This probably still feels rather sudden for you reading along, so this final blog post is all about filling you in on where I've been:
The decision
I had been struggling with my job in Munich while still only a few months in. My team was amazing and most of the other people I worked with were great, but the overall climate and company culture were not a good fit. Eventually I came to the realization that most of my like-minded colleagues had left, and I wasn't going to be able to change things on my own.When Larry's prospects for extending his contract seemed dim late last year, it only made sense for me to give notice so he could broaden his search.* Two top options popped up, both requiring a move out of Germany, so the planning began even before the final decision was made.
*It's important to understand that giving notice in Germany means three months, not two weeks like in the U.S., so much less flexibility in timing.
Getting ready
Those of you who were around for my Hamburg blog might remember the ordeal of getting the cats ready for the move. Even though we only have one kitty to consider right now, once we had the green light on Maui we (I) had to embark on a still-arduous journey to get Aji's entry requirements met. (Thankfully Hawaii had recently shortened the wait time between each stage to only 30 days!)We also needed to find a place to stay. Because Maui is such a tourist destination, there's not a lot of inventory for long-term renters. Even though Larry's contract wasn't up until the end of February, there was no real work left for him to do. He headed to Maui in mid-January to find a place for us, which meant I was left in Munich to finish my job and coordinate the move.
And that meant finding movers, giving notice on our apartment, canceling our Internet and utilities, de-registering from the city (yes, that's a thing, requiring paperwork and an in-person appointment) and arranging my final goodbyes. Normally just a long list of things to check off, but a bit more challenging to tackle the administrative tasks in another language.
I was highly stressed, and many things started to depend on information about when I was leaving the country. Which was dependent on when Aji could leave the country. Which was dependent on a pet travel service that was not as helpful as they'd been when we used them to travel to Germany.
The final flurry came in mid-April. Although my last official day at work was April 30, I used vacation time to leave the office on the 17th. By that time Aji and I had been in an empty apartment for a week-and-a-half. Because our landlady was going on vacation, we needed to do the apartment walk-through early, which meant moving Aji and me to a hotel for the last stretch of our stay in Munich.
We finally got confirmation for Aji's flight, so I could schedule my own flight and his health certification and my de-registration appointment and my goodbye lunches and dinners with friends.
Only 10 days out.
For reals
I'll be honest. There were many times along the way when I didn't feel like I would make it to Maui. Few things had gone as planned and I felt like I was just spinning my wheels waiting for the punch line of some cosmic joke. People kept asking if I was excited, and my usual response was, "I will be..."
Outside of a few video chats, I hadn't seen Larry in three months. Aji was an understandable bundle of nerves. So was I. I just wanted things to be done so I could have a break.
When they picked up Aji for his flight, I cried all the way back to the room. And I cried while I was doing my final prep and packing. But on the way to the airport I started to get excited, because the day was rainy and cold and soon I'd be leaving one-half of that formula behind me.
This was really happening!
Getting there
At the airport, however, more stress. My bag was just over the weight limit for the automated kiosk. As I moved toward the counters, the automated check-in system went down, which meant three employees were handling everyone who had been in line or at the check-in stations. Then I was sent to two separate counters because my bag was deemed oversized. By the time it got sorted and I made it through security there was little time to reflect, reminisce or regret. I boarded the plane.
Thankfully the 12-hour flight from Munich to LAX was uneventful. I spent some time chatting with the woman next to me, who was from Prague and visiting LA for vacation. She brought her dog with her, and I couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy as I watched her dog--easily half the size of Aji--sitting calmly in his carrier.The 6-hour flight from LA to Maui was less peaceful, as I'd been seated in the middle of a group of about 30 pre- and teenage members of a band who were on their way home. Still, it was amusing to hear the flight attendants admonish them to remember to grab their ukeleles carefully from the overhead bins.
I took an Uber from the airport across the island to our new home in Lahaina. Even though it was night and I was exhausted, I could see the landscape was very different and I was looking forward to getting to know it better.
In the first couple of days I realized I would have to get used to certain things again. (24-hour, 7-day grocery stores! self-service OTC items at the pharmacy! big trucks! people being so open and inquisitive and helpful right from the start!)
An unwelcome parting gift
And Munich? During that first day in Lahaina, Munich was settling into my mind with a glow of nostalgia. I was already cataloging differences and thinking of pictures I'd send back in answer to requests from friends and former colleagues.
By the afternoon, however, I felt differently. What I thought had been a sudden and inexplicable flurry of mosquito bites on my face, chest and up and down both arms turned out to be bedbug bites. (Apparently you can have a reaction anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks later!)I sent an email to the hotel, along with some pictures, so they could check the room and spare someone else the agony. After several days they responded to let me know they'd closed the room, were having it inspected, and they offered me a voucher. I was just happy they responded and were taking action!
Now, a week out, the worst of the swelling and itching has subsided. Aji has not shown any signs of being bitten and I don't appear to have had any hitchhikers (although I treated my clothes and bag just in case). Which is giving me the peace of mind (and comfort!) to now really explore my new home.
A new start
Spending nearly four years living in Germany was a life-changing experience. I visited places I'd never have gone, met people I probably would never have met, seen and experienced things I would have otherwise not known.But I truly believe that no matter where you are, every day is an opportunity for an adventure or a deeper appreciation of where you are. Greet someone you don't know, take a different route to work or home, slow down and look around at all the things you take for granted that a temporary traveler might find new and exciting!
And with that thought, I guess that's about it. Auf Wiedersehen, Tschüss, Ciao. No matter how you say it, it means turning the page on one very special life chapter. Thank you for your questions and comments and companionship on this two-year trip in Munich.
I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next--Aloha!
p.s. Although I don't know if/when I will do a blog about life on Maui, you'll know first here or by following me on Twitter.
p.p.s. Pictures of our mostly-empty ohana. Updates to follow in this Flickr album when our stuff arrives in June!
