Spotlight on Amber Hudock

My name is Amber Hudock and I have lived here in Germany for about 8 months. My husband, Patrick, and I are both from northern Virginia and grew up right around Washington D.C. We met in high school and then he attended the Naval Academy while I went to the University of Virginia to earn degrees in Anthropology and Archaeology. We began dating near the end of college and have now been married for 5 years and have a 2 year old son named Brennan. We also have two long-haired chihuahuas; Bexar and Rocky. We were lucky to have been stationed at beautiful Whidbey Island, WA for the last three years and have also been stationed in Texas and Florida (twice!). We are enjoying living in Europe and the time is already going by too quickly. My hobbies include reading, playing the French horn, and running.

Name 3 things you need to have to be happy.: books, music, peanut M&Ms
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be and why?: At Gere-a-Deli in Anacortes, WA because I am in sandwich withdrawal here and theirs are the best!

Spotlight on Laura Valle

My name is Laura Valle and I cannot say I am from anywhere. My father was in the USAF all my life and we moved every 3-4 years. If I have to nail down a place I claim New York, where my father's family is from as my mother's father was also career USAF and her family is spread out throughout the United States. So, basically, I am a nomad. :-) Since this is all I know (and love!), I also married a man in the Air Force and we are currently residing in Germany after meeting, marrying and living on Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. We do not have children as of yet as we are trying to do and see all that we can before we settle down and have a family. We both love to travel and learn new languages, so in our free time, we visit as many places as we can in Europe. Now that we are on a countdown of having only 1 year left in Germany, we are trying to squeeze every thing in. We cannot believe how many places there are still to see. It seems like the list grows after each country we visit! Besides traveling and learning new languages, my other passions/interests are Ashtanga yoga, my dogs, cooking/baking, reading, organics, green living, integrative medicine, vegetarianism, meeting new people and helping others. Between travels, I can be found at home working on my Master's in Midwifery and providing birth support to those in the local Triborder area.

The 3 things I need to be happy are:
1. Coffee
2. My yoga mat
3. The internet - in order to keep in touch with great friends and family and do my homework!

If I could live anywhere in the world right now, where would I be and why?
I would be in Paris, France. Why? The food, the language, the people, the ambiance, the dear friends I have made there through yoga... It is my most favorite place to be at any time of year! I definitely wish I could live there year round.

The craziest thing I have ever done is...
Hmmm.... there are so many. Ha ha! Probably sky diving was the craziest thing I have ever done (and scariest!)

The top 5 places I like to go or things I like to do around GK are:
1. Walking our 2 dogs through the farm fields in Hongen
2. Going to Aachen for Starbucks and a casual stroll around town
3. Visiting Maastricht monthly for the Aveda salon, shopping and lunch/dinner
4. Shopping at the bioladen and DM in Gangelt (or the bio store in Maaseik, Belgium - it's a good one too!)
5. Finding vegetarian restaurants around Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Our current favorite is an Ethiopian restaurant called House of Lalibela in Leuven, Belgium. It's beyond scrumptious!

Laura

Spotlight on Leah Hess

Leah Hess, from Houston, Texas. My husband and I met and married in Tennessee, so we call it "home" now. We came to GK from Tyndall AFB in Panama City, Florida, where we had been for a very sunny 18 months. We have a son, Wilson, who is 1 and are expecting our second child in May. I imagine if I had spare time I would make artwork (that is what my degree is in). But, in lieu of creating masterpieces I do manage to take photos, scrapbook, and send letters to family and friends (the real kind, on paper, in an envelope).

1. Three things I need to be happy are: Family, Friends, a church to call home
2. If I could be anywhere in the world I would be in: Florida, I miss it on these cold, rainy days!
3. The craziest thing I've ever done is: move to Germany
4. Five things I love to do around GK: take walks, work out with my hot Mama Hawcs!, eat doner durums, go to AWGK functions, and...hmmm... can I say "take walks" twice? There are just so many good places to walk around here!

Spotlight on Kelly Alderson

My name is Kelly Alderson and I spent most of growing up years in Seattle Washington. I graduated from Central Washington University with my Bachelors in Public Health and still hoping to eventually use it! I’m a former army brat so moving a lot is not new to me! Ben, my husband, and I were stationed at Tyndall in Panama City FL where he started his training as an Air Battle Manager. The only children we have right now are our two cats, Luc and Rockie. They need constant attention; I feed them and clean up after them. Sounds like children, doesn’t it? I’m currently working at the Bookmark at Schinnen and am enjoying making reading suggestions and espresso drinks. Though if something with a more m-f schedule came along, I may change directions. I’m also taking German classes through JFC Brunnsum and I’m finding out I’m not very good at it… It meets Monday nights, hence why I haven’t been to a few meetings lately. Spare time for me is spent reading, watching movies, or exploring the surrounding area of GK. I’m hoping to do lots of traveling while I’m here with the hubby and make lots of new friends along the way.

Name 3 things you need to have to be happy...
· A partner in crime (or husband)
· Something to drink (alcoholic or coffee related preferred J)
· A sense of adventure

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be and why?
In Europe (oh wait, I’m already there!)

(Finish the sentence) the craziest thing I’ve ever done…

Getting married (I know, not that crazy but you haven’t heard the whole story yet…)

Name 5 places you love to go to around GK.
Sittard market either Thursday or Saturday
Heerleen
Try near by coffee shops/restaurants
Explore other areas near GK
Hanging out with friends in nearby areas.