Translation: Germany, here I come.
After my trip to Scotland I had every intention of laying low for a few months before searching for my next job. I knew I wanted to do another seasonal position similar to what I had done in Yellowstone this past summer, but I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go next. I was home for about a week before I decided I needed to find a job, and I needed to find one STAT. I’m blessed to always have a fall back job watching my sister (I get paid by Washington State to provide care for her, she has autism,) but downtime and me do not mix.
Downtime for me equals more anxiety, more depression, and more binge eating episodes despite my seemingly endless list of food sensitivities. Yes, I eat the foods I know I’m sensitive to, which in turn causes the anxiety and depression. It’s an ugly cycle and I can only chalk it up to having nothing to fill my days, so I fill it with food. It’s not an every day occurrence, but the “episodes” are more frequent when I’m back home with too much free time. I loose myself too easily in my thoughts when I have down time, which I’m learning is quite common with us humans.
“An idle mind is the devils workshop.”
I’ll take a scoop of every flavor, thanks.
Knowing my tendencies, I knew it was not a good idea for me to be home for too long without a plan. So I started to brain storm my next move. During my time working in Yellowstone, one of my coworkers had told me about a resort in Germany that hired Americans. At the time I thought nothing of it, saved the name in my phone, and went back to eating my lunch. When I decided I needed to do something after Scotland, the name popped into my head and I sent an email to the hiring department.
I’ll spare you the details, because this plan to work in Germany has literally taken two months to come to fruition, but I leave this Sunday and I will be in Germany for a little over a year. I have no idea what my job will be, it’s a “place you where you’re needed kind of position” until you’ve been there for three months, after which you can apply for a different position if you’re unhappy with the one you’ve been given. It’s a hotel/resort so I could be doing anything hospitality based. I won’t make jack shit for money, and I’ll be living in an old Nazi hospital.
Continuing to put my bachelors degree to good use eh?
“Old hospital? Lingering spirits? Sppoookkyy.”
The resort is a US military resort where American military families vacation, so I will be working with other Americans from all over the states. I’m trying to learn a bit of German for the days I go out into town, and so far I know how to say “please and thank you, goodbye, I am a woman, you are a man, they are children, and bread and water.” You know, the essentials. I will be living in south Germany, close to the Austrian border, and the photos I’ve seen of the town are adorable. I’ve read blogs written by previous employees, and they were able to travel to surrounding countries at least once a month.
If I do my math correct, I have the opportunity to visit at least 15 countries during my time living in Germany, which is why I am going. I’m not going to make money, I’m not going to work my dream job, I’m going because when will I have another opportunity like this to live in Europe for over a year, for free? I anticipate the employee demographic and culture to be very similar to where I worked in Yellowstone, and have no doubt I’ll find a fellow travel lover to explore with.
I assume that will be why most of us employees are there – to see Europe.
“Hey, you wanna explore with me?”
I really don’t know much else, I was keeping this under wraps until everything was finalized. As I mentioned it took nearly two months, and was a pain in the ass at times because of all the government background checks and hoops to jump through, but we made it, they purchased my ticket, and I leave this Sunday. Technically I am a US government worker, and I will be paid in US currency.
In 2017 I took a trip to Ireland that changed my life, I knew after that trip that seeing the world on my own terms was not only possible, but necessary. I immediately came home and researched what I needed to do to move to Ireland, but it proved to be difficult without a job. Fast forward to now, and I’m given the opportunity to live in Europe. I would have never guessed it would be Germany, but I’m enthralled nonetheless. If you would have asked me where my path would take me in 2019 I would never have thought it would be to Germany.
This is a prime example that sometimes our paths are much different than we expected, while at the same time very similar to something we may have manifested years prior.
I’ve spent the last two months visiting friends and family, trying not to drown too deep with all my free time, and prepping for my upcoming move. I visited California and Arizona last month, and am soaking up as much time with my family this week before I leave. I’d be lying if I said the last two months were smooth sailing, they’ve been quite destructive on my mental health, but I continue to try to learn from my actions and am confident I will find my balance. I refuse to quit trying to find what works for me.
I will be living at the base of Germanys tallest peak, and I already have a goal to climb it at some point in 2019. My only other goals this year are to travel as much as I can, live in the moment as much as I can, and continue to heal my body physically and mentally as much as I can. I will have access to local German markets as well as the commissary to purchase and make my own meals, but you’d better believe I’m going to eat schnitzel and pretzels while wearing a dirndl.
All about that local market life, even in Europe.
I will be putting my cell phone number/plan on a hold while overseas, and as of right now have no plans to get a German phone number. I look forward to unplugging, but will be bringing my MacBook and my iPhone to use wifi for blogging, e-mail, and other social media. Friends and family that need to contact me can message me in one of those ways. I will be given a PO Box upon arrival, and charges will be all US based so please be my pen pal when I get that set up.
I will be blogging my adventures as much as I can, so I hope you’ll follow along as I explore, eat, and maybe even drink my way through Germany. I hear Glühwein is a good way to warm up during the cold winter months. Auf Wiederhören.
Q: Have you been to Germany?
Blissfulbritt 
30 thoughts on “Deutschland Hier Komme Ich”
rootchopper
One of these days all my traveling friends will intersect in a harmonic convergence of wanderlust. Safe travels. Brittany.
Brittany
That will be a glorious day!! Thank you!
pausesandclicks
I’m SO proud of you! I’ve enjoyed your adventures in your Yellowstone job and definitely will be following you in Germany! Despite the red tape and obstacles you followed your heart!!!
Brittany
Thank you!! I appreciate your continued support. ❤
The Homesteaders Wife
You will have a wonderful year! To be able to work/travel your way through that area is so exciting! Can’t wait to see your pics…..I think it’s one of the most picturesque places in the world. And you will not get sick of the food. 😂 Safe travels!
Brittany
Thank you! I can’t wait to see what I discover in the next year.
Paulie
Enjoy your time in Germany. It’s a country I’ve always wanted to visit. If you haven’t already read Mark Twain’s short essay on the German language. You should find it entertaining if not discouraging.
https://www.cs.utah.edu/~gback/awfgrmlg.html
Brittany
I hadn’t read that yet, thanks for sharing! The language is quite intense to learn!
Emily
I’m so jealous! I tell all my German friends that I should’ve been born German. I’ve only been to Berlin for about 18 hours, but it was marvelous. Duolingo is pretty good for learning basic German skills. Keep in mind that living in a foreign country is different from visiting. It seems only expats fully grasp that concept, but there are a fair few of us out there, and we can bond over similar experiences. 😉 Which countries do you have in mind to visit first? I wish you safe travels and best of luck settling in!
Brittany
I am using Duolingo, and I love it! I plan to visit Austria and Italy first, they are very close. Then possibly Switzerland because it’s also very close, but I want to go back to Ireland and Scotland sometime too!! Nothing is off limits! I’ll have plenty of Germany to explore too. Thank you for the well wishes. 🙂
sunsetdoc
Ich hoffe du hast eine wundervolle Zeit
Brittany
Danke! Ich liebe dich.
fionajarrett
Deadly! Wish I was as brave as you 🤗 Tis going to be an amazing year, good on you. Germany is brilliant & you can always pop back to Ireland for a wee trip ☘
Brittany
I look forward to coming back to Ireland during my time in Europe!! Will be one of my highlights.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
You amaze me. I can’t wait to follow along on your travels.
Brittany
I love you. I miss you. I adore you. ❤️
Liz H
” but you’d better believe I’m going to eat schnitzel and pretzels while wearing a dirndl.”
WE WANT PICTURES!! 😀 😀
Bon Voyage, Brittany!
Brittany
Hahaha! Pictures will be a must! 💃🏻
stateeats
Britt – you are going to have a BLAST!! SO jealous! Been to Germany three times and loved it every time. The food! I am salivating just thinking of it! Just remember the Germans are punctual and love their schedules and you’ll be fine. -Kat
Brittany
Good to know, thank you for the tip! Good thing I feel the same about punctuality! 😝
Christine @ Swallows from my Kitchen Window
I know EXACTLY where you’re going to work! Been there and loved it – such a beautiful area, and it’s easy to visit so many other countries, cities, villages – how awesome. And there’s a nice grocery next to a Porsche dealership just outside the gate where they sell amazing tubs of licorice, haha.. And Zugspitze… definitely go to Rothenberg ob de Tauber… the Tegelberg near Schwangau… oh my gosh, I’m so happy for you!
Brittany
Yes! I’ve already been to the grocery area by the Porsche dealer! How funny. Went into the town today in the opposite direction, so cute. Can’t wait for all the travels!
Ingrid
The countryside in southern Germany and northern Austria is beautiful. I have no doubt you’ll enjoy a fantastic year. Enjoy!
Brittany
I’m already amazed!
P Cathey
Zer Gute
You Own this…🙏👍
🙋 Happy Travels
Pam &KiKi
Brittany
Miss you so much! ❤️🇩🇪
Allie Zottola
I’m so happy for you and this new opportunity to travel and see the world! I’m pumped to read about your adventures in Germany and all over Europe!!
Brittany
Me too!
Josh dV
OK, getting caught up on recent events.
Sooooo excited for you!!! I’ve never been to Germany but took 3 yrs of German in high school though I did not ever use it.
I have an aunt and uncle living in Vienna now, not far from you and my cousin is in Czech right now. From all I have heard you will greatly enjoy yourself and I think the opportunity to hear and learn things from outside the American Perspective will be priceless.
Brittany
I’ve been here a month and a half and LOVE IT!