It's that quick...

Today is already the 17th day that I am spending in Germany again. On August 7th, I boarded the plane with my mom in La Réunion and got off in Paris on August 8th. Eleven hours have passed, and 9000 kilometers have been covered. Fortunately, the weather is merciful to me and spares me an arrival in rainy German summer. Instead, the sun is shining, and it's a pleasant 24°C.

From Orly airport, we then went on to Gare de l'est. It was, as always, a bit complicated to navigate the Paris bus and metro system, but in the end, it went quite smoothly. At the station, we had to wait an hour longer than planned because a train arriving on time is asking a bit too much.

We arrived home around 5 PM - a rather strange feeling and at the same time totally uneventful. It's just the same as always. I have experienced so much this year, faced so many problems, met so many people, tried so many things, laughed, cried, and lived. And here, it's just 'another year gone by'. Just like the last 22 years of my life have, in fact, also been a year gone by.

Even though it's not even three weeks since I left my little island, it already feels unreal. As if it was a dream that lasted only a few hours. Sometimes I try to hold on to the impressions, the feelings, the moments, and the time, and bring them back, but I find it hard. However, this makes me not so sad to be back here. The long absence is also making me realize how beautiful it actually is in Germany. Sure - sea, beach, and waterfalls are rather rare here, but the gentle green hills and the vineyards have their own aesthetic.

It's nice to see everyone again and to realize that friendships do not break apart after a year of absence, but may even become stronger.

Thank you for allowing me to have this beautiful experience and to grow from it. Thank you for letting me get to know this magical place with its diverse nature and the nice people. Thank you for allowing me to embrace the French language as my heartfelt language now.

Thank you for giving me a second home now.