This time last year, I was sitting on a bus from Riga to Berlin, my worldly possessions safely stowed in the hold (I hoped), with around 16 hours stretching ahead of me to contemplate what exactly I was doing; moving to a city where I didn’t know a soul, with no job and no long-term accommodation lined up. All I had was about five words of German and a roof over my head for the next two weeks. Little did I know I’d end up sharing with a septuagenarian who would have a penchant for dry humping me while I cleaned his fridge.
Looking back, there were a lot of things I couldn’t have predicted. And while I’m not saying six flats, three jobs, leaving the Catholic Church, and endless rounds of bureaucracy were a walk in the park, they certainly made for an interesting year. In between all of this, of course, I did have some fun. I’ve been to museums, festivals, lakes, book launches, football matches, Christmas markets. I’ve been to Hamburg, Dresden, Leipzig, Potsdam, and Marzahn (shudder). I even managed to get my name on a plaque in Humboldthain Park.
I’ve done my best to unravel the mysteries of the German poo shelf. I’ve been sold on the idea of two single duvets on a double bed (that probably also has two single mattresses). I’ve battled with the German language and am now an expert absolute beginner at business German thanks to “Die Höhle der Löwen”*. Or at least I can almost pronounce “Die Höhle der Löwen” – it’s something like “dee huhhluh der luhffen” if you want to give it a go. (Germans, feel free to laugh now.) I’ve tried – and failed miserably – to be a good German Hausfrau, but I do still rinse out my pasta sauce jars. The fact that I use pasta sauce from a jar explains a lot about my failure to be a good Hausfrau.
I’ve made some fantastic friends, and some colossal mistakes. Thankfully, the former helped get me through the latter. The thing about Berlin is that she’s a slippery little sucker. Every time one thing slips into place, something else slips away. For the past year, it’s all been a bit one step forward, two steps back. Or, sometimes, more like half a step forward, have your feet ripped from under you and end up flat on your arse. But I’ve realised that the trick is to keep getting up again, a bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator. (The similarity would probably be more apparent if the Terminator liked a glass of wine and busting out Dusty Springfield tunes.) Aaaaanyway, the point is, one year on, I’m still here and I’m still standing.
Because this is my life, this is Berlin, and this is home. There’s always something amazing around the corner. And even if there isn’t, there’s only a few months to go ’til Glühwein season…
So, I hope you’ll all be sticking around, because I know I will be.
*The German version of Dragons’ Den/Shark Tank. The 50% I can understand is massively entertaining.
I can’t believe you’ve only been here for a year. Marvellous stuff and congratulations. You’ve survived the paperwork, moving house and German TV. You’re made of stern stuff. 🙂
p.s. I’ve heard of “Die Höhle der Löwen” of course, but I’ve never watched it or the original version of Dragon’s Den. I’m too busy watching “How to get away with Murder” instead you see. In GERMAN. I know!
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I watch that too, but only half-watch really. Not sure what’s going on! Dragon’s Den is great – was trying to get my Stammtisch into it yesterday 🙂 They remain unconvinced 😉
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Oh my gosh, has it really been a year?! Time flies…it’s crazy! Happy first anniversary, and in the states, the traditional gift is paper, so I hope you’v got some pleasantly marked paper coming your way 🙂
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Does toilet paper count?
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It ALL counts at this point 😛 I’ll settle for tissue paper. Wrapping something awesome…Two somethings, that happen to fit my feet, and have red soles….
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Like Dorothy?
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SOLES, Linda. SOLES. Like my good friend Christan. Louboutin.
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Heh, I was hoping I might get away with something from Primark 😉
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I don’t know what Primark is, but if it sells Frutips, I’m down. I’ll take sugar over paper.
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I don’t even know what you’re talking about. They sell clothes and shoes. 😉
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I could use a pair of ruby slippers that could transport me anywhere….I think I spoke too quickly on that one 😛
And what sort of paper do you want?
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Printer paper – I’m almost out 😉
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Last time I checked, whiskey labels were paper, too.
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Excellent point, young lady! 🙂
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Just watching out for a fellow whiskey connoisseur 🙂
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And I don’t even have to pick the label off the bottle to recycle separately 😉
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See? It’s a win-win! Happy anniversary!
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I like most things that don’t involve much effort, and alcohol 🙂
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It takes more effort than you’d think to pour the perfect pint!
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I come from the land of Guinness. You’re preaching to the converted 😉
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You’re a brave soul Linda. Happy Germanniversary!
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Thank you so much! 🙂 Love these made-up words 🙂
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Happy “paper” anniversary! Am raising a glass to you now!
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Maybe I should recycle some paper to celebrate. Feels more German 😉
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Happy Anniversary! Ah, living in a land you can love hasn’t taken the edge off your humor, and for that, I’m grateful 🙂
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I’m not sure what it would take to cause that! 🙂 You have to keep laughing – it’s the only way!
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Oh, indeed, especially with US politics as they currently are, I’d be crying if I weren’t laughing … ha ha ha wah!!!!
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Trump the Chump 🙂
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Congrats Linda!xx
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Thank you! Bring on the next one 🙂
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Happy Anniversary to you and your poo shelf!
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My poo shelf and I thank you kindly 🙂
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Happy Anniversary! I can’t believe it’s been a year already. I’m looking forward to the next year’s escapades. 🙂
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Me too! Let’s see what this year holds – won’t be dull, that’s for sure!
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Never a dull moment with you! 🙂
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Keeps life interesting 😉
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Happy anniversary! Save a glass of Glühwein for me!
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That won’t be easy 😉
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Congrats and Happy Germannivesary! And while it wasn’t just a joy ride, I do think that German suits you, and you fit right in 🙂 Be that next year (and maybe many other to come) is like that second and better pancake. Cheers!
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I have a feeling it will be 🙂
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Wow, this year has flown by! Things really seem to have fallen in place over the past month or so. I hope you’re enjoying your fabulous new apartment. Looking forward to reading about the next adventures!
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Heh heh, fabulous 🙂 It’s in the eye of the beholder I guess! I just love that I can come home, shut the door, and not have to talk 🙂
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The best feeling ever! And I don’t have to put up with someone’s crazy television schedule. 🙂
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Law & Order marathon – and nobody to judge me 🙂
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Happy Germanniversary! It’s be a joy experiencing your journey second hand. I can’t wait to read what the future brings you–hopefully only good things.
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I hope so too, Britt! And I know you’re starting something new too so best of luck with all of it! 🙂
And move to Germany after that 🙂
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Thank you! So far things are going well. Germany is just around the corner.
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WOOP! 🙂
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SIX apartments?!?!? (errrr..that is what us American folk call flats)….wow….. I thought I read every post related to apartment changes…now I am thinking I must have missed a few. Anyway….congrats….you seem really happy.
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I thought ‘flat’ was a British English thing! Consider my eyes opened 🙂
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Happy Ger-versary! You are absolutely right, so much of life here is one step forward, two steps back, but it’s doable. No guarantees that one is ever doing everything correctly, but we can keep on trying. Plus, all the beer and pretzels should add an extra layer to the ass… making falling on it slightly more comfortable. 😉
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Ha, so true! I found out the other day that cold calling is illegal in Germany. Nobody told me that while I was cold calling 😉
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Details. Haha.
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Hi Linda,
I was reading your blog all year long. I’m always impressed with how you write and how well you comment your posts.
Keep up the good work!
…and greetings from Lena, Frank, Līga and other nice Latvians 😎
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Aw, thank you Una! I miss you guys! And W(here)TF is Walkingmama?? 😉
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Lena made another baby, she is now busy, but I kick her all the time. Anyway I hope she will work more soon.
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I won’t hold my breath 😉
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You’ve come a long way, baby! Well done. And who says the Terminator doesn’t enjoy a nice buttery chardonnay?
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Wouldn’t he break the lovely delicate glass stem with his big metal fingers? 😉
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We’ll find him some wine in a can 🙂
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Bet he’d be awesome at opening beer bottles with various bits of his body. The Germans would love him 🙂
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Happy Germanniversary Linda! Looking forward to reading about more of your adventures in Berlin. 🙂 Prost!
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Prost! I think the next post will be a whine-fest, but for once, it’s not the Germans’ fault 🙂
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Happy Berlinnaversary! (Making another word up!) Only you could get folks talking about poo shelves! So yeah… think I’ll stick around for another laugh n groan. 🙂
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Yay! Wouldn’t be the same without you! Think you were one of the first to follow the LV blog? Time flies, right?
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Clearly when one is having fun! 😉 Now missy… its a Friday night and you should be out getting yourself into some mischief!!
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Mischief-free tonight 😉 Went for a nap that overran slightly! Can’t be arsed going out now!
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Hahaha! I totally get those… we were supposed to be at a wild animal party. However the host had to cancel so we had a most welcome quiet eve at home… author musician friend from out of town came home, wine bottle opened, I cooked, conversation flowed… a fine evening that ended early. 🙂
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There’s a Russian expression, pervy blin komom – applies to pancaked, specifically, when you make them, the first one usually comes out a bit jumbled, but it’s ok (there’s another interpretation that involved literally feeding a bear, but we’ll shelve it for now). So maybe this first year is just like that pancake, and starting with the second one the baker knows his way around the skillet a bit better? Let it be like that. And I look forward to all that glintvein in December with you!
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I can’t wait! And now I want pancakes. What have you done? 😉
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Wow, has it really been a year already? How quick has that gone?
I am not German, but I’m still laughing at your pronunciation 😉 By the way, a W is pronounced like a V, not F!
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Yeah, I know, but they don’t say ‘lovin’ – it’s more like ‘luffen! Verging slightly more on the ‘v’ side but not a total ‘v’ – damn, this is hard to put into writing!
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I know exactly how to pronounce it but I can’t write it down It’s not “lovin”, it’s like “lurv-un” (like the sound at the beginning of Lurpak butter, but not quite, then a reeeeally short “uh”, like in “ugh”).
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Now everything is clear 😉
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Your first year in Berlin sounds like one hell of a ride. Cheers to many more adventures!
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It has certainly been that! And I’m raising a glass to you 🙂
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But you make your own pasta, right?!
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Would that involve flour?
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Happy Anniversary to you and wishes for more great things to come…(Suzanne)
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Thank you so much! Fingers crossed! 🙂
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Thank you so much! 🙂
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Happy Germanniversary! Reading it feels like I’m staring into my future….a little terrifying, honestly. lol I don’t like the looks of that toilet.
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Most places don’t have them any more but it’s always a, um, surprise when you do come across one! And terrifying can be fun, sometimes 😉 Or at the very least, blogworthy!
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A year already? Hard to believe you packed so much into one year. A hearty congratulations to you, cant wait to see what the next several years hold for you!
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Ha, me neither! I bet they certainly won’t be dull though 😉
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