I get asked the following questions a lot lately…

Q: How did Julius get to come for such a long visit?

A: Julius is studying to be a secondary school (Gymnasium) teacher. He has two subjects – math and religion. At the end of about 6 years of theoretical training, he has comprehensive exams that cover all he’s learned in both of these subjects. The exams last all spring, and in the past winter semester, he has been preparing for them. So, he’s been able to study here in Atlanta while with me. Hopefully, if all goes well with these ridiculously hard exams…

Q: What are your plans for after you get married?

A: After we get married in August, we’ll be in Germany. Julius will start his Referendariat, which is 2 years of supervised teaching. This is way more involved than the semester of student teaching done in the US, but the closest equivalent. At the end of those two years, he’ll have to take another round of ridiculously hard practical exams. Only then will he be a certified teacher in Germany.

I will hope to work. Becoming an immigrant is a whole other post… But after I’m permitted to work, I want to do just about anything in my field, whether in academia or the church. Grieving the loss of opportunities I thought I’d have after graduation is also a whole other post… Suffice it to say, I’m trying to be realistic, knowing it may take some time to find opportunities. I am excited, though, about continuing to discern my vocation in a foreign context.

After the Referendariat, we’d be up to making another move, but we aren’t that far in the planning process yet. We’re just hoping to get through the next 8 months – being married and settled (legally, together) in one country!