'I would walk down the street smiling and feeling overwhelmed by happiness. I thought I was extremely lucky to live in this cool city,' says Effie Wu of her first two years in Berlin.
For the 37-year-old multimedia artist from Taiwan, the German capital is 'cool' because she feels it accepts her offbeat style - Wu makes self-portrait videos showing her in off-the-wall outfits and moving in odd ways.
'I've been told by my Taiwanese friends I look awkward and lose face because I hum all the time and take my suitcase to the supermarket. They think I'm strange but I don't care. In Berlin, I can do whatever I want; in Taiwan, I'm cast as a weirdo.'
Perhaps not surprisingly, Wu has rarely returned to Taiwan since leaving 11 years ago, after finishing university.
Wu moved to Florence because a fortune-teller in Taipei told her she should go to Italy as soon as possible. No reason was given but, being superstitious, Wu left. Her family was shocked but gave her financial support regardless. She began to learn Italian then moved to Milan, to study fashion, but soon realised she 'hates fashion, a lot'.
The future seemed uncertain for Wu - until she visited Berlin in 2000 with her German boyfriend.
'I fell in love with Berlin right away. Whereas cities like Florence are set in their ways and have little room for change, Berlin is full of energy and gives me a sense of future and hope. It's my kind of city,' she says.