Things I will miss in Austria pt. 4

This is a two-parter. 


1. Fried Chicken

I used to try to deny I was a southerner, telling anyone who would listen that I was born in Illinois and my family were northerners (read:Yankees) and grew up in the Metro-Atlanta area, thus making me immune to the "country-ness" of Georgia. For all that denial, I have come to understand that it is a part of me like it or not. One of the loveliest things about the south is the availability and quality of fried chicken. I was trying to explain what the "fried chicken" I had in Germany was like today over some proper Sunday Chicken from Cracker Barrel. It was basically pan seared with a baby bit of breading dusting the top of the piece of chicken. Not great. So I will miss this very much while I am away....although I am sure my arteries will not.

2. (which should in all actuality be #1) My beautiful sister Wendy

I love her so much. She may or may not know it but she is the family member I try to please the most. I remember very vividly being a very picky eater as a child. Sometime in middle school or high school that stopped. The reason? Wendy was always an adventurous eater in my mind and I wanted to be like that too. She taught me basic Algebra (for fun) when I was in 3rd grade sitting at the kitchen counter. We both have liked languages and culture from an early age. When it came time to pick an after school activity for Wonderful Wednesdays at Dyer Elementary, I picked french class partially because my cool older sister took french in high school. When I went to Germany in 2009, Wendy was indispensable as a person to bounce travel ideas and plans off of. Again, travel is something we both love and planning is just in our blood. Hers was the opinion I wanted to know after Landers visited in August. I love the nephew she's given me and the niece who we'll get to meet on Friday. She amazes me with her work ethic and how she manages to be good at so many things. Wendy is so patient with Kaiden and insists on doing what is best for him. She is a great mom. She is also the most rational and level-headed person I know but with so much love and humor to go along with it. I am going to miss hanging out at her house with her and complaining about silly/ridiculous things that come up in our daily lives. Although, I am pretty sure I can still do those things on Skype. I know she is having a hard time with me leaving but I never doubt that she is excited for me and proud of me. God has blessed me so much to have her as my sister.