Sabbatical in Germany! My STBE is talking about doing this next year

[crim son]

if our house sells, and he would take my sons with him for a year abroad. I'd miss my children but I'd be able to visit if I wanted, and what a fantastic opportunity for them! My daughter won't go, but the boys probably would.

[cwydro]

1. That would be a terrific experience for them.

Why not your daughter? Is she too young?

[crim son]

4. No... she'd be sixteen.

She has made it clear that she has no interest in spending a year abroad, and we wouldn't force her. It's too bad though. I went on exchange for a year at sixteen and it changed my perspective on everything.

[CottonBear]

15. Maybe she'll change her mind if she can speak to another kid who has gone abroad. n/t

[crim son]

23. She has done a fair amount of traveling with us, including

four weeks in Germany the summer before this last one. Maybe by the time the sabbatical becomes a reality, she'll be ready to make the trip. Whatever happens I will certainly bring her for a visit some time during the year. I can't go twelve months without seeing my boys!

[cwydro]

27. Yes, it would be good for her

but who can change a 16 year old's mind???:shrug:

[crim son]

28. Not me. And forcing her would just ruin the year for everybody else.

She's a tough little one. I love her.

[Blue-Jay]

2. Stampeding Tiny Butt Elephant?

[CottonBear]

9. Soon to be ex (as in husband).

crim son: That would seem to be a wonderful opportunity for your children. Living and traveling abroad expands one's world view.

[crim son]

13. It sure does. My oldest boy would be fourteen

and my youngest, eight. They've been to Germany before and really loved it. I hope this plan comes to fruition.

[CottonBear]

14. I love Germany! I lived there as a very young child (my dad was an army doctor)

and I've traveled there twice as an adult. I stayed with friends in Munich which is a lovely city. My boss's son is studying abroad in Germany and my boss just got back from 10 days visiting there. He had a great time and his son is becoming fluent in German! Perhaps your kids will pick up the language!

:hug: I wish you the best during your divorce process. I'm going through a divorce too but, unfortunately, it's not amicable. It started out that way and made a bad turn for the worst. :(

[trof]

17. Spent a couple of months in Munich about 20 years ago.

Loved it.
Was able to bring my wife and daughter over for a week or so.
We had a great time.
My daughter didn't want to come at first, but (shame on me) I did a number on her head.

"OK, if that's how you feel, then we don't want you to come. You'd just be a drag on mom. She'll be on her own when I'm working, but we'd rather have that than you moaning all the time. I've talked to Cindy's (her best friend) parents and you'll be staying with them."

Now she felt like a complete jerk and so she came.
She loved it.

[crim son]

22. Trade you daughters. hehe.

Kira came with us on a five week trip to Germany and Sweden last year, and she was miserable much of the time. I'm not sure why, except she is very social at school and thrives on communications with friends. I hope she outgrows it.

[crim son]

20. I'm sad to hear that.

It's hard enough when you're trying to be friendly. Any time we have a fight it feels so bad that I want to throw up, you know? I wish you the best as well. You deserve it. :hug:

[CottonBear]

39. Thank you!

I hope things go well for you and your family too! :hug:

[crispini]

16. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I didn't know myself.

I like yours better. :hide:

[Book Lover]

3. Does STBE = Soon to be Ex? (nm)

[crim son]

5. Yes. We are in the process of trying to separate

and work to our divorce. It's amicable.

[Book Lover]

8. Ah, thanks

I am very glad to know you two are working amicably together. One door closes, another door opens...

[crim son]

10. We'll see. I'm feeling rather unhopeful these days.

The winter blahs. It will pass and then I'll be able to see that next door to open it.

[Book Lover]

11. (((crim son)))

:hug: My very best wishes to you and everyone else.

[crim son]

12. Aw, thanks.

I can always use a hug! :pals:

[Blue-Jay]

6. Ah. That one got me once before.

[crim son]

7. Now you'll never forget it. :) n/t

[wildhorses]

18. sounds like a wonderful idea for everyone concerned

may it come to pass :hi:

[crim son]

24. May it!

I do hope. :hi:

[BarenakedLady]

19. hmmmm

That would be tough for me to handle. I don't think I could be away from my kids for that long. I do understand what a great opportunity it would be for them though.

Tough call. I would have to weigh my selfishness (? - self-interest) against their wishes and well-being. I don't envy those choices for you my friend.

:hug:

[crim son]

25. Depending on my work situation, I would visit for a week or more

during the year. It would be tough and I'd hate it. But it would be so wonderful for them I couldn't deny the opportunity. Plus, I live in a crappy town, Bangor. It will do them so much good to get out for a year.

[SPKrazy]

38. ....

:thumbsup: :hug:

[ThomCat]

21. I hope it happens and works out for all of you.

That could be a wonderful year of growth for everyone.

[crim son]

26. I agree. The STBE

brought it up for the first time this evening. Even though I wouldn't be going I am excited about it.

[SPKrazy]

29. Germany Is Great!

beautiful country

and they don't have "dick in a box" there either

but they do have deeter

I would be excited too, you lucky dawg

sell house sell house!

I'm sending house selling vibes, and my vibes are powerful (I vibrate at a certain frequency that causes people to do what I say, or something like that)

[crim son]

30. Gladly receiving your house-selling vibes.

I was talking about it with the STBE tonight. He really wants to move into his house too. (Shakes fist at the heavens) Why won't it sell? :(

[SPKrazy]

31. market go boom?

bubble pops

no jobs

* pResident

too much house for the average Bangorite?

don't know?


:hug:

[crim son]

32. It's all of the above.

I do know! but I don't like it!

[SPKrazy]

33. that sucks

should burn * in effigy for that!

really I'm sorry it has become such a futile seeming deal for you.

any big corporations coming in that will have execs needing a place to live?

:hug:

[crim son]

34. Lots and lots of physicians.

The house has 5000 square feet and is selling for $519K which is a very good price for most people, for this house. Have you seen it? Here it is: http://www.town-countryrealtors.com/mls/viewListing.php?mls=r%7D%7Cr%7Dt&table=resdent&string=next%3D1%26virtualTour%3D%26table%3Dresdent%26mls%3D%26city%3DBangor%26within%3D0%26county%3D%26beds%3D5%26baths%3D0%26minPrice%3D500000%26maxPrice%3D525000&mlsFind=1

Buy it from me! You know you want to. :P

[SPKrazy]

35. Cool House

near airport? flight path or just "near"
bottled gas, is that common there?

very pretty interior pics.

not bad loan rate being offered there.

but to live in the land of the "disenfranchised wearing fleece"

i'll pass, sorry.

[crim son]

36. A person can learn to love fleece.

Gas in a canister, yes very common.

Near airport but not on the flight path of any commercial or private flights. However there are military jets which fly over our house about once a week. When I first moved here I was told I would stop hearing the planes very quickly and that's exactly what happened.

[SPKrazy]

37. Used To Military Jets

oh fleece is fine

Gas in a canister, I live where natural gas is plentiful and gas lines are everywhere.

Oh, the mortgage is a bit higher than I'd like to pay right now, unless they have some great paying jobs there for me! ROFL

[GalleryGod]

40. Sabbatical from What job? My fellow faculty members are constantly taking these sojourns

I always "waive" mine..I worked too hard to get here, and love my students too much to take a sabbatical from them and these "ivy covered towers:hippie:


BTW...I guess the "if our house sells" is the really big precondition?

[crim son]

41. He's a Professor of Physics at a local college.

He got his PhD in Munich and is fluent in German. He would try to do an exchange and teach over there, if possible. He is still in contact with a few of his old professors. He's 53. Maybe by the time you're there, you'll take a sabbatical too!

[GalleryGod]

46. Ha! Merci BeauCoups !

Passed that Speed Bump...a few years back !



The EX...on Miami Bech, February 1990

[crim son]

47. She has my legs.

Too long if you ask me. :P

I'm sorry you've had to go through the ex-ing process. It is a nightmare. I hope you are doing okay these days.

[GalleryGod]

48. Caught up with my Ex College Sweetheart at our 20th Reunion

Been married for the last 13 years!



December 26th,2003.
A Great Day...lunch at Sardi's Evening performance of Wicked.

[crim son]

49. I'm glad. That gives me hope.

:hi:

[Lowell]

42. Germany is great

I spent four years there in the 1970s and had a blast . . . what I can remember anyways. The kids will probably love it. I really like the young people in Germany. They were much more progressive and broad minded than what I'd known stateside. Of course things change and I was there before the reunification.

Besides that I'm sorry to hear you are in a relationship that hasn't worked out. No matter how amicable the split is they are still not easy. Good luck.

[crim son]

45. Thanks, Lowell.

I love Germany and the German people too and would be comfortable knowing my kids are there. My STBE has a lot of relatives all over Germany so it wouldn't feel completely strange to them, living there.

My relationship, yeah. It's wearing me down.

[BarenakedLady]

43. Ok, I've thought long and hard on this

(ok bear with me, I do think sometimes :P ) If you go visit your family in Germany, you have to take me. All my relatives live there. Which part would they be going to anyway?

[crim son]

44. You're definitely coming with me if you want to.

I think he'd try to end up in Munich but he has family in St. Goar on the Rhine. Let's just take some time off and we can go wherever you want. That would be so damn fun!