i summon one kim

It is now wonder that businessmen don’t complain a lot about the burden of traveling. Who cares if you have to arrive at the airport two or more hours early, if you can spend half of that time dining. On the plane you can then survive with a snack, instead of trying to operate a knife and fork in the tight space assigned to you. Not that the space is tight in business class…

After deboarding there is another excellent idea: the arrivals lounge. Unfortunately I had to hurry to a connecting flight, so I couldn’t visit it to enjoy a hot breakfast and a shower.

The second flight of the day (from London to Frankfurt) behind me I’m feeling a little bit well traveled for the day, especially after stewing for an hour in the sunny glass enclosure that is the Fernbahnhof at the Frankfurt airport. Here is a tip for anyone taking a train: go downstairs and sit by the tracks! It is nice and cool there, even if a bit noisy when trains arrive and depart.

I must have looked like I knew where I was going, as it happened again: I’m in a foreign country and I’m asked for directions (and I assume by a native — she spoke German). After uttering “ja” a couple of times in response to her questions about if this was the train to Freiburg, I figured I should try to put a few more words together in some sort of a sentence. This seemed to reassure her that I was not just repeating the only German word in my vocabulary, so I’m glad I made an effort.

I will never grow accustomed to being in a country where I can’t communicate effectively. Besides, it would be nice to be able to talk to my relatives here. Any pointers in how to download a good knowledge of German into one’s brain while sleeping?

As to concerns about whether I’m on the right train — how can one tell? The information display reads:

Over enkele minute bereiken wij Mannheim Hbf.
Uitstappen in rijrichting rechts.

Well, I think Mannheim is in the right direction.

P.S. What did I forget on this trip: my earbuds, yet I have the CD player.