From Mumbai 2 Berlin

I am back! Out of the heat, out of the noise, strange smells and crowded streets of Mumbai and back into the chilling German automn in Berlin where the air is clean, the cars don't honk and streetlife makes me wonder whether there's a curfew. I am telling you: Berlin is totally underpopulated! Also noone looks at me: I walk down the streets - like a ghost - invisible and unperceived. I was looking for more privacy but THIS is weird! Couldn't some Indians come over here and stare at me, please? I need more attention!

At least I got a lot of attention from my family, my friends and my girlfriend from the very moment on that I arrived here on last Friday morning. It's the first time that I am alone right now and that is why it took me so long until - now - I finally write to my blog again. Back to my beloved ones from Berlin: I was wondering how it would be to see them again after such a long time and you know what? It was as if I had last seen them only a few days ago. I directly felt close and connected again. Being on the streets and watching other people reminds me that I still haven't 'arrived' completely but friends and family they are the same everywhere. It's not the place I am at home at but the people - my family, my friends, my girlfriend.

In Mumbai 'Sagar City' was my home. I really felt at home there. What made 'Sagar City' so valuable and unique for me were the people who I shared my time with there. And even though trainees kept on coming and going there was always a core of people who were like a family for me. Now - if I came back in one year - it wouldn't be the same anymore, my Sagar City family would be gone but on the other hand it would still be there somewhere else and that is: all around the world! Even better, ain't it?

And India? Will I come back? Yes, for sure. There are still places I want to see, so many people I want to meet again and things I need to show to my family that I really have to. Ok, honestly: for a tourist India is probably the most stressful country in the world with all the bargaining, wrong promises and cheating. These are things are so extreme that they can really spoil the fun and that's also why many foreigners leave India disgusted and Indians are disappointed and feel misunderstood. But these are only superficial things. I think it needs some time to overcome these first impressions and then only one can spot the real richness of India: the peacableness, the hospitality, the imperturbability, the sociability - things that are missing where I come from. I hope that I can keep these virtues in myself to some extent and import them here in Germany. As to when I come back: let yourself surprise!

Before posting some pictures now I'd like to thank all of my friends and colleagues in Mumbai for the great time I had there. I thank YOU all! I will not forget and you are always welcome to be my guests here in Berlin.

My (almost last) flatmates.

Some of my "housemates" from 603 and 1504!

And even more!

My gym mates! Who's gonna kill me now?!

And my great colleagues! I will miss chatting and joking with you.

More pictures will follow soon...