Tasty Moments Part 2

Nov 16, 2014 | Before The Great Journey, Thoughts

The tea won’t take too long anymore. Its scent promisingly hits my nose and I am looking forward to the soothing effect of the sweet beverage. I rarely drink tea in the evening. Even more rarely this late. But I have to today.
Not the least to think a little and because I have decided to write this article while thinking.

A few hours earlier I was on stage and I was Maik. Then us three were standing in front of the audience and took our bows. Then I was Oliver again and the people cheered and clapped. We received great praise from the audience. As we did in the previous performances…

Half a month ago I was standing in front of many people. In my hands a rose and the certificate for the first place. It was the honour of the best apprentices of our region. Big applause for each one.

My grin is perfect. In front of me lies the finest steak I ever had in my life. A huge, luscious piece of meat, prepared on highest standard, just for me. And it was plain delicious!
I went out with friends. Share a delight for the taste buds one more time before we part for a long time.
Actually I was lucky that the (in culinary terms) highly efficient visit at a chinese-mongolian buffet with an ex-colleague the other day wasn’t stretching my stomach too much anymore… 😀

I am standing in front of the door and ring for the second time. Must have been too loud inside to hear, I think. But finally my uncle opens and I find myself in the familiar surroundings of my grandparents’ after a considerable time again.
My cousins greet me enthusiasticly and I, too, am happy to see them. I realize that in a far future this reunion will be much more intense, and thus I am just enjoying their company.
It’s always a colorful get together that occurs on certain events such as birthdays. You sit down with your relatives, relax, talk, eat and laugh…
Soon I’ll be far away from all this. That’s why I enjoy it even more this time.

Ulla, our director’s assistant, comes to me after the performance and tells me with bright eyes what I barely could grasp through the applause. It was great! The audience is inspired. My act stirrs awe and admiration. My reaction I express verbally: It makes my happy. I am very happy to have made some people’s lives happy for a time.

My parents and I are presented with the main course. Us three are sitting at the table that I returned to with my rose and the certificate. It is all extravagant and delicate dishes. Especially the desert tells a story of creativity here.
We are sitting in a posh environment, I and the people that are responsible for me being in this place right now. The people who once told me how to talk, who were there when I learned to walk, who taught me order and wisdom, who care for my wellbeing, who respect my own decisions, who I will probably miss the most…

The tea finished, the eyes tired, the daily task fulfilled.

Gear and Gadgets

Nov 13, 2014 | Before The Great Journey, Thoughts

Behind this picture there are many walks to authorities, waiting times, long drives or fees…

The list is getting harder and harder to read with all the crossed out points. With any other appointment done the head is a little more relieved. Relieved for thinking about the reasons why the points had to be done in the first place…

We can get philosophical another time. Now here are some tangible words on gear and gadgets:

In terms of baggage I stay true to myself, a Deuter fan. As carry-on I chose a Deuter Gigant, which serves as ‘laptop bag’ as well. The main bag is the Deuter Helion 80 (trolley-backpack-duffel-hybrid). But on that more in the future, when it arrives…

Because I want to be there for you abroad and don’t want to misuse my mobile for emails, Skype, Blogger and all that I got myself a laptop. It is an Ultrabook of superior quality… Should be good for some years, right?

In order not to suffer from uncomfortabilty when traveling, the clever one orders himself a traveling pillow. My one is fluffy of course AND it has some velcro to fixate in a way on your neck, that your head doesn’t always fall down sleeping. And now don’t tell me to be afraid of the long flight… ;D

With the credit cards I made use of a highly advertised tipp. That means: A VISA card for free withdrawals and a MasterCard for free payments abroad. 🙂

Since lately I am now insured, declared unemloyed and x-rayed as well. I spent a nice afternoon in Bremen and for the last point, the x-ray, I visited a radiologist there. But I didn’t get the greater part of the health check not on that day as it has to be carried out by another doctor. Because I don’t want to go through the streets of Bremen Downtown, I decided to let the check to be done overseas. I need it only when going for the Working Holiday Visa, anyway.

Documents like the passport and international drivers licence aren’t complicated to acquire. At least it you inform yourself what to bring beforehand…

Maybe this post can be useful to other Au Pairs/ Work-and-Travelers in preparation (even if it isn’t necessarily complete).

My last Day at Work

Nov 9, 2014 | Before The Great Journey, Thoughts, Updates

The door of the apprenticeship centre closes behind me. The well known snap of the closing mechanism only goes through to my subconcsious mind, but I am aware: This was the last time. Final.
After my last day at work I went there, where it all began. Said goodbye to my trainer. At this time I already gave away my workers ID card and before that signed OUT with it for the last time. My employment-contract is fulfilled.

It was a great last day! Working day would be incorrect as it mostly consisted of distributing cake, inviting colleagues for a coffee, galavanting through the offices, tell every coworker why I visit them today, explain my travel plans, writing down the blog address, thinking hard whether I might have forgotten anything or anyone…

I noticed how you can meet many coworkers only on business level without enjoying their actual smile. But that was never my mission. On the contrary.
I don’t know on which workplaces I will have so many lovely colleagues. And I am not even talking about the close ones next to me. You are a whole other story… 😉

That was the reason I organised something special for the last lunch break.
Right at 12 o’clock my mum delivered 2 trays packed with fresh miniature calzones plus a huge bowl of Tzatziki which we all ate in serious style. Thanks to a slight miscalculation in terms of amount the rest of the company could all have some part as well. In the end about 50 mini calzones and the 3-litre-bowl of Tzatziki has arrived in thankful hands and stomachs.
Here a big THANK YOU to you mum and you culinary arts! 🙂

I am going to miss you all, whether at the testing department, the assembly line, ‘in front’ or ‘above’ in the office. You have all been a grand part of my life and I am happy to have gotten to know you (even if we had our first actual talk on that Friday 😉 ). At the many stations that I went through during my apprenticeship or after I have made much progress, professionally or for my private life. I have learned much and have taken much with me.

Of course personal development, learning, getting to know and taking in will never end. It just goes on at different places and under different circumstances.

Use *Parting* with *Stress*

Oct 29, 2014 | Before The Great Journey, Thoughts, Updates

I don’t have much to present. But that’s the essence of this interim report…
Maybe it is a little try on a ‘To-Do list for a year abroad’.

I am anxiously awaiting my new laptop, travel bag and credit card confirmation to book the first hostel.

My head is spinning quite well about the undertakings, duties, errands, plannings.

– You have to declare yourself unemployed if you are going abroad for more than one year. Otherwise there might be trouble with the receivables. And the Employment Agency doesn’t save on forms and paper…
I now have cancelled my job as planned and will be ‘unemployed’ after next week.

– Last appointments at the dentist and so on have to be taken, relatives have to be visited for the last times, farewells have to be planned and gotten over with…

– Any documents (especially for a trip longer than a year a certain health certificate for expample) have to be ready correctly.

– You have to think through the journey that lies ahead. After all many people tell me all the time that I do good, that they envy me, that I should do this for sure and that it is going to be the time of my life.
Sure, I am aware of that… But inbetween many theatre rehearsals and errands there is too little time to really sit down and think about it quietly. Though that should change for the better in the time of ‘unemployment’… 🙂

– My Audi will have to be sold at last. My first and only car… But as you have to part from everything eventually, he will have to go as well…

It is getting serious!

Oct 20, 2014 | Before The Great Journey, Thoughts, Updates

I have booked my fligth!!

From now on my days in Germany are counted.

On the 3rd of December I leave this patch of earth that was home to me for so long. After a few stop- and changeovers and 50 hours of flights I will arrive at my destination, Wellington.

My plan?
I will spend the first few days at a hostel. Resting and stuff. Discovering the city that for a long time (without further thoughts, believe me mum and dad) I was looking at on the map next to me head before I went to sleep. Meeting people (hopefully not as many fellow native speakers :P). Seeing the final Hobbit movie. Solving regulatory and document matters. For Wellington is known as culturally rich I might look for some concerts.

After 2 weeks I would like to get a car with camping gear and travel the South Island. Whether it is going to be a stationwagon and I sleep inside it or a good tent I will see there. With this I willingly submit to the school of flexibility and spontaneity. 🙂

First it will all work with the regular visitor visa and thus for only 3 months. (If my budget is not telling me off too soon…)
At the latest after that I will activate the Working Holiday Visa and IF I shouldn’t have found a host family by then I have the chance to work for 3 months in agriculture IN ORDER to extend the visa for another 3 months.
I think the paper-warfare will be worth 3 more months in the country of my dreams. If it should come to that…

The next days I would like to give you some details on my Gear and Gadgets, because NOW I finally have to say something (and to plan first and foremost).

Well well. A post without a cheesy picture of the sunset would’ve been boooooring, right? ;D