For generations my family built their lives and livelihoods in part of what is known in German as the Mittelstand, the country’s social and economic backbone of small- and mid-sized family businesses. In the 1930s, as the livelihoods of Germans increasingly came under threat, they made the difficult decision to leave their Heimat, their homeland, and shutter their business, Morgensterns. Like many others, my family carried their history with them. A history I learned from my grandparents and one I decided to reclaim when I moved "back" to Germany. Not to recreate what once was, but to reimagine a life for myself in country my family had once called home. In exploring the land I quickly grew to love, I decided that I wanted to provide the opportunity for others to experience such a beautiful, culturally rich place. My business honors historical truth with appropriate gravity while intentionally creating space for discovery, connection, and  joy. Through Morgensterns, I hoped to create journey that honor the richness and complexity of Germany's history while celebrating the cultures, communities and experiences that define it today.