Category: Posts

it’s been a long time coming but. . . check it out! my living room is finally complete.

and soon the chair will be delivered and my little writing nook/library will be complete!

heavy into my fall fleetwood mac rotation

on loop

I get so nostalgic about the fall season in Berlin. It’s my favorite season in general but I really enjoy the season here. When I think about that first fall in my apartment, I remember waking up and putting on my sweatshirt so I could make a coffee. I think about the chilly mornings outside with Russell and the soups I made at home. During fall, I always watch my favorite seasonal movies or episodes of shows. Maybe I’ll post the list at some point.

The fall of 2023 is really special to me when I look back at it in hindsight. I was finally feeling better and felt settled in my space. I was making new friends and exploring different parts of the city. I established a good workout routine, I went across the city to go to my office and I celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving with expat friends. The summer was brutal both weather wise and for my general state of existence. When the temperatures cooled off, life didn’t feel as heavy as it did months prior. I went to yoga after work and made dinners by myself. I lit candles and took long showers. I went for solo walks on the weekends.

One night, I met a friend for Korean food. It was a nice night because it was one of the first times we had been open with each other. We spent the rest of the night walking through the festival of lights and drinking hot chocolate. I guess I associate this time with what it felt like to get my footing again. I started to view my apartment as a safe haven for Russ and I. I celebrated a full, intense year of living in Germany and was looking forward to many more. I genuinely enjoyed Berlin and felt like I was finding myself again.

Two years later, I feel just the same. I get excited pulling out my coats and sweaters. I try to stay outside longer and look at the changing leaves. I’ve already had many teas and soups. I bought a new candle and hopefully soon, I’ll get a new chair for the apartment to make it even cozier.

I just wish my brother was here for this season, too. We had such a nice fall season when we lived together in California.

It’s been a long time coming, okay!! I finally got my new leather journal and I’ve kept it in its pristine little packaging until I’m ready to organize it. My initial thought was to have my personal journal, a common place journal and then a German learning one in the back. It’s perfect, though. It’s dark green with a red band and a purple leather bookmark. It has three notebooks inside and my last name pressed into the cover in all lowercase (of course). A prompt asked me once if I was stranded on a deserted island what three things I would bring. Without hesitation I answered: my journal, music of some kind and Russell. I love journaling and whether I do it in my private handwritten one or here, it’s something I always come back to.

Anyway, that was the little gift I gave to myself on my trip to Vienna!

I’m finally back home. Since August, it’s felt like I’ve been on a never-ending travel day. Since early August I’ve been to southern Germany, France, the U.S., Austria and then the UK. My brain kind of feels like it’s going to explode but I’m grateful to be home for the next month and a half so I can regroup.

I have quite a lot to say about everywhere I’ve been and the thoughts I’ve been having but I don’t have the capacity at this exact moment to formulate them into any sort of coherent thoughts. For now, I’ll quickly focus on how good of a feeling it is to come home.

When I walked out of the airport, Russell just about jumped out of the window to see me. He climbed up onto the couch and laid next to me (taking my spot). He slept next to me, pushing his back into my legs and inched his way up to my pillow in the morning.

Big exhale~

i need a break