My first-ever solo trip to Berlin, Germany

3 Days in Germany (June/July 2017)

This happened 5 years ago, although I can’t recollect all my thoughts, this is a simple effort to put all my memories into words for me and for anyone interested.

This was a business trip that came to me at the least expected time when my bosses wanted me to go to Berlin for training from one of our clients. The first thing they asked me was whether was ok to travel alone and if I had travelled before. Anupa was all ok!!

Visa Process

The Visa process wasn’t the smoothest, to our surprise, my visa got rejected the first time. With a small hope, we reapplied (changed the passport designation to ‘Business Analyst’ from the title ‘Student’ which we thought was the main reason for the rejection, got more letters and reservations etc.) And the news came to me that I got the visa exactly 1 day before my flight date.

I remember going all the way to the visa office in a cab which is about 40 km from my workplace. As all this happened in a very short period, I had so many things to arrange on the work front. So I was using my laptop in the vehicle as well. At one point I wanted to vomit because of motion sickness and for the 1st time.

With loads of tips from everyone including my neighbour who had travelled to Europe earlier, I was all geared up for my 1st ever-solo travel !!

Flight

My mother cried when I left to check in at the airport. Sad as always to be away from us even for a day. I wore a top that my father got for me.

All who know me know that I am half the size my age, and not to my surprise, the customs officers at the airport asked me if I was alone as he thought I was a kid.

Texted the family when I was in transit. Didn’t have much time in Qatar, and was directed straightly to the next flight. I sent them a selfie while running on the aisle to catch my transit. I had a safe flight and landed at around 7/8 pm. It wasn’t dark though it was nighttime. It was that time of the year when the daytime is longer in Europe. I took a cab and went straight to the hotel.

Settling in

I quickly checked up on some work, took some notes and got prepared for the next day. It was around 10 pm when I walked to the convenience store nearby to get toothpaste. I wasn’t scared at all !! Isn’t it good for a first-timer??

Day 1: Training day

Had an early rise and was on the road exploring the area. To my bad, I didn’t have an itinerary ready, hence was in discovery mode. I remember I used Google Maps and walked to either side of the road till I was tired and decided to come back. I took this opportunity to try the German buses too.

After my tiny adventure, I returned to the hotel and got ready. Let me add a special note about the hotel where I stayed.

It was very close to my client’s office, and would you believe me if I said it was a vegan hotel?? Yeah, I know. Me being a vegetarian, what better place that one could ask for!! Our client made the reservation for us, uninformed of the fuss pot here. But it all worked in my favour.

I wore a blue high-neck top, black jeans, black heels, a beige side bag and a laptop bag and walked to the office, which was a few blocks away.

As soon as I entered, I sent a couple of photos to my bosses at home and assured them that I was doing all good.

George, one of our main contacts, welcomed me and acquainted me with relevant people for the training. There was another trainee from Portugal to accompany me. Here comes the highlight of my entire trip, my laptop decided to die. I was there for systems training which needed a laptop, and Anupa’s had decided to take a long nap.

I went to IT, but they weren’t ready to open it to check as it was not their property. Obvious yeah! So I had to come back and take notes as much as possible, trying to remember it all. Alessandra, the trainer, was sweet enough to let me use her laptop to practice.

Later that day, I met with the direct team I worked with and went for drinks at a café. As I don’t take any, I settled with fruit juice. It was quite a rainy day, so it was chilly outside.

George picked me up from the hotel for dinner. He took a rented car to take me to the dinner, it was a very cosy place, and I had pizza.

It was very sweet of George to help me with the jacket at the hotel when I was having a time with it, and he even helped me with a photo. Yeah, I missed Sachin’s presence those days.

Day 2: Meeting with the working teams

Anupa, being a good child, was on the road again by 6 am. This time I went to a nearby park, and passed different restaurants, shops etc. Berlin is a very pictorial and very colourful city. Yet they close very early, unlike the Asian countries I’ve been to before.

I was dressed casually for the day, and here is my famous elevator selfie that most of my friends commented as nice. And to date, it is one of my favourites too.

I was planning to catch up with the teams and clarify pending points. I saw one of our samples on a table and sent a photo of it to my team at home with a comment.

Also, for the first time, saw doggies at work and being a doggy mum and a lover, I had a time with them.

Jena and the team helped me with suggestions of a toy shop when they asked me what I wanted to buy specifically, and they took me out for lunch as well, and I couldn’t even eat half of this. So sad.

I was done by lunch, and the next few hours I spent with another team member. I met her kids as well. She is a strong woman, and I remember her story to date. I went to the toy shop with her but didn’t buy anything.

I used my spare hours to walk around the city exploring the Mall of Berlin, one of the largest malls in Germany. I did some shopping for the family here. I passed by the Judisches Museum and decided to explore the same as well.

And to everyone’s request, I made sure I visited the Berlin Wall, which is the largest ever. I don’t exactly remember the route that I took, but it was a bus ride.

I returned, and used the same notebook that I’m using now, to note my expenses daily. Anupa’s financial controller mind started long back. I didn’t use it after that till recently when I wanted a small book to take quick notes about our travels.

I updated my team at home daily, and they were happy with the progress and the connections I made. It was the first time that anyone from my company physically went to the client’s office, and they were proud of me to date for this adventure I did on my own, being new to the company.

Day 3: Final day

Today was the rest day planned. Continuing my “good spree” for one last time, I was on the road, and this time, I bought a croissant for the 2nd time and cheese from nearby shops while roaming around. I passed this beautiful church as well.

I used the Google Translate App to manage these 3 days. People I came across rarely spoke English (At least the ones I met), so I used the translator to help me. I remember translating phrases like “can I get a bill too??”

Since I had a daytime checkout, I packed all my bags and kept them in the lobby. I got a city tour arranged from the hotel, and it was a red bus that took us around the city, explaining different places. I remember getting a pair of red headphones, which are still with me.

I got off during the last bit of the tour and got the teddy that I saw at the shop Toys R Us the previous day. And did more shopping for everyone at home. Got notebooks, perfumes, creams and stuff. One incident that I recall well was that I was in a long queue to pay, and last minute my mother called and confirmed me to buy a cream. I had sent a photo of it as available in the shop a few minutes ago. So I went back and got it.

My bag was getting heavier and heavier. Somehow got everything sorted and rushed back to the hotel, got a cab arranged. The driver helped me with the luggage and was sweet to take a photo when I requested.

After getting to the airport to check in, I was almost fainting, with heavy bags, running, and tired. I settled after a bit. And had some good rest and sleep on my way back and walked around the Qatar airport this time.

Throughout my journey, and for the 1st time, I asked strangers whether they could help me with a photo. And all these photos are such ones (except the weird selfies you see). Obviously, I was not a travel junkie back then, and I didn’t know anything about many things.

This will always be one of the best adventures, and I will always be proud of myself. As a result of this training, I acted as a trainer to my entire organization on this system, and I was able to onboard all my team members.