California Dreaming: Returning to Germany, missing Los Angeles and wanderlust

Marie Ebenezer, OWC’s former intern, checks in and lets us know how she’s transitioning back to Germany.
Just over a month ago, I left Los Angeles and Olmstead Williams Communications to go back to Freiburg, my hometown in Southwest Germany. At the time, I was quite happy to be going back home – back to my friends, my family, my boyfriend, my school, my theater group, my bartending job…back to my everyday life. And yet, coming home always means that the journey is ending, and I knew I’d miss Los Angeles. I often find it hard to point out what exactly it is that I miss about a place, but I already look back on my time in L.A. with a smile on my face. Now it’s the perfect time to reflect on what it is that I miss about California.
During my stay in L.A., I interacted with amazing and incredible people – at the office as well as in my free time. In my experience, you always share the adventures you have with the people who are there with you. Meeting new people was an enrichment, and I will remember these Angelenos for a long time.
The second thing I miss is working at OWC. After four months, I really got used to my job there, and I enjoyed the daily routine. I don’t think it’s a given for everyone to like their colleagues, their boss, their tasks and the general atmosphere in the office. I feel very fortunate for my internship; it was all I’d hoped for – and more.  I came to OWC without any experience in PR, and I left with a feature in the LABJ – what else could you ask for?!

All in all, I miss the excitement and the perks of being in a foreign country: the warm weather, the different food (mexican, for instance, is very hard to come by in Germany), the uncertainty of what awaits you when you travel around. Plus, I had never lived by the ocean before, and I will never forget  the beauty of running in the morning and watching the sunrise over the cliffs of Pacific Palisades.
In general, the Palisades are one of my keenest memories of Los Angeles. I loved the Sunday market and the fact that I could walk to the store and the proximity to the ocean and the canyon trails. What I also miss about Pacific Palisades is the fact that it was my home for four months.
One of the best things about my stay in California was my host family. They took such excellent care of me; and their hospitality made me feel at home right away. One month back, I am already cherishing memories like my host cat Mira, trying to con me into feeding her every time I opened the fridge. All these little things are the reason why I felt nostalgic about leaving America.
Still, I was glad to be back home. First of all, I reunited with my friends and family. I hadn’t seen some of my family members for six months, and I was thrilled to be with my nephews again. I now live in the very center of Freiburg, and my university is literally across the street. On my first weekend back, my friends helped me move into my new apartment, and we went out for drinks later. It was like I never left, and I loved how at ease and carefree I felt.  Again, it’s hard to explain what makes home so special. Maybe it’s the feeling of belonging somewhere, without having to struggle to meet anyone, to understand anything or to get anywhere. Although living abroad is great, the tiniest everyday tasks take more effort than at home.

In the end, I think my stay in California was great the way it was. I left on a high note, and this is part of why I look back on those four months so gladly. Although it makes me sorry that I will never be in that exact place in my life again, my travels are always with me, and they shape who I am. When it comes to traveling, I think there are two kinds of people. There are those who are content with where they are, and there are those with itchy feet, who constantly think of where they could go next. I am one of the latter, and even though I am glad to be home right now, I have a lingering feeling of wanderlust, which always makes me long to travel.