Food

I would like to dedicate this entry to German food. Now being here only a week, I am nowhere near a German cuisine connoisseur, but I would like to share my opinions and experiences. I really need to get out of the American food mindset, as in I really shouldn't assume that all grapes are seedless and that food I buy at the grocery store must have directions on them.


I bought some wurst at the store. Or what I thought was wurst. I don't know. All I know is that when I pan cooked it on my stove, it ended up smelling like piss. I did attempt it again with a better looking package of bratwurst and it came out much better. The trip to the grocery store was much better than last weeks disaster! No one rushed me at the check out, I was able to rent a shopping cart, and I stocked up for the week and only paid 13 Euro (about $18 USD). Which seemed very reasonable to me, I'm not quite sure if the food is cheaper or if I am just as savvy in Berlin.


By the uber touristy Checkpoint Charlie is (of all things) a McDonalds. Not just any McDonalds, but the fanciest McDonalds I have ever seen. What makes this McDonalds fancy? Well, I regret not taking a picture, but its probably the cleanest, newest, and most high tech McDonalds I've ever seen, complete with touch screen DIY order machines. Not to mention the fancy European themed menu with its Magnum McFlurries and gourmet chicken nuggets. It was so fancy that I felt it was my right as an American to take a giant wad of napkins for my use in my apartment.


But checking out the menus and grocery stores it seems that pasta, pizza, beer, and currywurst is extremely cheap. Beer is cheaper than water. Also, due to the large Turkish population, Doner Kebap is a form of German "fast food", which I have yet to try. I love all the wurst I have tried! Unless you go to touristy areas, it is hard to find a good burger, steak, etc. And I have seen a lot of Asian food here - especially restaurants that combing different types of Asian food (Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese). 


Sadly, I still don't have much of a taste for beer, even German beer. Patrick talked me into trying a mixture of 7Up and beer, which still tasted like pure beer to me. Although I did try lemonade and malt, which I really liked. Maybe I will find a German beer that I actually like...


I definitely want to try as many different types of food and drinks as I can. This week I started my classes which was very exciting for me! I only have one class left tomorrow morning and then I'm done for the week :]

Pictures!

Finally I uploaded all of my pictures so far onto my laptop and I would love to show all of them on this blog, but it would probably get real old real fast. Mainly because there aren't a whole lot of pictures with me in them and most of them are of Berlin's historical buildings. So I think I might upload all of them to a facebook album. Then again, that sounds like a lot of work. Enjoy these for now!

 An Eis Cafe - its a mix between gelato and ice cream

 This is my couch/bed. Notice the ridiculously sagging pillow.

 This is my friend Michelle on our boat tour of River Spree.

 The "Polizei" who greeted me at the train station

 In front of Berliner Dom

 In Sachsenhausen, this sign essentially means a shot will be immediately fired with no warning. This surrounded the concentration camp

 Entrance to Sachsenhausen

In front of Humboldt University (the university Patrick is studying at) in my dorky headphones.

One Week

So it has been one week since I took off from Los Angeles to Berlin and it has been so awesome. I forgot to mention yesterday that I had gone to the concentration camp of Sachsenhausen, just north of Berin in Orianenburg. I had only been to one concentration camp before, Dachau - in southern Germany, and it is definitely an experience. This camp was a little different in that it had been occupied by the Soviets for a few years after the fall of Hitler and there had been quite a few renovations and a good amount of buildings no longer standing. It was also a little eerie in that when we went, there was a relatively small amount of visitors to the site and the weather was cold and breezy. At times, it just seemed a little bit creepy there but it's something I recommend that everyone does in their lifetime.


Today, I was lucky enough to have my program plan a walking tour of historical aspects of Berlin. We walked for about 3 and 1/2 hours all over Berlin and saw nearly all of Berlin's main sights. Now I have a better idea of what I would like to spend more time visiting and it was nice to get a better overview of Berlin's history.


Although I did freak out a little bit today when I was on my way to my tour. I had to catch a train connection at Potsdamer Platz and I noticed at that station that there were no trains going in the direction of Brandenburger Tor (the Brandenburg Gate). I knew it was actually pretty close and I knew which direction it was in, so I decided to walk on over. As I was going on the escalator up, I noticed that there were two polizei (German police) standing at the top of the stairs, staring me down. They also happened to be in full riot gear. They preceded to ask me where I was going and what I was doing. After explaining I was on the way to my tour, they told me to go to the top of the stairs and fill out a form. When I got to street level, I was met by 2 dozen other polizei, also in full riot gear. They went through the same set of questions and luckily,  decided to escort me out of the barricade. I didn't find out until later that they were just on scene to watch over a protest, but it was a little scary!


Tomorrow I have my first day of class, but I actually get to do an interview to help determine which section I am going to be in for my German language course. I just want to be able to complete the 201 level that will fulfill my requirements for German language back at Chapman. I think that being in Germany one week has already greatly improved my German, but wish me luck!


I'm going to upload all my pictures I have taken so far (hopefully) tomorrow, so I'll try and post those on here soon.

Settled in Berlin

What a week it has been!


I haven't had any time to sit down and write in my blog, since I have been settling into my apartment, going through orientation for my program, and setting up my internet. I love my apartment! It's a perfect size and fully furnished. The only things missing? Toilet paper, paper towels, towels for showering, internet, and food. All of which are pretty essential. I learned the hard way that being tired and hungry with no food in my apartment is not a good situation to go looking for internet and a pre-paid SIM card for my cell phone.


Another thing that is difficult to find in Berlin - a good, firm pillow. The pillows here are so mushy and unsleepable. And I'm not even picky about my pillows. But if I can't get a good nights sleep, I am not a happy camper.


Exploring Berlin has been so much fun and a little tricky finding the right places for everything. I searched far and wide for a store that had pillows and towels that were good quality at a decent price, with absolutely no luck. All it took was Patrick to suggest going to Kaufhaus Galeria, a gigantic department store that has everything at very good prices. I was also able to go on a boat tour on the River Spree which runs through Berlin. It was so nice because I got to see many of the city's sights without walking all over: the Berliner Dom, the Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Berlin's main train station), the TV tower in Berlin (which is said to be the Pope's revenge on East Germany due to the cross of light the sun makes it during the day), O2 stadium, and so much more! I'm still a little jetlagged, but I feel like I'm transitioning well. I am also proud to say that I'm mastering the art of public transportation which is so useful in Berlin, everyone uses all the forms of public transportation (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and regular street buses) all the time.


It definitely feels surreal being here but I'm very excited and happy to be here! I'm learning the art of utilizing public resources such as taking napkins from McDonalds and learning to think more carefully about what I buy at the grocery store. Another frustrating thing about the grocery stores here is that if you want to use a cart, you have to deposit 3 Euros (I think thats the amount) and if you don't have it, then you're only buying what you can carry. I learned that the hard way. And they really rush you out of there! Never have I been more thankful for free carts, pleasant cashiers, and my car in the parking lot that carries my groceries home.

The day before take off...

I am beyond excited now to leave! It seemed like the bad things happened right before I left, but after a couple of slight meltdowns, I realized that everything is going to be okay. I had an awesome going away party where I got to say goodbye to my family and a few close friends, I'm really thankful for the amazing people that are in my life. I got a couple of going away presents which I very much appreciated, such as my Princess coloring book, complete with crayons. Thanks Laurie!

When I did my final weigh in of my suitcase, I was 1 pound over the maximum limit. So I had to rifle through and take out things I thought were unnecessary, I have to say it was a little difficult. Fitting my life for 4 months into 1 suitcase seems strange to me, but I can't wait!


Tomorrow morning, my flight is taking off from LAX and I have 2 layovers in Chicago and London before I arrive in Berlin on Monday morning. I'm praying for a safe flight and no delays!

Packing

Finally I was able to get packing and start actually putting things INTO my suitcase, not just thinking about it. I found these amazing bags at Target that are airtight and you don't need a vacuum, you just roll them. I know they sound like regular Ziploc bags, but they're honestly so much better! I put nearly all of my clothes into 4 bags and I have so much room in my suitcase...too bad they don't make my suitcase weigh lighter! Good thing I'm solidly under the maximum weight limit for my suitcase. 


It's a little difficult to put everything I need for 4 months into a 51 lbs. suitcase, but it's looking pretty good so far. I have only 2 more days until I take off!

Ready yet? Nope.

I'm definitely still in the packing stage, as in I have no idea how to narrow down my choices for clothes. Why is this such a difficult decision for me? It's not like I want to bring my entire wardrobe but I do love to plan ahead and be prepared for anything. Also the fact that the weather is much colder than sunny and warm southern California is a little frightening to me. Almost one week until I take off!

2 Weeks

In exactly 2 weeks, I will be on my flight to London, ultimately Berlin, somewhere over the East coast of the United States. Time seems to have gone by so quickly but I am beyond excited.


I must say that I do have somewhat of an addiction to accents. As in I love to hear people speak in accents as well as practicing them myself. By far, my favorite accents are Southern (US), British, and Russian. The sole reason behind my liking of Russian accents is the movie Despicable Me. British accent inspiration? Probably mainly Harry Potter.


Now I do know that there are a variety of accents in the United States, but I feel that when I go to Europe, there will be even MORE accents than there are here and there will more than likely be such different dialogue and slang. Probably even more exciting that I will be going somewhere that I will be the one with an accent who talks funny.


All in all, I feel the continent of Europe has a lot to offer me in the accent department.


I am researching other places I would like to travel to, besides Germany. My boyfriend, Patrick suggested we go to the country of Monaco, where Jay-Z and Beyonce vacation. I did have to remind him that we are quite the opposite of Jay-Z and Beyonce, especially since we are the most naturally pale couple I know. I'm thinking that in England and Ireland we will fit right in.

The Beginning

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too closely to the shore.


Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.


Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.


We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
--
Sir Francis Drake


In 16 days, I will be leaving California behind and spending a semester abroad in Berlin, Germany. This prayer could not have more perfectly described all my hopes for this adventure abroad and this adventure that is life. I first saw this prayer painted on the walls of one of my classrooms in high school and was immediately drawn to it. Granted, it was the chemistry room. Science is definitely not my forte.


I must admit to being guilty of playing it safe in life, sailing too closely to the shore. Being allowed this amazing opportunity is both ridiculously exciting and somewhat terrifying. This is my chance to venture on wider seas and open my eyes to God's great wonders that He has in store for me. Greater than the fear of being 5,800 miles away from home for 4 months in a foreign country, is my fear of dreaming too little.


With that said, this is my documentation of my life for the next 4 months. Feel free to love it or hate it -- either way, I will still be living my life.