Emily is waiting for me at eight-thirty sharp outside the hostel. She embraces me as if we are best friends reunited and cheers once I present her with a coffee cup. 

"Wasn't sure how you take it, so got you a black coffee. Is that okay?"

Emily takes a sip of the coffee. "Caffeine is caffeine in any shape, form, or size."

I laugh at the remark. 

"But they make shit coffee in Germany." Emily scrunches her face at the bitterness of the coffee and hooks her hand around my left arm, leading me down the road. "You look nice, very professional."

I had brought with me in my tiny suitcase the most business like outfits I possess. There are only a few combinations in my closet and I really don't know for how long I can rotate between my few business-like options until it is noticeable. 

I brush my grey pencil skirt that holds a small white fluff, a parting gift from Snickers, my cat back in London. While walking down the road, I quickly inspect the matching grey blazer and white shirt that is neatly tucked in, to ensure there are no further traces of my furry friend. I look like the typical white-collar employee.

"I miss my jeans and t-shirt." I blurt out, showing my deep hatred for business attire.

We cross the road and I can now see a walking bridge that is crowded with suits and ties making their way to the other side of the river. I blend effortlessly amongst them with my attire. Apart from the green-haired, red converse and chequered skirt girl next to me, chattering away.

"What business is it?" Emily asks.

I shrug, "Some tech company about wellness. To be honest, I might be overdressed for this, but my book said Germans are conservative at work, and I really don't want to screw this up."

Emily chuckles. "You have a book on Germans?"

I shrug in response. "My career advisor gave me the book..." I sigh. "What if I get there and they are all... not this?" I point at my outfit, growing more and more disgruntled at my choice.

"Hey, don't worry so much." Emily says reassuringly. "You'll find out today. If they are all uptight, then you'll fit in, and if they're not, then you can go back to your slacks tomorrow."

We cross the bridge and I can see a beautiful white building with three towers that don't align with one another in the background.

"That's the Gehry building, you'll be working next to it." Emily says beaming with pride. "It's pretty awesome, right?"

I stop in the middle of the bridge to observe the building in its grandeur. I'm going to be working here? Wow!

Emily pulls my arm to force me out of my stupor. "You'll be late. If there's one thing the Germans hate is someone running late. Or you haven't read that in your book?" she says amusedly.

I smile and keep pace. "So do the English."

Emily walks a tad faster. "You're off to a good start, then."

Emily leaves me outside the building with a warm hug and endless wishes of good luck. With a catch you later alligator, the green-haired kiwi makes her way back to the quaint part of the town.

The building in front of me is contemporary, with high ceilings and windows that allow natural light to illuminate the interior. It looks magnificent.

I sign my name and enter the steel machinery that leads me towards the third floor where my new employer is located. As soon as the elevator doors ping, and grants me access to the floor, I can see a sleek office that has windows replacing concrete walls.

I exit the elevator and make my way to the receptionist that is fixing her makeup.

"Guten morgen."* I say in the politest mannerism I might muster.

The red-haired girl looks at me with indifference. "Guten morgen. Womit kann ich Ihnen behilflich sein?" (How can I help you?)

And I'm lost. 

"Sorry, I don't really speak German."

The girl frowns. Great first impression, Nat.

"My name is Natalie Porter. Mein name..." I repeat.

"Und?" she looks even more disinterested, if that is possible.

"Mr Wagner is waiting for me."

She looks at her computer and types in something, most likely her password.

"Potter?" she asks mechanically, not raising her eyes from the computer.

I shake my head. "Nein, Porter, Natalie Porter."

The girl raises an eyebrow. "Nately?" she says.

I sigh. This cannot be happening... Is she seriously not getting me?

"No, Natalie. I.. E.." I say, perhaps louder than I should have.

"Er ist noch nicht hier. Nehmen Sie Platz." (He's not here yet. Take a seat)

I stood, aghast. I couldn't understand a word.

She rolls her eyes at me, "Sit." and points at the sofa.

"Danke." I say and slump on the sofa.

Fantastic first impression. She surely adores you by now, Nat. I grunt inwards and keep my eyes down to avoid any more embarrassing exchanges with the receptionist.

The elevator pings and a tall, slim, blonde man walks outside the elevator. "Guten morgen, Marie. Wie war dein Abend?" (Good morning, Marie. How was your evening?)

He approaches the receptionist. I understood the morning greeting, and it doesn't take a genius to recognise a name like Marie. So, I got one thing right. Hu... the freaking... rray.

"Nichts besonderes, und Ihre?" (Nothing special, and yours?)

The man shrugs in response.

"Dieses Mädchen its hier, um Lukas zu sehen." (This girl is here to see Lukas.)

The man turns around and for the first time realises there is another human being in the room. He stares at me intently before giving me the friendliest of smiles and turning back around to Marie.

"Er kommt." (He is coming)

He says and enters the office.

Marie, the receptionist, looks at me. The friendly demeanour has turned sour again. "5 Minuten."

I nod in understanding. Maybe that's Mr Wagner, and he wants to settle in before seeing me? Jesus, I really need to learn the damn language.

I try to distract my nerves by looking through the invisible walls. The office is a mixture of business meets casual.

The tall blonde man is wearing a suit and a tie, his hair is perfectly groomed and clean shaven, but Marie, the receptionist is wearing a black dress that has fishnets as sleeves, her hair is spiked, and she has mascara intentionally running down her face as if she is a live rag doll.

I look inside and see the office already bursting with life. There are definitely over 4 people in the office. Start-up my ass, Wendy.

I'm absorbed by the life inside. I can only make out two offices and perhaps a small conference room. Otherwise, there are desks but no walls that define departments. The blonde man has sat down in one office and is talking on the phone with his back away from the desk while he overlooks what I can only consider might be an amazing view.

The elevator pings once more, and another man exits it. This time, the man is as tall as the previous one, but contrasts his predecessor in every other aspect. He has dark hair, and penetrating blue eyes. He definitely works out, and he is extremely handsome, and he knows it.

"Guten morgen, Marie. Wie gehts?" (Good morning, Marie. How are you?)

The girl gets up and smiles back, clearly happy to see the man in front of her. "Gut, Lukas. Es gibt einen Amerikaner für Sie. Natalie Potter." (Good, Lukas. There's an American here to see you.)

Did she just called me Potter again?

I get up, half infuriated at this Marie persona and her inability to get my name right.

"Actually, Porter." I say.

He smiles and walks to me while extending his hand warmly. "Natalie, I've been expecting you." he says in a near perfect English accent. "How was your trip?"

"Very good, sir. Thank you so much for this opportunity."

"My pleasure, please call me Lukas. We are not formal here."

He gestures me to follow him and approaches Marie.

"Marie, this is Natalie. She will do an internship with us for the next six months, so please kindly help her settle in. She'll be in Markus' department, so when you get her all the access cards, take her to him."

Marie nods and gets up. "Of course, Lukas."

I widen my eyes, and she smirks. Of course she can speak English. She just chose not to until this moment.

"I'll reconnect with you in the evening so we can have a chat, if that's okay?"

I smile at his politeness. "Absolutely."

Lukas walks inside and the blonde man exits his office. Both walk inside the conference room together while Marie types in her computer.

"Sit, I'll get your credentials sorted and then take you to Markus."

I stare at her for a beat. "So, you speak English."

She grins mischievously, "Natürlich" before focusing back on her computer.

I need to learn German. Fast.