(1 day until departure) I am in the final stages of preparing for a sabbatical. Over the last few weeks and months, I have dealt with wide range of issues – from booking my first few flights, finding a language school to brush up my Spanish, getting some vaccinations, purchasing travel insurance, subletting my flat, handing over my work to my colleagues, to saying goodbye to family and friends.
The last time I did a bigger trip in 2008, there were virtually no processes in place at for a longer leave of absence. In the end, I had to quit my job to go travelling. This time around, things are very different. Over the years, many in Germany haven given and motivation some serious thought. The result is, that I was able to save part of my salary every month for the past few years. This money now allows me to take a year off work without having to quit my job. And when I am back in 12 months, I will go back to my old team and my old job. It really is very straight forward, and I am very grateful to my boss and my colleagues (who are taking over some of my work) for giving me the opportunity.
Happy as I am to start travelling again soon, part of me feels somehow a little sad. I am having a good life in Berlin; many things that I value and enjoy are here, and I sure will miss many of them – my friends & family, the cultural scene in Berlin, my badminton club, my yoga classes, the lifestyle, my flat, and even my great team at work.
