Wow. It’s been a whole year since Henry and I visited Luxembourg, just prior to moving out here in July. It feels like so much longer. In fact it feels like a lifetime away, and in a way it is.
We were here at this exact time of year – to coincide with National Day (The weather was exactly the same I might add). Henry and I had a stroll around town and he went on the fairground rides set up just off Avenue de la Liberté. We were still too tired and jet lagged to stay up much beyond 8pm so we didn’t get to see the evening celebrations or the fireworks but it was obvious then it was a big deal.
Fast forward to yesterday and here we are almost a year in to our life here, and what a change from our previous one. There are lots of fond memories, of course, but my heart has found its spiritual home right here in Luxembourg. Going into town and walking around yesterday we did the same things – went on the fairground rides – ate Gromperekichelcher (I still can’t pronounce it) and enjoyed the expectant vibe. Seeing the flags and the excitement building up to what I now realize is one almighty party (for everyone else) I felt a little pang of gratitude in my heart. I am so happy to be living here.
Henry moved across to the local school a couple of weeks back and has slotted in like a dream. I was expecting it would be more fraught, but he skips happily into school every morning and when I take him back after lunch. I am just completely in awe of how he’s taken it all in his stride. I know it might not always be like that, but given he knew no one, much less any Luxembourgish, he’s just got on with it heroically. I’ve tried not to pester him with questioning about it, just let him know how proud we are of him and how great he’s doing. He’s just seems genuinely happy and relaxed and really the icing on the cake was when he turned round to me as we were getting out of the car the other day and, quite randomly, reeled off 1-10 in Luxembourgish. Then did it backwards. For a week and a half of school that’s pretty amazing in my eyes.
So that was the final piece of the puzzle really. Oscar will know no different when he starts next September and so I have no worries about that, but I was acutely aware that Henry has been moved around a bit from pillar to post over the last few years (two previous kindergartens and St George’s here in Lux) and so I felt there was a lot hanging on this, in terms of how he integrates. From very early observations, however, it’s all good. What a relief.
And so I hope the party was fun – we walked around the center and you could tell it was going to ROCK later – the bars were all setting up and the music was pumping already at 5pm, and in the streets the beer tents were gearing up for the influx of revellers. I am a bit long in the tooth for all that now, but for a brief moment I wished I was 25 again because I can see Luxembourg definitely knows how to party in style. I expect today there are a few sore heads, but i’m guessing ‘hair of the dog’ and the parade ensure the party continues long into this evening.
And so to my adopted country – Happy National Day Luxembourg – you rock!
Here’s a few so-so instagram pics – things were only just getting set up, and the kids were getting tired so we couldn’t stay out late enough to capture much of the festivities, lots of standing around in these shots…but you get the idea!:
