Timing is a bitch.

Wow. I just read that last post and it was... rough. I apologize. I blame the bad writing on jet lag and have since deleted it. I am betting a few of you were hoping I would stop writing this blog when I returned to the states; looks like you're shit out of luck because I plan to keep up with this whole blog thing for awhile. I plan on starting a blog in German as well once I figure out how to make umlauts on my computer. Fascinating, I know.

Well my pants have been traveling these last few days. What did I do on my last night in Munich? Watched a movie and packed. I was going to have a big glass of wine and watch my movie, but then I realized I still had a lot of packing to do and drinking alone is just sad. My flight back from Germany was stressful. I definitely felt the effects of 9/11 - America got attacked, so I got strip searched by a 300 pound lesbian at London Heathrow Airport. My hair kept beeping as I went through security so she took much pleasure in thoroughly patting me down... six times. I was uncomfortable. The ripple effect of that day can be seen everywhere. There are separate entrances in the Allianz arena in Munich for men and women because everybody gets searched before they can enter to watch the game. Airport security is ridiculous- my extensive pat-down almost made me miss my flight to Minnesota. I had to plead with the gate agent to let me board the flight because they closed the gate off already. The rest of the trip was alright. I only cried three and a half times on the plane ride home. They lost my baggage and I left my Bayern Munich flag on the plane, so that accounted for some of my tears. I dragged that flag halfway across the world and then left it on the plane. It was a frustrating day.

Back to Minnesota. I've been here for almost a week and am experiencing severe reverse culture shock. It's taking me forever to write this post because the American keyboards have all the keys in different places. Nobody smokes. I can't drink until November 17th. Driving under 100mph is absolutely no fun at all. I feel gross because I don't walk as much and am less active in general. Yesterday, I saw an advertisement that repeatedly stated, "America cares about the world's resources and is a leader in recycling." I almost died laughing. We are the land of SUVs and excessive waste. But I guess cultural hypocrisy makes some people sleep better at night.

Everything reminds me of Munich. I was asleep when our plane was touching down, and when I opened my eyes I thought, "Oh, Munich!" Wait no. Southern Minnesota. Looks the same, but is very different. I heard all of the current American music on the radio in Munich. I finally got my shit together and unpacked my suitcases today... I kept the most random souvenirs (Sound of Music Tour ticket, soccer game ticket, U-bahn map, etc.) and they make me smile. I miss it. I go back for Oktoberfest in exactly one month so I guess I can't get too upset about it all. It will be tons of fun, but it won't be the same.

I learned one big lesson while I was away: Timing is everything. Things in Munich were really great - until life got in the way. I have to come back to finish my education. Things in Minneapolis are also great, but it's different and it's starting to change. I grew up here, I have childhood friends here, etc. But it is starting to become more difficult to relate to some of the people that I used to share everything with. Too much has changed. Our lives have taken us in completely different directions. Some of my high school friends... if we were to meet each other today, I don't think we would speak to each other. I plan on going back to Munich after I graduate. But what if the timing is bad? My friends there could be married, not with the company, not in the country, or dead (although I hope not.) Maybe the company won't exist. If that is the case, is this a situation I still want to pursue? I need to separate out what is pulling me back towards Munich - the people or the place. My mom keeps telling me that time has a way of sorting things out. Maybe my friends from Munich don't feel as strongly about me and will quickly lose touch.

Who knows... only time will tell.


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