While walking through my neighborhood in Berlin, I spotted a cardboard box on the sidewalk marked “zu verschenken” — the classic local cue for “free to a good home.” The rain had just started, only a few drops, and I peeked inside to find a children’s game I’d never

I carry a big bag. Specifically, the GROSSE GESTEPPTE UMHÄNGETASCHE from COS. It’s quilted, made from 100% recycled materials, and technically designed for a weekend away. I bought it in Paris, not long after I arrived in Europe and realized that I needed a real bag, a real big

Some people seem destined to stay their ground. I learned that the hard way at Edeka, handing over my unsigned credit card. The cashier inspected it, saw the blank signature strip, and immediately informed me — not gently — that she couldn’t verify the signature on the receipt. It wasn’t

It still feels a little surreal. I have the acceptance letter in hand, the apartment secured, and a rough plan for the move. It’s happening: Berlin! I’m trading the quiet rhythms of Hessen for the organized, sometimes chaotic energy of Berlin. My new apartment is located near a