Posts

Not One Of "Them"

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 Nine years ago, I landed in Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands half excited (to finally reunite with my father) and half scared to death about what life could be in this alien country. It was a rocky start but I tried doing everything "right." I mastered the G’s and the rolling R’s of the Dutch language. After 5 years, I handed over my Ghanaian passport for a Dutch one, thinking a piece of paper would be my golden ticket to belonging or acceptance. Yes I was legally Dutch but socially I remained that "African immigrant" not even Ghanaian! I spent years practicing the art of being invisible. I made myself small, kept my voice quiet, I apologised even when I wasn't wrong, accepted being treated like dirt and tried to fade into the background. I thought if I could at least mirrored the status quo perfectly, try to sound more Dutch, the "otherness" would eventually evaporate. The Bitter Realization But here is the truth we were never told about in integrat...

The Exhaustion of Being "Clear" and Still Not Heard

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“I don’t know how else to say this.” It’s a sentence that has become my mantra lately. I’ve said it to my partner many times, with a shaky voice and teary eyes in meetings at work and even it to friends and family over disagreements.  I take my thoughts, peel away the complexity, and present them in the simplest, most honest and respectful way I can—and yet, the message hits a wall every single time. The Problem with "Perspective" We live in a world obsessed with "fixing." The moment you speak your truth, people start digging through their mental toolbox. They want to give you "perspective." They want to point out where you went wrong, how you could have handled it better, or why your reaction is "disproportional." But here’s the thing: while they are busy analyzing my "mistakes," they are completely stepping over the actual problem. It’s like pointing at a house on fire and having someone tell you "they should have used a differen...

Is This Berlin's Best-Kept Secret? A Day of Exploring Brandenburg and Potsdam

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Brandenburg and Potsdam aren’t usually the first places that come to mind when planning a trip to Germany, but trust me, they should be! From enchanting city center to the red-brick buildings, grand palaces to designer districts, my day trip was packed with surprises, history, and an authentic taste of local life. Brandenburg’s Forest Pugs and Slavic Village My adventure began in Brandenburg, a place often overshadowed by its bigger neighbor, Berlin. But what a hidden treasure it is! I ventured out for one main reason—the forest pugs . If you thought sculptures had to be grand and imposing, think again! Brandenburg an der Havel has an unexpected surprise—life-sized forest pug statues hidden across the city. Ever heard of Loriot ? The beloved German humorist introduced the world to the forest pug in his 1972 TV sketch Tierstunde – Der wilde Waldmops ( Animal Hour – The Wild Forest Pug ). The sketch satirically explores pug breeding, claiming that these dogs were once large and elk...

A Name, A Concept, A Way of Life

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H ave you ever felt like you had to shrink yourself to fit into a space that wasn’t built for all of you? Like you had to choose between different sides of yourself just to be understood? I have. And that’s exactly why 2gerda was born. At first glance, it may seem like just a name—a creative mash-up of my birthdate, the first three letters of my first name, and the first two of my last name. But 2gerda is so much more than that. It’s a reflection of my identity, my beliefs, and the way I choose to exist in this world. A Wordplay on Unity & Wholeness Say 2gerda out loud. Notice how it sounds like together ? That’s no coincidence. This name is a deliberate wordplay—a fusion of unity, connection, and the refusal to leave any part of myself behind. I didn’t just want a brand name. I wanted a concept that represents everything I stand for. In a world that often pushes people into neat little boxes, 2gerda is my way of breaking free. It’s a reminder that I don’t have to be just o...

Lemons. Lemonade. Legacy.

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Hello & Welcome! I’m Gertrude Otupiri Darko . If you knew me growing up, you might recognize me as Trudy, Rudy, Gert, Gerty, Geertruida, or even Gertruudie (shoutout to those who gracefully and boldly ruined my name!). But, I prefer Dat_afrikaans.kindje Gertrude Darko . Born and raised in the vibrant heart of Accra, Ghana, I made the big move to the Netherlands in 2017—and what a journey it has been! A Dream Fueled by Wanderlust Growing up, I have always being in love with the idea of that travel and discovery. The thrill of experiencing different cultures, cuisines, and traditions has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. That passion led me to study Culinary and later Travel and Hospitality Management (Tourism & Marketing). My goal has always been simple: to explore the world and help others do the same. A Rocky Road in Dutch Tourism Moving to the Netherlands wasn’t all smooth sailing. Breaking into the tourism industry here was harder than I expected. Finding intern...