It’s been exactly three years since we moved from Germany to Toronto, and now we are back; but this time it’s Berlin - the capital of Germany. What a vibrant city! I already like it much more than I did Toronto. With approximately six million people, over 35 per cent are foreign born. There are people living Berlin from all over the world, making it the perfect city for a multi-racial family like mine.
What I like most about Berlin is that unlike other cities in Germany, the people are laid back, friendly, open-minded, creative and individualistic. I can leave my home wearing a pink hat and polka dot pants and people will see it as art. Every form of the arts is explored in this city- sometimes to the extreme. Art exhibits, theater, opera and other performances can be enjoyed at a very low cost. This is because the government subsidises the arts; therefore, giving everyone access to quality entertainment.
Germany will be very different for me this time around. First of all, I’m towing toddler, which requires me to engage with community on a deeper level. I’ll need to push myself more to speak the language, and meet other parents with small children. Just last week, I felt adventurous and took my son Zaza to a German speaking toddler play group. The teacher didn’t speak any English, so I was forced to use German. I got along quite well with my limited German, but Zaza did great! I think that he understood more than I did.
Also this time around in Germany, I’ll have a job, something I haven’t had in almost four years. I’m really excited about working again. Now don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom and raising my son. I just miss the intellectual stimulation gained from interacting with adults. For me, doing a task that takes my mind away from home duties will do a lot for me psychologically. Hopefully, I can now put what I’ve learned in college to good use.
But for the next two months, I have my plate full with finding permanent housing, and securing a spot for Zaza in a bi-lingual day care-something hard to come by in Berlin. I’ll keep you posted.
