Yanks.

It's been a whirlwind of a journey. We left with a diaper-wearing toddler, and returned with a bilingual, bike-riding, big kid, plus a Maeve Josephine. We gained experience professionally and personally, and confidence in our ability to overcome challenges. We felt sympathy for some immigrants and frustration at others. We watched, from afar, as America elected a President popular in Europe. We saw the end of our favorite television programs via Slingbox and met our new favorites via CastTv. We learned that sandwiches are dinner, salami is breakfast, and American beer is tasteless. We learned that adventure is fun, but not forever.

The German chapter of our lives is closed. Sure, we'll go back and visit, and play tour guide for Maeve and make sure to get some pictures of her at the Elephant Playground. We'll keep in touch with our old friends via Facebook, email, and phone, and hope that they'll come visit us. But we won't live in Weimar again, and so we're feeling a little Heimweh about that. But for the most part, we're thrilled to be back here and enjoying time with family, letting our children experience a childhood much like the ones we enjoyed.

Who knows where life may take us- five years ago we couldn't have imagined that we'd end up sending our Fiona to an unknown Kindergarten in East Germany sight unseen. We certainly can't predict what other kinds of adventures we might have in the future. But for the time being, we're content to be Yanks. Yanks who vacation, and visit family and friends worldwide, and speak German. But mostly, just plain Yanks.

So, Dear Readers, thanks for listening. And reading. And commenting. And for now, from the Yanks, formerly in Weimar,

Tschüss!