The 2nd October 2008 was my first day in Berlin . I spent there
six months. I didn’t go to techno parties, I didn’t fall in love, I didn’t actively
take part in the fun side of the city; I remained an observer for most of the
time. It was my loneliest experience on this Earth, but somehow the most
thrilling one. Life was new and striking. Its permanent novelty made me exhilarating
happy sometimes and exhilarating sad other times. I walked in the woods close
to the student residence, in the West part of the city, rich with luxurious
houses, but empty with people, in cafes, cinemas and then I walked along the
streets in East Berlin . East
Berlin is really amazing. The best part is the metro on a Saturday
night, riding through East Berlin and taking
people from one party to another. It was the most cheerful place on earth. I
think it still is. I learnt to live really lonely (it wasn’t without
desperation) and later I learnt to enjoy spending time with people that aren’t
your friends, but they are the best you’ll get in a certain time and place. I
shared an apartment with some Germans in my last month in Berlin . I felt really embarrassed at the
beginning, but after a while I got used to them. We didn’t hang out, nor talked
a lot, but it wasn’t that important. One of the guys living there told me about
two bands which I really liked for a while: Elbow and Cake. Another guy told me
about an “illegal party” which was the best party in those six months.
There were a lot of young parents walking with their kids
along the streets, there were homeless selling their newspaper in the metro and
telling their story, there were old women and men eating cakes in old-fashioned
confectioneries near Potsdamer Platz.
I made a friend there, Liina.
I received some visits from Romania , from Catrinel and my other
three good friends, Adela, Alexandra and Anca. It was cold and snowing when
they visited me.
When spring finally came, probably because it came so late,
the change was huge. After months of cold and night, I saw the sun again.