Many have asked me what it's like to be back in Munich and there are many answers to this. Those of you who have experienced a fairly radical shift in location will understand that it's the little things that you struggle with - or rather that you surprise yourself with noticing,
Of course everything has been over shadowed by Germany winning the world cup and 'king soccer' ruling the country for the past few weeks. However, it was fun and we watched the games but personally, I haven't been too affected by all that craze. Even during the final, I wasn't half as nervous as my parents and just kept thinking, so what if they lose, Argentina was playing smart as well... I guess there have been other things preoccupying my mind...
On my way to work the first day I didn't quite know what to expect so I left home early, walking over (thinking just like I have been that I need to leave at least an hour early in order to me able to make it on time - when in fact it's a 20 minute walk) and decided to make use of the ample variety of bakeries, getting myself some breakfast. However, when I walked into a 'Hopfisterei', the bread was already out but the lady behind the counter told me 'we're not open until 9AM' - so she clearly was not interested in my business. Not something I have seen in NYC or anywhere else for that matter.
Another small thing I have noticed is the urge to rush and cross the traffic lights on red - in NYC you's never get anywhere if you were to wait for traffic lights- so no one does. Yet, I know of some friends who have been fined for jaywalking in this city (granted the police really doesn't have many better things to do) and when I (by habit) attempted to walk on red yesterday, there was a big warning from cars standing by - honking and getting excited about this strange person who would dare to walk when it was not time yet...
I might have told some of you, the other thing I am still observing and actually trying to appreciate is the fact that it is QUIET in Munich - so much more quiet than in NYC or even Roosevelt Island for that matter. I keep on waiting for those sirens, the taxi cabs and the loud trucks that you hear all the time over there... People are also a lot more relaxed here - you can tell by the way they move along the streets, strolling rather than running or rushing as most of us did in New York for the sole reason of trying to get somewhere half way on time. It's interesting but I feel like I have so much more time at my own disposal back home. One of the perks of my new job of course is that it is walking distance from our apartment or merely 5 minutes by bike - and it's got a really, really nice, green view of the park. I guess there are some places like that in NYC but any view of the park is pretty much impossible to afford. Strange how I'm not doing another thing I have grown completely accustomed to: taking elevators. We live in a walk up and the office building is not as high here - so I almost miss the little random chats I used to have in the mornings with strangers. Yet, there is a really nice coffee place at work that makes up for anything you could miss from the NYC office - other than maybe seeing people, given that I am used to an open space office but the new place is mainly individual offices. I guess I'll have to make a more conscious effort to visit the coffee place with colleagues which doesn't seem to be too hard a thing to do....
In terms of yoga, I have explored a couple of places such as the Jivamuktis in Schwabing and the Kundalini yoga center around the corner from us and have to say, everyone has been so nice and forthcoming that I don't really miss the yoga scene in NYC - I guess there is definitely more variety there and over time, I'm sure I'll miss that amazing offer and all the different events that happen every week but for now I appreciate the things they have here, want to try some other studios and start teaching more (for now it looks like it'll be mainly in the park) and additionally, I signed up for an online yoga platform which is really good. I like the fact of being able to engage in those classes at your own leisure - be it at 5 AM or 12 o'clock at night. Very flexible and they have good teachers and all styles of yoga.
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