Just one person makes the difference

Moving to another country is always difficult, especially when there is lots of paperwork involved, and in another language is nearly impossible.

We have been blessed with each move we have made to have found (or been assigned) a 'helper' who has made these transitions so much easier. In America, it was Jonathan, in Korea we had Chul-Hong and here in Germany we have Alexander.

John met Alexander when he first arrived. Alexander is the 'fix-it' man here at the Kirchliche Hochschule (where John is working). He was responsible for the renovation of our apartment, and after John got here he took him (and a 4-ton truck) to Ikea to pick up furniture for the house. Since then, he has helped us get a car, get car insurance, invited us to his home for a meal and meet his family, introduced us to a huge number of lovely people at church, and has organised for us to go in a couple of weeks on a church retreat at a castle.

Without him, we would not have settled in so quickly or so comfortably. One person can really make a huge difference.
Thank you Alexander.

Schloss Luntenbeck

Today we visited a Textilmarkt (craft fair) held at Scholss (Castle) Luntenbeck. I tried to find out a bit about the history of the castle, but there doesn't seem to be much available. I can say that it is a collection of lovely buildings built around a central courtyard area and each building is quite different from the rest. It was a wonderful setting for the fair, and we had a lovely time.
Lets see if I can manage to put some photos up here!


This was our 'ticket' to enter!


The entrance (from inside the castle grounds)


This is the Haupthaus (main house)


Garden at the entrance to the Haupthaus


The Fachwerkhaus (translated to the half-timbered house)

Gesinde- /Backhaus (baking house)

This fair is only on for one weekend every year, and we were so lucky to find out about it. Thank you Victoria (a new kiwi friend we met through a new kiwi friend we met through a lovely woman I sold something to in Wellington!)

So, we are not in Korea anymore!

So, not having blogged in a while, and not having had much to say, I stopped. Partly laziness, and partly thinking "why would anyone want to know that?".
Anyhow, here is our update.
In September 2009 Trinity, Mila and I left Seoul and flew to New Zealand. We made the decision as a family to spend the next 6 months apart from John as the girls were both wigging out in Korea. Being little blondes, everytime we went out they were photographed, touched, given candy ... basically they hated it. Added to this was the problem of schooling for them. The international schools were way too expensive, and the Korean schools were not willing to take any children that didn't speak Korean. So we left John behind to finish up his contract, and landed on my Mum and Dad in Wellington.
The girls quickly settled into school, I found a job and we had a wonderful time catching up with old friends and family. The time in New Zealand had it's ups and downs - my Dad had a minor stroke, my Mum had a knee reconstruction operation and my Sister got married. John was able through the grace of our good friends to come and stay for 3 weeks over summer, which was wonderful. Our first time as a 4 person family together in New Zealand.
We left New Zealand again in early April, and winged our way through Australia, Dubai and finally arrived in Dusseldorf after 36 hours travelling. John was at the airport to meet us, and we then caught 2 trains and a taxi to get to our new apartment.
John is here to do a Habilitation (another PhD)and as he is here as an EU citizen, I am able to work as well. We will spend the next few weeks getting Trinity into school, trying not to freeze (supposed to be Spring) and getting my head around driving on the right-hand side again.
So, for anyone who thinks we have fallen off the map - we sort of did, but are now back on board.