The Story of My Life
To travel is to take a journey into yourselfWhen I was eight years old, my favorite aunt gave me a postcard to my birthday with the popularquote of J.W.Goethe “There are two things we should give to our hildren: ROOTS and WINGS” onit. I can remember that I asked her what it meant and why she gave it to me, because she alwayshas a reason for gifts and she makes presents that fit the best for a person. The only thing sheanswered was that I would understand it after a little time when I would be ready for it. It might bebecause she is a psychologist, but now as I know what the meaning was, it scares me that sheknows me that well and that she knew my dreams and fears a long time before I did.As some years were gone, the next important turning point in my life should be my exchange inParis. Before that I travelled a lot with my family in Europe, saw different cultures, different religionsand especially different people in more than ten countries. But I slowly began to recognize thateven though I visited these countries, I didnt know anything about them. The people treated us like
tourists, we didnt experience how they live or what kind of people they are.I started having the desire to dunk into a culture and to get to know all the differences betweenGermany and the others countries. Thats why decided to make an exchange in France.I thought I wouldnt be that interested in living at different places, wouldnt feel restless and not athome in my actual home anymore after it. I have no idea why Ive always been wanting to leave myhouse, I had a good childhood, loving friends and family.But I was wrong. After those three months, where I experienced everything besides the things Iknew, it was even harder for me to go back home. At this time, I had three homes and I was only14 years old. It is difficult to describe but everybody who moved once in his life knows the feelingsand so they can imagine how it would be if you had two families instead of one as well.As a result, I did not experience France as a tourist or stranger, I was a part of it. I fell in love withgoing abroad and in other words I realized that the life is not meant to live at only one place.