Enjoying and Adapting. Coping Mechanism 2.

From the dry and wet Philippine seasons to four seasons in the temperate country. How will a tropical raised survive winter and cold temperatures?

Eis und Sonne  

Ice and Sun

Italian ice cream. Vanilla and Pistachio medley.

I arrived in Darmstadt in summer moving towards autumn. A perfect timing transitioning from tropical Pilipinas to cold Alemanya. I remember during my first day, my flatmate Linda accompanied me all throughout the city center, to my university and hows on daily tram/bus commuting. On my first weekend, it was a perfect sunshine just like in Los Baños. I was wearing sleeveless and eating Italian ice cream with Linda, Sina and Jenny. Yummy and rich!

Mia, my dear friend, walked with me one summer evening to the Rosenhöhe (Rose Garden Park). We stayed there until half past 7pm since sunset begins at that time. She also fetched me to bike to the woods another afternoon, passing Orangerie on our way back and ended the day once more with gelato.

A Taste of Home. Coping Mechanism 1.

Before I came here in Deutschland, I know that the biggest challenge I will face will be homesickness. So people left and right are trying to reach me up to the last minute to assure that they can bid goodbyes, instructions, advices and share ways on how to survive the overseas life. Well, people with experiences away from home understand a lot how it feels far and alone, especially I am up to finishing my two-year study before going home. (Erm, not final, subject to changes.)


My program requires me to stay siebenhundert einunddreißig Tage (731 days) or more depending on my final year of study which will be in Rome. More than a hundred days had passed, and a lot more. Counting it now by days gives me a deep sigh and longing that clock will turn faster.

Hundred days after

Should I not attempt to pen what had transpired for the past hundred days, or should i wait before it is too late. Should I wait for the snow to come down in Darmstadt or the semester to end?


Commencing today, I shall not miss the chance of articulating the life and experiences as a student more than 10,000 kilometers away from home. I shall not wait for another Paris trip, for the next sleet rain falling down on me, for the next solo trips in Germany and beyond. Tada! Sharing to you the things i am glad i knew and learned before this experience: