I had already been introducing Kateryna to the baby gym, but because this December 2nd was my last day in Neustadt, I went again with them. Gunnar still doesn't like getting a stamp on his hand afterwards, so then again I got a nice elephant on my arm from the teacher. When we got home, Kateryna had to go to her language course, so I went to get Gunni to sleep. He semed excited that after a few weeks I was bringing him in bed again, so he didn't fall asleep easily. "Noch ein Buch.. noch ein Lied.. noch ein bisschen kuscheln..!" But I refused to let him get out the bed to get another book or toy, and then his mother came because she heard him whining. She finally got him to sleep, but when he wake up again, he was still tired. And Malte got home sobbing over stomach cramps. It was as if both kids had been worrying about what was going to happen; Malte sick from the tension and Gunnar in such a bad mood we had rarely seen him in.
Malte also wasn't so enthusiastic about the Peter Pan play he had seen this morning because of the scary Captain Hook, but luckely he was still cheerfull enough to make some last pictures with me. Gunnar didn't want to do anything, execpt for eating a rice waffle with Vitam. We gave him one and then he demanded another one, which we refused because Vitam is very salty. He didn't take that well and cried furiously for at least half an hour. Even when his dad came home he didn't stop, it was like he had a tantrum or a frustration attack, the Vitam rice waffle was not to go of his mind.
To make it even worse, Malte (and so Mieke neither) couldn't join me on the train to Hannover because he turned really out to be sick. Like the two kids were both sabotaging my depart! I had to leave quickly now, because Rainer came home at ten past three and the train left at half past three.
I said goodbye to Philipp, Mieke and Malte (who asked very surprised "why are you crying mammie?" and smiled amused at me when she answered that I was leaving).. then had to run out of the house and race to the station. A few minutes later, Rainer and Gunnar arrived there by car with my stuff. Happily in the train Gunnar seemed cheerfull again, and he was singing a crazy christmas song he had learn from Malte. From me had learned more Sinterklaas songs. The prove that he really learned to understand dutch: by singing "but the horse must go to bed" (in "Zachtjes gaan de paardevoetjes"): he once objected and proposed that the horse got a little playtime first.. ^^
In Hannover, we had to wait half an hour for my train and Rainer proposed to take a seat in.. World Coffee :) I choose an Orange Wochachino but when Rainer got back, he had also bought us some chocolate cake! Gunnars mood got even better and he devoured his cake in no-time. For the grown-ups who knew what was going to happen in a few minutes, it was more difficult. Just looking at those two Merkels made me miss them already.. like the other Merkels as well. But the coffee was really nice, and I was glad we had gotten some time for it. This moment got even more emotionall when Rainer suddenly presented me the family's "goodbye gift": a "Merkel-coffee-cup" with my own name! And a candy heart from the christmas market and a sweet christmas card "from Gunnar" with many thanks.. I was really, really touched. And then we had only ten minutes left. We guickly got up, I put on Gunnars shoes again because he had wanted them out too when his jacket had to get out, and we run to the train, were Katya had arrived just in time to say goodbye as well. Rainer put my suitcase and backpacks and bike into the train, I embraced them and took Gunni for a last cuddle on my arm, then the conductor whistled and I had to jump on the train. When the train drove a way, Kateryna was waving, Rainer crying and Gunni grinning, just as his brother leaving me with his sweetest smile.
The full moon was shining yellow like cheese and seemed to have a face, like Gunni always said. In the hurry I had forgotton to cry, and even to take the present with me in the train! But I knew that I would visit them again, soon. "You belong with us now.." they had said, and even more with that special designed mug, I somehow felt as if I was leaving my real family (the third one).
Originally, Benjamin would have accompagnied me on my travel, but because of his new job he couldn't do that anymore. Now Willem was waiting for me at Hengelo station, who helped me getting in Enschede and a few days later in Wilnis with my stuff. I felt sad and bored being back in NL, but it was great having Willem back around and seeing my mother and sister and omi a few days later with Sinterklaas (6 dec.). I miss the family, their house and especially their kids a lot now, but I feel comforted in leaving them with Katya and in taking home so many good memories with me. In January I will visited Neustadt again, for Benni will then perform a theater play from Schiller in Stadthagen. I just can't wait! :)
