These past few months somehow topped the summer, which was already legendary. It’s been something of a fairy tale, honestly.

Fresh off the plane from Levi, I arrive back in Hamburg. I’m still a mess from the shock that had just occurred days ago. I’m headed back to the hotel and to all my friends that I had just said goodbye to a few weeks ago.

It was great seeing my friends again, of course, but honestly, all that was on my mind was finding a new opportunity. I felt like a failure in a way, returning back here. So, I spent day and night hunting down a new opportunity.

Prague

It didn’t take that long to find something that worked on paper. I found a youth hostel in Prague that was looking for someone for a couple of months. I was very excited about the idea of spending so long in such a beautiful city. However, once again, I was a bit naïve in my expectations.

I was still lost after my recent experience in Finland. I didn’t ask too many questions, and I couldn’t really think about what I was agreeing to. This youth hostel was in the center of a city famous for its nightlife. A younger version of myself would have seen this as a dream come true, but I had already lived and outgrown my party days.

As soon as I arrived, a pit formed in my stomach. I was the oldest and most mature person at this hostel, by far. I was supposed to share a small room with a dozen teenagers. I had zero space for myself, and the place was an absolute disaster.

I desperately looked for some silver lining, or something that would justify this in my mind. I walked around the city after my first shift, deeply contemplating this, and eventually concluded that this was not worth it in any way I spun it.

So, first thing in the morning, I left and returned back to Germany, again.

I was a mess.

Angel

Just as I was a mess, one of my friends was also going through a very hard time back in Germany. Disaster had also struck her life.

When I returned, I took it as a message from the universe that my time in Germany was not over yet. Perhaps even that there was still a larger reason why I had to return.

We both found each other at low points in our lives, and over the course of the next few weeks, we would lift each other out of the mud and share in a true fairy tale love story.

We had the entire hotel to ourselves for the next 2 months, so we moved in together and made the place our home. We got into the routine of cooking, watching our favorite films, and met up with our friends from the summertime all over Germany during the holidays. We celebrated New Year’s together, and somewhere in this time, we realized that we work really well together. So, we decided that we both wanted to continue our adventure… together.

Her name is Johana. Born and raised in Uruguay, she has been hitchhiking the world for the last couple of years, fulfilling her own dream of seeing the world. She’s a published author, adventurer, and an alien from another world, haha.

Gracias

This experience of ups and downs over this winter very much reminds me of one of my favorite poems and has reminded me again of the value of gratitude.

the Guesthouse – Rumi

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

I often find myself now looking up at the sky and expressing my gratitude: “Gracias Dios.”

Gracias for my angel. Gracias for all the gifts you’ve given me this Christmas, and gracias for this life. I’m eager to see what lies ahead now for the springtime and beyond.