Red Alert!

Well hello everyone.. I have been reading most of the expat bloggers for months now, in preparation for my own move to Germany. And now that my plans are set (soft-set Jello stage), I have decided to introduce myself and get the blog rolling.

Like Claire of My Euro-American Life, I am from South Carolina, USA.. well, I think I read she grew up in the bass ackwards Palmetto State.. and I'm sure she knows what I mean when I mention that one! It wasn't such a bad place to grow up, other than having the worst drivers in America, one of the highest incidents of domestic abuse in the country, and the good 'ol boy system..

Thankfully, my family is pretty sane and my parents have been married (to each other) for 37 years, so I had a stable and loving home.. and no domestic abuse to speak of, although I'm sure my mother threatened it... when her children drove her to the knife-edge of sanity... which we did, I'm ashamed to say.. and often.

I know a few of the 'ol boys, mostly friends of my father's, although there are some of my generation rapidly scaling that ladder, which I find disappointing. But I am a good driver. Really. Only one ticket in the last ten years and no accidents (knock wood) in the last twenty-five.

In SC, we've always had access to some great beaches and a few pseudo-mountains (they are pretenders when compared to the Alps), Lowcountry seafood dishes, Gullah culture, great outdoor spaces and a never-ending supply of history, history.. and more history. But I'll save that for another post.. or maybe not.

I am the Love Immigrant. Isabelle for short. And I never in a million years thought I would leave the US permanently.. but that's what I get for falling for a German who is definitely my other (better) half. Only more stubborn. He's my partner, my best friend, the love of my life. Don't let him fool you because no matter what he says, he's just as crazy as I am. In him I have met my match. He just looks serious. He is my future - and my future husband. Codename: Mizi.

It makes me laugh to even type that, but "The German" was already taken. His friends call him Mizi, but I don't (only here, honey, to protect your privacy). My nephews, however, are another story.. I'm almost sure they think of him as Mizi already.. the jury is still out.

Ok, so you know I'm moving for love. Now you know my German. Getting married June 2007 in Charleston (we're eloping!), but I'm headed to Deutschland in March to get things organized in our apartment. I refuse to do it on our honeymoon, so now is good. Not to mention the fact that I haven't seen Mizi in almost six months. And no, webcam doesn't count. Stop laughing honey.

I wonder if Claire's family thought she was nuts to move across the ocean? Remind me to ask her later.. I know my family thinks I'm insane. But I only share the wander-lust gene with my brother, and as far as the rest of the family is concerned, we're both rogues. He's moving to Costa Rica later in the year.. or was it Brazil? He always flies under the radar, so I can't keep track.

My sister, on the other hand, is the worst home-body I ever met. Really. I love her dearly, and she is my best friend, but I swear the girl got lost twice just driving to Myrtle Beach (a place she's been every summer of her life). I have to give her props, though, because she is the kind of mother I dream of being to my own children (one day), and she is the sweetest soul alive. We're still in negotiation about whether she will visit me in my new home. I told her I would buy her enough Xanex to knock her out cold during the flight, but she's still on the fence.

As for my parents, I'll expect them when we provide them with a new grandchild, but otherwise I'm afraid we'll be the ones with jet-lag. And lots of flier miles.

Truthfully, I'm excited about moving and extremely impatient to be there already. I know next to nothing about the German language (but I'll have a great teacher), I'll try to remember not to wear white sneakers, and I'm sure I'll fit in (with a healthy dose of German in my family already) after the culture shock wears off a little.

Of course, I know the adjustment won't be as easy as I try to make it sound. It will take some time getting used to all those garbage bags. But certainly I will not be bored for the next fifty to sixty years. Mizi is always my number one, but I guess I should fess up and tell you that I'm a history buff too.

Damn, I can't believe I admitted it in the introduction.. but yes, I said it. And I suppose there's no place like Europe for history... so Germany, the winds are blowing just right, and another Southern hurricane is headed your way.. Are you ready for this? I hope so.

Red Alert! The Love Immigrant is coming..