From Bagels to Bratwurst
If you had told me a year ago that I’d be writing this from a sun-drenched park bench in Berlin, watching my children argue over who gets the last scoop of Spaghettieis (Google it, trust me), I would’ve asked you to step away from the Twisted Tea. And yet, here we are. A family of five, freshly relocated from New York City (via 10 month detour in Las Vegas), to our new home in Berlin’s Friedrichshain neighborhood.
The Move: A Saga in Three Time Zones
Moving internationally with three kids is a lot like trying to herd caffeinated cats across an obstacle course, but with more luggage and significantly fewer naps. Our trip spanned three airports, countless snacks, and only a few tears. The jet lag was epic. Honestly, I think our internal clocks are still floating somewhere over the Atlantic.
Summer Break, Berlin-Style
Once we arrived, summer stretched ahead of us like a beautiful, unfamiliar map. With school not starting until the end of August, (German school calendar is wild) we spent our days biking through tree-lined streets, conquering every playground within a 3-kilometer radius, and perfecting the art of the casual U-Bahn commute.
The parks here are magical. Shady, dotted with spray grounds, and clearly designed by someone who actually remembers what being a kid in summer feels like. The only downside is the sun, which refuses to set until around 10 p.m. It’s lovely in theory, but slightly maddening when you’re trying to convince overtired kids that yes, bedtime still exists even if the sky looks like lunchtime.
Berliners also seem to have a collective resistance to air conditioning, so we quickly learned to adapt. Pro tip: stock up on American deodorant, position yourself directly in front of a fan with a cold beer, and accept your sweaty fate.
Markets, Metrics, and the Mysterious Case of the Tiny Cereal Aisle
The weekly farmers market in Boxhagener Platz became our unofficial classroom, where we practiced our German numbers while buying strawberries (red the whole way through!) and trying to avoid accidentally ordering five kilos of pickles. The Sunday flea market supplied us with everything from vintage books to an ungodly amount of Pokemon cards and other kids used IKEA stuffies.
German supermarkets are a revelation. The produce is beautiful, the bakery section is basically a religion, and there’s an entire wall of yogurt. The only downside is the cereal aisle, which seems to consist entirely of granola and something called Schoko Balls. Sorry, kids. No Lucky Charms here.
Loving (Almost) Every Minute
We miss some of our American favorites. Bagels, NY pizza, and of course our friends and family. But we’ve traded them for late evening walks, impossibly good ice cream, and a neighborhood that already feels like home. The kids are loving their new independence, zipping around on bikes and navigating the U-Bahn like tiny, loud locals.
School starts at the end of August, and while we’re all excited for routines and new friends, I’ll miss these long, meandering summer days. Who knew a city famous for techno clubs and cold winters could also be such a perfect place for a family adventure?
