Moving to Munich

We are moving to Munich as part of my work by this weekend. It is rather nerve-wracking, especially with a very small child. Hoping for the best this time, unlike the previous international experiment. The positive this time is that I won’t be alone, instead Revathy and Mikku will be there with me. I am naturally pessimistic and there are lot of moving pieces. Hopefully a majority of them will align to make this at least a moderately successful migration experience.

Since it is not a fixed term contract, I am hoping to stay for a sufficient long time, at least enough to be able to speak German (which might be very long since I still don’t speak Kannada). Though I can’t be as lax about learning German as Kannada as the support system (as well as the backup of a large Hindi+English speaking population) is gonna be fairly nonexistent. I have heard horror stories of the Germany bureaucracy as well as the rental situation, hopefully we don’t experience the full ugly face of it. I am also more than a little worried about the rising anti-immigrant (and frankly Nazi) sentiments/politics.

We are travelling with the full complement of luggage allowed by the aircraft. Fully expecting it to be hell, but there is no alternative, at least for this first journey. Sunday is supposed to be quiet day so not sure what we will do then, probably walk around in the neighbourhood, provided it is not too cold. Which reminds me, I am worried about the cold as well. Not for me or Revathy, but Mikku who is extremely choosy (picky+obstinate) about what he will wear. Hopefully he will wear all the layers, once the cold hits him.

Anyway, there are a lot of worries, but excitements as well. I am especially excited about getting an opportunity (once things settle down) to travel in and around Germany. Revathy has been dreaming about this for a long time so I am even more excited for her. I am also cautiously optimistic that Mikku will thrive in a lower pressure system, compared to the high pressure system in India. More importantly, I am hopefully and again cautiously optimistic that Mikku, and at a lower priority Revathy and I face fewer health concerns after escaping the pollution and myriad diseases floating around in Bangalore. His dengue episode was absolutely terrifying and I don’t want to face such a situation ever again in my life.

It is going to be a fresh start. Worried and excited in equal measures. ’Til Later