Part I can be found here (Then you can follow the links to each of the other parts).
That low point in Maritz’ new life in Germany was to be the pivotal event that led her and challenged her to chart a new destiny for her. Yes, she married for love and because of that love, followed her sweetheart half a world away from her home. But that did not mean that she would just waste away her youth, her time, her talents and skills waiting on her man and waiting for him to come home from work every night.
There was a time when she contemplated on leaving Germany and going back to her family – whom she was missing so terribly. But now, she is thankful that she did not succumb to the urge to run away then.
Up to that point and a few more months afterwards, dear hubby would give her monthly allowance for whatever she wanted to buy. But being her family’s breadwinner when she was single, she was not very comfortable with the idea of depending on her husband. In fact, she found it a torture! She could earn her own money, anyway. She was not an invalid and she had a college degree. She knew she had the right tools to earn a living – if only to affirm her own identity and independence.
She recognized what was keeping her from doing that: the language barrier. So, she enrolled in an intensive German course and within three months, she was conversing in German already! Her husband was pleasantly surprised! He must have been very proud of his persistent and determined wife. Her newly-acquired language boosted Maritz’ confidence since people started to talk to her already. She realized at that time that her hunch was correct all the while – people were aloof because they did not know how to communicate with her.
But that was not all. Going to her German classes opened up a whole new world of friends and possibilities for her. In the language course, she met other people in the same situation – learning German in order to get around and get by. Maritz realized she was not alone in her dilemma and that there is hope for her!
Her life took on a whole new perspective and renewed energy. All of a sudden she felt the same gush of exuberance to make it – just like when she was dead serious to make it as an entertainer. Perhaps, her earlier experiences like shedding her inhibitions and believing in herself prepared her for this challenge.
Finding renewed inspiration, she proceeded to getting a job for herself. She did not need the money to survive, but she needed to affirm herself, to legitimize her existence, and prove to herself that she can overcome these obstacles and find her happiness in that corner of the world. It was tough for her for the first year but deciding to take up German lessons and opening herself to the possibility of being employed again changed all that.
She was childless then (and now still, by choice, but that will be in the next part of this story) so there was nothing to hold her back from fulfilling her dreams, much like the same way she pursued her musical career. At first, her hubby was not so keen on her working but she persuaded him, justifying herself with the fact that they did not have children anyway, so what would she do with her time and her life?
So, after her year-long German course, she started looking for a job. Having done a lot of travelling to last a whole lifetime for only two years, and having a degree in Business Administration – Accounting, it was only natural for her to drift into the travel industry. When she got employed as a Bookkeeper in a travel agency, it was all systems go for Maritz. Her interview lasted only ten minutes and when she was said that she could start the next day, she was the happiest girl in the whole wide world.
At first, she was confined to just doing the books. If her struggles with the language proved almost overwhelming to her, they were nothing compared to the new challenges that faced her in the workplace. In Germany, she was not the little star people admired for her music anymore – she was just one of the employees. She had to learn everything by herself.
She learned to be as frank and direct as her colleagues. If she did not know something, she tried to discover it on her own, as people would frankly tell her that they got no time for her – it was not just the culture, you see. This might be shocking to Filipinos, who are always on the ready with a smile and a helping hand, particularly towards foreigners. But it is how things are in Germany and Maritz had to go along with the music.
Even on the homefront, Maritz had to come to terms with the same cultural trait. When she was still jobless, she would cook dinner for her hubby, only to be told that he was not hungry. He did not mean to hurt her – it was just plain German frankness and honesty. Tough, eh? But she married a German man she loved and she had to make those few adjustments. At first, she would just cry because of such blunt refusals and the hubby would be genuinely perplexed. Then, she learned to not “serve” him and just let him find his way to the kitchen if he was hungry. Now, it’s been reversed – it’s the hubby who serves her, he he he!
Anyway, after a year in the travel agency, she was presented by her boss with a form to fill up. She was being promoted to handle the whole Accounts and Finance Unit and the form was needed for her to be included as a signatory to company bank transactions! Not bad for someone who almost went home because she could not speak German just a few months earlier.
A month after she took on the new position, the company’s main Accountant got fired and Maritz found herself as the new Finance Officer. Another year thereafter, she started learning the reservation system and selling flights on her own initiative – though she was never expected to. Her boss noticed that and allowed her to be the Finance Officer and at the same time do sales.
Then her travels as part of her work started. It was like the dream happening all over again, only that this time, it was not her dream for her music but for travel that was coming true. She has free travel or familiarization trips and add to that her private holidays with her husband, we have one travel-spoiled lady!
Maritz’ life is nothing short of charmed. She got her second-best job and at the same time still pursued her love for music. Yes, because while she works fulltime in the travel industry, she sings on the side as well. Didn’t I mention that? But, oh! that will be for next time, ok?




























