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.