Change, particularly in the form of moving, always seem to bring about a slightly awkward time where 'lasts' and 'firsts' collide. As we close our chapter of living in Bremen, we have get togethers with our friends in this setting for the last time (I specify 'in this setting' because I'm sure that we will see them again soon - when they visit us in chilly Canada :) ), we visit some of our favorite places to make a few more memories and take a few more photos, we try our best to make sure groups we have initiated or places we have serves are taken care of (and of course, they will be). And we prepare ourselves for everything to change. I say everything and that seems to come across slightly dramatic but in truth, everything does change. Our surroundings change, our home changes, our group of friends evolves and grows - we change. Some changes are immediate. Some are gradual. In either case, we do our best to ensure they are positive changes. Though one should only expect positive changes when you are moving in the direction that you feel is best for your family.
There is a funny thing about 'lasts' that seem to make everything just a little bit sweeter. Moments are sweeter as we try to savour them a little bit longer. Places are sweeter as we know it is, quite possibly, the last time we'll be hanging out there. And it even goes into the realm of ridiculous when places that you never particularly cared for before even become a little bit sweet. Maybe it's just me. Me wanting to remember everything being good. That said, there certainly has been a lot of good here. And for that I am very grateful.
And with that very long introduction, I bring you our 'last' trip to the Botanika in Bremen.
The kids love this place. It's a nice mix of cultures, gardens and science to keep us all intrigued and in an exploring spirit.
When we first moved here I wrote this place off, thinking it was only a generic green house, but I went upon recommendations of friends and I am glad that we did. It's been a favorite of ours ever since. We even got to check out some reptiles and exotic birds this visit.
The things that I particularly loved about this visit were: seeing the kids really explore every nook and cranny. Since we had been here a few times already, they began to see and notice things they hadn't before and asked a lot more questions. I love their questions. I love their curiosity.
And I loved seeing Milayla proudly walking around with their little back pack on. That was Atticus' backpack when he was Milayla's age and he would wear it when we visited museums back in Leiden. That cute little backpack has now won favour with Milayla and despite me having packed both their waters in that backpack (making it a tad heavy) she would not part with it, nor even let me lighten the load. She is determined.
I loved the fish. Not because I am particularly fond of fish but because the children are. With noses pressed against the glass I have to wonder what exactly they look like to those little fish..
I loved having the kids cuddle up to me while we watched a little video (projected on the ceiling) in the science portion of the Botanika.
And I loved seeing the kids take initiative to explore the stations around them.
In the long run, I'm not sure the children will not remember much of their visits here as the years pass on. They likely won't remember that they first learned about color mixing here, or the video that was here, or the flowers they smelled, but I do hope that it fed their thirst for knowledge just a little bit more. Because, really, that is what will help them learn all those other things.
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