Europe - a pleasant surprise

I'm going home real soon.

And it sucks to know I only have one Sunday to rest before starting work officially the next day. And it sucks even more to have to part with all the nice people, nice scenery, nice food and nice weather here in Europe.

Germany has been a pleasant surprise for me. Three major German cities (Berlin, Munich and Hamburg) made it to FT's Top 30 most livable cities in 2009, and I kind of know why. Dusseldorf itself is very livable indeed and much of my initial worries (except for trying to avoid tram conductors) were totally unnecessary on hindsight. But then again, it's all about expectations I guess. I should have expected more from this place.

Communication has proven to be a little problematic outside the university but generally many people can understand and speak some English. And even if they don't, I have never felt I was shunned or anything. I have seen the utmost sincerity of the people here which is quite a stark contrast to our Singaporean (or Asian) typical behavior. I am grateful to the guys and girls at the uni lab for making me feel at home and my time here a very pleasant one.

I think in general, Europe is really a place for lovebirds to hang out, for retired couples to strengthen their love or to repair any past wounds; for individuals to find space for self-expression (graffiti, music, art, dance..basically anything); for coniferous forest lovers; or simply for someone who enjoys people-watching over a cup of coffee while putting behind all the angst and worries from his or her hectic life. I think there is a reason for every mountain, lake, river, lake, bridge or castle to be part of the beautifully-painted picture.

And for all the short trips I've made in Europe, Berlin and Munich were a lot more organized than I had expected. Zurich and Lucerne are just absolutely slow and also very expensive. Did my first ever road trip with JJ in Sardegna which was really an eye-opener. The Spaghetti Carbonara, the beaches and the crystal-clear waters were fantastic. Paris would be an extremely meaningful place for some romance. No vices for me in Amsterdam at all but the windmills, canals and stroopwafels were unforgettable. And of all the churches I visited, those that really wowed me at first sight were the Duomo in Milan, the Sacred Heart Church at Montmartre in Paris and the Cologne Dom. The St.Gereon at Cologne was also very impressionable with its beautiful stained glass windows and the peace and quiet within.

A pity I couldn't visit more places such as London, Barcelona, Rome etc. Would love to do more roadtrips in the future though. Time to find some travel kakis who've yet to been to these places.

Need some serious adjustment of my lifestyle from this point onwards. Time will become a more scarce resource than ever. I need to have enough sleep and exercise. I need to think about how to spend my weekends fruitfully. I need to plan and divide my expenses accordingly. I need to do more indepth research into the stocks I invest. I need to seek more knowledge and education. I need to stop gambling my life away. I need the motivation i had when i was in NS. I need to have more control over my life. I need to stay true to myself. And I need you.

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