Ping-Heng Chen

I left Guatemala City at noon on Saturday and arrived in Heidelberg on Sunday. At La Aurora International Airport in the capital, only travelers were allowed in the building

I‘m still dealing with a lingering cold. I wore the mask my mother gave me when I left home last year. Flying has become increasingly uncomfortable and much less appealing than it once was.

Despite the forecast, Heidelberg is not as cold as expected, although it’s raining.

At the hotel, I took a shower, hoping to wash away a loneliness I hadn’t felt in a long time. Shortly after, two women knocked and said, “We need to clean your room.”

The front desk was closed because it was Sunday. The women, who like me were not native German speakers, suggested some bus routes so I could find a place to eat.

The city felt clean and empty. People don’t smile as readily when they make eye contact as they do in Guatemala. My mind was still in Spanish, and a soft “hola“ slipped out, only to be swept away by the fresh breeze.

When I returned to the hotel, my room was ready. I could hear the women next door finishing their cleaning, their voices muffled through the wall. Beyond that, there was complete silence.

It’s a bit lonely being in a place where you don’t know anyone yet. I still have to prepare my presentation, and then I’m off back to Guatemala on Wednesday.