Visiting here after 20+ years

Usually, when traveling to Devon, I don't take the time to connect with old friends and avoid the turning that would take me to the school that changed my life.

This time was different!

After dropping my daughter off to University this week, it woke something in me - I felt so nostalgic and emotional thinking about myself at her age.

The way I got to England and this school, Gramercy Hall School is always a fun one to tell and it may have been what got me a private tour of the building together with my daughters persuasion on our unannounced visit.

Today it no longer is a school.

I have no shame is saying that I nearly cried, wondering the halls of the building, that brought back so many memories.

It was a Tuesday morning that i joined my parent for breakfast in our home in Germany. I was unhappy and was looking for an escape.

I was looking for an escape from the excruciating bullying that I was exposed to because of my fathers position. That morning I asked if I could go to England to continue my education.

Although my mother nearly fainted in that moment, Saturday we flew to Heathrow, Monday we looked at this school and Tuesday (exactly 1 week after asking my parents) was my first day at this boarding school.

Having been able to share this experience with my eldest daughter was magical and is probably part of the reason why I was so emotional about it as well.

I would have loved to meet up with more of the friends from back then but I am grateful to those who I did get to meet.