When I travelled through Germany for two weeks earlier this month I realised how international my life has become since moving to London.

Firstly there is the city itself. Around 300 different languages are spoken in London and my colleagues come from places such as South Africa, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ireland and Portugal. Want to buy coriander? Yams? Ginger? No problem, just pop into one of the small shops.

In this international, transient city being a foreigner is normal. Language is a tool.

Living in the biggest city of Europe also means that travelling is easy - there are so many connections to everywhere in the world from five airports, countless train stations and bus terminals that making the choice is difficult and not getting places. In September a friend and I hopped on the train to Paris. 2 hours 20 minutes.

Just a bit longer than travelling on the south circular from London's east to the west. The perception of travelling times and what is a long and a shot journey changes when you live in London. 30 minutes away is basically round the corner. 45-60 minutes is an average journey.

A flight to north Germany takes an hour. A train journey to the south three or four hours. The distances seem much shorter now than they did when I lived in Germany.

London has also become a bit more international since I am here. My colleagues are now very fond of German sweets. And cake. One colleague went as far as saying she'd move to Germany, just for the sweets. Another one wants toothpaste. Who would have thought that sweets and toothpaste become subjects of international interest? And of course it works both ways with friends in Germany hoping for their now favourite tea or cookies or bibs (yes, British bibs are different to German bibs!) in my luggage. Who would have thought!