The Last Goodbye

Dec 3, 2014 | Before The Great Journey, Thoughts

Alarm clock. The Last Goodbye by Billy Boyd.

The mood is set. The last morning, the last breakfast, the last drive on German streets.

My bag is packed. I know that well, as I finished filling it only before midnight. The last day was chaotic. Caused by a chain of unfortunate events my actual travel bag will go on the adventure of flying alone. Meanwhile I got a (pretty flash looking) substitution bag. But that one has already vanished in the guts of the airport. So the actual bag will be sent to the first hostel I will stay at for the first days in Wellington. All cool, not as nice, but cool… 😀

My (transitional) travel gear

My last diary entry at home was mostly made out of a list of people I met yesterday. Who I held tight. Who I like.
I didn’t make it to see everybody and didn’t manage to see everybody in person. But with a little more time I wouldn’t want to miss out on that. To drink a few coffees more and to let the hugs last a little longer.
I think the most intense parting has been the one from my Audi (the one from my parents is yet to come) as I will not see him again…

My parents…

Instead this morning my heart has been warmed considerably looking at the long absence in front. I will miss you all!!

Now I am sitting at the airport. Opposite my parents. My stomach digests fastfood. The final moments could be shared better than with a display in the middle, but they will read this significant post as well.

Slowly it gets to me, how incomprehensible all this is. I will get on that plane in a minute and..Goodbye.
I am GONE.

This entry I decide to end with a cliffhanger. More details I will tell you in 50 hours of traveling…

Fact: From this day on I won’t be contactable on my smartphone anymore. No Whatsapp, no push notifications, no ongoing reachability. (In New Zealand I will still have a phone number, but only for the classic SMS and phonecalls. 🙂 )
This is an experiment I am looking forward to. My emails, Facebook and the blog I will still be able to access. Just not ALWAYS. 😉

The Separation

Nov 29, 2014 | Before The Great Journey, Updates

It is a colorful collage made out of colorful images, when I think about the last days.
Whether you take a walk with good friends, push a Golf for the last 200 meters cause the rope snapped, whether you have to wrap your arms around people again and again because the stage play is over indefinitely, spend a few last days with your parents at the Baltic Sea, whether you drive through the early darkening Germany to see relatives once more…

Chilly autumn at the Baltic Sea

It is the last laughing fits together, the loving wishes you exchanged finally, the written words that you read over and over again, the wonderful recollection of the past days, the feeling of hugs from people that are yet close to you. That’s what memories should look like.

The last duties are being carried out, the last partings planned and gotten over with, the last points crossed off of my list…
Look at that: My Audi had a milestone today. 😉

Even a long awaited event by many was the removal of my ‘stage hairdo’. 😉
Noone should be spared from this, given that this is the longest my hair ever got and hopefully never gets again. 😀

So one thing after the other has to go. Until I will be on the plane ultimately, preparation and goodbyes won’t cease.

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.