It was great to be back in Glasgow. When I got off the bus around 9:25, I was pleasantly surprised and met with sunshine. Hannah’s house is a bit under two miles from the coach station, and I decided to have a little walk. I made a coffee stop and enjoyed the stroll. It was warm and fun to look into the windows of the countless shops and restaurants along the way. Hannah and Edith were waiting in the alley by their house. Edith is almost 20 months old and likes sitting on her scooter cart while her mother drags it with a jump rope. The three of us immediately left for a trip to the grocery. Life with a toddler revolves around her naps. Hannah, her mother, and I were able to escape during one of Edith’s and visited some of the neighborhood stores. Their local Oxfam was particularly good. In the evening, a babysitter arrived to watch Edith and her older brother Magnus. It was Hannah’s mother’s birthday, and the four of us went out for a rather fancy supper. I loved being back in Glasgow, but last time I came with Vinnie. I wish some of the kids could have come this time too. It feels strange not have any of my own children around when I’m with friends’ children. Hopefully the whole family can come next time I’m in Glasgow.
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London was lovely. I arrived later than expected after a flight delay and very long wait at the UK border.
The line took over an hour to move though. A woman who had another flight later that afternoon at a different London airport was frantically trying to move up in the line. I saw her with tears in her eyes ask the two American women in front of me. They dismissed her, and of course I let her in front of me. Later, she asked another traveler to help out, the woman replied, “Yeah, you can go behind me.” I hope she made it. Sadly, I’ve had that awful frantic feeling before. It’s pretty terrible. Now, most of my trip itineraries are built around trying not to have that feeling. For instance, I needed to go from the Victoria Palace Theater last night to the Victoria Coach Station. Hamilton was supposed to end around 10:30, and my bus left at 11:45. You would think that would be a wide enough window to follow Google Maps’s .4 miles directions. But, I am pretty familiar with myself now. I knew my heart would be beating fast and stomach in knots if I didn’t know exactly where to go. It’s Immeasurably easier for me to find the right path in daylight. At night, alone in an unfamiliar city, I am so wrapped up in staying safe, I can’t concentrate on following directions. So, I spent most of the afternoon previewing my route. I learned the exact gate my bus was going to leave from. I found out the Shake Shack by the theater was open until midnight. I felt much better about my post-show plans. So, I didn’t get to any museums, but it was a nice afternoon. I ate my signature grocery store lunch on Parliament Square. I went to the post office and the library. The highlight of the day was an Evensong service at Westminster Abbey. The only thing that would have made that better was if Sidney Chambers was leading the service. Hamilton was also incredible. I know Thom will love it. I left for a weekend in the UK this morning.
Last September, when I returned to Freiburg after my days in Paris with Lauren, Errol told me I could travel as much as I wanted. We both thought it would help combat the meloncholy that our move brought me. Also, our commitments in Freiburg are few. It is easier for me to get away here, and Errol is much more available on a daily basis this year since he is living and working in the same place. So, even though Princeton is relatively close to New York City, where Hamilton runs eight shows a week, it seemed more feasible to see it in London. I originally had tickets in the winter, but I changed them once I decided to take my second intensive German course. The dates conflicted, and I’m so happy to be going now in June instead of March. It’s a bit of a whirlwind weekend--each night in a different place. Tonight I’ll be on a bus. Tomorrow night I’ll be in Glasgow. Sunday night Edinburgh. I fly back to Germany early Monday morning. It will be my final flight before the kids and I go back to New Jersey. This year’s travel has brought me a lot of satisfaction. I am so happy to have done it, but I don’t need it or crave it anymore. Vinnie spent the school day in the forest today. She was very excited to wear her Arbor Lodge nature vest!
Something I really love about Freiburg is how active the old people are. They’re riding bikes, going shopping, taking the trams, being normal.
I usually do not take pictures of strangers. It’s weird. But, I did today because I wanted to remember everything about this woman. She’s my latest hero: conquering the world in pink sneakers, an animal print dress, and pearls. It’s always fun to walk to the twins’ kindergarten playground and watch them a bit before they realize I’m there.
This afternoon, there was a table set up outside, and these little boys were busy working. There are always so many scenes to draw from the upcoming World Cup! This afternoon Thom and I were interviewed for the ExpatCast. He told stories I had never heard before, and I loved every second.
I forgot to mention one of the most memorable parts of our time in Berlin. My arm got stuck in a tram door!
Errol likes to take the lead when we’re traveling. He also likes to walk quickly. Our squad of eight doesn’t move so quickly, and it was a daily challenge to keep the group together. One such instance was going from the U-Bahn to the S-Bahn on the way to lunch. Errol, Mom, Neddy, Thom, and I were on the tram. Dad, Lee, and Vin were a few paces behind us. As noted, our time in Berlin was short so we weren’t keen on spending any of it waiting on train platforms. The tram doors began to close, and Dad, Lee, and Vinnie weren’t on yet. I stuck my arm out to stop the doors like one does on an elevator. Unlike an elevator, the doors didn’t reopen. My arm was stuck, and our whole group wasn’t on the tram either. I’m not sure who the men worked for, but a couple men with some kind of S-Bahn authoirty took charge. One began to push my arm back in the door so the tram could go without the doors reopening. I shouted at him, “Meine Kinder! Meine Kinder!” and pointed at Lee and Vinnie on the platform with my other hand. The doors finally opened. Lee and Vinnie got on the tram with Dad. The men were not happy with me and one motioned with his hand that I was crazy. I responded with “Tut mir Leid! Tut mir Leid!” I didn’t say it very graciously, but one can usually get away with shouting apologies no matter how they’re delivered. Once all together on the tram, Mom and Dad showed real concern that I could be hurt. I am in the caregiver role so often, that I forget how it feels to have somebody worried about me. My arm was sore for a few days, but, thankfully, I fully recovered! Our flight cancellation reduced our time in Berlin from two full days to half a day. We lost even more time due to an AFD demonstration in front of the central station that further delayed our arrival from the airport. I had hoped for the kids to see the Egyptian Museum. Vinnie loves mummies, and Queen Nefertiti is spectacular. But, it wasn’t in the cards. We had plans with an old Riverside family, and the kids were really looking forward to seeing their friends. Nefertiti will probably be around the next time we’re in Berlin, and elementary school friendships are a bit more fleeting. After, very randomly, running into Vinnie’s Freiburg bestie, we left Mom and Dad to explore the museums. We rode a tram and U-Bahn to the playdate, and the little Riversiders reconnected immediately. Everyone had a great time. We met back up with Mom and Dad, and even though everyone was ready to be done with the day, I took the crew to Checkpoint Charlie. I visited the museum fifteen years ago, and I remember thinking how fun it would be to come here with Dad. He has a deep appreciation for ingenuity and engineering. Alas, I didn’t quite get this experience, but Thom was able to go in with Mom and Dad. Vinnie and the twins were exhausted, and I knew they’d suck out any chance of fun if everyone went in. Instead, Errol and I took the littles across the way to the Currywurst Museum’s food stand. Because they were flying to Billund early the next day. Mom and Dad stayed at an airport hotel with Errol and the bigs. Good-byes are never fun, but we will be in Nebraska in August. June and July are never months that drag. |
Anne Thomsen lordWritings on our year abroad. Archives
September 2018
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