Looking for a Silver Lining

Being here has been tougher than I expected.  I knew that I would miss my family and friends tremendously.  And man, do I!  I thought that the one constant in this time of transition (besides the love I feel from so many people back at home) would be my job.  Sure, my position and my colleagues are different, but its still BASF and after almost 13 years, I kinda thought I had a handle on working for this company.  The transition work-wise has been much harder than I had planned.  I feel really stupid most of the time (and no, this isn't a shameless plug for you to tell me that "No Denise, you're not dumb").  The work here requires a different way of thinking and I'm struggling with seeing real value in many of my tasks.  Anyway, I feel like I've been focusing too much of how tough it is... that I've been neglecting some positives things that this experience has presented.

So, here's a quick list of my Silver Lining:
- Some fun new friends, especially my two new partners in crime Tania and Helen
- Meeting people from countries that I didn't even know existed (to my credit, many country names have changed since middle school and world geography)
- Not having to walk into a public bathroom and immediately bend at the waist to see which stalls have feet and are therefore occupied - Very simple concept, USofA... bathroom doors in Europe have an indicator (red/green) to notify if a stall is in use.  Novel idea!
- Above mentioned bathrooms also have full doors, no side cracks that show your cra... well, you know what I mean!
- Grocery stores not being filled with aisles of "diet" foods... there are also few convenience foods, but the quality of food really can't be beat even if it takes longer to prepare.
- Walking distance to the gym, walking more in general, and higher quality foods has resulted in a 14 lbs weight loss since relocating (I'm nearly swim suit season ready... and its still ski season!)
- I've been to some beautiful cities and have seen some amazing sites (with more to come)
- And of course the obvious - Great Beer, Great Chocolate, Great Fries and Great Waffles

Cause No Matter How Far Away You Roam....

...For the Holidays, You can't beat HOME SWEET HOME!

I had a really great holiday this year.  It meant so much to be able to be at home with all those I love.  Even having my wisdom teeth extracted didn't damper the 2 weeks home (I'm quite tough though!).

Cara Jasiolek and Dave Klaer - saying "I do"

I was SO fortunate to fly out when I did.  Had it even been one day later, good chance that I wouldn't have made it home for Christmas and definitely not for Cara and Dave's wedding.  I have learned very quickly that Europe does not handle snow well at all.  Between a major lack of snow plows and deicing machines, most airports come to a screeching halt with any real snow fall.  Couple that with tariff issues moving deicing fluid between countries and well, if you don't get out of here before the first few snowflakes - best hunker down and drown your homesick sorrows in trappist beers, because you're not leaving anytime soon.

Ice Skating at Campus Martius, downtown Detroit with
Erin, Tyler and Melissa

The 2 weeks I was home was jammed packed with the wedding, Christmas (and fast Christmas prep), seeing as many people as possible (SO sorry to those I missed on this trip, boo), having my teeth pulled, and New Years Eve.  Before I knew it, I was packing my things to head back to Brussels.  When I left Belgium before the holiday, I told myself that returning was going to be okay.  I have friends here now and I am much more comfortable living here than I was only 4 months ago.  In my head, all of these things should have made it much easier to leave Detroit and return to Brussels.  In my heart, it still hurt... a lot.  Its always so hard to say goodbye.  As crazy as this may sound, I always cry the hardest saying goodbye to Benson.  Maybe because I can't talk to him or email with him or skype with him.... maybe because he can't come visit.  Maybe its just because he lets me cry on him without response.

Can't wait til the next visit.
Happy 2011 everyone!

Playing with Ben's new frisbee (thanks Emmy and Ella)

New Years Eve - Joe Louis Arena!  Go Wings!