I’ve come a long way since I first moved to Germany in the early eighties, not just in terms of miles but in my change of attitude.  Communication is the key, I say, and now that I can easily speak the language it certainly makes life a lot easier.  When I first came here I was dipping my toes in a new sea, getting a feel for the mood and very aware of the differences between the places I had lived and my new country.

To be honest, if it hadn’t been for my boyfriend and his group of eager-to-speak-English friends I would have felt lost.  One underestimates the power of language and the ability to communicate. I had to learn how to fit in here.  Many years have passed since then.  Happy memories of me and my pink bicycle cycling up to the Schlosspark in warm sunshine, sitting under…