Last Post of 2011

I'm pretty sure its the last one. And I realized that I have some more pictures I need to upload that I took of my last day in Berlin. Being home is definitely not as exciting as being in Berlin, but I love being home. Another thing I realized is that I actually really enjoy blogging, so that might be one of my New Years resolutions. 


Having 2011 come to a close, my life has shifted. Shifting for the better. Definitely. Looking back on 2011, I regret nothing. Everything that happened -- I'm glad it did. Gaining a new perspective helped me to become happier and made me realize that I have no idea what I want to do with my life. But I do know that whatever I do, I want to be happy. Sounds like a good plan to me. See you next year :]

Final Thoughts

To say that this entire semester was a learning experience would be a vast understatement. When I started this blog, my goal for the semester was to be put out of my comfort zone and explore what the world has to offer. On the one hand, I’ve traveled all across Europe and seen unbelievable places and met amazing people. On the other hand, I have been shoved out of my comfort zone in more ways than one. The ways I had imagines being put outside of my comfort zone greatly differed from what actually happened this semester. But when do we ever get what we expected? Life is so unexpected and if there is one thing that I learned, it is that I need to simply realize that everything will work out and I should just be happy. In no way to I regret anything that happened these past 4 months and if I had a chance for a redo, I would choose everything to happen the same exact way. All the good and definitely, all the bad. Something that I am proud of is deflecting negativity from my life and purposefully choosing to just be happy. In a way, I feel like life kicked my ass to see if I would give up or let it get me down. If that was a test, then I feel like I have passed with flying colors. Despite being in a foreign country and far away from many loved ones, I have never felt more happier. I honestly believe that this happiness comes from my personal growth over these 4 months and accepting life’s challenge as they come. When will everything be exactly as we expected or even hoped? Never. When will everything go exactly as planned? Not gonna happen.

Aside from major life lessons, there are a few things that I happened to pick up along the way. Swan Lake is not the Nutcracker and in fact, has nothing to do with Christmas. McDonalds in Europe is where all the cool kids hang out. Also, when in doubt, McDonalds will always have a clean, free bathroom. It is easy to spend hours at a café or restaurant – most likely, they expect you to. You will always have to ask for the bill because the waiter will never want to rush you. Scarves are accessories in southern California, but necessities in Berlin. Mittens and wool socks probably saved my life this semester. There’s nothing worse than seeing your train/bus leave right as you arrive at the stop – its always a good idea to just run for it. Despite that Germans are dead silent on trains and buses during the day, theyre they best places to meet them at night, when they’re loud and rowdy. Germans and other Europeans are more conservative in their smiles and I realized that I smile a lot. Thank you and I’m sorry were my key phrases in all the different countries I visited. More often than not, people are willing to help you out. More often than not, people want to have a conversation with you. My trusty boots will always earn me a friendly patdown in airports. Foregoing studying for finals for a few hours to see Michael Buble perform live, up close, will probably be one of my greatest decisions yet. My mind is still blown that I have literally crossed the Berlin Wall so many times over the past few months. Time goes by so much quicker when you have a friend next to you on the bus. Starting in October, I dreaded every time I saw a single decker X83 bus because I knew it usually meant cozily squishing together will all my classmates and other FU students. I don’t understand Germany’s declining birthrate….I see nothing but babies. Everywhere I go, there is always a crying baby following me. When contemplating whether or not you should go on an adventure…always do it. Always take a million pictures or make friends that take a million pictures. Not to sound too cheesy, but kindness is a language that everyone understands. Many German stores are closed on Sundays, so stock up on food before then. Meeting up with friends and family across Europe can give you a little piece of home. Pierogi is probably one of the best dishes I’ve ever eaten. Fall in Poland is gorgeous. The beaches in Ibiza are shockingly beautiful, although I could do without the topless/nude bathing. I could probably spend a lifetime in italy. Never will I forget that my first glass of red wine was sitting next to the Duomo in Florence. Paris wouldn’t be complete without climbing the Eiffel Tower, seeing it glitter, and eating sugar crepes. Neither would London without sipping tea at Harrods. Vienna is a city filled with beautiful Christmas lights and my best friend. I don’t think Christmas will ever be the same without the Berlin Weihnachtsmarkte. Berlin is a crazy and incredible city that I never expected to fall in love with, but now I can say that it feels like home. I need to learn some more adjectives besides beautiful and amazing, but I don’t know how else to describe everything I’ve seen!


Today is my last full day here in Berlin and I'm doing all the things I haven't gotten a chance to do and trying to make the most of it. I will try to get in a goodbye post (maybe free wifi in the airport?), but if not -- then I will be seeing all of you soon! Auf Wiedersehen!

Pouring it at just the right angle..

Graves of the Grimm Brothers

Hofbrauhaus

Cheesy shirt collection!

Schwanensee - Swan Lake Ballet

Farewell Dinner with my favorite prof

I love these girls!

Sarah's taking over the world

City of Lights

As I’m writing this blog on the 10 hour train ride from Vienna to Berlin, I can’t help but think what a perfect way to end my semester abroad than with Sally in Vienna. Not only did I get to see all of Vienna’s sights, but I got to just relax and spend time with Sally, which for sure kept me sane these past few days. It’s honestly a bittersweet feeling in that I want to be home in California, to what I know and all my friends and family. But at the same time, I don’t want to leave because it feels like this is my home here and Berlin holds a special place in my heart. Vienna was the perfect place to go right before heading back to California, especially since they speak German!

I was pleasantly surprised when Vienna was slightly warmer than Berlin, I didn’t even need my wool socks or mittens! Visiting Schonbruss, I could still see how magnificent and pretty it was despite the missing greenery and flowers. Since most of Vienna was kept intact during WWII, it was cool to see all of the preserved architecture. It just have you the feeling of living in a different time. To me, Vienna has the sophistication of Paris but it just seems nicer and more relaxed. The Weihnachtsmarkt were interesting to visit because they were definitely more decorated and more religious than the ones I have seen in Berlin.

Hands down, the lights in Vienna are the most amazing ones I’ve ever seen. They were all over the city and so elaborately decorated. I can only imagine what they citys electric bill must look like. There were lights in the shapes of hearts, snowmen, starts, huge chandeliers, glitter, and lights that literally looked like falling starts. Every street in the city center was filled with these beautiful lights.


The Schnitzel and Cordon Bleu were soo good but nothing compares to watching Bridesmaids with Sally!

Schloss Schoenbrunn

Cool light projections inside St. Stephen's Cathedral

In the city center of Vienna

Amazing lights. And Sally Rudi.

Vienna Rathaus

Vienna!

So I have been in Vienna since Saturday night after a long train ride that took up pretty much all of Saturday. Next time, I probably should have set multiple alarms in the morning to ensure I wouldn't be rushing to the train station. Lesson learned.


Vienna is such a beautiful and relaxed city, but the favorite part about this trip is spending time with Sally. Nothing feels closer to home than watching Bridesmaids next to this amazing girl. And I get to spend another day and a half with her before I take another unfortunately long train ride back to Berlin, pack up all my stuff, and squeeze in all the last minute things I want to see and do. And my 21st birthday is in 11 days...this feels so weird! I have kind of forgotten that my birthday is so soon, but I'm definitely excited that I will be 21 in the United States!


I will definitely get in one last post before I take off from Berlin on Friday morning :]

1 week left!

It's unreal knowing that in exactly 1 week, I will be on a flight home to California. Where did the time go? Today was a little sad, since most of my close friends left today to go back home and I am still here for another week. But the great thing is that I get to see Sally tomorrow and spend 3 days with her in Vienna. I am unbelievably lucky to be able to spend time with my best friend and stay with her in Vienna -- especially since she's going to be my own personal tour guide. After finishing up finals, it was nice to celebrate with all my friends and see a little bit more of Berlin. Last night was our program's goodbye dinner - it was hard to say some goodbyes!


Hopefully I will get to squeeze in another post before my flight back home next Friday!


I was trying to post this on Friday before I left for Vienna but the internet definitely did not want to cooperate and load the pictures I wanted to put in here...

Best study break EVER

Yesterday morning I had a final and then I was planning to study in Starbucks for the rest of the day. That plan went partially out of the window when I found out that Michael Bublé was performing Christmas songs at the Gendarmenmarkt Weihnachtsmarkt. 


It. was. amazing. Seriously, I can't explain my emotions other than joyous. Pure Christmas joy. And the fact that I was ridiculously close to him just made me wonder, is this real? This doesn't feel like real life. 

Michael Bublé

At the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church Weihnachtsmarkt

Ku'Damm

Attempting a picture

Blurry but cute at the medieval Weihnachtsmarkt in Spandau

Gendarmenmarkt Weihnachtsmarkt

Here are some more pictures from the Weihnachtsmarkt - they are literally irresistible! Only one more final stands in the way of my week. Tonight? I'm going to see the ballet Swan Lake. And only 4 more days until I'm in Vienna with Sally!

My day just got a million times better.

Even though I'm in the middle of my finals (1 down, 2 to go!) - I just found out that Michael Buble is performing at a Christmas market here in Berlin for free. Skipping on studying for a few hours to go see Michael Buble...so worth it. And I managed to upload a couple more videos, hopefully they work?

Inside the Colosseum

Vatican City

Study break!

I was trying to upload more videos but they were taking too long, so I decided to upload some more pictures. I have my Transatlantic Relations final tomorrow, so I'm studying for that. I have another final on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then I'm done! Michelle and I are planning a bakery hopping day on Thursday where we hit up all the best bakeries in Berlin and making a stop at the Hofbrauhaus.

Thanksgiving beers in the airport? Ja, bitte!

In front of the Schloss Charlottenburg

Please make note of my bare feet -- I'm not freezing all the time anymore!

Attempting to upload some videos...

At a beautiful beach in Ibiza, Spain

At the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy

On top of Mount Vesuvius near Naples, Italy

Please excuse my narrations! And uploading videos is taking a lot longer than I thought it would, so those are the only videos I will post right now. 

Why Weihnachtmärkte are the greatest things in the world

1. Germans go all out with decorating these markets. They make sure to include every small, intricate detail to make it look amazing. All the lights and decorations? Absolutely amazing.

Weihnachtsmarkt at Schloss Charlottenburg

2. There are so many delicious drinks! My new favorite drink might be Baileys in hot chocolate. No wait, it's a tie with Glühwein. And they serve it to you in these precious cups that you can keep (as long as you don't want your security deposit back). Perfect souvenirs!

Delicious hot chocolate in my cute cup!

3. All the shopping is amazing! There are so many vendors that have handmade jewelry, decorations, ornaments, toys, clothes, accessories -- and some of these things are incredibly detailed and beautiful. When I walk through these booths, I literally want to buy everything.

I may or may not have gotten a present here...

Some outdoor stalls selling wonderful German goodness

4. I'm surprised at how authentic everything is. It's pretty cool to see them brewing your Glühwein right in front of you while listening to a band play Christmas music and talking to a vendor who hand carved all their ornaments.

Brewing up some Glühwein

5. FOOD. Can I just pick up a German Christmas market and transport it to California with all of its food? I definitely had a gigantic chocolate covered pretzel. That's right, I said a chocolate covered pretzel. so good. And I got to sample some very expensive chocolate covered Lebkuchen. And there was a Polish stand selling pierogi and the lady thought it was very entertaining when my friend and I freaked out when we saw it. Any type of German cuisine is there from pretzels, cheese, sausages, roasted nuts, candy, chocolate, cookies, and cakes. 

My big chocolate covered pretzel

My mission is to hit up as many of these markets as possible!

Thanksgiving in London

That's kind of a lie. Technically, my Thanksgiving dinner was a beer, burger, and fries in the Berlin airport. But I did get to spend some time in the airport with Michelle and Danielle before they left for Switzerland, so that was nice! After trekking it from Luton airport and King's Cross, I finally made it to my friend Jillian's flat in East London.


Hyde Park & Kensington Park - After picking up a map, I decided to see London from West to East, starting with Kensington Park. It was so beautiful! Kensington Palace was under construction, so I couldn't go in, but the gardens outside were so pretty and peaceful.

Kensington Palace

They came right up to me!

Harrods

Harrods - This place is fancy. Real fancy. I definitely had my pinkies out when I was sipping tea in the Harrods Tea Room. And the scones were absolutely delicious! I honestly don't know how we call those things scones in America. When I saw a sign that pointed to Christmas World, I immediately thought "Yes. Take me to Christmas World!" It was the most decorative Christmas section I have ever seen - each part of the floor had a theme like candy cane, traditional, winter wonderland, etc. It made me so excited for Christmas! And outside, the window displays had these gorgeous Swarovski gowns that were something like 25,000 pounds.

Christmas World

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Having my cuppa tea in Harrods

Buckingham Palace - Definitely not as big as I thought it was, but still cool! I think the Queen was in, but no sighting!

Buckingham Palace

Parliament Square, Big Ben, & Westminster Abbey - I have seen pictures of Big Ben, but nothing compares to seeing the real thing. The area surrounding the Houses of Parliament were very busy and there was a ton of tourists. I loved Westminster Abbey and I wish I could have spent some more time there!

Big Ben and the London Eye in the background

Westminster Abbey

Tower Bridge at night

Thank goodness the Brits had a Chipotle!

Going to Hogwarts!