The first couple days, I spent with my fiancé J. at the house on the lake. In fact, my first morning, Ohio greeted me with this:
During these days, I finally made it to the Lake Erie shore. The Great Lakes are so amazing!
These pictures have been taken at the Headlands Beach State Park, where you could go swimming, too. Connected to the beach is the Mentor Marsh, a National Natural Landmark, and worth a hike (we got lost).
After a week on the lake, I moved back to where I initially started out in Ohio in 2015, closer to campus, in a Victorian house full of friends and critters. It did feel like coming home, although once I realized that this was it, there was no way back, I had a rough moment. I have always been struggling with changes, and this certainly is a big one. It helps though, that I already know the people and the area.
Horace, my 2000 Honda Civic (who has just passed 233000 miles, yay!), had busted brake lines, so for the first couple of days, I went on long walks and slowly settled in. (A week later, the exhaust pipe broke at the muffler, so I'm currently driving a car that sounds like a racing car but really has the speed of a snail).
And then, on August 16, Gini came along. The blue-eyed Siamese flame point (she might be a mix, though) kitten was found by my landlady H.'s co-worker outside underneath a bush, completely abandoned. Of course we would take her in! H. and I always wanted to get another kitten to go along with orange tabby Aries. We immediately fell in love with this tiny tatter, and I named her Gini in honor of my sister (even though she thinks it's a stupid choice of name), so I always have a Gini with me.
At the vet, it turned out Gini was only four weeks old! She would still be with her mother. However, turns out the little princess is very smart. It took her a day to figure out the litter box, a day until she started munching on crunchies, a couple days before she started playing with dog Minnie and cat Aries, a week until she started drinking water (although she still likes milk better), a week until she started climbing stuff to be with you.
I am so in love with her.
Everyone is so in love with her!
So here are a couple pictures of the overkill cuteness:
At university, we had a whole week of orientations, which were more or less interesting (the tendency is "less", except for the information on teaching). And then I had to start adulting and actually stand in front of a class and teach them German. Teaching is fun (so far), but along with the classes I have to take for my Master's, I'm sometimes on campus for 12 hours. Long days. But it's going to be okay.
I actually wore tie dye for the first time on Labor Day weekend for the family's annual Musicfest. And I saw my first real life bald eagle flying across the lake (and heard freedom ring!).
That's about it, folks. I am doing well, and I am looking forward to starting horseback riding again in two weeks. Next week, we will continue our hunt for THE wedding dress. The struggle is real and maybe worth a seperate blog post.
Anyway, hit me up if you have any questions. I hope I get to write again soon.
Take care! I miss you (yes, I really do!).
Love, Jen
PS: Follow me on Facebook and Instagram (@swiss.in.ohio)
