Eine Lebensgeschichte, die es wert ist erzählt zu werden!
Born in Rudolstadt in 1958, Andreas, his sister Petra and their parents moved to Hamburg when he still was a small child. There he attended school and got his degree (Abitur) in 1977.
In 1978 Andreas started his studies at the University of Federal Armed Forces in Hamburg and graduated in 1982. From 1977 till 1989 he acted as an Officer in the logistics of the Federal Armed Forces.
In 1989 Andreas started his employment with the Deutsche Lufthansa AG. He worked in multiple departments of Lufthansa Technik and got to travel to many different countries while his employment. After the family house in Bergedorf was constructed, Fabian was born in 1990 and filled Andreas and Martinas life with joy.
In 1997 he got send to China and worked for Ameco for the first time and became the “China Lover” (thats what he liked to call himself) we all know today. Beijing was a different city back then. There was no Airport Express Way or Jenny Lou’s Supermarket. Fabian started first grade at the German Embassy School. One year later Annika was born in Beijing. The four of them moved back to Hamburg in 2000 and Andreas continued his work at Lufthansa Technik.
After Martina died in 2007, Andreas and the kids moved back to Beijing. Beijing had changed by then, but the three still loved their second home. In 2009 Charis stepped into our lifes! Fabian graduated in the summer of 2010 and moved back to Germany on his own. After the hole family celebrated Christmas together in Beijing that same year, Charis, Andreas and Annika moved back to Hamburg. In June of 2011 Charis and Andreas celebrated a huge and wonderful wedding in the Reinbeker castle. Guests from all around the world came to attend the wedding. But Charis wasn’t allowed to drink wine, because Baby Sophie was on her way and finally joined the family in September of 2011.
After Fabian returned from his year abroad in New Zealand, he started his apprenticeship at Volkswagen. Annika attended the same school as her parents and found new friends. While Sophie was happily going to kindergarten everyday, Charis worked her part time job. Andreas drove all the way to the airport everyday and complained about the horrible traffic every evening while the whole family enjoyed Charis’ home cooked meals. In 2015 Andreas, Charis, Annika and Sophie moved back to Beijing. Ameco was going through structural changes and the joint venture needed Andreas expertise.
After Annika graduated high school in 2017 she moved back to Germany. Shortly after Annika left the German Embassy School, Sophie started first grade there. Charis was very busy because her organic food business thrived.
Andreas and the family enjoyed their life in Beijing. The good food, drinks and the travels around Asia. Fabian came to visit when ever he could and Annika did the same after she moved back to Hamburg.
In 2019 Andreas decided to enjoy his early retirement period in Hong Kong. Charis and Sophie were very excited to be close to their Hong Kong-Family. Annika continued her studies in Hamburg. Fabian and his fiancé (at that time girlfriend) worked and lived in Hamburg as well. The three of them watched out for the houses in Bergedorf and Annika was happy to eat dinner at their place almost every night (they were literally neighbours).
2020 was a difficult year for almost everyone… the Meisel Family was spread all over the world, unable to see each other. Fabian and his fiancé moved to Bavaria and Annika stayed in Hamburg doing home-University. Andreas, Charis and Sophie were quite lucky, because the situation in Hong Kong was not as bad as in Germany. No one thought the year would get worse for the Meisel Family, but sadly it did. Christmas was different this year, but the Family did the best they could to keep the Christmas spirit alive. And even Santa Claus had his first virtual visit in Hong Kong via Hamburg.
2021 will be a challenge for the Meisel Family, but they have mastered so much already, so they will get through this as well!