Growing up as an "Army brat" didn't necessarily give me the most average childhood experience. On top of moving somewhere new every two to three years, I have spent the bulk of my life in Germany; a whopping 10 out of my 19 years of living. Even though I didn't have your average "American" growing up experience, I wouldn't change it for a second, and here's why.
1. DoDEA Schools
I had the pleasure of going to elementary, middle and high school in Germany. Not only that, I had the pleasure of going to school on base with other students of military background. I can't speak for everyone, but most people (including myself) find themselves missing the charm of these schools once they have to move back to the states.
2. Lifelong friendships all over the world
I got to meet so many people from so many different places and backgrounds thanks to going to a DoDEA school, and I'm still in touch with a lot of them. I have a friends who live in North Carolina, Kentucky, California, Japan and even a couple who still live in Germany. It's awesome to hear about their experiences in their new homes and even better to meet up with them.
3. "What village do you live in?"
I didn't have the convenience of living in the same town my entire life, but I did get to live in a genuine German village about 20 minutes away from the closest base. I may have taken it for granted back when I had to endure a grueling bus ride to school everyday while some of my friends lived on base and could easily walk to school (yay for being the very last bus stop!) but looking back on it now, I basically got to live in my own medieval fairytale, which is pretty cool.
4. German Christmas markets
You honestly haven't experienced Christmas unless you've been to a German Christmas market.
5. Döner Kebab
I can't tell you how many times a week I think about one of these beauties.
6. Kinder eggs
I will never understand why these seemingly innocent chocolate eggs were banned in the United States. Perhaps for being too delicious and fun?
7. German food and candy
I might as well just make a whole category for German food and candy because, let's face it, it all just tastes better over there.
8. "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?"
(Translation: Do you speak German?) Hell yeah, I do. Living in Germany has given me the opportunity to grow up surrounded by two languages, and I'm incrediblygrateful as it has made my college German classes a little less stressful.
9. The Travel Opportunities
By age 15, I had already been to Paris numerous times. I had experienced the beauty of Amsterdam (and, poor 11-year-old me, the Red Light District), the Grand Canal of Venice and so much more. I would have to say that the only bad thing about traveling so much while I was young is that it has given me heaps of wanderlust for the rest of the world.
10. Random festivals
Sure, Oktoberfest is a big deal not only in Germany, but the rest of the world. But walking through downtown K-Town or your village to find that a random fest has popped up overnight? It doesn't really get much better than that.
11. Fußball
Germans are crazy about soccer. Whether you like soccer or not, seeing the German national soccer team compete in (and win) the World Cup stirs up an excitement in anyone who has had the pleasure to call Germany their home.
12. A second country to call home
No matter where I live now, or where I will end up in the future, I will always have half of my heart in Germany.
