My stay in Berlin - How it changed me

Now that I have been back home for more than a month, it has finally sunk in that I was away for 2 months, in a foreign land (make that Europe for the first time!!); experienced winter (and snow) for the very first time; lived on bread, pasta, salad, meat (no seafood) and hardly any rice for two whole months; was independent (it’s a different kind of independence back home, if you know what I mean); met so many new people and in the process, made friends out of colleagues; experienced the German culture, tradition and life; and last but not least…I survived all that and came home intact!! In fact, I would say that I adapted well, coz, as people around me were getting sick because of the weather and whatever; I was as healthy as a horse! You would think that I would be the first one to get sick considering how unused I am to the cold and all.

Food

This was a funny adventure especially when it came to bread and cheeses. I never understood the labels and when I asked people, they found it hard to explain what is what to me. In the end, I just bought whatever I thought looked and would hopefully taste nice, and then I go home and discover that I was wrong! LOL! Happened numerous times especially with cheeses but I chalk it up to experience. :p Have had a LOT of coffee and cake too! Drank a lot of wine! Finished a whole bottle of wine by myself. Oh…not forgetting beer! I drank a lot of beer, wine, coffee, milk and hot chocolate during the two months. It was coffee and hot chocolate when I’m on my own; and beer and wine whenever I was out for dinner or drinks with colleagues.

History

I’ve seen, touched and left my mark at pieces of history that most of us only ever read in books or watch on TV! I mean, seriously, how many people can say that they’ve seen the Berlin Wall twice and have even written on it! Haha!

Public transport

I own and drive a car in Penang. In Berlin, I had to rely on public transport for my entire stay; a scary experience; I went everywhere with a map of the public transport network routes! It took me nearly 4 weeks before I learned how to read and interpret it, but even then, on my second last week, I got lost! Lol!

Work

The main reason I went to Berlin was for work. It was an exchange programme to learn how an international human rights organization works, while at the same time, share experiences of my work as my organization deals with the grassroots. I have to admit, after a month in Berlin, I still wasn’t sure what I had learned and what I would be bringing back. After speaking to Claudia and reflecting internally on what I had done the past 30 days, things soon started to fall in place. One thing that really helped put things in perspective was Robert Goldspink’s visit. I really started to understand what it is that I was in Berlin for and how and what I could bring back to my work in Penang. Things became clearer and exciting.

Motivation

One other thing that I learned while on my trip is that I should make full use of the time I have. I will be 29 this year, one year short of turning 30; and I wouldn’t want to be one of those people who say they have regrets for not doing so and so while they were in their 20s. Part of my weekends are always wasted as by the time I get up, it’s noon; then I dilly-dally till it’s time to go to the shop. Perhaps I can find or start a new hobby so that I don’t waste or wile away all those precious hours before I go to the shop. The Europeans really know how to enjoy their time off and they always have something to do or somewhere to go. And their Monday morning greetings are always, “How was your weekend?” J

Since coming back, some of my weekends have been full. One weekend that needs to be highlighted is the weekend my brother, his fiancée and a friend came up to Penang. This was the first time I watched my brother perform, and my oh my, was I the proud big sister! J

I’m still looking for something to take up or occupy my weekend. I’ve thought of going back to playing badminton or learn an instrument. I’m not sure. I’ve also been thinking that it’s time to start exercising. I’m not sure why but I feel as though I’m not fit.