Auf wiedersehen Berlin and hello Australia!

As I sit in the airport lounge I find myself with time to contemplate and reflect upon my month in Germany.

I have learnt so much of the history and culture while here and have a whole new perspective on what it means to be German. The way these people cope with life here is phenomenal. The weather here in winter makes life tough! Just going to the shops on foot is challenging and without a car you are indeed limited by your own physical capacity. Being on the go from 6:15am until 10:30pm every day and later on some occasions sees me leave feeling very tired which is a good thing as I will most probably sleep while on the flight! The life style that I have seen is indeed a really healthy life, no meat, loads of fresh fruit and vegetables and plenty of H20! But the biggest image I take away with me is that of freedom and peace.

Things I am thankful for:

1. God's protection over me while away from home

2. Safety

2. Friends and family who care for me

3. Freedom

4. Warmth

5. Health

6. Democracy

7. Life

8. Love - can't wait to see you Tim

9. Technology

10. My school for enabling me to do this trip, John and David for helping get it off the ground and my wonderful DC team who have held things together while I have been away!

Things that make me glad:

1. Going home to family, friends and colleagues

2. Good information and support from one guy at Tegal airport

3. This opportunity to learn not only the German language but culture and history too

4. A fantastic (and cheap) taxi drive that took me past the fabulous sights and landmarks of Berlin one last time to cement those memories into the brain

5. Books that I have bought for school and can't wait to use in my classes next week - even though they are very heavy and have caused me grief today!

6. Airport wifi

7. My Goethe Institute class as pictured below as this has been an exhausting but life changing experience - meeting so many intresting people and working together and seeing them every day really builds friendships!

Things that make me sad:

1. To be leaving Berlin

2. To have said goodbye to Maren

3. Customs in Berlin - one very grumpy lady here at 5am who made me wait for 15min with no one around until there was a que of 5! Then told me off in German after I spoke to her requesting that we use English in order to be better understood - complaint to go into that department I think!

4. Customs in Berlin again who couldn't let me bring in a moisturiser for my flights! Lipstick and perfume are ok though! Interesting! 

5. Security checks that require me to open all my bags in view of all!

6. Triple security checks in Abu Dhabi - initial transit upon arrival, mid way in the terminal and again open infront of all at the gate...what is happening here?

Well I am on the last of three legs on my return trip home and am surprised by security, public behaviour and health in public places. There are a lot of sick and coughing people around me and I am shocked to see how they just cough and think it is ok...vitamin c will be boosted on this trip! I think as I am getting tired I am starting to be less tolerant of the mass of travelers. And I think too as I have witnessed the different processes now 5 times today there are definitely procedures that work and make the task of moving so many people effective and others that are just not at all in any way effective. Today I witnessed an older man telling his colleague off in Abu Dhabi in front of everyone when all she was trying to do was speed things up - effectively he was slowing things down and unbelievably did not step up to the counter to open the second desk and help process the passengers! Instead and right now as I type she is still there trying to process very one on her own. I am witnessing some lousy human behaviour.

By the way 22kg is my luggage weight going home - but I have not weighed the cabin luggage as that is full of books for school! Will keep you posted if they all make it home with me!

I am going to strive to be a peace maker who makes a differnce in the world in which I love. What about you?