My plans for a higher education were temporarily put on hold. To do my part financially, I took an administrative job at the city hall in the small town of Leimen processing passport applications and registrations while occasionally helping out with translations in the immigration office. After I had been there for a couple years I got elected city hall youth representative with a seat at the personnel council, a position which I enjoyed very much. Being married to a U.S. Serviceman I knew the day where I would have to leave Germany and my old life behind, would eventually come. Shortly after the birth of our first daughter Corin, we had orders to Ft. Hood, Texas so we left Germany as well as my family, my job, my friends and my beautiful 1971 convertible beetle in April 2001. Sad to leave, but at the same time excited about the adventure ahead, it was a bittersweet departure.
Life in America was different, exciting and at times confusing but I immediately loved it here. During my adjustment phase I realized amongst other things that traffic related I could now turn right on red and as far as food preparation goes I can't forget to wear gloves when I make jalapeño poppers. In the first few years I mainly took care of the household and the baby. Our 2nd daughter, Lisa came along 2 years later. I'm grateful I got to be a homemaker and be there for our two daughters full time. I wouldn't have wanted to miss a second of