American Women's Luncheon

Today was the day of the American Women’s Club luncheon. It is an organization found all over the world for American women living in different countries. There are activities, trips and ways to participate in the local area. Several people had mentioned that I should join and this luncheon is one of their biggest events of the year. It also serves as a welcome to people who had moved to Frankfurt over the summer. I would finally be among a large group of Americans and would be able to compare stories with other newcomers and see how things are with families that have been here a while. The day did not quite go according to plan, however. I need to learn that that is to be expected.

The luncheon was to be held at the Ramada Hotel in a nearby town. I had the address plugged into my navi and was ready to go. Driving in a strange place and looking for parking can be very stressful, so I wanted to be prepared. In the middle of the town, the navi kept saying, "Destination on the right." Well, there was no Ramada on the right. I drove a few more blocks, turned around and tried again. No Ramada, though there was a plaza with other hotels and maybe it was tucked back in there. I found a public parking lot that only allowed 2-hour parking (the luncheon would last longer than that) and went in search of the Ramada. My intent was to get to the hotel, put Rebecca in the provided babysitting service and then go back and move the car to the hotel's parking lot. With Rebecca on my hip and her diaper bag and my purse on my shoulder, I trudged through town looking for the elusive Ramada. And I trudged and I trudged. I finally asked a man where the hotel was and he pointed further up the street. And I trudged and I trudged. I finally reached the Ramada which was at the top of a hill. The navi said, "Destination on the right" at least a mile too early. And I parked at least a mile further back the other way.

Before lunch, there was a "fair" with booths for many of the American Women's Club activities. With a reddened face and sweat running down my back, I asked a lady where the babysitting was. She gave me a blank look and said, "Babysitting????" Not good. I was already peeved. She checked and come to find out, the sitting would not start for another hour, when the actual luncheon would begin. I took a deep breath and did what I had to do. I trudged all the way back through town, from one end to the other, to get the car and move it to the hotel so it wouldn't get towed. And I trudged and I trudged, carrying a toddler who seemed to put on a few pounds every block, with tears of pure frustration running down my cheeks a good part of the way.

The walk was, in retrospect, a good thing. By the time I got to the car and drove back to the hotel, I was exhausted, but calm. I had gotten it all out.

I put on a happy face and went to look around the fair. Our international school was represented, a church in Liederbach that offers Mass in English had a booth, as well as bookclubs, mother's groups, etc. I was really hoping to see a scrapbooking group, thinking that it would be a good way to meet some other people, but there was none. I had been warned by a German friend who often scrapbooked with me back in Atlanta that scrapbooking doesn't really exist in Germany. In fact, you can't find craft stores, like Michael's, here either.

I got Rebecca into the sitting at last and was looking forward to a nice lunch with interesting conversation. We were seated according to where we lived and I was curious to see if there would be anyone else from Liederbach. The luncheon began with a few short speeches and then a long presentation by a local historian. Finally, lunch was served. I met several very nice women, though none from Liederbach. And then, Surprise! "The babysitting is ending now. You must pick up your children." I looked down at my plate. I had managed to eat most of my lunch, but not all and dessert was sitting at the table in the front of the room mocking me. Ah, well....

I did exchange numbers with several women. Many of the women are here through General Motors and the American consulate. The consulate in Frankurt is the largest American one in the world. They talked about shopping at the commissary in Wiesbaden, which is basically an American grocery store. You need to be part of the consulate or the military to go, but you are allowed to bring guests. Most of the women demanded an automatic car upon arriving in Germany and felt quite bad for me that I would need to learn to drive stick. It was comforting to hear other newcomers admit to frustrations and other women assure us that things would settle down.

We got the news that our container has arrived in Frankfurt and our belongings will be delivered tomorrow. The movers will need two days to get everything unpacked and set up for us.

Much as I need to have "my things" around me (like Mary Kate Danaher in The Quiet Man) we have relished having a sparsely furnished, easily kept house. I guess all good things must come to an end.