Yesterday marked two months since
my arrival at Ulm and it’s definitely been the most enriching sixty days so
far. I still recollect that day in early February when I landed at Frankfurt with
a pounding headache, finding my way to baggage claim across the labyrinth that
the Frankfurt airport is, lugging around my suitcases in what seemed to be an
eternity of a walk to the train station, and waiting in the platform with the
chilly weather attacking me despite the many layers of clothing. I ran around with
my luggage to get into the wagon, struggling to lift the second suitcase when a
kind middle-aged man walked by and instructed me to just get in. I blindly
followed his words; this stranger who stopped by just to place my suitcase in
one effortless lift onto the train.
In the few minutes that the train had stopped at Frankfurt, I wasn’t able to get into the right compartment. So I had to push my American Touristers (thank god for their 360 degree wheeling!) through two more compartments and a pantry, with the help of many more strangers. Having barely slept in twenty four hours, it was a struggle to stay awake through the two hour train journey. I had to constantly pat wet wipes over my face, keep pinching my arm and relocate my backpack so that I didn’t fall asleep. And across continents my family was glued to Whatsapp over intermittent naps. I was received at the Ulm station by my landlord, a friendly young couple. We stopped by at a supermarket to get some essentials for the apartment. I remember how I literally sleep walked through the aisles. I was disoriented and exhausted, to say the least. And then we drove to the apartment. Although I had received pictures of it through email, I was still very excited about seeing it in person. And as I stepped into the apartment, I somehow felt it perfectly catered to my taste and that there was a very homely air about it. That’s how a cozy, single room apartment welcomed me to a new country and helped keep away homesickness and loneliness. I hit the bed that night and had a sound sleep.
In the few minutes that the train had stopped at Frankfurt, I wasn’t able to get into the right compartment. So I had to push my American Touristers (thank god for their 360 degree wheeling!) through two more compartments and a pantry, with the help of many more strangers. Having barely slept in twenty four hours, it was a struggle to stay awake through the two hour train journey. I had to constantly pat wet wipes over my face, keep pinching my arm and relocate my backpack so that I didn’t fall asleep. And across continents my family was glued to Whatsapp over intermittent naps. I was received at the Ulm station by my landlord, a friendly young couple. We stopped by at a supermarket to get some essentials for the apartment. I remember how I literally sleep walked through the aisles. I was disoriented and exhausted, to say the least. And then we drove to the apartment. Although I had received pictures of it through email, I was still very excited about seeing it in person. And as I stepped into the apartment, I somehow felt it perfectly catered to my taste and that there was a very homely air about it. That’s how a cozy, single room apartment welcomed me to a new country and helped keep away homesickness and loneliness. I hit the bed that night and had a sound sleep.
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