So....how many of us have lived in EUROPE....? (San Antonio: living in, military)

[majormadmax]

Since there is a post going on about living in the Orient (well, specifically Japan), I thought I would start a broader one for Europe. I'll start...

I was actually born in Frankfurt, Germany as my father was in the US Army and my mother is from Würzburg. We moved back to the States not long after but soon returned to live in Mannheim for a while.

After I joined the USAF in 1981 and the next year I was stationed at RAF Bentwaters in the UK for two years, but lived on nearby RAF Woodbridge. In 1993 I went on a six-month deployment to Slovakia as part of a US military military liaison team and got to travel to a few Eastern European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland). As we were very close to the Austrian Border, we also used to go there a lot as well, especially into Vienna. In 1995 I got married and my wife and I went to Germany, more specifically Ramstein Air Base. We lived just outside of Sembach Air Base and had a beautiful view of Donnersberg mountain, the highest peak in the Rhineland-Pfalz region. We spent four wonderful years there and ended up in San Antonio after that (I had been here twice prior, once for USAF basic training and the second time for AFROTC field training six years after that). Three years later, in 2002, we moved back to Europe, this time Belgium, for my assignment at SHAPE (the military headquarters for NATO) outside of Mons. Once again we lived off base in a small farming village about 8 miles away, and I used to ride my mountain bike to work as much as possible. We left there in 2005 and returned to San Antonio, where I retired from the military about a year later.

We've been all over the Continent, and I try to get back once or twice a year. Last July I was in Garmisch in the Bavarian Alps in southern Germany for a week and to me that place is heaven on earth! During our time at Ramstain a buddy and I took a ten-day motorcycle trip through the Alps, it was the adventure of a lifetime! I do miss Europe a lot and would love to live there again; but we also love Texas and if we have to be in the States, this is where we want to be!

So, what about the rest of you?

Cheers! M2

[Chakapu]

I lived in England in 1996, then back and forth between the US and UK over the next 4 years (long distance relationship, spending a lot of time in both countries).

DH is from Switzerland, and though I haven't lived there yet, our plan is to move in a few years. Been around much of Europe travelling over the years.

If you want to add a couple of continents, I also lived in Africa for a spell and Central America. I think of all places, Kenya was my favourite, although Thailand is very much my second home. I'm looking forward to settling in Switzerland, but not looking forward to the weather.

I'm not military (everyone assumes that when I say I've lived in other countries), I worked in research/tropical diseases.

[banker]

My dad is a retired US Army Dentist and we lived in Fulda Germany for three years from 1986-1989. Great time in my life. I visited most of Europe while there. I would love to go back and visit.

[SilverCreek78250]

Lived in England just north of London for 2 years (in Bedfordshire), lived in Italy for 3 years in the southern part in the Puglia region near the port of Brindisi, spent some time in Sarajevo, Bosnia/Herzegovina and traveled to Croatia while there - incredible beaches, and also got to go through Ramstien and Frankfurt in Germany. Would love to go see more of Germany. Simply beautiful.

During my time in Europe I was lucky enough to visit Paris (it's true, the place is dirty), Holland, Amsterdam etc and of course, went skiing in Aviemore, Scotland.

I think every American ought to have to live in another country for at least one year. It is one thing to travel and visit places on a vacation and enjoy the different sights and cultures, it is quite another to have to live in another country - even a great place. It makes you appreciate how truly blessed we are here and the conveniences and freedoms we take for granted.

[42JetSet]

We were in England '96-'99 at RAF Mildenhall and enjoyed it enormously. We are now in NW Germany -- literally on the Dutch border and 15 minutes from Belgium -- at a NATO outpost.

Heading to SA in 97 days... between now and then we'll be in France (Provence), central Germany, Luxembourg, Berlin, a last trip to Paris, and some last-minute fun in Belgium.

I whole-heartedly agree that Americans should, if possible, live out of the country for even a little bit. You gain perspective, appreciation, and patriotism that is unmatched. I wouldn't give anything for the experiences our family has had, and the people we have met (Americans and Europeans), but I am so -- SO -- excited to be coming "home".

[majormadmax]

Originally Posted by SilverCreek78250

Lived in England just north of London for 2 years (in Bedfordshire), lived in Italy for 3 years in the southern part in the Puglia region near the port of Brindisi, spent some time in Sarajevo, Bosnia/Herzegovina and traveled to Croatia while there - incredible beaches, and also got to go through Ramstien and Frankfurt in Germany. Would love to go see more of Germany. Simply beautiful.

During my time in Europe I was lucky enough to visit Paris (it's true, the place is dirty), Holland, Amsterdam etc and of course, went skiing in Aviemore, Scotland.

I think every American ought to have to live in another country for at least one year. It is one thing to travel and visit places on a vacation and enjoy the different sights and cultures, it is quite another to have to live in another country - even a great place. It makes you appreciate how truly blessed we are here and the conveniences and freedoms we take for granted.

When were you in Bosnia? I forgot to mention I was in Sarajevo the summer of 1998. Got to travel over much of the country and a little outside of it; but what I really enjoyed was visiting all the sites from the 1984 Olympics. Unfortunately, many were damaged during the Bosnian War; but we had a postcard map that showed them all and I made an effort to see everything on it. It is really a beautiful country if you could get past the devastation that occurred there!

Originally Posted by 42JetSet

We were in England '96-'99 at RAF Mildenhall and enjoyed it enormously. We are now in NW Germany -- literally on the Dutch border and 15 minutes from Belgium -- at a NATO outpost.

Heading to SA in 97 days... between now and then we'll be in France (Provence), central Germany, Luxembourg, Berlin, a last trip to Paris, and some last-minute fun in Belgium.

I whole-heartedly agree that Americans should, if possible, live out of the country for even a little bit. You gain perspective, appreciation, and patriotism that is unmatched. I wouldn't give anything for the experiences our family has had, and the people we have met (Americans and Europeans), but I am so -- SO -- excited to be coming "home".

Are you at Geilenkirchen? I have a friend there who is/was in the German military. We visited there a couple of times during our last European assignment, we loved that area!

It will be nice to be back home, but I am sure you'll miss it much like we do!

Cheers! M2

[Chakapu]

Originally Posted by SilverCreek78250

I think every American ought to have to live in another country for at least one year. It is one thing to travel and visit places on a vacation and enjoy the different sights and cultures, it is quite another to have to live in another country - even a great place. It makes you appreciate how truly blessed we are here and the conveniences and freedoms we take for granted.

I agree wholeheartedly about living abroad, although in my case it now makes me feel like a fish out of water being in the US. I realize I am more comfortable as an expat than living in the US. I'm best off as a perennial expat.

It also makes me very frustrated with how many 'conveniences' we have in the US, and the associated waste.

It really is different living in a place as opposed to travelling, even with my kind of travelling, which is decidely not the "bus tour of 14 cities in 10 days."

[rd2007]

I lived in Sarajevo, Bosnia for five months in 2005. It was more of a temporary living thing, but I woke up, worked, played, ate, and slept there for five months. Great country, with quite a few blemishes on the surface..

[JNA]

Originally Posted by SilverCreek78250

I think every American ought to have to live in another country for at least one year. It is one thing to travel and visit places on a vacation and enjoy the different sights and cultures, it is quite another to have to live in another country - even a great place. It makes you appreciate how truly blessed we are here and the conveniences and freedoms we take for granted.

I lived in Brazil for a while and, while I greatly enjoyed my time there, it does make me appreciate the freedom and opportunity we have here. I wish more people didn't take for granted how great our country is and truly understood the purpose and meaning of our Constitution.

[Texan in Virginia]

Because our daughter is hearing impaired, we stayed stateside for our whole Naval career. Funny thing is our daughter has never been limited by her hearing loss since our Navy days!

She taught in Seoul, Korea for 2 years where she met her husband. They did 2 Army tours in Germany in Wurzburg and Heidelburg. He resigned his commission last year and they are due to move to Copenhagen next month with the State Department.

I've had the awesome opportunity to visit each place and am already planning my trip to Copenhagen.

Lori