Father went voluntarily to Berlin to work at the AEG factory

The author recounts a family history shaped by the tumultuous events of the mid-20th century, beginning with the father's decision to work in Berlin in 1941. Initially, his ambition was England, driven by a desire to learn the language, but the wartime occupation made this impossible. Germany, with its less demanding language requirements, became the alternative, leading him to a position at the AEG Transformer Factory.

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My father, enterprising and flexible, wanted to go to England; for English he had the highest hbs grade. But the occupation made that impossible. Then, in 1941, to the country with the lowest hbs grade language. Fine work at AEG Transformatorenfabrik in Berlin, plus a good time.

His mother, who hailed from a family of barge operators, found Berlin offered a more vibrant life than her previous existence on a cargo boat. Practical and possessing a keen intelligence, she was also proud of her German heritage, which made her eventual relationship with a "foreigner" notable. Her decision to join her husband in Berlin was influenced by the city's perceived dynamism.

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My mother did not want to keep wasting her life on a cargo boat on the Oder. And 'life', that was in Berlin.

Following the war's end and the confiscation of her family's barge by Russian forces, the father took on a new role. He found employment through a street advertisement with the Dutch Red Cross, tasked with repatriating Dutch citizens from Berlin. This work, which he undertook voluntarily, was a stark contrast to his earlier move to "enemy" territory. Even after the Ministry of Defense took over the repatriation efforts, he remained in Berlin.

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My father acted as captain – (step)father now deceased – and left the boat last in sight of the melting furnaces (Rostock).

The couple married in 1946, after which his mother became a Dutch citizen. They secured a spacious apartment in Berlin, supported by his decent post-war income. Their daughter, the author, was born in 1949. The family's life took a turn in 1951 when the father joined the Consular Service, beginning a period of frequent transfers. Their postings included Düsseldorf, Vienna, Moscow, Helsinki, and Zurich, allowing the father to fulfill his desire for adventure and the mother to utilize her organizational talents in diplomatic circles. The author, initially German, became a Dutch citizen in 1974 and now identifies as a "self-proclaimed European."

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So father finally got his adventure, and mother the chance to showcase her organizational talent.