Auf Wiedersehen

From the day I started this blog, I knew that something like this would come towards the end. Auf Wiedersehen or goodbye in German.

It has been a crazy 6 months as a student and the experiences have been that of a lifetime. There has been equal amount of struggle, hardwork, madness and emotional trauma! Wow!

I have been very very lucky and fortunate to have been part of this whole programme and its just overwhelming to even write a goodbye note.

Thank you everyone who has made it possible for me to be here and make it through.

Thank you.

The Countdown

Its D minus 9, departure minus nine. Nine days to get back.
Its overwhelming and a mix of different emotions that are felt as of now. It has been a wonderful, struggle filled, crazy six months and so much has been learnt. Not its unbelievable that its getting over.

There is so much still left to do but time is flying. Wonder if it will be possible to.

9. The magic number. Or maybe not. 

New Toothpaste

The toothpaste is getting over and now I'm in a dilemma. I dont know whether I should buy a huge one or not, should I look at sharing toothpaste with one of the guys or just get one and be happy with it. 

A big one would mean I would waste quite a lot, a small one would mean I would have to scrimp and scrounge over it and sharing one would be definitely very very awkward. How much is it about the wastage, the toothpaste or the sharing? It figures that its more about wrapping up things here and leaving soon. Even something as small and important as toothpaste makes me realise that.

Its a strange, sinking and strong feeling. Like Im getting uprooted from someplace I have been quite a while. Its also a feeling that I dont know how to handle. 

PS: I did myself a favour and bought the cheapest toothpaste. 

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

From the day I realised that Germany was the original birthplace of the Black Forest Cake, I was determined to find it somehow. Joining me in my quest was Rajesh. It felt like a mystery that we had to solve before we left for India.

We asked around, tried looking for it ourselves but there was no luck. I even posed a question on the class forum here, but nothing seemed to help. People mentioned a bakery, but when I looked there, it wasn't available. Someone told me that they ate it at their Grandmothers place only and not outside.

Heartbreaking. But Asja told me that I may find it in a restaurant here but it might be a little expensive. After conveying that to Rajesh, we decided to take the chance and go eat it someday. Sunday afternoon, we headed out on our quest to find the World's Most Amazing Cake and to my surprise we found the place without a huge effort. I was prepared with a chit that had the correct German name and everything, just in case we couldn't pronounce the correct name.

We found our way into the beautiful restaurant, stared at all the cakes there and tried figuring out The One, but couldnt see it. My heart was sinking. I then handed over the small chit of paper, before I could open my mouth and utter the name. The server saw the name, kept the chit down, asked me in German if I wanted the small or the big and once I answered, he nodded his head in agreement and carried on.

There it was. Ther torte. I couldnt take my eyes off it, felt like a 5 year old staring into a candy shop. He beautifully cut the cake into two halves, served it on a plate and kept it on the glass top. It was now ours. So gorgeous it was. The first bite was heaven, and the next few were even better.

I didnt want to even compare the Indian versions of this cake to what I ate but just couldn't help but do that. It was yum and so beautiful. Rajesh and I sighed, high fived over our success and finished it merrily.

Oh how wonderful that Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte was, as well as the experience. Never forgetting this one!

Aline

Not an English typo error .Not my favourite German word.
Its the word that hits me most-Aline, meaning Alone.

A word I always shudder to use, because it reflects a lot on my mood. But today I have to use it and have to say it-- I feel alone and very badly so. The past few months have taught me a lot, and I have been very open to learning.

But the sense of being alone is the scariest kind, especially when you dont what to expect ahead. Thats the trouble. Constantly surrounded by people, I still feel alone. Its scary and very difficult to handle. Its something you just cannot learn to overcome. Through time, I have fought the feeling but there comes a point when it hits you and it hits you hard and then you just give up. I think I just did. Not on myself, but on the so many things and people around me.

Sometimes you have to fight it all alone. And being alone can only make you stronger. Lets hope it does.

The opposite of aline is alles, and I wait for the time and occasion to use it. 

Whirlwind January

They had warned me about January and how hard hitting it would be. But as they say, you never know until it hits you.

January 2013 was indeed a whirlwind. Project submissions, meeting, last few days with other International students and hell loads of work. No time to even breathe. I could feel January passing like sand passing through my fingers.

Crazy work schedules, lots of pressure and even more tension. There is still lots to do, and the crazy January is now over but I think its passed it on to February. Oh no!

The Last Lesson

It was the last lesson today, of what we started from the beginning. German language lessons.
Till last week I used couldn't believe that this day would arrive. When it happened, it just happened and passed. I dont think I will ever forget this day.

Today of all days, the other three couldn't make it to the class and it was me alone, with Frau Kaiser and one empty room and strangely I felt very empty inside too, because it would mark the end of something that I could never ever believe.

Every week our classes started with Frau Kaiser's usual greetings and discussions about the day, the weekend and a couple of jokes here and there. Today also it was that. Nothing seemed different but it being the last time, it was. She then nicely and very cheerfully told me that I had passed the exam that we had given last week. Relieved I was. I mean, I was really worried that I wouldn't clear the exam but it seems like I did. Phew!

We began the German lesson and practised some reading, some grammar and the usual things. We even discussed last weeks question paper and what all could have been done better. She told me that I was better in an everyday class and not for a test (or atleast I think I she said that). During the course of the class, I couldnt help but drift into the past five months that I had spent with her in that same classroom, every Tuesday, studying a language that I never thought I would.

Frau Kaiser and I shared a strange bond, for over five months, I grew close to her because of her undying patience, her concern for our German learning, her understanding towards us and her plain loyalty towards everything she spoke off. We have had numerous conversations about my dog, her horse, my parents, her hobbies, almost everything under the sun.  She's almost 60 and she bikes around the city, walks as a hobby, has a pet horse and ensures that her Man cooks for her every evening. I appreciate her for the wonderful woman and teacher she is.

So finally today, when it was time to leave, in her usual tone of gratitude, she said thank you and wished me luck. She stopped at that. It usually used to be followed with a 'till the next Tuesday' or ' till next time' but this time it didn't. I couldnt help but go up to her, give her a small note that I wrote for her  and ask her for one picture with me. Since there was no one else around, we had to stick to a self-click. After 10 trials, we managed something.

She shook my hand, hugged me and said it was lovely to have been here. And I couldn't have agreed more.

To Frau Kaiser and the wonderful German lessons!
Probably what I'll miss the most about Germany, unknowningly.