Dear Me, The Day Before You Left for Germany

 You’re Going to Miss Home More Than You Think

It won’t hit on day one. It’ll come slowly, like a wave.
You’ll feel it when you’re eating alone. When you can’t smell familiar spices.
When you walk into an empty room in a new city, far colder than you imagined.

You’ll want to cry. And you will.
Quietly. Often.
You’ll smile on calls with your parents while hiding the fact that your pillow is still wet from last night.

No one will really understand what it feels like to be thousands of kilometers away from home, unless they’ve done it too.

You’ll feel alone even in a crowd.
And you’ll question everything.

 You’re Going to Hate a Lot of Things at First

The silence.
The darkness in winter.
The bread.
The early store closures.
The way no one says “sorry” when bumping into you.

You’ll think:
„Did I make a mistake?“

You’ll miss Diwali lights and birthday hugs.
You’ll cut your cake alone.
(I know. You’ll cry after.)

But please believe me when I say this is all part of the process.

You’ll Survive First. And That’s Still Brave.

You’ll land in Berlin. It’ll snow.
You’ll see snow for the first time and won’t even enjoy it.

You’ll just want warmth.
A familiar face.
Someone to say, “It’s going to be okay.”

But instead, you’ll buy your SIM card.
Open your bank account.
Go to class.
Eat alone.
Sleep alone.
Cry, quietly, again.

You’ll live in Berlin for six months.
And though the city is beautiful, you won’t explore much.
You won’t go to Charlottenburg Palace, even though you could.
You’ll just try to make it through the day.

You’ll think you’re failing at life.

But you’re not.

You’re surviving.
And that’s already strength.

It’ll Get Better But Slowly

When you move to Schweinfurt, things won’t magically change.

You’ll still feel disconnected.
You’ll still wonder if this was worth it.
You’ll still miss your parents every single day.

But then… something shifts.

You’ll Become Someone You Never Thought You Could Be

In your second semester, people will start asking you for help.
With forms. With studies. With life.
And suddenly… you’re the guy who “figures things out.”

You’ll find a rhythm.
You’ll find purpose.
You’ll find yourself.

You’ll build projects. You’ll join a student group.
You’ll meet people who become family
An older brother who guides you.
A sister you protect.
A circle of people who actually see you.

And one day, you’ll wake up and realize
Germany doesn’t feel foreign anymore.
It feels like a second home.

So Here’s What I Want You to Know, Before You Leave

You’re going to break down.
You’re going to question your strength.
You’re going to feel alone.

But you won’t be alone forever.

And when the storm passes because it will you’ll come out stronger, wiser, and more you than you’ve ever been.

So cry at the airport.
Hug your parents like it’s the last time for a while.
Feel the fear.

But then get on that plane.

Because this journey…
is going to change everything.

This letter isn’t just for the past me.
It’s for you, too the one sitting with a visa in hand, second-guessing everything.
I’ve been there. And I promise, while the start may shake you, it won’t break you.
This is the past , your future is waiting.
So pack those doubts with your dreams, hop on that plane, and just trust the process.
You’ve got this.

Love,
Your Future Self
Sahil— the version of you who’s making it, one step at a time.