Home, finally.

My family and I lived right next to a bicycle store in Germany.

At the intersection next to our apartment was a pub owned by the family of my grade school classmate. Right next to it was the dress shop owned by the family of one of my friends.

Down the road, there was a gasoline station with a glass bottle drop-off where you’d dump all your used glass bottles for recycling. My dad and I would go to recycle all our empty glass bottles, then he’d buy me a Kinder Surprise Egg from the gasoline station.

The last leg of our Germany trip was my hometown of Mannheim. I wanted it to be last in our itinerary to keep our moments in town the freshest and last reminder of my Germany trip. My boyfriend and I stayed for about five days—and I wish we had stayed longer.

Much and little has changed. The city center and its outskirts still looked the same. There were familiar shops, cafes and shopping centers that I remembered, though some shops had closed, others transferred and others were replaced with new restaurants.

We went to my favorite Christmas Market. The Mannheimer Weinachtsmarkt (Mannheim Christmas Market), the city’s main Christmas market, was located at the Water Tower. Back in the 1880s, the Water Tower served as a water reservoir for the city and held much of the city’s drinking water. Now it’s Mannheim’s most iconic piece of baroque design.

The Christmas market looked exactly the same as it did so many years ago when I was still a little girl. It was bustling with people drinking hot mulled wine, feasting on bratwurst, steak and sweets. Candied apples, crepes and gingerbread hearts were in abundance.

All the fair rides from my childhood were still there, and they were exactly as I remembered them. The same merry-go-round and trains with polished elves, horses, teacups and trains.

I had the best time showing my boyfriend, Rob, the Christmas market. Christmas markets were a tradition with my father, and I’m happy to share this tradition with him now. I’m lucky he is the most patient boyfriend who allowed me to tug him all over the place and get sentimental over things that were overly familiar.

On our second day in Mannheim, we went to my old neighborhood. It was the most beautiful “going home” moment for me.

The buildings and apartment houses were exactly as they were 22 years ago. I couldn’t believe I was finally home. It felt surreal. As I stood there, in awe of how little (and how much) had changed over the years, I finally felt at home.

Rob and I looked at the gasoline station by the crossing, and I explained to him what my dad and I used to do together. Without skipping a beat, Rob tugged my hand and pulled me into the little shop. He bought me a Kinder Surprise Egg. Truly, I am home. What a wonderful 2018 it has been.