Glad You Called 8: Location, Meaning, Story
Writing about my 2020 experience in Glad You Called #6 inspired my thoughts about the importance of location in our life and the different meanings this concept holds. The particular location for this story is a city. In my case the city is called Berlin, the muse for this blog piece. But don’t let my source of inspiration restrict you: your location could be a village or a small town, or an even bigger metropolis. It could also very well be a region you visited while on holiday or one of the neighborhoods you resided in. The point is that it is probably a place which you hold dear because of the great time you had there, the nostalgic memories you still keep of it, and not to forget, the people whom you got to know by being in that place.
Over last summer and autumn, I found this last element to be especially significant for me when it comes to experience a location. As I previously wrote, however, a city can have its own energy too, associated with the feelings and meanings which you yourself attached to the place. It is a fascinating process, which I experienced first-hand in Berlin. After being there for a couple of months, I started thinking back about the places I had lived in before and a similar pattern emerged. I focus on Berlin, though, because the sensation from it is still very fresh; and it was an intense experience in a short period of time, namely during my brief stay there over the summer.
A city like Berlin is difficult to dislike because of its many sides. Those different faces, however, could remain hidden for those not willing to explore the city beyond a few neighbourhoods. Like many other tourists before, I regarded Berlin as simply the definition of a “hipster” city (whatever that means). In my mind, it was supposed to be a place with an endless nightlife, full of open-minded people with no regrets. Took me barely a week to realize that this is merely one of Berlin’s countless faces. I quickly understood that to be a Berliner is not to be a hipster. In fact, there is no single secret recipe to becoming a “Berlin person”.
Firstly, I came to know the historical side of the city: the more recent events connected to World War II and the Cold War era, as well as the distant past captured in the numerous museums along the Spree river. As I rode my bike across the West of the city, I also discovered a very ordered, fancier side, reminiscent of the centers of Paris, Vienna, and London. I chilled with friends in countless parks scattered around town. Of course, I became drawn to the evening energy of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, their relaxing vibe and artistic chaos. The diversity, and the contrasts, became more apparent as my exploration took me further to the melting pot of Neukölln in the south but also to the affluent atmosphere of Prenzlauer Berg in the northern part of the city. Even the downtown borough, called Mitte and disliked by many who claim to love Berlin, had its own charm of modernity paired with the familiar hustle and bustle of bigger cities.
All these sides of Berlin had their unique appeal and different people tend to find distinct parts inviting. That is the beauty of this city — it has something for everyone, really. For me, the most crucial element of its appeal struck by surprise, sometime in the middle of my stay. As I started to walk more by foot and look closer at my surroundings, I noticed an unmistakable resemblance to home. That Eastern vibe could not be escaped on the streets of Berlin. The height and the façade of the houses; the washed up, but still pretty, colors of the paint which covered the buildings; the tram lines in the middle of the street; the enormous boulevard stretching itself across the city; the unnecessarily wide sidewalks; even the massive, communist-style apartment blocks…
All these elements, readily at display in East Berlin where I resided, gave me a familiar feeling — one that is associated with nothing other than the details of the place I used to live in. It was a sensation that did not depend on the people or the experiences, but instead a feeling stemming from my own perceptions, thoughts and memories. I attached a special meaning to Berlin because of that unique association I had: a feeling of home in a big place which seems mostly chaotic thanks to its many diverse sides.
Truth be told, I ended up in Berlin by a pure stroke of luck. I was not supposed to be there over the last summer. However, my initial plans changed completely, so I ended up there. Similarly, some of the amazing people I was surrounded with in Berlin were also not there intentionally. Their plans had also taken a turn which led them to the same place. Whenever we talk to each other and reminisce that summer in Berlin during corona times, we never fail to mention how lucky we felt to be able to spend those weeks together. That’s how life works sometimes, in mysterious ways which help us appreciate a certain place even more.
What’s been your special place? Maybe you are living in that favorite town of yours right now without realizing it yet? Or perhaps now you have become certain that you’d like to get to a particular location soon — even that could be a valuable realization for the future.
Lastly, I realize my example story of Berlin could seem too naive to you. “How can you not come to like such a diverse city which has something to offer to anyone?”, you might ask. Honestly, you would probably be right with such critique. But look, smaller towns could also draw people in, making you want to stay there forever. Undoubtedly, many of you have found themselves falling for a little quiet place, without a busy downtown area, lively shopping streets or colorful crowds. It is possible, I would know. But that’s a different story…
Till next time.
Yours truly,
Glad You Called
