I have been missing the city like crazy. Considering moving back there in one or two years. I'd like to build up my education and work experience in the States and then head back and get a job, or even start my own company.
To do that a whole slew of factors will have to be evaluated...including my ability to leave it all behind, once again. My life would be a harder than Chicago, physically and emotionally.
Berlin is hard on the body, but good on the soul.
When my personal life was difficult in Berlin, I took solstice in feverish bike rides, the clubs and the vast array of life there. Never static, the city invites you to be who you want to be - and no one takes a second look. I liked how quiet it was there, my courtyard apartment overlooking other lightly painted houses. The trees sticking up from behind them, and the ability to always know the weather. This, in comparison to construction noise and windows so thick my place stays a constant temperature all year round. I liked walking there, it was peaceful and watching out for countless pedestrians was not an issue. I felt calmer, slower and more at ease with myself than I realized.
Physically, the city exhausts me. The public transportation is exquisite, plenty of bike paths but the daily trudge and lack of conveniences are what turned to be the most difficult for me. Carrying my groceries home every day, no car and the strain of dealing with any service employee (yes, it's that bad). I had to carry large quantities of empty bottles to get my "pfand" or deposit, three euros worth of bottles roughly equals four plastic bags full. I lug everything, everwhere. I had to carry everything with me because there are no corner stores. Advil, water, medicines, sweaters, umbrella etc. were constants in my bag - because I never knew where I would end up and there are no corner stores to hop into and just pick it up. After returning from my five months, a two hour massage could not fully undue the damage that city had done to my body.
I've heard life in Chicago is hard, maybe I'm just used to it and it's a matter of getting used to Berlin in the ways that it's difficult there.
To do that a whole slew of factors will have to be evaluated...including my ability to leave it all behind, once again. My life would be a harder than Chicago, physically and emotionally.
Berlin is hard on the body, but good on the soul.
When my personal life was difficult in Berlin, I took solstice in feverish bike rides, the clubs and the vast array of life there. Never static, the city invites you to be who you want to be - and no one takes a second look. I liked how quiet it was there, my courtyard apartment overlooking other lightly painted houses. The trees sticking up from behind them, and the ability to always know the weather. This, in comparison to construction noise and windows so thick my place stays a constant temperature all year round. I liked walking there, it was peaceful and watching out for countless pedestrians was not an issue. I felt calmer, slower and more at ease with myself than I realized.
Physically, the city exhausts me. The public transportation is exquisite, plenty of bike paths but the daily trudge and lack of conveniences are what turned to be the most difficult for me. Carrying my groceries home every day, no car and the strain of dealing with any service employee (yes, it's that bad). I had to carry large quantities of empty bottles to get my "pfand" or deposit, three euros worth of bottles roughly equals four plastic bags full. I lug everything, everwhere. I had to carry everything with me because there are no corner stores. Advil, water, medicines, sweaters, umbrella etc. were constants in my bag - because I never knew where I would end up and there are no corner stores to hop into and just pick it up. After returning from my five months, a two hour massage could not fully undue the damage that city had done to my body.
I've heard life in Chicago is hard, maybe I'm just used to it and it's a matter of getting used to Berlin in the ways that it's difficult there.
"Wenn du was sagst, fliegen deine Woerter, wie Blumen, durch den Raum...und ich verstehe nichts."
2 comments:
I'm so jealous! I've always wanted to go to Germany---but preferably in the warmer seasons so I don't become an icicle. PS Love the blog name---I love pickles too, for as far back as I can remember.
Pickles are the shit. So are cornichons.
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