Welcome to my stories!
2023 March I got a phone call where one of my colleagues and previous manager asked me: "Inga, what would you think of moving to Berlin for work?!"
I was in the turmoil of planning my big birthday party at that time, so I did not know what to say, except we agreed, that we would talk a week later.
From 2021, when I returned to the company I am working now (had 2,5 years working in another, I left 2019 and was invited back 2021), I worked globally, which meant my base was in Estonia, even though I was traveling a lot. But I still had my son, my family close to me - I had my support system.
Moving to another country, even if it is for a shorter time, like 1 year, is different from living at home, where you know the culture, the language, your friends are close by. No matter how much you travel, you still come back to the known.
I have always been little adventurous, love traveling, meeting new cultures, visiting other countries and taking up challenges which might seem crazy to other people, so the invite to come and work in Germany was definitely peaking my interest.
I have lived abroad earlier, have tried, what it actually means to be away from what you know. I lived in Denmark from 1991 - 2001 and honestly, I loved it there and after so many years in Copenhagen, I did not plan going back to Estonia. You know what they say: Never say never? :)
Funny fact to add here, is that when I worked for a German corporation starting from 2007 - 2019, I always said, that there are few countries, I like visiting, but where I would never want to live and guess what - Germany was one them! And here I am now, 9 months since I moved to Berlin. Life goes in a mysterious ways, right?
Back to March 2023. I had few more calls with the colleagues in Germany and decided to go and visit Berlin and our offices there. Then few more visits and talks about the conditions of my move.
I discussed the move with my son first and then the rest of my family. My kid decided to stay in Estonia because of his school and friends and it would have been difficult to find the school here in Berlin, because he doesn't speak any German. Luckily one of my family members moved into my apartment, so he has a company of an adult and is not alone. My son advised me to take the job.
In June, I got my contract signed and I was partially already working in Berlin, but I was still living in a hotel. Officially the contract started from July, then it took me time to find a place to live.
And that is how it all started and the rest of it, is already another story!
