Hi everyone.

I was watching these forums a long time, I think three or four years already? I don't really remember. Just recently I decided to register and participate in the discussions because I was only two months out from GRS.

My name is Marion, I'm a mtf-TS in the early thirties, live in Germany and work as a lawyer. After high school I moved to another city and started to begin transition already. About six years ago I officially came out to all my family, friends and workmates. Hormones and facial hair removal treatments I started already a year earlier.

Due to job circumstances and an unexpected phase of prolonged depression where I wasn't able to work (~12 months) I finally decided to be ready for GRS surgery. It will take place in a couple of weeks at the end of August in Krefeld, Germany. Surgery is being conducted in two separated procedures, the second will follow about two months after the first and usually contains only cosmetic improvements.

Hoping to be recovered again by the beginning of 2013, I plan to have FFS as well. I'm on hormone medications now for about seven years, so it is highly unlikely any more improvement will happen to my face just through hormonal influence. I had some consultations already but I haven't yet decided for a specific surgeon.

In RL only old friends and my family know of my past. I guess most of my workmates consider me just another woman who looks a wee bit more masculine than others. My voice is kinda indifferent, meaning neither female nor male. I had no voice therapy, somehow I managed to change it myself over the years.

Regarding relationships, I never had any neither with men nor women. Before I came out, I tried it twice but rather feeling forced to it because my friends were suspecting me to be homosexual. I wasn't. But I wasn't interested in a relation to women as well. I can't really explain it but I guess I was simply too preoccupied with what was going on with myself. After the coming-out I dated about a dozen men but mostly without having success. There was one who apparently had no problem with me as a peri-op TS. He was a pretty clever guy but we lost contact due to live far apart from each other.

Despite my previous dates, I cannot really tell whether I'm hetero- or homosexual. Although I like men and I only met with men so far, I think I wouldn't really care if the person I would fall in love with is male or female.

Hi Marion,

A big Aussie welcome to Susan's family. I'm pleased you found us as well as hearing your plan is well underway. Operations can be such fiddly things, particularly GCS where you have to bring so much stuff with you for the immediate post op stuff. It's almost like having a production manifest that covers every nook and cranny.

At least the profession you are in, research wouldn't present a problem to you. Indeed I hope all continues to go well for you. Keep in touch and let us know how you are coping, in the meantime, be safe, well and happy.
Lotsa huggs
Catherine

Hi Marion,

Welcome to our little family. Over 7517  strong. That would be one heck of a family reunion.

Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams.  Ask questions and seek answers. Give and receive advice.

But remember we are family here, your family now. And it is always nice to have another sister.

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Janet 

Wie geht es Ihnen, Marion? Willkommen, aus Süd-Kalifornien. Ich bin froh, dass Sie hier sind.

(I hope I did not butcher that too badly!) 

Thanks everybody for the warm welcome.
Jamie, vielen Dank und einen Gruß zurück nach Kalifornien. Your German is pretty good.

All the thoughts and preparations for GRS indeed were keeping my busy since a few weeks. But I also felt a little bit alone because I never really made friends who fiddle with the same issues. So I'm happy to be here with all you nice people. 

Nein, Fraulein. Mein Englisch-Deutsch-Wörterbuch ist gut. 
   
Mein Deutsch stinkt der Limburger Käse

Haha. Nobody in Germany says Fraeulein anymore today, a pretty old-fashioned term for younger women. But it's funny when somebody says it. 

Limburger Käse smells indeed but tastes awesome and also is low in calories and saturated fats. 

Sorry, I forgot the umlaut over the "a"

Ich bin der alten Schule, und versuchen Sie, höflich zu sein.

Hi Marion, welcome from Boston! I was stationed at Zweibrucken and Kaiserslautern for a few years. I love Germany, especially the food. See you around, hugs, Devlyn

Welcome to Susan's, Marion.

Thanks again. 

Kaiserslautern and Zweibruecken are about 200 miles from where I live. Never been there but I know some other people who served and were stationed in the southern parts of Germany. 

I love the German cuisine as well but only when my grandmother prepared it. 

I spent a week in Todendorf, any closer? Hugs, Devlyn

Hi Marion,
Welcome! I'm sure your experiences and insights will be beneficial to many. We don't know what we know until we try to help others!
By the way, my wife prussianprincess is a Canadian and German citizen; her father is from Ostprussia and her mother is from Pomerania. She speaks fluent deutsch. Me, not so much, but I am trying to learn.
Best luck with your preparations for GRS.

Devlyn, never heard of Todendorf. I live in the Ruhr area, near Duesseldorf. 

Madeline, I too have some friends whose parents were born in East Prussia which today belongs to Poland and Russia. Most of the former population fled or were evacuated by the end of World War II when the Russians advanced to German territory. My sister-in-law was born in Dirschau, which is a small town in former West Prussia.

And thanks for your good wishes. 

Quote from: aibeecee on July 16, 2012, 01:26:13 PM
Devlyn, never heard of Todendorf. I live in the Ruhr area, near Duesseldorf. 

Madeline, I too have some friends whose parents were born in East Prussia which today belongs to Poland and Russia. Most of the former population fled or were evacuated by the end of World War II when the Russians advanced to German territory. My sister-in-law was born in Dirschau, which is a small town in former West Prussia.

And thanks for your good wishes. 

Interesting you should mention the history.  I am reading a book by Anthony Beevor, entitled, The Fall of Berlin 1945, about the brutal Soviet advance on the eastern front, from January to May, 1945.

Hi albeecee

From another Aussie, trying to bring culture and enlightenment to the uncivilized USA gang. A losing battle I'm afraid.

Welcome and enjoy post away and join in.

Hugs

Cindy