My family had the great opportunity to spend a few years living overseas in the early/mid 1990s. It was an excellent experience for us and I enjoyed it immensely. The language barrier was difficult (especially for my mother, who was the most immersed in it), but we made the most of it, visiting many castles and historic locations both inside Germany and in the neighboring countries.

While cleaning out my desk and closet at my parents’ house I came across my “diary” from 1995, about two years into our stay. I say “diary” because the entries are minimalistic, terse, and limited in number. I seemed to do well at first, writing for a whole week (!) in February, then dropping it. I returned for only two days in June then seemingly dropped it for good. I suspect the diary idea was proposed by my parents in an effort to chronicle my experiences so I could look back on them later. But my attention span as a ten year old must have been short. I do remember the entries seemed to take forever to write, but looking back on them shows them to be very short.

I am not sure if there is anything too interesting to be gained, but I thought i would transcribe them regardless. There has been essentially no editing, other than one instance where I completely left out the key verb. Reading them, one can surmise that I enjoyed school and that I was not cut out to be a professional soccer player.

Tuesday 31 January 1995

Today I went to school. At school Bill accidentally pushed Levi into a desk. It fell over and Levi hit his head on another desk. Levi was okay. School was good today. Peter and Chris had soccer practice.

Wednesday 1 February 1995

Today I had fun at school. Today I heard a song that is called “Love stinks” on the radio. I played baseball with my friends, Domminick, Johanus, and another kid. Peter played baseball also.

Thursday 2 February 1995

School was good today. In German I made a menu. I haven’t finished it yet. In Language Arts I wrote a business letter. Today I had soccer practice. I had dinner with my Dad’s friend Mr. Berube, at Bella Italia, and Italian restaurant.

Friday 3 February 1995

School was good. I got my report card today. I [had] good grades.

Saturday 4 February 1995

Today Domminick came over to play. I went rollerblading today. I went shopping with my Dad. He bought me a Mars candy bar. Peter and Chris (my brothers) went shopping with my Dad and I. Mom, Dad, Peter, Chris, and I went to Bella Italia for dinner.

Sunday 5 February 1995

Today I had a soccer tournament. In the first game the score was 1-0. My team lost. The second game was 4-1. My team lost. The third game was 2-0. My team lost

Monday 6 February 1995

Today I had fun at school. I went to the doctor’s. I had an ear infection

Tuesday 7 February 1995

Today I had fun at school. Peter and Chris had soccer practice. Peter had Cub Scouts.

Wednesday 8 [February] 1995

Today I had fun at school.

Saturday June 20, 1995

Today I went on a bike trip. It was 30 km long. It was tough but fun. I didn’t write in my diary because I had a lot of homework and little time. I turned 11 on June 10. For my birthday I got 2 ball and racket sets, a box to hold my CDs, a Boy Scout mess kit and a Boy Scout fit together knife, fork, and spoon, and $60. It was fun. On the 18th of June my Dad came back from the states and brought me Civilization, a backpack, some Boy Scout Patches (from my dentist, also the Boy Scout President in Boise [I believe he was actually "District Commissioner"?]), and a puzzle from the Websters. I liked my presents.

Wednesday June 21, 1995

Today was the final practice (besides the dress rehearsal tomorrow) before the play tomorrow night. The play is called “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”. Today I went to a School Board meeting of the International School of Stuttgart. It is a requirement for the Communications and Citizenship in the Community Merit Badges. The meeting wasn’t all that interesting, but some of the meeting was interesting. I’m getting very tired. I guess I’ll go to sleep now.

P.S. I hope the play tomorrow is a good play.

I wish I had written more, but given that even now I don’t have the patience and dedication to write a journal on a regular basis* I cannot fault myself.

* – Although, this blog would certainly count as a somewhat censored journal of my adventures.