On My Own Again...

For the first time ever, I'm living on my own. Yes, my parents are paying tuition, housing, and health insurance, but aside from that, I'm independent. No roommates to clean up after me. No meal plan to feed me. No mother to do my laundry. It's all me this time.

So far, I'm pretty happy. My apartment is fairly clean, and my diet is healthy. I'm enjoying Munich, and I think I'll be able to budget enough to make it through the year.

However, this has enhanced my appreciation for my mother. As I go home from class, I'm running through mental lists of what I can make for dinner, what I have in my tiny fridge, and what I need to pick up. I expend a lot of mental energy doing this, and I'm only cooking for myself, much less a family of four vegetarians. Plus, my mom goes to "the farm" at least once a week, and she does a great job of preparing local, organic food. While worth the effort, going to the local Wal-Mart would be much easier (and cheaper).

Now that I'm accostumed to the German grocery shopping system, I've yet to find an easy way to do it-- much less to the same quality my mom does. When she comes over for Christmas, maybe she can teach me a few lessons. Oh, and give me new recipes, because I'm getting sick of pasta!