time in Germany without him, so to Darryl, a gigantic thank you.

Lastly, thank you to my German family, the Judsons. When I think of Germany, the first thing I picture is the long driveway leading to 24B Usinger Weg, where I found the greatest home I could ever imagine. It was exciting to be part of the Judson family; exciting to get to know six incredible individuals so well; exciting to watch the kids grow and to know I had a tiny bit of influence on them; exciting to watch Bundesliga or play soccer in the basement or just sit around the table late at night and learn. I learned so much from the Judsons. I know at times it might not have been the easiest thing for them, but they really made it fun and easy for me. Thank you so much. I know that because of you guys, I won't be able to go long without returning to Germany.

On to the next one

On Saturday I leave home again, this time heading south. I couldn't be more excited to hit the road. I'll be stopping lots of places along the way, to see friends, sample food, crash in a college dorm, or enjoy a round of golf. It's on to stage two of the gap year and of this blog. Leaving for the second time feels so different--after surviving four months in Germany, a road trip to Florida seems pretty simple. I know it's going to be awesome--certainly different than Germany, but awesome nonetheless. So with that, prepare for lots of blog posts in the near future. I know Germany will continue to work its way into my posts, but now I have a whole new adventure to write about. I can almost feel that Florida sun and warm ocean air...