I've missed you ALL! If I could push my arms through the screen and give you all a big hug I would! I'm sure there's an AI out there that has those abilities but the hug would be way too creepy and clunky. I'm so excited to be back teaching in the studio and catch up with everyone! Usually these emails take inspirations from the week and very loosely wrap it up into a theme for our week's workout - a very helter-skelter wrapping job with a zip tie for a bow. However seeing I've been gone for 4 WEEKS and SO MUCH has happened it's going to be very hard to sum it all up. Even the simple question, "how was it?!?" makes my brain wheel spin a couple times before coming up with any squeaky response. So much was processed, and still digesting.
For those that don't know - we went to Berlin for most of August and really sunk ourselves into the local routine there. This was on purpose as it is was more of a recon mission and less of a vacation to scout as our next big pin on the map for our family. We had an apartment in East Berlin (which we've learned is more locals and less expats), walked to the grocery stores, biked or bussed as a family if we needed to go further, went on school tours, spoke the zero German that we knew (so we basically froze and pointed), we smiled and had small talk with other parents at summer camp pick up, I was able to translate all the labels of each cleaning supply (so I didn't wash our clothes with dishwasher pods), I smelled my way through cooking spices so I could host dinners (so the food didn't taste like diswasher pods), we met friends and was there long enough to hang out with them again. It was both exhilarating and absolutely exhausting. Things I thought would be hard were easy (like biking) and things I thought would be easy were hard (like opening a door). It wasn't the perfect ride, but the proper ride we needed to gather intel.
Again way too much is still processing to conclude ANYTHING but here are the main take aways, taken directly from my notes on my phone:
The parks and rec scene in Berlin is the best we've ever seen. Gorgeous landscapes and canals where there is something for everyone. Optimized for some serious chilling.
Function over comfort. ALWAYS. Which means no ac or fans...nope. Doesn't matter how hot it is, no artificial relief will blow on your body.
Germans don't kiss, they have a scheduled time where they bounce off of eachother's face
Children are royalty
Art is a priority
The horizon line there isn't where the mountains hit the sea, but where graffitti walls hit tatted bodies.
Doors unlock and lock like a twisty tie. Just keep going until something happens.
The tupperware there is very sturdy. Undeniable seal.
Germans are very sturdy. Undeniable seal.
When everything is hung dry the texture of your towels and jeans start to become indistinguishable.
There are bees everywhere, and much like the Germans they only look intense but are totally harmless. They provide a necessary order and harmony to the wild fragrant ecosystem.
Food there is top notch. Even just the condiments that rest on the side of your fridge. QUALITY.
With that said - expiration dates are not suggestions. They are hard facts. The date of death, packages should be read like a a tombstone.
Germans sound abrupt and harsh...but in reality they are abrupt and harsh.
Germans take care of each other. They will also begrunglingly take care of you.
In Berlin it's not how cool your car is, it's how shitty your bike is.
Germans doctors and the security agents at the Berlin airport have the same bedside manner. Deadpan and thorough.
The other very common question we get it is, "SOoooo....are you going to move there or what!?!" Our answer at this point is we still need space and time from our experience to know anything for sure yet. What we do know for sure is yes ... it's important to find your fit, a place that feels like home in a city that suits you. However the grass is greener wherever you fertilize it. It felt like there was a lot to do in Berlin because we made it a point to do a lot. It was easy to meet people because we reached our hand out more to meet people. There was a ton of cool things to do because we were looking for cool things to do. There were a lot of incredible experiences in a short amount of time because we said yes to everything. So our main take away right now is we are REALLY glad we went. Because no matter what our decision is we know HOW to live life better, not just WHERE to live for it to be better. As a family we had heated moments of anxiety and cooled down moments of calm ... but the combo just hardened into confidence. Which I think is one of the most valuable things we could gain in life, and so important for our child to experience.
I don't have a theme so much as I'm just happy to be back! I was actually able to take some pilates classes there, the longest I've ever gone not teaching and just being a student. So I have fully charged bars and a refreshed perspective heading into the studio. I can't wait to see you all in the studio!
Tschüss!!!
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