I promised to tell you the beginnings of my “adventure” (I like to call it my adventure on Teutonic land). You know that I learned to speak the German language in 6 months, (and not by studying 6 hours per day), and that after I had the online interview with your company (thinking back now, I can’t believe you trusted me so much and trusted in my future success) and after that I had the interview in Germany.

I don’t regret one bit the decision to move to Germany and now I realize that it was good not to know how difficult things can get… Although, thinking back, knowing the difficulty would have just made me become more ambitious!

You know, in the time you got to know me, that I don’t easily break and that I fight on with all my strength for my personal goals. With all this in mind, after the first week in Germany, I was ready to pack my bag and go home. I was completely lost, I felt like I learned a different language back home in Romania, I couldn’t understand a word these people were talking! But I was also lucky to stumble upon an amazing chief physician and an amazing mentor, who encouraged me constantly and trusted me and my medical expertise. And of course they didn’t hesitate to put me to work (after testing my medical skills with questions about medication and medical procedures) from day one. After a month and a half, the chief physician told me that I’m doing really well and after a month and a half he announced me that I get to perform anesthesia all by myself, after which he asked if it would scare me. Of course I told him that I am not afraid, but I also told him that it would be wise to have someone available in case things go badly.

Ok, so not everything was perfect, I met people that laughed at my language skills, but I did my job (and I did it well). I think that everything will turn out ok. My patience and optimism is bigger than anyone can imagine.

Now, writing to you, I can tell you that I feel that I’m on the same level with the Germans, nothing less but maybe even more, considering the fact that I speak 2 more languages besides German and Romanian. I actually feel above a lot of them. I’m feeling really good, despite not speaking perfectly German, I learn new words every day and I feel the progress towards the better.

Outside of the hospital… what can I say? I met here at the hospital two Romanian doctors (one actually form Craiova) and a Pakistan citizen who graduated medicine in Romania. We occasionally meet up and talk. With my colleague from Craiova and his family I celebrated the Catholic Easter (visiting them in Meiningen).  I didn’t have much time to do anything else to be honest.

What can I say… who wants to do what I did must understand that one needs an iron will and needs to be certain that this is what he really wants, otherwise… no chance! Any problem that’s insignificant back home can take here a different dimension. I think one needs to be optimistic and consider that every conquered day is a victory towards your goals. I believe that I don’t have to look back and only look forward. And I also strongly believe that we are nothing less than other nations. We are smart, we are professionally prepared, we have a strong general culture and we can hold our heads up high anywhere in the world! Me, I hold my head up high! Although I am the sort of Romanian that cries when I hear the national anthem, I don’t think I can go back home. If I would I would be profoundly unhappy and disappointed!

For now, this is all I can tell you about me; after all it’s been only 3 months since I’m here! Once the probation period is over I will tell you more!

Alina Lazar

FOTKY