Ahhh . . . German traditions . . . we'd learned, added, and loved so many to our lives in our two years in Munich. Our last month in Germany found us practicing one more: our Austand.
When one arrives in Germany, you throw yourself a welcome party, an open-house, an einstand.
(We had a cute little one before William was born. Did we take any pictures? Blast! NO!)
When one departs Germany, you throw yourself a going away party, an austand.
The weather was questionable, as good as you get on a July afternoon in Bavaria, so instead of crowding the hordes of friends we'd made in the two years we lived in Europe into our "spacious" apartment, we decided to host it at our favorite neighborhood bier garten: the Hofbraukeller.
We were touched to see the wide, randomly connected circle of friends we'd collected all arrive, drink, socialize, and wish us well on our way.
From our American neighbors to haus frau extraordinaires to BMW co-workers to sorority sisters to international toddler buds to guitar-playing Gymboree teachers to American business pals passing through town -- it was a fun and touching send-off.
I bedecked the tables in Bavarian white and blue, displayed gorgeous sunflowers in our Hofbrau steins, made Obazda from scratch, bought out two backereis that morning of all their brezn: we were festive! Aside from sprinting inside to escape random showers and returning outside to enjoy fresh air only to get rained on again (it was a true Bavarian farewell), a good time was had by all!
Boris, a German intern from PATYO now back in Germany) and his girlfriend chatting with Colleen and Gary, our upstairs neighbors
When one arrives in Germany, you throw yourself a welcome party, an open-house, an einstand.
(We had a cute little one before William was born. Did we take any pictures? Blast! NO!)
When one departs Germany, you throw yourself a going away party, an austand.
The weather was questionable, as good as you get on a July afternoon in Bavaria, so instead of crowding the hordes of friends we'd made in the two years we lived in Europe into our "spacious" apartment, we decided to host it at our favorite neighborhood bier garten: the Hofbraukeller.
We were touched to see the wide, randomly connected circle of friends we'd collected all arrive, drink, socialize, and wish us well on our way.
From our American neighbors to haus frau extraordinaires to BMW co-workers to sorority sisters to international toddler buds to guitar-playing Gymboree teachers to American business pals passing through town -- it was a fun and touching send-off.
I bedecked the tables in Bavarian white and blue, displayed gorgeous sunflowers in our Hofbrau steins, made Obazda from scratch, bought out two backereis that morning of all their brezn: we were festive! Aside from sprinting inside to escape random showers and returning outside to enjoy fresh air only to get rained on again (it was a true Bavarian farewell), a good time was had by all!
Boris, a German intern from PATYO now back in Germany) and his girlfriend chatting with Colleen and Gary, our upstairs neighbors
Three back to back tables of friends!
Maren catching up with Rob who is holding Tim
Armin and Sylvia?????
Susan and Carl (with baby Evie) talking with future ex-pat Michael
Perhaps it was our drndl and lederhosen. Perhaps it was my spectacularly decorated tables. Perhaps it was our hang-loose Australian Gymboree teacher jamming on his guitar. Regardless, our party attracted a roaming newspaper reporter assigned to covering a fun, weekend piece out and about in Haidhausen. The result? Well, see for yourself below!
Click here for our 5 seconds of Haidhausen Fame!
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