Germany Trip

My older sister’s husband was in the military, so wherever he was stationed, I went to go visit. A few days after my eighth grade graduation, instead of going to camp like usual, I went to Germany for the summer. The flight was six hours if I remember correctly. We watched Pretty Woman on the way. I was 13, didn’t turn 14 until November. And yes, I was alone.

When I left, I was 5’8″. That summer, I met new friends and tried Hawaiian style pizza for the first time. And ate plenty German franks and pastries. The scenery was beautiful. I rode bikes with my new friends through Germany’s version of the countryside and through the town. We rode to a beach, which happened to be what I wanna say, partial nude beach.

I spent my entire summer there. On the way back, there was a layover at the Heathrow Airport. It went from a layover to being canceled. The airline put us in a hotel, St. James Court, which was right outside of Buckingham Palace or close to. When we went to check in, they asked me if I was ok with sharing a room with someone. Um, my dad is at the bar and wanted me to come get the key. I’m thinking, I’m 13. Why would you even think to put me in a room with a complete stranger, and Im a girl..wtf?!?! Oh, because now, I’m 6’1″. Yes, remember, I said I was 5’8″ when I went to Germany and when I left, I was 6’1″. After settling into the room, I called my mom and told her what happened and she was in shock but glad I said what I said. Oh, I also met this couple who looked out for me the next day, making sure I was ok and I ate and got on the van on time to head back to the airport. They had someone take our picture. I wonder what happened to them. They were very nice and nice to me.

So not only did I get to go to another country and experience their culture, but I made new friends, grew a little bit(🤣). It is a vacation that I still talk about to this day, and I took that trip in the summer of 1989.