We have some pretty fantastic friends that welcome and inspire us. If you're reading this, you're probably one of them!
One of the things that helped plan our trip was the fact that we have some awesome friends who are brave enough to pick up and move across the world. We’ve already told you about Austin and his family in Japan as well as Elizabeth rocking it as a diplomat in India. We are also lucky to know and love Matt and Mareike Siler, good friends who used to live in Chicago and now have a little (growing) family in Mareike’s home country of Germany. When we were in the planning stages of this trip, they had to be on the list. So this is how we found ourselves in the tiny picturesque village of Bergneustadt on the west side of Germany.
Our few days with Matt, Mareike, and their 1 ½ year-old, Thessa, were rejuvenating beyond what any resort could have offered. Being able to share a 3+ hour-long German breakfast over coffee and conversation was medicine for the soul. We played with Thessa, had little outings to a lake and a nearby coffee shop, and got to see what their life in Germany looks like. We shared stories about our journeys. We talked about home and the things that worry us from across the world. We encouraged each other's plans and dreams for the future. We laughed over old memories and marveled at new updates. It was everything we never could have told you we needed.
Just like with Austin and Elizabeth, we were welcomed into our friends’ home in a foreign land and it felt like our own. We are so lucky to have people in our lives that we can feel close to even after long periods apart. Thanks everyone who has hosted us! You helped inspire our travels and were vital support during this time. Also a huge thanks to our friends and family back home. We love talking to you and staying up-to-date on your lives. Even the quick messages or comments really brighten our day! We love you all, no matter how many miles are between us!
