Here's a link to one of my favorite blogs. This particular post is about showing Seattle to German visitors: http://blog.4culture.org/2012/05/germans-on-a-one-day-seattle-tour/. I am an avid follower of this blog (It's called "4 Culture" and it serves to advance community through culture) and I bookmarked this post a few months ago in case I ever needed to show Seattle to foreign visitors. I bring this up now because, as fate might have it, I received a call yesterday from my German friend who said she is coming to America to do an internship and would like to visit me in Seattle!

When I began to tell her about the things we could do in Seattle when she visited, I realized she didn't just want to explore Seattle as an American would want to explore it, but rather as a foreigner who is eager to learn about what it's like to be an American in Seattle.

When I look back on my experience visiting her in Germany last year, I noticed that Kim and her family transformed my visit into a cultural learning experience. When I arrived in her town called Schifferstadt, I was welcomed into her family's home with an abundance of german flair -- heaps of Kinder chocolate bars were scattered on my pillow, the breakfast table was lined with fresh Brötchen, Marmelade, Nutella, soft-boiled eggs, all kinds of sliced wursts and cheeses, and German words flowed freely from Kim's parents' lips as they hugged me with welcoming arms. Kim's family took me hiking in the Pfälzer Wald and her mom, Ute, taught me to make Flammkuchen. I tried Lieberknödel for the first time and got to meet dozens of the family's friends at the Frühlingfest in downtown Schifferstadt. Not only did I learn what the game of Handball was during this visit, but I also got to watch Kim's boyfriend play in a real Handball game. I am so thankful that the Büchner family took the time to show me not only Germany, but German life.

Kim, Taylor (me), and Ute making Flammkuchen at the Büchner home

After remembering all these oh-so-German activities I got to experience at Kim's, I realized I would need to make Kim's visit in Seattle just as oh-so-American. The preceding blog post was a great start to helping me plan my week with Kim in Seattle. It suggests things to do like the Space Needle, Pikes Place, and especially the Ballard locks. I do think, however, that this list falls short of some very important American things. While I must remember that Kim will be here in late Spring, I began to brainstorm. I decided it needs to an experience in which Kim can take part in family traditions and Seattle culture. Here's the list I've come up with thus far: taking Kim to a barbecue at my family's lake cabin, taking her to a Mariner's game and eating hot dogs, teaching her to make Puppy Chow (also known as Muddy Buddies), taking her camping with my family, and going on a road trip to the Olympic Peninsula.

I'm just so excited that I get to share my American experience with my friend from Germany. What a special opportunity!