Liebster Award, kind of

B. from Ami in Schwabenland nominated me for a Liebster award. I think it's a nice idea. I'm not sure how much I can fully participate. I lurk in read several blogs, but don't generally comment on them so it would be a bit strange to nominate someone who doesn't exactly know that I read the blog (or maybe I'm being paranoid).

However, I do think it's a nice idea and will at least participate with my answers.

1. What is your next planned travel destination?
It will probably be Rotterdam. I met some cool people from there and was invited to an event. I have a local who has kindly offered to host me, which is my favorite way to experience a city and a great way to spend time with an interesting person. Other than that, I don't have any big trips planned and that's okay with me because I've been feeling worn down from getting sick so much lately.

2. In what way/s do you see your home country differently than before you became an expat?
I think that I will feel more unsafe when I am in the US. Even since the two years since I've left, gun control has been further diminished in the area where I used to live. Here in Germany, I feel much more safe. Yes, bad things can and still do happen, but you don't see people bringing in huge guns when they go to buy grout at the building supply store here. There have been too many accidents with accidental discharges of weapons for me to feel comfortable with people carrying them in casual environments such as the store or public buildings.

3. Which book that you've read still sticks in your mind as one that left a deep impression on you?
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. I almost peed myself with laughter about the part where the beginning French students were trying to explain Easter and everything that goes along with it, but only with a very basic vocabulary. When I try to speak German, I totally know the feeling and it's a reminder to be empathetic to people learning a new language (such as immigrants).

4. What are two of your favorite natural scents or smells (so no perfume or cologne)?
Lavender (fresh is the best!) and lily of the valley (my grandmother's favorite flowers, so they have a really nice memory attached, too).

5. What is the funniest thing someone has said to you lately? (provide context if needed)
Okay, I wouldn't say that it wasn't a particular thing someone said, but a group of us were talking and somebody laughed in a way that sounds French. That got everyone else going and soon we had a table full of people doing stupid (fake) French laughs. I started laughing even harder because it reminded me of the noise that horses make when they're happy (it's called nickering). Seriously, the table sounded like my old horse when I was about ready to give him grain.

6. When you look to your right as you're reading this, what do you see?
Immediate right: the Post Settings from Blogger, if you want to get technical ;) In more of the spirit of the question, I could say that I see a very happy and purr-y cat sitting next to me.

7. What would you tell your 15-year-old self if you could send a message back in time?
 Hmm... I don't think I'd tell my 15 year old self anything, because I wouldn't want to skew the results. I've been watching too many time travel movies :) I've had a good life with some bumps in the road, but I took those as learning opportunities. If pressed, I might send myself something non-committal, like "life is good."