In September, I embarked on a rather spontaneous six-week trip to Japan. With no travel intinerary, it was an exciting and challenging time that also marked the first intercontinental journey for me.

One month after my return from Gran Canaria, I moved house to permanently relocate to the center of Leipzig – an intention would turn out to be misguided, but at the time I was blissfully unaware about the dark side of my new life.