Greetings to you, dear reader - from a drizzly, grey-skied Berlin. I find it astounding at how fast the weather has changed. It went from blistering hot (okay not really blistering, but man it was hot.) to chilly, icy weather. The first of September came around and mother nature turned her back on us and gave us the cold shoulder.

Which means that you Southern Hemispherians will be having warmer weather. I don't exactly know how to feel about this... It is bothering me a tiny bit that I will be spending my September - March in Autumn/Winter. I don't know what bothers me more - the fact that it will be winter here and snowing or that it will be Spring and Summer back home in South Africa. I don't like the idea that one day I might FaceTime my family in the snowy-season, wearing 10 layers of everything, making me look like an Oompa-Loompa and my Dad sarcastically asking (he's very good at this) "Are you a little bit cold Bina?" to which I meakly reply "just a tiny bit." "Ag shame man", my mom giggling in response.

Why do I play out this scenario? Because just before I left, people (including and mostly my mom) were saying "ooh you're going to freeze! Your first true winter experience. Have you got enough winter clothes?"To which I smugly replied "I'll be fine - I'm looking forward to the cooler weather."

I said "cooler" instead of hypothermia-inducing-freeze-your-downunders-off cold. My mistake...

There's no backing out of it, however. I can't just hop on a train and spend the wintery months in South Africa, only coming back to Germany when it is warmer - I don't think it would work out financially and I'm not sure my job allows afraid-of-the-weather, long -term holidays. I would have a constant tan though - that is always a bonus.

I have hit another dilemma - how am I going to stay warm on my way to work without having too many layers on that all need to come off when working because I would probably get too hot? I would need to take two seperte pairs of shoes, pack in my work shirts (will I need to buy winter work shirts?! I don't know!! I've never done this!!) and get a pair of non-see through leggings that I can wear under my jeans, so that I can take my jeans off.

It will be that time of bare trees again.

On a happier note, I am super excited as I will be meeting up with my grandparents in St. Georgen! They have come over to Germany (as they do annually) for a holiday and to visit family as well as spend some time in my Grandpa's home town. It will definitely be a bitter sweet moment - having four days of my wonderful, special grandparents all to myself and having to later, say goodbye to them again. I don't want to think about that part - not just yet, I don't feel like being soppy and teary-eyed right now! I can guarantee a detailed blog about my trip - which is going to be very interesting as I am taking the train alone. I'll let you know if I land up in some strange town!

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