This was originally posted in October, but DanVenture Travels post about having to be away from home struck a cord with me and allowed for a change in perspective relating to COVID-19. A lot of people (including me) have been kept from visiting their loved ones or even returning home due to travel restrictions. And it might be small price to pay to keep the pandemic in check, but it can be a burden nonetheless.
My love took me here initially in December 2019 as a surprise date. It's a tiny shop with 4 tables. The menu has a lovely selection of teas, desserts and cakes and so far, everything I have tried has been lovely.
Living abroad and/or with a significant other from a different cultural background, you sometimes see yourself and your upbringing through a different set of eyes. Things that you might not otherwise question and usually take for granted can very suddenly be open for interpretation and reflection.
I stumbled across this beautifully and important blog post by Alyssa at road4080. I feel her frustration and she is hitting a nerve with me, too. Personally, I also rather take some precautions and limit myself now. Unfortunately, not everyone believes that and we have the numbers to show for it.
I did not have high expectations, I am not the greatest cheesecake enthusiast to begin with. But the first bite changed my mind and knocked Junior's cheesecake off my personal 1st place.
Time and solitude are pure luxury for me nowadays, but back then this created a different kind of trouble. After a couple of hours in my hostel room, the full scope of traveling alone finally hit me.
Sometimes it's hard to be present. We think about the past and dream about the future. We get lost in previous hurt and misunderstanding and get carried away by worries and fears about what might happen. You can pull yourself back to the here and now and realize all the blessings that you have been... Continue Reading →
Another interesting difference from my German experience is an outwardly focus on the positive. In Germany there is an unofficial saying "Keine Kritik ist Lob genug." ("No criticism is enough praise.").
Another thing that I noticed with some, was the need to save face. Even though a lot of my colleagues seemed very confident, brave and open at first glance, I slowly began to register that it was oftentimes outward pretense.
With some colleagues, I learned that they wanted (or needed) instructions to a level of detail that surprised me.
Another thing that startled me was the perceived difference in attitude towards work. I had heard about the New York hustle and "Live to Work" mentality and was excepting to find colleagues who were driven and passionate about their job.
I also found it very unusual, that people would not make eye contact or greet one another walking by or when they ran into each other in the kitchen.
Wandering Explorer Travel 