Auf Wiedersehen, London. You have been good to me. Day 1 in...

Auf Wiedersehen, London. You have been good to me.

Day 1 in Berlin

So the most difficult part is over, leaving my beloved city, where I spent 7 years. Where I felt like home, even after returning from the long journey, even though I didn’t have a house to return to. House is not a home.

The new chapter begins in Berlin, the 8th city of my residence. Though this is my second time here, I know almost nothing about the city, its history, demographics, don’t even know where to start. Decided to stay at a hotel in north Charlottenburg for a night. Surprisingly close to Tegel airport, I suppose the West Berliners had to somehow fit it inside the wall, thus there it remains, within 5km from the city center. Come to think of it, the one in Taipei was closer.
There was immigration check as soon as I got off the plane, the baggage claim right next to it, I could literally reach Charlottenburg upon getting out of the plane in half an hour. Must be the German standard of efficiency.

Upon checking in, signed my contract which I read over & over during the flight. The intermediary based in Cyprus looked a bit odd, but it shouldn’t matter much as my company is not involved in the payment chain, which looks like Sweden→Cyprus→UK for the job done in Germany.

Went out looking for Turkish kebab but settled with Lebanese, as I couldn’t find any kebab shop without Arabic signs. Reminded me of when I moved in to my first flat on Edgware Road in London. When I almost finished my meal, an old man joined my table, then he started complaining about how Germany is being manipulated by the US/UK, but will become invincible once alliance with Russia is forged, and how the Arabs settled in Germany to break the society from within. Interesting perspective to hear on the first day, but had to excuse myself shortly after.

I don’t know why I keep on shouting out Spanish words, maybe the polyglot brain capacity only goes upto 3. Though everyone here seems to speak better English than Brits, gotta get back to hyper-intensive mode of acquisition. Will start looking for flats tomorrow. (at Hampstead Heath)

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