Chapter 1: A Dream Comes True

As a child, I often dreamed of traveling and exploring the world, but financial constraints kept those aspirations at bay. So, when my manager offered me a work opportunity in Germany a few years back, I eagerly accepted without fully grasping how dramatically my life would change. The hopeful child within us often leaps at the chance to fulfill dreams, leading us to experiences we never anticipated.

That year, I received my travel tickets during Diwali, a festive time when I was the only one in the office buzzing with excitement. The following weekend, I flew from Mumbai to Munich, Germany. After clearing immigration and visa checks, I made my way to my hotel. With no knowledge of German, I simply showed the taxi driver my hotel address on my phone. However, I felt unexpectedly melancholy during the ride, shedding tears instead of celebrating my new adventure.

Initially, my colleagues were kind enough to help me navigate the city. Contrary to common stereotypes, I found Germans to be warm and friendly. A dear friend of mine, Anii, was set to arrive in Munich about twenty days after I did. I felt a wave of relief and excitement, as I was struggling with the local food scene. Being a vegetarian, I discovered that my options were quite limited—salads and fruits hardly qualified as satisfying meals. I quickly grew weary of dining out at Indian restaurants because cooking seemed daunting.

Did I mention that cooking isn’t my forte? Yes, it’s true! I relied on Anii, who possessed culinary skills akin to a chef. He became my surrogate mother in the kitchen. My cooking repertoire at the time consisted of instant noodles, toast, and, thankfully, rice.

In addition to my culinary challenges, I was also grappling with accommodation issues. After nearly a month of searching, I was still living in an Airbnb. After about six weeks of house hunting, Anii and I finally secured a place to call home.

Most days, Anii took charge of cooking, while I attempted to lend a hand. However, the more I tried to assist, the more I seemed to complicate things. This leads to a memorable cooking incident.

One day, Anii asked me to prepare rice, as it seemed like a simple task. The Indian pressure cooker operates a bit differently than those in other parts of the world. The process is straightforward: add rice and water, seal the lid, and place it on the stove. Once you hear a couple of whistles, you turn off the heat. What could possibly go wrong, right?

Thinking I had it all under control, I set the cooker on the stove and decided to take a quick shower. When I emerged, Anii was furious (he had been napping). The fire alarm was blaring, and I rushed to the kitchen to see chaos: the pressure cooker had exploded, with burnt rice scattered everywhere. In my haste, I had forgotten to add water, which led to the disaster. I sincerely apologized, and it took us a while to restore order in the kitchen.

While I'm still no culinary expert, I’ve learned a lot from Anii over the years. Now, if guests visit, I can at least ensure they won’t leave hungry!

This experience taught me that if I can learn to cook, I can tackle anything. We all possess the ability and talent to achieve whatever we desire once we commit to it.

I hope this story brought a smile to your face during your coffee break. Thank you for reading, and enjoy your weekend!

Shoutout to the articles I found inspiring:

• How To Stop Second-Guessing and Trust Yourself More by Tessa Koller
• The Little Mermaid by Paul Leonidou

Chapter 2: Culinary Adventures Continue

In the spirit of sharing my journey, I’d like to introduce two insightful YouTube videos that captured my experiences and lessons in Germany.

The first video, MY AMAZING TWO MONTHS EXPERIENCE IN GERMANY | TIPS FOR NEWCOMERS, offers insights and advice for those new to the country. It encapsulates my early days navigating life in Germany.

The second video, My First Time in Germany: Christmas Markets, Bavarian Food, Exploring, showcases the cultural richness of Germany, highlighting local traditions and culinary delights.

I hope these videos complement my story and inspire your own culinary adventures!