a step in life begins with a 6,847 miles journey

- Events depicted below happened around fifty-eight weeks ago -

Mom didn't cry. Fun didn't cry. Adjie would have not been crying. Only Dad tried to hold in his tears. I think. I didn't cry. I saw it as a blessing and great opportunity that would color up my days, weeks, months, and life. Hmm.. Definitely would be a wonderful opportunity.

After a hard couple of weeks of trying to be issued a visa to from the Embassy of Germany in Jakarta, I finally flew my way to Hamburg. Second largest city in Germany, and some degrees different from Jakarta. Had 58 kgs of baggage (hey, it's me and Ena. But I think my baggage weigh more than 30 kgs). I didn't know for sure why I pick this city in particular. Maybe its not-so metropolitanity (any such words?). Or maybe I was just blindfolded and pick a numbered ball like in a lottery. But one thing for sure: I'm a like it!

14 hours later.. Arriving in the Flughafen Hamburg first cultural shock got me. Everything was written in German! Second cultural shock hit me. A young German mother asked us a favor. And we barely understood her. But finally we did. As we went out the gate and rushed to see the kind people that picked us up. They were Prana, Iyun, and Ken. Never thank you guys enough for the effort.

Next stop: temporary lodging. Mine was Ken's, Ena's was Aida's. On the way there, it was the first time for me to experience the transport system of Hamburg. And to tell you the truth. I couldn't find anything I dislike about it. It was zuverlässig, neat, fast, and comfy. But you know what, the first time I rode a German's bus, is when I pay nothing for the tickets. Amazing. Schwarzenfahren how people here call it. It was the bus and the train slash subway.

In Ken's, jet lag started to hit me. No, not homesick quite yet, but felt terribly sleepy, tired, and nowhere to go to. Caught some rest then, it was time to face the challenge of starting a new chapter of my life in Hamburg.