GirlGI | Girl Gone International Issue 8 | Page 93

Anika Schäfer, German, 30

Community Manager in Barcelona
After moving to the UK, I visited London
for a day. I had pre-booked train tickets
and on my way back I was lucky because
the previous train was still waiting on the
platform. Very happy about the prospect
of getting at home a bit earlier, I did it the
‘German way’ and just jumped on the
waiting train. This turned out to be a huge
error – you are not allowed to do this in
the UK. You have to stick to your prebooked train. The conductor kicked me
out at the next stop and I had to wait all
alone at 10 pm at an abandoned train station. It was pitch-black, freezing cold and
there was not even a place to sit down.
Lesson Learned.

Sara Butkovic, Canadian, 28

Community Manager in Düsseldorf
In a lot of places in Spain you have to hang your clothes for drying on washing lines hanging
outside the balcony in between 2 buildings. If something accidentally falls, you’ve either lost it
forever or you can hope the neighbours living on the ground floor will bring it to you. The latter
can make for some pretty embarrassing moments though when it’s underwear. I still turn red
remembering the moment my 70-year old landlord knocked on the door with my panties in his
outstretched hand with judgement written all over his face.