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 🙄).
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. 🙄
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' 🍃
Sourced from my blog here