One thousand, six hundred and forty-four days. 1644 days, not that long in the grand scheme of things, but was the amount of time I spent in Germany. When looking at the 11 000 plus days I have been alive, that doesn't seem like a lot of time, but these last 4 and half years sure have felt like a lot sometimes.
It was incredibly sad to be leaving Germany, especially Munich; however, the time is right, and it has felt right through all the packing and all the chaos of the last few months. Nothing has felt more right than this. To be moving back closer to family and friends is really an exciting prospect for my girlfriend and me.
Since arriving in Munich, in January 2017, I fell in love with the city, its people and its surroundings. There is nothing quite like it and I will forever cherish that about it. We have built and made such amazing memories and we will certainly not forget this amazing city.
I have worked in some amazing companies and made some friendships that will last a lifetime. Most importantly, I have learnt so much from my time in Germany. I have also grown so much as a person, and also as a designer. I am so grateful for every single opportunity I have had over the last 4 and a half years and so proud of what I was able to achieve in that time.
There is no teacher better than hardship, and I certainly feel that I have had to go through my fair share of them. There is not one struggle that I would look back on and regret or wish that I hadn't gone through it, because each and every one of them has been so important to shaping who I am right now.
Now is the time for our next step. We are settling into the capital city of Botswana, Gaborone and will be residing here for the foreseeable future. I am fortunate enough to have the backing of my company (smartpatient) and will continue to work remotely for them. I cannot thank the team at smartpatient enough for their support over the last few months and their backing in this next step.
Throughout our time living in Germany, we have always been drawn back home. Whether it's for family holidays, weddings or events, most of our holidays have been used to come home. It's no surprise, to be honest. Africa has a way of drawing you in and making you want to always come back. As settled as we were in Germany, we always felt this drawing sense to be home, and I think it's perfectly summed up by this poem. It was written by Bridget Dore, and dedicated to South Africa's first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela.
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Featured photo by ian kelsall on Unsplash
