Wie gefällt es dir hier?

Hi.

It's ten minutes to 22:00 and I have this mood to write. I just realised that it has been a month since I moved in to Germany. And surprisingly, I have changed a lot through these four weeks. I made a long  mind-map before I write this. I myself don't believe that I have experienced lots and lots of thing during these week. So let's start.

Soest.

Yes, I spend the whole February in this small city in the North Rhine Westphalia. I was quite surprised because this was a relatively small city compared to Jakarta back home. I heard complains from friends too saying that they were tired of this slow paced city. Soest doesn't have so much, it only have enough grocery stores to keep people who live there be fulfilled. It has also one huge university (but it's called Fachhochschule which is actually a bit different from the actual University). However, it's enough to fulfilled what the residents need. Lots of small house and most of the population was the aging population, which was why I would say it is a slow paced small city. The first week being in Soest, I always eat in this particular kebab shop (well there are not so many but this is the best) and the owner have always greeted us and talk with us, which was nice. It made me feel a bit at home. I kinda need that gesture because first of all I'm away from home. I know. Homesick is cheesy. But seriously, being greeted in a warm way will change the whole thing, you know? And back to that Kebab shop, I did make an appropriate farewell when I leave Soest.

In Soest, I was enrolled as the student of this Fachhochschule in Soest. I still couldn't believe that I got that chance to study in Germany. When I was just a high school student who had no idea where to go for Uni, I always want to study abroad. I was blown away by the idea of living away from home, having different attitudes and behaviours on studying and living. And.. there I was, sitting for a lecture even though just for a week. I have the best lecture of my life. My lecture was Mr. Polina. He gave the students from SGU lectures about Business. And there I was, sitting and jumping inside my head, realising that I am actually studying abroad with this super lecturer. I was so happy. His lectures were also fun, he always gave an insight just before the lecture start. I remember this one: Coconut and Peach. He showed the class this article here: http://www.culture-contact.com/fileadmin/files/coconut_und_peach_engl.pdf. However to make it short, here's my short explanation about it:

What he meant by Coconut was the German (I forgot, I think he meant some of the european), and the Peach was the American. My lecturer told a story about someone (who is apparently a russian) who got on a plane to somewhere in the US, sitting next to an american. Suddenly the american asks lots of things to the guy and he replied back, and the american starts to explain the details of his family. When they reached the destination and the russian was about to give his number to stay in touch, the american was gone. Got that idea of a peach? And it was different for the Coconut. Without having to be explained about the coconut by my lecturer, I experience the whole coconut thing throughout the first month.

The other thing about soest is that... it's a place for you to train your deutsch. Yes. Your D e u t s c h. I have learned Deutsch for 2 years and guess what now I'm speaking to the people and I was really freaked out. But, they really appreciate you when you speak their language. But well, I thought that was just for being nice.

And this slow paced city gives me the ability to travel throughout NRW cities. From the fancy Düsseldorf, unique Köln and memorable Bonn, I've stepped on those cities. I feel so grateful that I could do all of these things. And the greatest part was that I am able to plan my own trip. I used to be that kid who'd always linger around my parents. I never have a holiday with my friends. I never go to any sleepovers. I never spend new years eve until the next day with my friends. I am.. always cling to my parents. And now I plan things on my own. I make decisions on my own. I need to act fast when the train has passed by. And I really need to watch my spending and belongings. Have I completely grow?

I thought growing up would be easy just like that. Being in other cities as easy as a b c. But planning things, learning things, making mistakes, those are definitely not easy. Having a bad deutsch here? I would always try to listen better. I'd google things that they just said. I'd ask people how to read the train schedule. I'd face it. I used to be shy, I used to be naive, I used to judge people before I really talk to them. But you need strangers to grow. You need to learn from people. You can no longer judge strangers when you really need something. But isn't that cruel? I used to be cruel to strangers. But not anymore. The coconuts (I have to say, since they have no seed or boundaries when you ask help or tell a story) are so helpful they'd do anything to help you. See? They don't do things just for a short talk, or just for being nice too. They really want to help you. And it proofs me that I've always been wrong about strangers.

Now that I have moved to Rust, I feel more and more hospitality given by the locals here. I can't stop feeling grateful for every Haribo bears that they gave me. For every attention that they give when I ask or talk to them. Earlier I asked an Old lady who was going out with her granddaughter about the nearest Bus stop. I met her on the train and I asked her when I got off the train. She showed me the way and ignoring the fact that her granddaughter had called her with such loud voice. I'd rush to the bus stop and can't stop saying thank you. 'Danke schön.' I said.

I was standing there on the bus stop and there was a car stopping by, and the front window was opened. The old lady! 'Have you found the bus? Is it there?' and I can see her granddaughter with his wondering face sitting on the back seat. 'Yes, it will come soon. Thank you very much' I said.

I can't stop feeling blessed. I used to judge things all along, even before I go to Germany I've all these fears of people being racist and unfriendly. But if I cling to that fear, that's what I get. I just have to stop judging and start exploring, who they really are.

and to answer the question,

es gefällt mir sehr gut.