Expectation? Nothing, just pure work in mind lol #
2026 knocks my door, therefore I have to prepare myself to do my business trip. To be fair, my expectation going to German was simply work, nothing worth to put on for thought at the time. I’m eager to collaborate with colleagues in Altdorf. There are so much thing other than work as I later discover, perhaps because of my thought process, but yeah somehow I relieved when I able to enjoy it all by middle of trip timeline.
It seems we are lucky, or is it? #
This probably things that have been muttered by colleagues and others that I met, in fact perhaps yes that we are lucky because we arrive during snowfall. Later I dug that in fact this year Winter was unique as at most Winter (in our region) only have single snowfall and the weather would be warmer or so for the rest remaining season period, I count 3 times when snowfall happen during my stay. Maybe for other person this event is interesting but in my opinion it’s just normal thing that may happen in Winter perhaps I have enough shit going on lol. What I did not expect was that Northern light happen in Europe during 1 week before I leave, was stunned to see them unfortunately I did not document it, but yeah that’s the one that felt magical when you witness them firsthand below the darkness of evening…
Another thing worthy to mention a colleague arranged us to meet several divisions brief us with each body and speak with them first hand. In between unfazed and genuinely amused, I would say I’m thankful to be able meet with these particular persons, what I wish is that if I could come back there I could join several of activities of these divisions like test labs, and system tests. These intrigues my desire to learn further past being engineer/developer, a good engineer are those that capable to solve given issues, make best practical solution, decision, given a conditions and opportunity that lingers which not only put hard skills in test but also diplomatic and interpersonal communication.
Mundane things #
Mundane things, living abroad is samey as back at home just have a bit quality of life things that are better in Deutscheland but as we know it is at best for us just stay as Business trip instead of staying considering current climate of local affair and European condition. Safe to say people in place I reside was nice and welcoming, perhaps consider lucky as I was somewhere in Nurnberg instead of northern or lower southern. Maybe being in winter is a factor that limits me for enjoying the trip as I actually want to visit neighbouring country if possible, like France, and Belgium in north to visit some villages or monument maybe.
As a person that has been exposed with internet (and decent literacy) by early age, I think a lot of things that happen here in Western does not surprise me at all, even was not expecting winter to be not that cold (unless cold wind strike), drinking from tap is okay for me and for some reason I have better digestion during my stay. Hopefully I could return there in other seasonal condition like Spring, Summer (oh no), or perhaps during Autumn.
During visit in one of local church, I stumbled upon plaque that lists people that served in Great War, this strikes me as reminder that most of conscript at that time coming from smaller villages/smaller commune as some of them have same surnames. May rest those poor souls to the both side as they fought for their nation of such tragedy.
Though what irks me during the stay was Deutsche-bahn service, you don’t want to be the receiving end of this service when troubled. Had one time problem where train that supposed to take me get cancelled 4-5 mins before arrival time, fortunately I could reroute my trip as it was in S-bahn train and only costs me 10-20 mins of walk.
Definitely lucky #
While before taking this trip I make some preparation like anticipating payment option for local in German, trips and places to visit during stay, and finally cuisine. While at first being reluctant to pay, it takes my 1st week to decide to buy D-Ticket myself to set my plan in advance. Being able to pay in EUR and have contactless payment is nice to have but potentially dangerous if your card for some reason missing.
It does not take much time for me to decide that I will visit Audi and Porsche museum in Ingolstadt and Stuttgart, was nice experience to be able view those machine up close not to mention both have their own pedigree in motorsport, both races in Rally, Touring car, open wheel and WEC though I liked how both of these manufacturer also have their time during pre-war in motorsport.
If only I have more time and planning definitely would like to visit Sinsheim’s Technik Museum, Sinsheim’s Technick Museum hosts various exhibition mainly in transportation technology, ranging from pre-war transportation into current day vehicle, simple motorbikes to Concord and Tupolev huge airplane. I didn’t visit it due time constraint and worry of the trip duration from my location which about 5-6 hours and for best experience I have to stay in nearby Sinsheim to maximise the museum visit. But yeah it is what it is, maybe for next visit here :p
Auf wiedersehen deutscheland! #
