Homesickness vs. Reverse Culture Shock

Germans live to work!

Most Germans live a very pre-programmed life: It starts with school, then education in form of an apprenticeship and/or a study. And the rest of work life one will work endless hours to build a career, build a house, pay taxes, save into the retirement plan, and think of all the things one wants to do after one will be retired. This was pretty much us.

Canadians (and most other people not German) work to live!

At one point we asked ourselves, is this it? Are we going to continue slaving away until we can’t no more? We wanted something new, exciting, exhilarating. So, that’s why we left for Canada. We built up a new life, and it worked well. Living abroad for us meant dealing in a foreign language in our everyday life. We learned something new every day, it was challenging but in a good way and full of enriching experiences. And Canada was good to us. Not only were we successful professionally, but we also managed to make wonderful new friends and felt integrated into society. And we lived greatly! All was going well. So, why change this perfectly good life? 

Homesick!

Eight years is a long time. For Sonja Canada was home, the mountain view and the ocean breeze alone would simply make her feel glad to be alive. But Roland was feeling increasingly discontent. Frustration was sneaking up upon the homesickness affected. Suddenly he increasingly started noticing negative things happening around (the annoying neighbour, the traffic, the weather... the list became endless). He became unable to appreciate and enjoy the beauty anymore, and ended up making a mountain out of every molehill. He felt lonely and alienated, and started suffering from depressions. It was contagious, and also began affecting our relationship. Hence, the only cure for homesickness was actually returning home to Germany.

A Stranger at Home

The irony of it is, that while Roland was instantly happy to be home again, Sonja had started feeling disengaged, irritated and depressed for a long while until finally realization, re-adjustment and adaptation kicked in. (well, she’s actually still working on it...)

In the first months of our return we both felt out of place. We reconnected with friends and family but everything previously familiar seemed to feel different, not because they had changed, but our experiences had changed us more than we thought. We had gone through a roller coaster of feelings. Similar to the process of grieving we went through sadness of leaving Canada, to anger over the friggin’ German bureaucracy, to acceptance through the familiar faces around, and having a regular work life again.

As a repatriate one has to be prepared that friends and family might not care much about how you feel upon your return. Some of them might not even have overcome why you left the country and your safe jobs in the first place. They will just be glad to have you back in their unchanged reality.

Naturally, we sought other traveling folks who we could relate to (the internet is the perfect tool for such). It is however not always beneficial to exchange experiences with other repatriates as it might fuel unwanted Fernweh (the yen to travel), or Wanderlust as the English speaking world puts it. But talking to people who will likely understand provides an helpful outlet. 

Culture without the shock

Exploring the local culture, architecture and history certainly helps a lot. Well, there is this, and there is our motorcycling and scootering, too. The roads are great and the Black Forest offers a pretty scenery, plus is geographically a perfect spot to re-visit some of our most favourite countries such as France, or Italy, and discover some new territory in Eastern Europe. We have also made plans to rediscover the four corners of our native country. Germany has a coast, too, you know. 

We are going to make the most out of it, that is until the travel bug bites again, and if hard enough, might catapult us in a completely different world again. It’s not over. Not for a long time! Life is good!

Sonja & Roland - December 2013

Like-minded People

New Zealand, South Island - Photo: courtesy Gorgeous Stella

Did I fool you? No it's not us on Bella and Alonzo. When browsing the Modern Vespa Forum I came across a posting from a Kiwi couple from Napier (North Island) who lived a Vespista's dream… (for insiders: they run under the aliases Owie and Gorgeous Stella). Here is their ride report from their Christmas trip to the South Island:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Please take a closer look at the scooter's colour scheme. The couple certainly has a very specific taste, quite similar to our own. I wish we could travel down under, and take with Alonzo and Bella for an extended visit of both, the North and the South island. Wouldn't that be something? One can dream…

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Doppelgänger

Na, konnte ich Euch in die Irre führen? Im Modern Vespa Forum fand ich neulich ein Posting von einem Paar Vespa Reitern aus Neuseeland, die genau die gleichen Rollerfarben fahren, wie wir. Ein Zeichen guten Geschmacks! Es hätte schon etwas, mit Bella und Alonzo auf den Straßen auf der anderen Seite der Welt zu fahren… der Mensch muss ja Träume haben.

Call of Duty

Weather forecast had been promising for the weekend… well, on Thursday it was. So we made tentative plans to meet up with a fellow scooterist for a Saturday jaunt. On Saturday it rained cats and dogs, and we ended up spending most of the time indoors taking care of the household chores.

Our friend phoned us up on Sunday morning again, the sky was grey, the roads were wet, there was a high wind warning, and he was down with the sniffles. Hence, we decided to take a raincheck on a major road trip together. However, Roland and I still thought, we'd give it a try, and fired up the scooters for a little spin on our home turf. The Vespas needed to get out for some exercise (and we could use the fresh air, too)!

The wind wasn't as bad as forecasted but the small country roads were slippery and covered in mud and debris, by far not the best scootering conditions. Meanwhile it had started drizzling, and Roland didn't find his Zen of riding, and also complained about a sore throat. So we made a pit-stop for tea at our favorite cafe and bakery, and decided to cut short our outing to return home. Some days just are not made for riding… but the Vespas seemed to have enjoyed our little outing.

PS: It's now Sunday afternoon around 4PM, and the sun we had been waiting for the whole weekend is finally coming out. Great! Plus now I have a man down with a serious case of man flu.

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Die Pflicht ruft!

Am Donnerstag hatten wir noch eine viel versprechende Wettervorhersage für das Wochenende mit Sonnenschein und Temperaturen bis 14 Grad. Also verabredeten wir uns für Samstag mit einem Freund für eine Ausfahrt ins Elsass. Natürlich regnete es dann in Strömen. Am Sonntag morgen telefonierten wir noch einmal, aber es war kühl, grau und windig und der Roller-Kollege hatte Schnupfen. Na ja, vielleicht klappt es beim nächsten Mal. 
Wir wollten wenigstens eine kleine Runde auf unserer Hausstrecke drehen, denn die Vespen brauchten Bewegung (und wir die frische Luft). Die Straßen waren übersät mit Ästen und es war matschig, nicht die besten Voraussetzungen für eine sorglose Tour. Dann fing Roland an, über Halsschmerzen zu klagen. Also entschieden wir uns, die Route abzukürzen und machten noch einen kleinen Abstecher für eine Tasse Tee zu unserem Lieblingscafe in Oberwolfach. Inzwischen hatte es auch noch angefangen zu nieseln… Auch wenn wir (und das Wetter) nicht in Topform waren, unseren Vespas hat der kleine Ausflug gut getan.

PS: Um 16 Uhr nachmittags reißt der Himmel auf und die Sonne schaut heraus. Aber mittlerweile liegt der Gatte mit Männergrippe auf dem Sofa...