The Community in Vomit

I recently had an unpleasant experience with vomit. A few days after arriving here in Germany, I started feeling nauseous.

Then, during a meeting with a German housing inspector, my nausea evolved into complete and utter projectile vomiting. It was bad. I heaved a subway sandwich, among other “items”, all over the floor, my shoes, and my pants. Thankfully, the inspector was clear of the blast area and his shoes were saved. I can’t speak for his sense of smell or his mental state (which must be haunted by images of acidic mush flying through the air).

In the days since, I’ve seen the German inspector a few times in random locations throughout town. He has never mentioned the incident. Nor have I. We just sort of smile and nod at each other. I think it is a special, unspoken bond we now share. Maybe he is my first German friend?

I’m hoping to make more German friends. I definitely don’t want to stay completely in the American bubble. Tomorrow, I’m moving into my apartment in town and I’m praying that it will help with my assimilation into parts of the local culture.

Getting connected is vital. Being around people is vital. For much of my initial time here, I’ve been alone. Doing errands alone, going to meetings alone, living alone. Being alone leads to loneliness, obviously. I can enjoy being alone, but I can’t enjoy being lonely.

So, I’m anxious to make some friends; German and American friends that will hopefully evolve into a community of which I’m a member. Then, if I ever get sick again maybe one of them will come over and be with me as I vomit. They’ll be disgusted at first, then they’ll laugh at me and my misfortune and it will make me laugh too. And then we’ll sit on the couch and watch tv while I drink a ginger ale and they sip a beer.

That’d be good.