A weekend at the Jersey Shore

Do you know what a boardwalk is? I mean, a real boardwalk? I thought I knew, until I arrived in Ocean City, New Jersey, last weekend. It is huge, 2.5 Miles long(!), with many walkers, bikers, families with kids, several attractions and- a lot of fun! Oh, I forgot the many, many restaurants, ice creameries (and so on) along the boardwalk, of course… Yes, we visited the New Jersey shore, finally, after living in this State for more than two years. I loved the beaches in Connecticut, so it was like “let us see what New Jersey offers”. We were not disappointed. Not at all. The beaches are gorgeous. What is not to like about the ocean?!

Our son discovered for the first time how much fun is it to jump in the waves. (My husband, too!!) Jakob had the time of his life, anyway. He spent three days with his best friend and his sister playing at the beach, swimming, riding bikes and talking until midnight. I think he did not sleep for the whole weekend… We enjoyed our friends company, who invited us to share with them two cute houses, close to the beach, which belong to their parents. We had a wonderful time, just doing nothing…Oh no, that is not exactly correct. My husband was not to stop to take a few rides on the carousels (and pretended it was because of the kids…) and to bring us fresh donuts from the boardwalk for breakfast. Yes, he called it breakfast. Of course, he was wearing his “Life is good” t-shirt, his vacation uniform. And we learned something new too, besides the experience with an American boardwalk- the meaning of a “dry city”! To be honest, I missed a glass of wine to go with a nice dinner at the ocean. There is no BYOB, also. That is the reason, probably, why you already see at 6 am joggers at the boardwalk. Not us. In the evenings, we enjoyed a comfortable, not “dry” at all, gathering with our friends, in front of the cottages, with stars above us and the smell of the ocean in our nose…That is vacation.

Ps. Oh, I forgot to mention, that Ocean City is a really nice town, with many beautiful houses and cottages, quiet corners for long walks ( if you do not prefer the busy life at the boardwalk). And I will for sure find some time to discover them at my next visit to the Jersey Shore…

Thank you, governor Christie!!

Thank you, governor Christie, for cutting our school budget!! The most important reason we moved to our town was the great school system. Everybody said that it is a good area to raise kids. This is different now. Instead of 19 students in the elementary school class there will be 25, in the middle school even 35!! The specials are canceled for first and second grade: no art, no library, no music and no gym. We have to pay for all after school activities and for all sports at the middle and high school. And for the school bus! Students who live closer than 2 miles away from the school are supposed to walk. There are not even sidewalks! Many teachers will lose their jobs, one school will be closed, and the Recreation Department also.

Someone said once, that every nation is just so strong as her education system. We should think about it. But I think the governor does not have to, his kids are going to private schools.

Summertime

I am getting nervous. I think most of the moms do this week. And excited. The reason: vacation time is starting soon. No more walks after dropping off kids at school, no lunch with friends, no quiet time anymore. We have to get used to having the kids at home for the whole day again…Sometimes not so easy. We try to plan the time ahead, sign up for sport and scout camps to keep our kids busy and active. And it is important because the vacation is very long: 2.5 months. But! But sometimes we should just let it go. I mean just hang out, start the day with no plan, see what comes… Yes, it sounds risky. But what an unusual experience, even for us adults, to live for a short time without a schedule… Sounds like - vacation!

Fathers Day

Just on time for Fathers day interesting news from Sweden: 85 percent of fathers now take parental leave! “Those who do not stay home face questions from family and friends.” (The NYT/ 06/15 /10). Yes, Sweden was always a very progressive country. They truly deserve the Fathers Day. How ever, we will celebrate soon, too. I asked my husband what he wishes to do. Should I make a reservation in a nice restaurant or something else, more adventurous? Guess, what he answered: a barbeque in his own back yard… I smile already picturing him wearing his favourite “Life is good” t-shirt, standing at the grill with a glass of beer…What a cliché! But obviously a real “man-thing”. And I love to see him so relaxed and happy.

The Swedish speak about redefining Manhood. Not here, not right now.

Happy Fathers Day!!

Having good time

My parents are back in Germany again…The three weeks they spent here went so fast. Like my son always says: “The time is just flying by if you are having good time”. And we did. We talked for hours and hours, went for long walks at the lake, had nice lunches and dinners together and enjoyed the garden and just being together. Jakob played with grandpa soccer and with grandma Monopoly, unfortunately with his own made up rules…He jumped in their bed early every morning and “entertained” them until he had to go to school. And they spoiled him, of course, as all grandparents do, especially since they live far away.

Even our dog got a special treatment. Not just secretly (as my mom thought) some extra chicken, but also many belly rubs and long walks with my dad. Joey and he got to be really good friends. He seems depressed after my father left… Of course, I took my parents for small trips to show them the area. They just loved it!! Their favourite was driving the country roads and look at all those cute houses and front yards, farms and small villages. They always said that driving in the USA is so relaxing (which is true), nobody is pushing, and there is so much space! We found even places where we got coffee in real mugs, no paper cups (ha,ha- European thing)!

And my father discovered his love for kayaking. He and my husband went even for a kayak trip on Delaware River! Not bad for somebody who is 65 and does not exercise at all. He had a lot of fun taking a kayak trip at the lake and meeting me and mom for lunch on the other side. “How can life get any better if you just have to take a kayak to go for lunch”-dad.

After a while they got very adventurous and went by themselves for a trip to Washington. I was proud of them because their English is very poor and they never traveled before through the USA, just always with us. But they made it and they had the time of their lives there. It was Memorial Day weekend, so they were able to watch the parade. It was obviously the best one what they ever saw. My mom said it was so emotional that they had tears in their eyes. Unfortunately it was the hottest weekend, also… But with a couple of water bottles they enjoyed all highlights of Washington.

I think the war memorials and the Museum of American History impressed them most. The whole trip was truly a lesson in American History. Of course, they did not expect to find such a beautiful city, even I told them so… They still remember the good restaurant they went to every evening in Georgetown. And they even managed to order the food… And as always when they are visiting us they went for a day to NYC. This time they watched Manhattan from the water and waved to the Statue of Liberty.

What else did they do? What all parents do: they helped us! Our landscaping is finally done after two years. Thanks mom and dad! My husband is just wondering how we will manage to keep our garden in the shape they left it... I guess they have to come back soon.

And, of course, my parents got to meet all our new friends and to visit the “old” ones from Connecticut. (By the way, very close friends of us will stay in my parents house while visiting Germany.) They are happy to know that we surrounded by good friends, live in a beautiful area and enjoy it. So, even if it is hard to say Bye to each other, and some tears are falling, we are just sad for a moment. Because, as my parents say, to know your child is happy, makes up for everything, even living far apart. Ps. And the volcano kept quiet, too…

Visitors from far away

My parents are coming for a visit this week - if the volcano keeps quiet. For them it is a big trip and they do not need that additional excitement. Me neither.

They visited us already before but coming to America is always something very special. My father said last time that he never imagined he would travel to the USA, now at his age (he is just 65…). He doesn`t speak any English so it is a little bit challenging. I give my mom a lot of credit, she started an English class before her first trip here and has continued it, so far. She has been here a few times before and she always wants Jakob to be her teacher. Something what he definitely enjoys. It gives him a lot of satisfaction to see his grandma struggling with words he spells so easily. (Of course he has the same fun with his parents…).

My parents love our house (probably because it is “our” house) and they enjoy the great outdoors here. They visit New York and this time they want to go to Washington (which I absolutely recommend!). But most of all they just want to be with us, something they have been missing for four years now. This is a real treat and most exciting, for all of us.

Ps. And lets us also hope that the volcano doesn`t delay their flight back to Germany… just joking!

"Where ever I lay my head that`s my home"(Paul Young)

We visited our friends in Connecticut over Easter. And “our” old house.

We wanted to see how it looks now. It was kind of strange when we passed by. I was sad seeing the ocean (which I still miss) but I had mixed feelings looking at our old house. The thing was: it was actually not ours anymore. It did not feel like ours. Just two years ago, we moved and I already forgot how it was living there…(By the way: the family who lives there did a nice job.) After driving along the beach my husband said. “Let`s go home”.

Something similar always happens when we visit our family in Germany. We spent most of our life there but after living for 4 years in the USA it does not feel like our home anymore. When the airplane lands in Newark everything looks very familiar. Yes, we are home again.

I can only explain it with the fact that we humans have the wonderful ability to adapt. Very fast. We always have this kind of melancholic feeling when we visit places where we lived before, but home is (at least for me) where I, my husband and our son live right now. Here. By the way, talking about homes. My favourite show, especially when I am tired and unable to think, is “House Hunters”(HGTV). It still amazes me to see some of these huge mansions and young couples coming in, saying that the kitchen feels too small. Are you kidding me?! A house with more than 4000sq feet and a kitchen as big a living room in other countries?!

And the funniest thing (or in my opinion the saddest) is that some of those couples are in their late twenties. The last one, I saw, was looking for their first home, no kids, so far.

Did the people learn anything at all from the financial crisis and the collapse of the house market?? Obviously not, that´s why it is so much fun to watch this show…