Almost Everything I Learned from Working and Traveling Across Europe
I spent parts of 2018 in Europe, hopping in and out of Berlin. The timing of my arrival coincided with the much-awaited summer; it was the first week the sun shone that season. I vividly remember the first few weeks of my time there - long days, festivities in every Biergarten, a vibrant environment with an air of nonchalance enveloping the entire city. At the time, I quite distinctly recall thinking and often expressing my need for more speed, sometimes even chaos. Yet when I look back now, it's hard to remember another time that I felt calmer, more comfortable, and self-assured.
While every instance feels like a special memory now, here are some of the most remarkable moments and learnings I carried back home.
One world, so many ways to live: Berlin has a home for all dreams. The low cost of living, an overall artsy, diverse social environment, and the opportunities. You'll hear so many languages; you can't even count them. To experience diversity as it exists in Berlin is beautiful.
What's in a name? Honestly, not that much. After hearing 10+ variants of the sound of my name - it became less and less significant with every passing day. In some ways, I now prefer some pronunciations more than the original.
Kindness is abundant: I stayed out till 7 am during my first weekend in Berlin, and while that in itself doesn't say much, it's testimony to the warm welcome that filled the entirety of my stay. The friends that I made, the baristas, the Airbnb hosts were all too noteworthy.
Always check the weather: A series of fashion misses taught me to plan better, albeit the harder way. Two years later, I still always check the weather before stepping out.
Walking is a mode of transportation: growing up as a middle-class Indian, walking was rarely ever a preferred way to commute. Europe reversed that; the spring in my feet clocked 15,000 steps+ daily.
Sun appreciation: As a child, I would often run for shelter from the sun until I came to Europe and embraced the warmth of the bright summer sun.
There's freedom in the wind, sea, skies, and music: My heart drenched in red wine couldn't feel freer than the night at Buža Bar in Dubrovnik. The sea's rhythms, the winds' movement, the dark blues skies, and my favorite song (Freedom from Django Unchained) on loop - all carried the sweet smell of freedom.
The Eiffel is indescribably beautiful: I will never forget the first glimpse of the Eiffel - standing majestically in some sort of an aloof way, with an air of calmness and vigour surrounding it. My meeting with it marks an epoch in my history.
Working hard is great, but have you tried relaxing? It's quite incredible too.
Seasons change, and that's a challenge: the switch from the 5 am-9 pm daytime to 9 am-5 pm can cause a plethora of feelings that could come down heavy on the strongest of us even.
Butter chicken tastes excellent in most parts of the world. Potato is love served on a plate.
Not everyone loves tourists: especially when your city has 55,000 visitors or more every day. Venice, with all its magnificence, had undoubtedly witnessed enough tourists that season.
Patience always, but especially for the best things in our lives. It takes time to fall in love, and my time in Europe is testimony to it. Our best life can sometimes be a moment away. I was almost not going to go to Paris, and I almost would stay back in Berlin for longer, but somewhere between these two junctures, I learned that our best lives are often just one decision away.
There might be pain in our past, and today might be kafkaesque, but we will march forward. Whatever happens - embrace it, learn from it, move on. The history of Europe and the spirit of its people is a great reminder to all of us that tomorrow is a new day.
The entirety of my stay was filled with adventure and movement yet glazed with a surreal calmness - one that I'd never experience before. My encounters in Europe are etched in my memory as a painting on a canvas, and sometimes when I shut my eyes, I can still smell the sweet scent of summer and feel the shivers of a German winter. Maybe it is true that you might find your way out of Europe, but you'll have to leave your heart behind. Although the plan for this year was to give some more of my heart and take in a bigger piece of the European spirit, I'll continue to wait for another chance.
I spent parts of 2018 in Europe, hopping in and out of Berlin. The timing of my arrival coincided with the much-awaited summer; it was the first week the sun shone that season. I vividly remember the first few weeks of my time there - long days, festivities in every Biergarten, a vibrant environment with an air of nonchalance enveloping the entire city. At the time, I quite distinctly recall thinking and often expressing my need for more speed, sometimes even chaos. Yet when I look back now, it's hard to remember another time that I felt calmer, more comfortable, and self-assured.
While every instance feels like a special memory now, here are some of the most remarkable moments and learnings I carried back home.
One world, so many ways to live: Berlin has a home for all dreams. The low cost of living, an overall artsy, diverse social environment, and the opportunities. You'll hear so many languages; you can't even count them. To experience diversity as it exists in Berlin is beautiful.
What's in a name? Honestly, not that much. After hearing 10+ variants of the sound of my name - it became less and less significant with every passing day. In some ways, I now prefer some pronunciations more than the original.
Kindness is abundant: I stayed out till 7 am during my first weekend in Berlin, and while that in itself doesn't say much, it's testimony to the warm welcome that filled the entirety of my stay. The friends that I made, the baristas, the Airbnb hosts were all too noteworthy.
Always check the weather: A series of fashion misses taught me to plan better, albeit the harder way. Two years later, I still always check the weather before stepping out.
Walking is a mode of transportation: growing up as a middle-class Indian, walking was rarely ever a preferred way to commute. Europe reversed that; the spring in my feet clocked 15,000 steps+ daily.
Sun appreciation: As a child, I would often run for shelter from the sun until I came to Europe and embraced the warmth of the bright summer sun.
There's freedom in the wind, sea, skies, and music: My heart drenched in red wine couldn't feel freer than the night at Buža Bar in Dubrovnik. The sea's rhythms, the winds' movement, the dark blues skies, and my favorite song (Freedom from Django Unchained) on loop - all carried the sweet smell of freedom.
The Eiffel is indescribably beautiful: I will never forget the first glimpse of the Eiffel - standing majestically in some sort of an aloof way, with an air of calmness and vigour surrounding it. My meeting with it marks an epoch in my history.
Working hard is great, but have you tried relaxing? It's quite incredible too.
Seasons change, and that's a challenge: the switch from the 5 am-9 pm daytime to 9 am-5 pm can cause a plethora of feelings that could come down heavy on the strongest of us even.
Butter chicken tastes excellent in most parts of the world. Potato is love served on a plate.
Not everyone loves tourists: especially when your city has 55,000 visitors or more every day. Venice, with all its magnificence, had undoubtedly witnessed enough tourists that season.
Patience always, but especially for the best things in our lives. It takes time to fall in love, and my time in Europe is testimony to it. Our best life can sometimes be a moment away. I was almost not going to go to Paris, and I almost would stay back in Berlin for longer, but somewhere between these two junctures, I learned that our best lives are often just one decision away.
There might be pain in our past, and today might be kafkaesque, but we will march forward. Whatever happens - embrace it, learn from it, move on. The history of Europe and the spirit of its people is a great reminder to all of us that tomorrow is a new day.
The entirety of my stay was filled with adventure and movement yet glazed with a surreal calmness - one that I'd never experience before. My encounters in Europe are etched in my memory as a painting on a canvas, and sometimes when I shut my eyes, I can still smell the sweet scent of summer and feel the shivers of a German winter. Maybe it is true that you might find your way out of Europe, but you'll have to leave your heart behind. Although the plan for this year was to give some more of my heart and take in a bigger piece of the European spirit, I'll continue to wait for another chance.