I wrote this for the newly made Edge Hill University magazine, I know it's not the best in the world but I thought I would put it on here too for anyone bothered to read it.
Picture it, a perfect late summer day, temperatures pushing 30, not a cloud blemishing the startlingly blue sky. You’re sat on the banks of the Rhine in state capital Düsseldorf, basking in the afternoon sun, pleasantly surprised at this unseasonal weather. The soaring behemoth of the 240m tall Rhine Tower to the left, the sprawling, pristine ‘Old Town’ to your right, nothing could spoil your day. But then you here it, a curious yet familiar rumbling seemingly dragged up from somewhere deep within your childhood, you look up, gasp. You’ve been ripped from the glory of the day, torn asunder from the pristine tranquillity of summer stretching it’s merciful limbs into usually uncharted territory. And why? For what? Are your eyes deceiving you? Can it be? You better believe it! That’s right, it’s a troupe of roller bladders out for a Sunday skate, 5, 6, 7, too many to count. Fully grown adults, resplendent in knee pads and crash helmets, safety always comes first when you’re hitting the dizzying heights of 10MPH. Always.
Why am I in Germany? Am I a German? No. Have I been exiled by some unfortunate circumstance resulting in my being forced to live here? Wrong again. I am here (obviously) to study English. That’s right, laugh it up, I’m used to it. It’s a common thing in Germany that after introducing yourself, you proceed to enquire about the studies of the other person. In recent weeks this has roused within me a cynical smile, a knowing laugh. I know what’s coming.
Herr Klinsmann: “So hey, Shaun, what are you studying?”
Me: “English Linguistics”
Herr Klinsmann: “hahaha, no really, what are you studying?”
This is always greeted with a protestation of my seriousness, yes I do indeed study English linguistics in Germany which in turn is greeted by the remark that “well you must be the best in the class” as if the only requirement of being a good linguist was to be a native speaker!!!
I can assure that it is most definitely not!
I should explain, I don’t actually live in bustling Düsseldorf, or the equally appealing Cologne, not even Aachen with its wonderful medieval cathedral. I live in Essen, coal mining central of Germany and every bit as beautiful as the rock on which it was built. Heavily bombed during World War 2, Essen, and the majority of the surrounding towns, were rebuilt in a bland monotonous style. Where are the buildings Germany is famous for? This could be a city in any country in the world.
And yet, having said that, I don’t dislike my adopted home. I don’t dislike eating sausage on a regular basis. I don’t dislike beer at 80cents a pint. And most importantly, above all else, I can honestly say that nothing in Germany brings me more pleasure than the humble double cheeseburger being renamed as the all conquering, world beating, face melting delight that is the McfuckingDouble.
In addition to opening my eyes to the wonder of living in a different country, waking up every day in a different time zone and learning a new language, Germany has given me a new found appreciation for my home city, Liverpool.
For me it is easy to draw comparisons between the 2 industrial cities of Essen and Liverpool, both based on famous rivers. There is however, no doubt in my mind which one is king.
Even now as I write, gazing up I can see a postcard of Liverpool’s famous 3 graces, perfectly offset against a backdrop of dazzlingly blue sky, straddled below by the Liverpool-Leeds canal. When I was home over Christmas, stepping off the train at Lime Street, setting my first foot on Scouse soil for 3 months I was greeted with a sound that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, a sound that said I’m home. What was that sound? The raucous crys from a flock of Seagulls? A timeless classic from The Beatles droning in the station? Not quite, one young Scouser to another “ey lad, you gorra fuckin bifta?”
It was good to be back. The city itself left me in awe, never had I truly appreciated the grandeur and majesty of Liverpool’s historic city centre. Just to stop for a second and crane your head upwards is to catch sight of an out of the way marvel.
I am aware that this has descended into a kind of Anglo-Germanic ramble about my past 5 months. I’ll sum it up. I’m an exchange student living in Germany and I like Liverpool but I never used to.
I prefer to think of myself as Edge Hill’s ambassador to the world. Maybe.
