The foreigners around me must feel the same way.

There are many signs of excitement in their voices.

I just sit there and try to figure out, where I will be working from now on.

I know it´s stupid, but it keeps me distracted until we finally roll onto the runway.

I´m not good with the feeling of zero gravity in my head. It makes me feel sick.

"Thank you for flying with Korean Air. We wish you a nice stay here in Seoul. Best wishes from your captain and the crew.”

The sign for fastening the seatbelts turns off and everyone gets up at the same time.

While people rush to the exits, only to get stuck there, because of the other passengers, I listen to the Korean announcement.

I don´t get a single word.

Immediately, my head starts spiraling around one thought: How am I supposed to live here?

"Sir? Everything all right?”

The friendly stewardess again.

She seems a bit surprised by me still sitting there.

"Yes, yes, just fine! Thanks a lot.” I peek at her nametag. Great!

"Thanks, Julen”, I murmur and get off my seat.

This is gonna be hell!

---------------------

For the hundredth time this day, I regret my decision for coming here.

How on earth could I have thought to casually fly around the world, start a new job, look after some teens – and not speak a single word of Korean? 

While following the other passengers to the arrivals lobby, my brain starts spinning.

Not only can´t I speak Korean, but I also can´t read the signs, too.

What did I get myself into?

I switch my phone from airplane mode back to normal.

Ping ping ping…

A dozen messages pop onto the screen. Most of them are Korean. Signs I can´t read, probably telling me about the costs of messages in the new country. I sigh. Horrible!

How am I even to find the people –

"Sir?”

I jump.

Startled I look around me.

A woman with the staff uniform stands next to me.

"Are you Mr. – uh – Mull- uh – Mill-“ “Müller,” I try to help her and try a smile. I feel exhausted. She looks down at a crumbled paper in her hands. Her brows frown, while she tries to read my name once again, but gives up eventually. She nods, not smiling back at me, and clears her throat.

"I am very sorry, but I fear we lost your luggage.” My heart skips a beat.

"What?”

That can´t be true! I can´t be that unlucky, can I? Everything is in that damn luggage, except my documents and my visa.

"But,” I try to speak as put together as I can “can´t you check again? I mean, we didn´t make a stop. This was a direct flight. The luggage must be somewhere.” “Sorry, but it got confused with another flight before the takeoff.”

No!

"You – you are telling me my belongings are still in Germany? You must be kidding, right?" I laugh hysterically. She doesn´t laugh. Her face looks very serious, even pale. “G-Germany," she stutters, then looks down at the paper. Her hands start shaking slightly.

"You came from Germany?”

Her dark eyes become bigger and bigger in shock.

"Yes, Germany,” I hiss.

I hate it already!

"How long does it take to send my things here?”

"I – th-that´s the problem.” “What can be so hard about sending the things to-“ “They are on the flight to Sydney right now.”

I open my mouth – close it.

I blink a few times.

Sydney?

I must have misheard her.

"Sydney?” My voice sounds hilariously stupid.

She silently nods. Her face warms up in a bright pink tone.

"You mean Sidney, like – the Sydney in Australia?”

She nods again.

"You´re telling me, my stuff is flying to Australia right now? You must be kidding me!” “No, that´s the truth!” “I KNOW!” She flinches back.

From her perspective, I´m a grumpy, nearly two-meter-tall tourist, who, right now, is obviously angry at her. I mean, anyone who sees me for the first time comes to the wrong conclusions because of my shaved head and the boots.

I look like the perfect skinhead looking for trouble.

An angry sigh escapes my mouth and I turn around to not give her a heart attack by staring at her.

I need to calm down.

Me being angry at her won´t help anyone!

I inhale some air and blow it out of my nose to calm down.

"Okay. How long will it take for you to send it back here,” I ask with the fakest smile I can smile. For some reason, my smile only seems to alarm her more.

"W-well – it will take a while.” “And how long will this take exactly?”

Her fingers fidget with the paper before she answers.

"A month.” “A month.” “I´m so sorry, sir. We are so sorry. We will give you a 50% discount for your next flight.” “I´m not flying anywhere anytime soon.” Her eyes widen in shock.

"I am so-“ “Just cut it out already! I know, you`re sorry! Just – urgh – just call me when the things are here. I´ll pick them up.”

Before she has the chance to respond, I turn around and head to the exits.

The day can´t get any worse, can it?