Autobahn assimilation

the new neighborhood

It is clear to me that either I severely underestimated how big a change this was going to be or that I overestimated my ability to adapt.

There were fairly good reason for me to do so, though. One, I had visited Germany before several times, each time staying for longer and the last time actually living here for three months. And two, I had already survived the switch from India to Mid-west America. How much harder could this be? I wondered.

I had conveniently forgotten how hard it was when I did move to the US. And even if I stayed in Germany for three months it was a fully furnished apartment that I didn’t have to do much but to check in like in any other hotel. So, I guess, in hindsight the reasons to believe that this change was going to be fairly seamless were only fairly good, or rather, bad in most ways.

Much is different here, of course. I don’t really mean in an infrastructure kind of way. Everything is slightly smaller and cozier but in all aspects it is not uncomfortable at all. What is most different, is the mentality of the Germans and the consistency of that mentality. Within 20 days I found that similar attitudes from a hotel check-in counter to government official at the city hall registration office. While I find myself fascinated by it for now, I suspect as I stay here for longer, I too might act in a dogmatic manner. This is something for the people who know me from before to detect and comment.

In fact the likeness of a well-established western economy like the US to Germany is very misleading. It often creates situations where you almost know what to do but you lack knowledge of the most important etiquette. The distinct language soundtrack ensures that you never forget the newness of the land.

I could cite several examples of literal differences. But I feel that it is much too soon and perhaps completely unnecessary. I cannot wish for change and expect no troubles to come with. It hasn’t been hard but it hasn’t been seamless. And these challenges have already made me see things slightly differently. I can only hope that as time passes by in the next three years, I start to swim in the cultural waters and grab enough of air to take a dive inside.

I need to stop thinking of assimilating as a race. It certainly did not happen overnight in the US even if I spoke the language that almost sounded American. And here too, it will happen in its own pace. It is clear that I must use my lessons from my previous country swap but not expect them to work all the time. And allow myself to make countless mistakes and be embarrassed silly.

In fact, this uncomfortable feeling is generating the just the level of exciting discomfort that I was missing. It has made me more alert and observant again, as one would be in unsure situations. The mind is learning again. New words, new expressions and new people are flooding the rusty parts of my brain. Routines are being routinely challenged and only newness is consistent.

This then, is a real re-set. It starts with a new home address and new utility connections. It remains to be seen how it ends, but I hoping that their lies a wonderful tale to be told, in between resets.