Wow, what a day!
It’s the 5th day of my trip around Europe. Today we got to Berlin. We’ll stay here only for two days, so right after we dropped our bags off and took a shower, we went off with the guide to explore the city.
We saw lots of stuff and heard a lot of things about the war and the wall. We basically saw all the landmarks in one day. Our feet were killing us, it felt like they are inflated like some balloons! This is when our group said we are going to go to the hotel and change and then we can do whatever.
Me and Angelica were super happy to hear that, cause we were kinda tired of all that guidance and rules. Also our brains stopped receiving any new information long ago. We decided to go get a little hammered and meet boys 😀 It will be a lot harder to get beer when we are back in the States.
So after we relaxed a bit and refreshed ourselves, we decided to check out our hood. It’s super lively and full of people late at night. There are street musicians at every corner and people drink and dance in the street. It feels like nobody ever works in this city.
We walked through the crowd and we looked around. At some point I asked Angelica if she knows the way back to the hotel and she wouldn’t answer. I looked around and Angelica wasn’t anywhere to be found. I also didn’t know where I was. I felt so scared. I went around the place and I couldn’t find her. I went back, or where I thought was back.
I couldn’t find the way back to the hotel. I started crying like an idiot. People were looking at me and some guy asked me what happened and if he could help. I told him what happened and he laughed and said that my hotel is nearby and he will show me where it is. We walked a into a quiet little street and approached a trashy little car. He said he will give me a lift. I said no, ‘cause this was really suspicious, as he said it’s only 5 min walk from there. He insisted and seemed annoyed. In the end he yelled at me and I got really scared, so I ran away.
I ran and I saw some restaurant and 4 people (2 guys and 2 girls, so I felt a bit safer about them) sitting at a table outside. I asked them which direction is Warschauer Strasse and they pointed in a completely opposite direction than the guy was showing me. I started crying in front of them and told them what happened and that I am scared. I was afraid that guy with the car was following me.
They offered to walk me to the hotel. They told me to calm down and that they would walk me in a crowded street and that I will be alright.
On the way we told each other our little stories and jokes and I calmed down a little. I also started recognizing the area and they showed me a bridge and told me that my hotel is just across it. They all are so sweet and I couldn’t thank them enough. One guy told me:
Don’t worry, it’s just a game we play. It’s called “Be kind to a stranger”; you help someone altruistically and ask them to pass it on to another stranger. So next time you can brighten someone’s day, just do it and don’t expect anything in return.
We hugged and I wished them a good night. Now I don’t even remember their names, but I will never forget them.
Angelica was already in the room worried sick. I am glad she’s alright and already snoring like a chainsaw, HAHA!
Jenni (17), Alberta
Mood: Relieved