so much learned

It’s been a whole month! Wowza. A month ago from today Sam and I arrived to Austria.. our new home, our new city, our new language, our new continent and our new culture. I think I’ve learned more about the world and about myself in the past three months of packing, moving and traveling than I’ve ever learned in my whole life.

Living the dream: while as good as it sounds, harder than you’d think.

I’ve learned that marrying Sam was/is/will always be the greatest choice (besides following Jesus) I could’ve made. We got married at the perfect time, not too soon, not too late. Why would I want to do a single day of life without my best friend? I don’t. That’s all.

I’ve learned that graduating college showed me who my friends were just in the classroom and who my friends are outside of getting a good grade.

I’ve learned that moving only an hour away really brings out the truth in friendships. Who’s worth driving an hour to see? Who wants to drive an hour to see me? Less than I’d thought.

I learned what it was like to be a Wyld Life leader. I still believe there’s a special place in heaven for good wyldlife leaders.. On the same note I learned that i’ll be sticking to high school kids in the future☺

I learned that I hate using the terms “in-law.” I don’t like saying “mother-in-law, sister-in-law” etc. That sounds like saying I only call them family because the law tells me I have to. I quite like my “in-laws” and think i’ll just stick to calling them family && not family “in-law.”

I’ve learned more about bikes than I ever knew one could know about bikes. I’ve also learned that I still have a lot to learn, and that i’ve learned to love all things bikes and cycling. Who knew.

I’ve learned that i’m REALLY glad that my family chose Austria as home.. not France or somewhere else. I’ve learned that I actually really enjoy the German language and the Austrian culture. && not because I think I have to, but because I truly enjoy it and feel like I fit in.

I’ve learned that I really, really struggle with comparison. Maybe more than ever.

I’ve learned that Skype is the next best thing to a hug.. I miss my mom and Britt just as much as I thought I would, but drinking coffee in the morning or a glass of wine at night while talking to them comforts my soul.

I’ve learned that my mom is the dog whisperer. && I’m continually learning just how unbelievable and incredible she is.. like more than I could ever hope to be.

I’ve learned that I actually hate snowboarding at the Gletscher.. not just a one time thing.. Hate it.

I’ve learned that I might be too obsessed/in love with cats. I could be the crazy cat lady so fast.

I’ve learned that my mental toughness is really, really weak. On a bike and in life in general.

I’ve learned that I hate frogs and spiders more than I remembered.

I’ve learned a little bit about forgiveness..

I’ve learned that there’s no place like home. Story behind this: My sweet friend, Taylor, came to stay with us for two nights. It was so sweet to show her around, tell her about all of the things I love about this place, and hear an American accent ☺ She asked Bryan where his favourite place in the world is, since he’s traveled pretty much everywhere..literally. His answer was simply “Well, I quite like here.” The more I think about it the more that answer makes sense. Most people don’t think of living in their favourite vacation place. In most instances you just can’t live anywhere in the world that you’d like, much less in your most favourite place.. but, why not? Why not love the place you live more than anywhere else in the world?? Lesson learned, BT.

I’ve learned that the German language can sometimes be easy to figure out and sometimes just does whatever it wants. I can feel so confident in knowing what I know, then realise I know nothing. Woof.

I’ve heard the words “you’re living the dream” a lot. I’ve spent a bit of time wondering what that means. What’s “the dream?” For now I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s more than just THE dream. I have a lot of dreams. Living in Austria and traveling Europe and having an unbelievably wonderful family is one of the dreams, that’s for sure. “The dream” still comes with stress and struggle. Not knowing where we will live in 8 months is hard. Applying to 20+ graduate schools is hard. Student loan debt sucks. Marriage is the greatest, really, but shoot when did I say it came without hardship, adjustment and change? Perhaps the hardest part of “living the dream” is having all of my friends feel like I don’t need and/or want them in my life anymore, thinking i’m too far away, too busy, too whatever.

I’ve learned to love spring time for the first time in my whole life. I’m looking forward to summer for the first time in my life too. Turns out it’s quite lovely.

I’ve learned that one can be fluent in Chinese, English and German, and continue learning French and Spanish at the same time.. and I’ve learned that most of the world is a billion times better at geograpghy and languages than America.

I’ve learned that I have a lot more to learn.. like German, geography and how to drive a stick-shift. I need to learn to have patience with myself. I need to learn to cook.. seriously.

My favourite thing and least favourite thing that I’ve learned is that really, I’m living the dream.