The little things - What I will miss about Germany

The little things - what I will miss about Germany in Japan

A year in Japan - a dream that I will soon be living. But with every big change comes goodbyes, and I'm already realising that I won't just miss people in Japan, but also many little things from Germany. Things that may seem trivial, but are incredibly valuable in everyday life.

Bread: a daily companion

I love bread - and not just as a cliché. It's part of my daily routine, whether it's a crusty roll in the morning or freshly baked sourdough bread for dinner. During a previous trip to the USA, I realised how difficult it is to find good bread outside of Germany. It will be no different in Japan, where rice is the staple food. And even though I'm excited to discover Japanese cuisine, I'm sure I'll miss hearty wholemeal bread.

Sunday rest: a piece of serenity

Sundays in Germany have something special about them. The shops are closed, the streets are often quiet and you have the feeling that you've been given a day to slow down. In Japan, on the other hand, every day is a working day, and even on Sundays life in the cities pulsates. It is a difference that I will consciously experience - but I am sure that I will sometimes miss this German tranquillity.

Mineral water: the flavour of home

One of the things I never really appreciated before I went abroad is our German mineral water. The carbonation, the variety of brands and the feeling of drinking a cold fizzy glass - this is something that is rather unusual in Japan. Still water or tea dominates there. It may sound trivial, but I will miss this little luxury of sparkling water.

My jobs

I will also miss my jobs, as a film lecturer at a film university I have my group of students that I have grown very fond of and I will miss not making films with them this year. As an assistant director at the theatre, I also supervised a play for a long time, which I will miss. After more than 60 performances, this will also be a break in my normality, no longer seeing them and giving feedback.

Personal rituals and small details

I will miss the small, everyday moments: walks in the forest, the opportunity to spontaneously have a beer with friends in a quiet corner, or even the smile of the shop assistant in my favourite bakery. It's often these little details that make home special and that you only miss when they are no longer there.

Family and friends: a piece of my identity

Of course, people come first when it comes to what I will miss. But it's more than that - it's also the conversations, the moments of silence, the spontaneous visits. Family and friends give you the feeling of being rooted to a place. I will miss this familiarity in Japan, even if I have the chance to make new contacts.

Conclusion: Farewell and anticipation

Germany will always have a place in my heart, and I know that I will miss a lot of things from my home country. But that's exactly what makes a stay abroad so valuable: the opportunity to grow, gain new perspectives and, in the end, look back with even more gratitude on what you call home.

If you want to know how I like to say goodbye before my stay in Japan, check out my article on the art of saying goodbye: The Art of Saying Goodbye.