@globustrotterin

The Start of This Sabbatical – omw

This past week has been a whirlwind. After spending more than 5 years in Hamburg, planting roots, and finally being able to call it home, a new chapter is awaiting to begin. Even though it has been something that has been prepared for about three years, the process still made me go on a roller coaster of emotions. I still remember the first day of my apprenticeship, as my teachers and classmates awaited me to spill the future plan after finishing the apprenticeship on the introduction day. Unlike the other classmates, my answer was to do a Sabbatical year afterwards, which led the class to the silence mode since it was not the typical answer. But I am not like my other classmates, I am way older than them. Being an adult immigrant also means that you just have a different start in life. At least it is in my case. Instead of doing an apprenticeship first, and then studying, I did it the other way around. Theretosay, the age difference is not something uncommon as a result. But I did my part, and I shortened it half a year so I could work part time afterwards and prepare for this trip as well as I could.  

Celebrating The End of Apprenticeship @ Nikkei Nine

As I finally reached this state. It feels surreal, knowing that in a few hours Dave and I will be leaving Germany to explore the other part of the world. Meeting the lovely subtenant girls, giving them our house keys knowing that we would not be back until next year is surreal. Saying goodbye and see you again next year to your team and co-workers felt weird, but heartwarming. Last moment with your friends in Hamburg felt somehow nostalgic, yet comforting. Calling your family, updating your trip felt normal somehow. Maybe since my heart is longing to see them again soon. But closing your house door with all your stuff for a year and for the last time brought the realization that THIS is real. We would be leaving our comfort zone for a year. We would be experiencing a lot of new things without knowing the exact certainty for the next twelve months. We would be out of Germany and calling different places our temporary home SOON!

Some of Hamburg Memories

Funny, because if it happened 10 years ago, I would have just jumped in and embraced it with a little cautiousness. But I am not the same person as I was 10 years ago, and the adult me is doing this with a lot more preparation to calm both the restless mind and hungry soul. Afterall, being a part time nomad seems to be a part of me anyway 😜 I know this trip would bring a lot of learning for me in life. A part of me already could not contain the excitement as I wrote this piece in my Berlin Hotel airport lobby, yet a part of me is trying to calm the feeling not of not being ready for the unknown. In the end I could only say que sera, sera, and seize this opportunity. One free year of exploring here we come!

Bis zum nächsten Jahr Hamburg Ahoi und liebes Deutschland ⚓️🇩🇪