Where are you from...

The following post has actually nothing to do with any of my park adventures: therefore no pictures from any disney character, rollercoaster or show. I just had the feeling that there`s one thing, that i share with our guests every day, but never told anyone else.

Of all the questions i get every day, there's one that i enjoy answering most: "So where are you from"? This question is usually followed by a bad pronunciation of my city "Landau in der Pfalz". My response is always the same: hope you've got a bit of time as it's not only a city. It's what i call the most beautiful place on earth: HOME.

When i first started working in the United States, i was extremely excited about all those new adventures. Excited about finally getting away from my small city and sharing the german culture with people from all around the world. Excited about telling them, that the capital of Germany is actually not Munich or Bavaria (especially as Bayern is a federal state and not a city). And excited to explain everyone that Germany is way more than Bratwurst with Sauerkraut, das Boot,  cuckoo clocks and Lederhosen.

Beeing away from home and family for such a long time, reminds you off how valuable even the smallest things are. The trees right in front of my window, the evenings with my family eating together at our favourite greece restaurant and even the time i get up early to take my dog for a walk (the sun going up above the blackforest is something you wont experience somewhere else!). The fifteen minutes car drive to the next Aldi, walking trough the inner city of Landau or the former Landesgartenschau, enjoying the animals at our tiny Zoo or chilling at one of many green areas in the city.

So to get the most asked questions answered for (probably not) the last time:
1. Yes, i am really from Germany.
2. Manuel is also a very common german name. No, i am not Spanish.
3. I am from Landau in der Pfalz. Thats a small city in the Southwest of Germany in Rhineland Palatinate. Located one hour south of Frankfurt, near the French Border to Alsace. And it`s simply beautiful. All those wineyards around the city, beautiful countryside full of things to experience. Authentic way of german living and simply the best place to spend time at if you enjoy german wine. Landau got a lot of attention for the horticultural exhibition Landesgartenschau Landau, that i`ve proudly been a part of in the events-Team. I really enoy my time working in the United States, but Home is Home. So i can`t wait for my flight back and tell everyone about those crazy Americans :) !