Hallo From Erding!

We began our journey at 10 a.m. from the hostel smelling of excitement and grunge. Umbrellas in hand, because the Munich weather was as unpredictable as a game of Russian Roulette, we headed out to the central station, Hoftbanhof. Public transportation was something that we learned to give ourselves plenty of time to master as it was increasingly out to get us and maps, signs and announcements were in a foreign language.

 The charmingly small town of Erding waited for us at the end of the outer line. Mini deer and cows filled the lush, green countryside and was a refreshing change from the bustlingly city of Munich. Our hosts for the afternoon, Holger and Mary, were waiting at the train stop for us with gleaming smiles and welcoming handshakes. As we followed our new friends through the streets of Erding, we were able to become familiar with the workings of a quaint suburb of Munich. We reached the flat that they share, drank our still water (which we've come to learn is not the norm for water in Europe) and got to know each other. The flat was a mixture of Indonesian and German styling, as a perfect reflection of the life they built together. 

Following our interview with them about daily life in Germany, we had lunch together at a Mediterranean restaurant down the street. The meal began with a hearty "prost!" and twenty rounds of "cheers" were shared between us over our delicious dishes. 

Our dessert was coffee made by Mary in the flat accompanied by music played by Holger on his harmonica. His talent is unmatched and we were so grateful for the time we spent with them. Parting gifts included Indonesian statues, hugs and well wishes for the future. After saying our goodbyes to these precious people, we knew they would be a apart of our experience and hold a tiny place in our heart forever.