If someone had told me a few years ago what my life would look like today, I probably would’ve laughed and called them crazy. I wouldn’t have believed it myself. But sometimes, you have to step out of your comfort zone to experience something truly amazing. I truly believe that life has a way of guiding you exactly where you’re meant to be—sooner or later. For me, it was definitely the latter. Out of comfort or habit, we often stay stuck in routines we’ve outgrown, even when deep down we know it’s time for change. I think that realization hits everyone at least once in their life. And I’m just grateful that my moment of clarity came when it did. The choices I’ve made over the past year haven’t been easy. Some of them were incredibly hard—heavy, even. But those were the exact steps that brought me to where I am today. And looking back now, I honestly couldn’t be happier with the decisions I’ve made over the past 12 months.
DISTANCE IS JUST A TEST TO SEE HOW FAR LOVE WILL TRAVEL
Sometimes, love doesn’t show up around the corner, in your hometown, or even in your country. Sometimes, it finds you on the other side of the world. And as scary as that might sound—it can also be something incredibly beautiful. Being in a long-distance relationship isn’t easy, but it is doable when you share the same goals, pull in the same direction, and know exactly where you’re headed together. I’m lucky enough to have a job that allows me to take a sabbatical—and that’s exactly what I did. I took a three-month leave to spend 86 days in the U.S. with Gary. Saying it sounds simple, but in reality, it took about seven months of planning to make it happen. The waiting? That was definitely the hardest part. But in the end, the time passed quicker than expected—just like my time in the U.S. did. I was there for a full three months, but honestly? It felt more like three weeks. I’ve never experienced time flying by so fast in my life—and I still don’t know how to explain it.
I had decided to travel to California from the beginning of May through the end of July. Why those exact months? Honestly, there wasn’t a deeper reason—it just worked best with the timing of my sabbatical and all the planning that came with it. Twelve hours in the air and just under 6,000 miles later—I was finally there. But getting into the U.S. this time around was a bit trickier than expected. I had already visited the States in September 2023 and again in February 2024, so when I showed up for another three-month stay, the officers at border control weren’t exactly thrilled. According to them, the average person only comes to the U.S. once a year—for maybe two weeks. Even though everything on my end was completely legal and within the allowed time frame, they still pulled me aside for additional screening. I was taken into a separate room, where I had to wait for four hours before anyone had time to question me—asking why I was visiting, what I planned to do during my stay, and why I was staying for so long. After a 12-hour flight, definitely not the welcome I was hoping for—but there wasn’t much I could do about it.
I wasn’t the only one in that holding room—and let me tell you, the way the officers were treating people in there was far from kind. I don’t know everyone’s story (except for one couple from Munich that I chatted with afterward), but honestly, the whole experience felt borderline unacceptable. There was a lot of yelling, people had to practically beg just to use the restroom, and phones were strictly forbidden. I sat there for four hours with absolutely nothing to do—just freezing in a room that felt like an industrial refrigerator. When it was finally my turn, the officer I spoke with was clearly on a major power trip. He wanted proof that I had a job back in Germany—which wasn’t a problem in itself. But the bigger issue? He thought the name of my company sounded suspicious and didn’t believe me at first. I mean… what do you even say to that? It’s not like I chose the name. What was I supposed to do? In the end, I was issued a warning on my ESTA, which might make it harder for me to enter the U.S. again in 2024—even though I’ve followed all the legal requirements. Technically, you’re allowed to stay in the U.S. for up to 180 days per year, as long as no single visit exceeds 90 days. So we’ll see what happens when I try to return in December…
After finally making it into the country, my three-month sabbatical in the U.S. could officially begin. But after a 12-hour flight plus over four hours at border control, I was completely wiped out. The rest of the day—or really, the evening—was uneventful. I was just done. Gary and I had planned a few trips and made some loose plans for the three months, but overall, we just lived—as people say. While it felt a little like a vacation for me, it was also regular, everyday life in the U.S. Of course, I had to make a few adjustments—like buying a coffee machine. Because let me tell you, being a coffee junkie in the U.S. is not easy. But you adapt, right? And for everything else, there’s always Starbucks. Thankfully, there was one right across the street—so at least I didn’t have to go far.
Another important item at the top of my to-do list? A quick visit to the ATM. From experience, I can tell you—it’s absolutely worth withdrawing a small amount of cash with your credit card when you arrive in the U.S. It’s a simple way to let your bank know you’re abroad, and it helps avoid any unexpected issues with your card. Back in February, I had some problems during my stay, and after a phone call with my bank, this was their number one tip. And sure enough—this time everything went smoothly. I’d never had issues with my card before, so I was honestly a bit surprised it happened then. But better safe than sorry, right? You never really know how your bank’s fraud protection systems are going to react, and I didn’t want to take any chances. Honestly, I can’t imagine anything worse than being in the U.S. for three months with a blocked credit card. That would’ve been a nightmare.
But let’s start from the beginning—although honestly, I’m not even sure how I’m going to fit three whole months into one blog post. Once I got over the initial stress and frustration, my time in California could finally begin. One of the first things Gary and I did together was visit an urban farm with rescued animals. It was the sweetest little spot, tucked away in the backyard of a private home. Not technically in Los Angeles, but close enough to get to easily. It was such a peaceful, heartwarming start to my stay. At the end of May, we had a little vacation planned within the trip—we took a road trip to Arizona for a few days. More specifically, we went to Page and visited Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. And the highlight? A helicopter tour with a landing on Tower Butte—a massive rock formation rising out of the middle of nowhere. It was absolutely incredible. I had never been in a helicopter before, and honestly—it’s something everyone should experience at least once. It was surreal in the best way.
Feel free to check out my YouTube channel as well—I’ve uploaded a few Shorts from some of the things I (or we) did while in the U.S. After we got back from Arizona, life settled back into a normal rhythm. Gary had to go back to work like usual, and as for me… well, I honestly couldn’t tell you exactly what I did every day. Just regular life stuff, I guess. Grocery shopping, cooking, working on my personal projects, and generally taking each day as it came—calm and completely stress-free. Let me tell you, not having to work for three whole months? Absolute gold. Usually, you get 2 or 3 weeks of vacation, and you try to pack it with as much as possible—experiences, trips, activities. And how often do we come back from vacation feeling like we need a vacation from our vacation? I know not everyone has the option to take a sabbatical, but if you do—and you’ve been thinking about it—this is your sign to go for it. If the opportunity is there, take it. It’s so, so worth it.
After our Arizona trip, we had two more activities locked in—both in San Diego. One of them was something I thought would be super exciting (well, I thought): my very first baseball game ever. Now, I have to say—I’m not really a sports person. Every now and then I’ll watch a bit of hockey, but even that’s rare. And if anything, I lean more toward motorsports, though I don’t actively follow anything in particular. As for baseball, I’d never had much interest, aside from a few themed movies I watched with Gary. But still, I was excited to see what it would be like and curious about the whole experience. And honestly? We had really great seats—catering included—so the event itself was super fun. But the game? A little toostrategic for me. Not much action, and a lot of waiting around. That said—just my opinion. Pretty much every American sees it completely differently!
We also checked off another big item from my wish list: the San Diego Zoo & Safari Park. I had wanted to go for so long—and it was amazing. We booked a special five-hour tour with a guide, riding around in a golf cart, and it ended up being such an incredible experience. I still find myself going through the photos and videos from that day all the time. Definitely one of those core memories. Another thing we crossed off my list was the Air & Space Museum in San Diego—also super cool and something I’d highly recommend. There were tons of interactive exhibits that made the experience not just interesting, but really fun too.
We mostly used the weekends to go out and explore—and in California, the possibilities are literally endless. We did so many cool things and created a ton of amazing memories. We spent lots of time at the beach, visited the actual house from Hannah Montana, had picnics by the ocean, and went to the Santa Monica Pier, the Malibu Pier, Laguna Beach, and Beverly Hills more than once. We even got to attend a semi-private event with the band Shinedown—one of my absolute favorites! And that’s just scratching the surface. We also visited the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, which was super interesting. Honestly, I can’t even list everything we did—there’s just too much. I’m probably forgetting half of it already. But a few of those experiences ended up in separate blog posts, which you’ll see linked here and there. Of course, when you have three months, there’s no pressure to rush—you can take your time and really soak it all in. And having a local by your side makes everything that much easier. Gary knows LA like the back of his hand, and that made all the difference. In those three months, I got to experience Los Angeles in a completely new way. Not that I really knew much about the city beforehand—just what you hear in the news or see in movies. But I genuinely fell in love with LA. To be fair, that probably has everything to do with Gary. But still—on its own, LA has so much to offer. It can be absolutely incredible, if you take the time to really discover it.
One of the big highlights for me—no surprise—was the food. I’ll admit, there was a lot of fast food involved. I mean, we are talking about the U.S. here. But to be fair, that was mostly my doing—I had a ridiculously long “must-try” food list before I even got there. And let’s just say… I definitely made my way through what felt like every fast food chain in America. Along with that, I also brought home about 6 extra kilos (around 13 pounds) on my hips—so yep, I’ve been on a diet ever since I got back home! That said, we didn’t only eat fast food. I cooked at home pretty often too, and there were plenty of meals with veggies and salad mixed in. I honestly can’t go too long without something fresh and green—at some point, I could literally feel my body begging for salad. It’s hard to explain, but it was real. In my opinion, eating healthy and balanced in the U.S. is totally doable—and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Sure, everything in general is more expensive there, but when it comes to fruits and vegetables, prices are actually pretty reasonable—depending on where you shop. But honestly, that’s no different than here in Germany.
My Top 5 Fastfood Restaurants
Now this list was actually really hard to narrow down—because honestly, pretty much everything was amazing. There’s just no other way to put it. Well… except for KFC. I have to admit, it really didn’t do it for me in the U.S. I actually think it tastes better back home in Germany—and even there, it’s not exactly mind-blowing. So that says a lot. But the fact that I’m even ranking fast food chains at all tells you how seriously I took this food adventure. My favorite spot—and yes, it’s technically a chain—was The Cheesecake Factory. And no, it’s not just about the cheesecake (though let’s be honest, that alone is worth the trip—hallelujah, it’s so good). The food in general is amazing. I was especially obsessed with the Cheeseburger Spring Rolls. But the pastas? Also delicious. Overall, it’s a place I’d 100% recommend. Great vibe, super friendly service, and just really solid food. Big fan over here!
Alright… time to finally wrap this up—this post has gotten long, I know. But what can I say? These three months were honestly some of the best of my life. And not just because I got a break from work and had the chance to travel—although, let’s be real, that was amazing in itself. What made it truly special was the time I got to spend with Gary. Long-distance relationships are hard, no sugarcoating that. But when it’s the right person, you find a way to make it work. You face the hard stuff together. And I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Realistically, I won’t have the chance to take another sabbatical for at least five years—assuming I’m even still with the same company by then. So yeah, this really was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. Saying goodbye? Brutal. If you’d seen me at the airport on departure day, you probably would’ve laughed. I was crying like a baby—every three minutes, on the dot. Total meltdown. I’m pretty sure Gary was a little embarrassed by the end of it, but honestly? I just couldn’t help it. No regrets, though. Not a single one.
The flight home ended up being pretty delayed—actually, it got pushed back twice. But all in all, everything went smoothly in the end, and we even made up a bit of the lost time during the journey. The jet lag, though? Brutal. It hit me hard for the first two weeks back in Germany. But I’ve made it through that phase, too. What was even harder than the jet lag was adjusting back to my regular work routine after three months of living in the U.S. and having nothing but time. Just waking up and flowing through the day however I wanted—it was a whole different pace. Those first two weeks back at work were rough. I swear I forgot the simplest things—like, the actual basics. A little embarrassing, not gonna lie. But eventually, I got back into the rhythm. I’ve found my footing again. And one last thing—something I’ve pretty much known since the day I met Gary, if I’m honest: I’m so excited for our future. For everything we’re planning, building, and dreaming up together. And yes, it’s going to be a lot. Some of it will be overwhelming, time-consuming, and probably stressful in ways we can’t even imagine yet. But we’ve got this. We’re ready. Off to the next chapter.
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