Lest everyone think that Germany is just full sticky red tape and neurotic people who drive me crazy, I want to say that there are days when it’s different.

When I leave my house and my neighbor greets me with a friendly “Guten Morgen”.

When I go through my neighborhood and the nice Turkish man from the shop around the corner smiles and says “Hello” as I go past.

When I walk through town and no one seems to be rushing or irritated or hostile.

When the company I did a translation for gives me a glowing recommendation, and the people there tell me to come back for a visit now then, just to say “hi”.

When the air is crisp and cool, fresh and damp, and it smells of new rain, dark pines, rich soil, and wet concrete. When the clouds hang low over the hills of the Black Forest, which cradle the city in their green arms. When nature seems at peace with itself. When I feel at peace with myself.

It sounds banal, but there are days when I am simply content. When the mistakes of the past and the insecurity of the future don’t seem to touch me. When all that matters is being alive.