Jennifer in Luxembourg

Where to begin. The trip to Madrid, the conference, the aftermath? It has been an insane several days and most not fun. But today is about sharing the stupid world of life with chronic illness, and how it can disrupt your life. Friday, I flew to Madrid, via Munich. On the flight from Munich, I know something was wrong in my body. I consider myself very in-tune with my innards. Not in-tune enough to know how to fix it, but in-tune enough to know when shit gonna go down. I could feel inflammation happening, and something chronic illness-y churning away. But as I was powerless to stop it, I soldiered on. I hadn’t eaten in way too long, so had a splitting headache. A cappuccino and cake later though took care of the headache. Friday afternoon I rested in my AirBNB and also at my kind hosts’ home as well. It was a calm evening with nothing out of the ordinary strenuous, though I was extra exhausted. That night, the full brunt of whatever it was hit in all its fury, with chills and hot fla...

I'm sitting in a cafe in Madrid. It's almost 5pm, and the last thing I ate today was a chicken wrap at 830. I'm starving, my blood sugar is plummeting, and I have a pounding headache. I felt dizzy as I walked the 2 minutes to the cafe from my Airbnb. But at this moment, having just scarfed half a red berry cake of some sort and drained half my cappuccino,  I'm feeling reflectively grateful. The biggest insurance event in Europe begins in 2 days, and I have a decent role to play in it. My carefully packed clothes and props for the conference have not arrived. They were not as lucky as I with the super tight connection in Munich. But as I repeated to my colleague who unexpectedly was on the same Lux to Munich flight, also with a tight connection, stressing doesn't help anything. Tonight,  I'll log into my trackers and see if they have arrived. I'll follow them hopefully to the hotel. I'm so grateful I threw a 2nd dress in my bag and packed my laptop an...

A random collection of Jen thoughts from my Boston trip:  Didn't realize how insanely happy I'd be to be back. I legit thought I would cry I was so happy. That plane landing was second to none.  Took me exactly 2 minutes after leaving the rental car lot to remember how to drive in Boston. Took me 7 minutes to honk my horn at Massholes in the Williams Tunnel.  Three people spoke to me at the grocery store and I was shook. No one speaks to you in Europe, just dirty looks. Plus I don't know what language people speak, so don't engage either.  I forgot that the USA floor 1 = floor zero in Europe. I went to push the zero button on the elevator and was confused.  Driving in rain is tricky, and one should go slower.  At brunch, the waitress brought the check before I was even done with my plate. I was appalled. Also forgot that I had to add 20% to an already pricey meal. The audacity.  Taco bell still rules.  Word got out i was back. The music director a...

This trip to Boston was interesting. It was wonderful to get to see all the people I've grown to love and know during my time there. But it was also sad and the definite end of the era. This is the first time I've been back, exclusively in my new role. I still got to meet countless students and share in their wins. I gave tours in the building I've poured my life into for a few years.  I pulled away from the building Tuesday morning, and I was hit with a crushing wave of sadness. For the many hours I spent there, often 10-12 hour days, it no longer held the same allure. Every person who supported/celebrated and cheered me on in my move to Boston was gone. Some from maternity leave, some to other companies, and some to other positions. I gave an impromptu tour to a few employees, and they wondered aloud why I ever left, as they clearly saw the love of the building on my face. While the equipment still has my heart, I'm no longer tied to that building like I once was.  I ...

Random Jen musings on bus rides in Lux: Make eye contact with the driver if you are uncertain if the bus will leave before you can run up to it. Most are generous hearted enough to wait for you and open the closest door.  No matter how much advance warning they have that someone will utilize the legal crosswalk, they will wait until the last possible second to brake and allow the crosswalk person to continue.  They are surprisingly good at respecting pedestrians if the pedestrian has the green walk sign. But they will get threateningly close to you with the front of the bus.  Speaking of threateningly close, you must have to take a proximity test to be a bus driver. They are constantly playing the game of "I'm not touching you".  Hell hath no fury like a late bus driver. The way they tear down the roads the second the doors almost close to make up the time... Bus riding is a full-body workout. The sprint to the bus to make it on time. The arm workout as you clutch th...

So this summer I had the distinct privilege (?) of traveling to 5 different airports in 4 different countries in the same day. I flew from Manchester to Frankfurt to Luxembourg. Grabbed a bus home to swap my packing cubes and attend a number of meetings, then bussed back to Luxembourg to fly to Munich then Budapest. Quite a day!  Here's a few random travel thoughts...  German airports have coffee machines literally every few gates. Make yourself a cup and pay with a credit card!  German airports have playground spaces for the kids, which is so nice.  Munich airport had a robot that had a bunch of cold drinks loaded on, that was just roaming a remote terminal!  Munich airport has these awesome nap pods you can reserve. It's a giant pod sitting in the middle of the airport, subdivided into tinier rooms.  Many planes don't have a row 13.  American carry-on is significantly larger than Europe carry-on :( Manchester airport needs to learn what e...

Today we celebrated the 20th anniversary of ANCL, the church I attend in Luxembourg. It's an international church and turns 70 countries a month. I joined the events team earlier this year and have absolutely loved the incredible group of women who are part of it. The planning meetings are well organized and run, and they take turns hosting it. Last month, one of the ladies hosted all of us at her campground for a simply stunning picnic!  I've been traveling often when they have the events for church (welcome coffee, new member lunch, summer BBQ, etc.) so I was thrilled to actually be in town for the 20th anniversary. I somehow got put in charge of decorations. I'm not good at making things look pretty, just copying other's work. I drew inspiration from the many weddings I've been too and came up with a plan. However, as my first big contribution to the team, I was really nervous about their thoughts and feelings on my plan. Additionally, I was aware that Europe i...

* coming off 4 major cities in 7 days (London, Frankfurt, Paris, Boston) and currently sitting at the Munich airport, seemed appropriate to post this! * Earlier this year, I was working a conference with a new friend. As the week went by, he started saying that I should publish my travel tips and started asking for my daily travel tips. I laughed at his suggestions. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized my extensive driving through cornfields of the Midwest, European holidays, work trailings, and now permanent move, as well as solo adventures may put me in a unique place to share a few things on travel. So, here's some of what I've been jotting down over the last few months!  Travel tips: Buy snacks and drinks from the local grocery. It's cheap, and you'll get to try some local foods! I also like to buy prepared foods for meals here to save $$.  Non-buffet hotel breakfasts are a terrible deal. Don't pay extra for it.  Buffet hotel breakfasts are a gol...