Bumpy AF transition period

Ella Harris
Jul 30, 2017 · 3 min read

It was around 3 months ago when a big red bus nearly flattened me to death in South Kensington that I decided to make the move to Berlin.

I left my job in search of a life that was more carefree and less draining than the London grind. I’ve never been much of a thinker. Like don’t get me wrong I think all the time, about what it’d be like to have Bella Hadid’s body with Miranda Kerr’s head… But when it comes to any important decision in my life, I seem to always make the wrong ones and then try and ‘wing it’. Nine times out of ten, Winging it either resolves in me calling one of my parents or siblings to bail me out of my financial shit hole, starving for several days or stealing a bread roll from the old man in my dorm room and not being able to afford toothpaste (current situation).

I’m just telling you about my poor decision making skills now, so you’ll understand what I was thinking when I planned to travel around Europe for 2 months before settling into Berlin with approximately 800 pounds to my name for the entire trip (I think it was actually 720). So yeah, I wasn’t really thinking to answer your question.

I finished my two month holiday last night and finally arrived back in Berlin with exactly 2 pounds in my account. So let’s just wonder for a moment how I’m going to rent a house and start a new life in Germany with 2 pounds, that’s enough thinking for now. I made the journey to a hostel which I booked online and chucked on Paypal so now my account will be in happy negatives. After an hour on public transport where I obviously fare evaded like the little shit I am, I finally arrived. I was pretty excited to sleep as it’s been a long 2 months of being broke. The first thing the lady said to me is that it’ll cost 3.50 euro for a set of sheets. I’m not sure if the look of pure panic on my face was what tipped her off, or the fact that I looked semi homeless but she kindly said I could have my sheets for free.

My lovely abode was on the 8th floor, only the best. I flung the door open to see an old man in the corner of the room on his laptop. It was nearly 1am and there is no one else staying in our dorm so yeah I was slightly freaked out. I’ve since found out that he’s a lovely little man from Iraq, who has an equally as lovely stash of Aldi bread rolls in the corner of the room which he offered me for breakfast (I must look that desperate).

This is one of the reviews of the hostel I’m staying in.

I felt pretty alone at this point so I thought I’d start a blog, just to make me feel like somebody is out there backing me (probably not). I’ve been away from home for around a year now and I think it’s the first time I feel completely alone and lost. Hopefully techno music and cute german boys will temporarily fulfil me and cure my sadness. But for now, it’s just me and my cute Iraqi friend.

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