On the plane from Atlanta to Munich, Germany. It’s the second leg of my life-changing journey to live in Kosice, Slovakia. I’ve just changed planes in rainy, grey, (not to mention cold) Atlanta. Yes, it’s cold already. I feel the cold just walking into the plane.

Actually, it seems to be a good thing! There are many empty seats on the plane. So I can stretch out on two seats. Mozart is playing on the piped-in airplane music. There is a Jungfrau sitzen mit ihrem Kind (young woman sitting with her kid) behind me. They have a giant Winnie The Pooh. She keeps telling the Kleine (little one) ‘Langsam’ (slowly) when she sips.

There are, however, a group of semi-rowdy American guys- probably in the service, I surmise- seated further back behind me. If I know them, they’ll be drinking and partying, excited about the free beers. Then they should pass out about halfway to Munich. Let’s hope. At least they’re not right near me!

Now I’m watching a short German video about Rhine River Cruises. This time, I’m going to make it an absolute point to be outgoing and meet people, even ‘commoners.’ Speaking of commoners, the departing flight across from mine was going to Vienna.

Stop Over in Atlanta to Munich

I had a couple quick hours in the Atlanta airport. I got over to the international terminal, my fave place to hang out.  Then I called mommy. We talked for about an hour, it was good. I miss her already, a lot. We had been working together on Elderberry Creations, daily for about seven years. So it will be a big change. Of course I miss dad, Todd, and my boyfriend. I’ll feel better after I get there and get a few hours/days of rest.

A flight attendant just made the rounds with the ‘Frankfurter Allgemeine’ (rightwing perspective) newspaper.

In the Klo (restroom) at Atlanta, I heard my first German conversations. Reality setting in. Then on the phone with mom, I heard three different languages spoken near me. Excitement kicks up.

Now the flight attendant just went around mit ‘Der Welt‘ (with The World) newspaper. And said, “Yeah, I’ve got a belt.” (Inside joke, hardy ho.)

“A new chapter” has begun in my extraordinary, exciting, extroverted life. As boyfriend reminded me as he closed the door, leaving my cute apartment. Yes, it was a difficult, tearful event, bidding farewell to boyfriend, the parental units, and my brother.

I will let my mind wander into my lovely leather bound journal, the one I got for my 35th birthday from my brother. Incidentally, Made in Paris, France. Oui, oui, oui. (Yes, yes, yes.)

This is an excerpt from my Kosice Journal, documenting my exodus from a (relatively happy) bustling life in beautiful San Diego, to (voluntarily) take a post teaching English in the newly independent eastern capital of Slovakia 🇸🇰 during a very cold winter 1999.