I have been here for 6 months and 8 days. Yeah, counting!
I can't believe it has been 6 months already. On the one hand, it feels like I've been here (exaggeration incoming) forever! But on the other hand, time has flown by so fast it feels like only 2 months ago when I came here.
I remember the trip to the airport with my family, me saying goodbye to them and boarding the plane alone with most of my belongings packed into 2 suitcases. There I was - 18 and starting a new, different life in a foreign country with no idea when I would return back home.
I look through my pictures and see photos I took in the first month of being here - and it seems almost unreal. Firstly, it was still winter when I arrived and the last remains of snow could be seen. Secondly, I knew no German. At all. I was a flailing fish on dry land - pathetically trying to survive in a foreign country with my "Ja, nein, bitte and danke" I am proud to say that I (I think...) tipping the edge of being barely fluent (does that even make sense) and understand 98% of what people are saying. Unless they talk fast or have a strong accent or use haughty words.
In my first week of being here, I also got disastrously sick. One of the worst colds/flu's I have ever had in my 18 year life!! 3 weeks later and I was still feeling the effects of it. Not a great start.
I was also super nervous of taking public transport, mainly because I didn't want to end up on the other side of Berlin... With no German-speaking ability and too much pride to ask for help. (Great combination by the way 馃檮).
Evidently, week 2 of being here I got lost in the middle of Berlin Mitte - trying to get to a friends house - with a phone that died on me and frozen hands. I discovered that my phone does not like the cold and that I should always change my phone PIN to something I know....
6 months on and I'm earning a proper income. Serving, waiting tables and making drinks (coffee, smoothies and occasionally cocktails). I have now learnt the art of carrying 4 plates at once - albeit nervously and constantly chanting "don't drop it. Don't drop it" Although I also try and avoid this - because in the past I have done this and... Ironically dropped the object which I was carrying. Fantastic I know.
Life feels almost upside down and normal at the same time. Do I still stress every time I talk to someone from the bank/ in a higher authority? Yes.
Do I still eat too much bread than I probably should? Yes.
Do I still think it's 3pm when in actual fact it's 21pm? Yes.
Do I still stare at something in the store for 5 minutes - wondering if it's a good price or not and if it would be better priced in another shop? Yes. Shopping can take me an hour for basic goods now. 馃檮
See? Everything is strange and normal at the same time. But I guess that is all part of the adventure and learning curves of living in a new country!
A lovely week to all you fellow Bloggers and Readers out there. Stay Slayin' 馃崈
Sourced from my blog here
