Pulsing with prosperity and history in every nook and cranny, Munich (Munchen) revels in its own contradictions. Folklore and age-old traditions exist side by side with sleek BMWs, designer boutiques and high-powered industry. Its museums include world-class collections of artistic masterpieces, and its music and cultural scenes give other European cities a run for its money.
Having been asked to work from Germany for a year, I chose Munich, for no particular reason at all, other than the fact that this was the city with the maximum IBM India quorum. Hence, having some colleagues around me was the primary driver. Choice being made, external voices resonated that I couldn’t have chosen better. Bavaria land, of which Munich is the capital is the one of the richest economies by itself, within the Euro zone. The city has one of the highest standards of living and holds the headquarters of German conglomerates like Siemens AG, Allianz, BMW, Munich Re, Linde,and many more. It was a city with the unique feature of being both a business and cultural hub. And of course, it had it share of tragedies as well: the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic games had captured the imagination of film makers and authors alike.
As a entry into Europe, I couldn’t have asked for something better. Having traveled far & wide across India , this was my first foray outside the boundaries of India and I was pretty excited. The memory of my flight landing n the midst of snow covered white fields, the almost silent crowds at the airport (a huge change from the noisy Indian airports), the tall blonde men and women in comparison to whom I may well have been a dwarf, the ride into the city in a taxi which played Mozart, were all images which would be frozen in my mind forever.
Its been more than 6 months I’ve been living in Munich, and its time to capture these last months on my diary. Its been a roller coaster ride. I found an apartment, just minutes from Hauptbahnhof, the Munich central station, in one of Munich recently fashionable area known as Maxvorstadt. The University was short walk away, whose grounds I used for my “not so regular” jogs. Having arrived in Munich at the peak of winter, I was surprised that extreme negative temperatures actually did not affect me much. I took to the snow like a fish to water. The first few weeks, I walked miles and miles, just to breathe in the smell of this city. I identified the way to office, the different modes of transportation in the vicinity of my apartment and I spent an inordinate amount of time browsing through the shelves in the grocery store, in an effort to understand the German language labels and the various category of meats that were widely available, especially having come from Kolkata, India where meat meant a choice of chicken, lamb and beef and pork (last two options were available sparsely).
Having arrived at the peak of winter, I was surprised by my ability to absorb the weather and move around freely. No amount of snowfall or chilly winds thwarted my efforts of long walks at really odd hours. A great aspect about this city, was the ultimate safety on the streets, and having coming from India where I have grown up with my wits always attuned to picking up one wrong movement from a passer-by, meant that I found total freedom to move around, even returning home at 12 midnight often.
Its been a while that I have been here and the season is now changing towards a more warmer one. While I explore further and settle down, I hope to be able to pen down more thoughts. “Munchen mag Dich” – the city’s motto literally translating to “the city likes you”. And I have absolutely no doubt that these sentiments are going to be reciprocated in the next 12 months!
