Survey says Raleigh's staying for summer!
Life couldn't be better, I'm in Berlin, I've a great year ahead here and in Morocco, my mom and her boyfriend are here to visit, and the sun was out today! That sneaky SOB.
The moment of truth arrived. My host mother had penciled my family in for brunch this morning (10:00 to 12:00). My phone wasn't working so at 9:45 my parents began to ring every doorbell in the flat complex (mm, making friends) until she found us. My parents arrived and pretended like I hadn't snuck them in the day before for a tour. Anna (the hosty) has gorgeous bouquets of tulips around the house in preparation for them, and had prepared a gorgeous feast. To prove her tight, pink, child-leash that she has on my barbaric etiquette she taught me how to serve bread (oh, the things I'm learning) to my parents. I deserve a cookie at the end of the semester is all I can say...
I've found that my default for conversation is politics. We had a hearty bout of conversation regarding the Turkish immigration issue and the building of mosques in democratic states. We then turned to planning what my parents are going to be up to whilst I write a paper today!
It's begun to feel as if I'm actually back at school. Which is good. Tomorrow's my birthday and I'm still figuring out how I want to spend it! My host mother is adorable and wants to give me a "traditional German birthday." Ee! Wednesday is when it'll be held because school interferes with the actual date. I told my friend Kristina that and she told me that a "traditional" German birthday meant that the birthday girl pays for the guests. My host mother was trying to trick me!! Then I realized that she earnestly did want to have some of my friends over for dinner. She's a sweetheart, she really is. Aside from idiosyncrasies, she has some great life philosophies. I apologize for the bad poetry which erupted from the previous line.
Speaking of bad poetry, one of the FU-Best assistants here is named Stephan. His accent is so flawless that he sounds like an American. Stephan, Kirk, Kristina, Danielle, Leon, and I ended up (don't ask me how) in Kreuzberg sledding with three Germans who spoke English at 4:30 the other morning because my friend Kirk's host brother arrived with a small sled. Stephan was complaining about a hole in his shoe after trudging up the hill. He said that he had a "hole in his sole," the German translation for which I don't remember, but sounds like "Locked in the Cellar." He said it in English and demanded a transliteration without a poetic nuance. He was disappointed and refused to believe that Americans just say "there's a hole in the bottom of my shoe." This is the man who also referred (with a great knowledge of what he was saying) to "sledding" as "slutting." He's a funny guy and was nice enough to walk me home because he lives nearby and after the U-Bahns no longer run on weeknights I had no idea where I was. Three hours of sleep then off to an excursion!
The next morning we had a tour of a Stasi prison complex and I went to a Salvador Dali exhibit featuring some series following: Isolde, Cervantes, Dante Alighieri, and what appeared to be something tantamount to Comedia dell'arte. It was one of the best, if not the best, galleries to which I've ever been.
Lange Nacht Die Museums was last night and I was able to go with my family! Over 100 museums are open until the wee hours of the morning for a single ticket purchase! The Deutsches Historisches Museum was one of my favorite although I unfortunately haven't made it to the Judisches Museum yet.
Well, I'm off to go perform my monthly exercisement of judgement and begin a paper!
Bis nachste Woche! I'm off tomorrow to go celebrate my twenty years of survival!
Raleigh
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
25.01.2010 The sun has found Berlin!
Whew! It's been a marathon week since I've last updated! Friday morning we had a trip to the Bundeskanzlerin (think the white house of Germany). Top of my A-game just as I've been since I've arrived here, I neglected to bring my passport. However, this is not the United States and I entered this top security institution with my Arizona driver's license.
The Bundeskanzlerin was rather interesting. Looking out the window from it is the German Parliament and a Spanish sculpture that was donated. Quite literally, no one is sure what the sculpture is supposed to be. No - one- knows. Conjectures range from a hand shake to a gate bursting open.
Inside are a series of different colored walls. The colorings were chosen by an artist who used medieval charts to project meanings: i.e. deep red signifying valor, ...etc. Which I found very interesting! And no, the welcome statue is not modeled after Angela Merkel.
Ever chancellor gets the opportunity to hire their favorite artist at the end of their term to do a portrait. They were not what I expected, but the majority of them I enjoyed. This was a particularly interesting one which got heat for being "unfinished," although that's why it struck me.
Council room!
Above is the press center, a new addition to German television.
"Oh, oh, what, Angela? Oh geez, I dun forgot to pay attention to what you were saying! Anywayses, I recently had an unsuccessful yardsale and need to get rid of some things. Coincidentally, I also have to give Germany a present on behalf of the United States! So, uh...here ya go!"
The present from the United States to Germany was literally a box of DVDs and CDs. Complete with "Singing in the Rain" and "The Sound of Music." While other countriest such as China give these grandiose and intricately carved gifts, George gives Germany an attic present.
A hand-carved chess set from Nelson Mandela.
Bundeskanzlerin from outside!
I forgot to mention that New York is actually only a five minute walk outside of the Hauptbahnhof S-Bahn station.
The Bundeskanzlerin was rather interesting. Looking out the window from it is the German Parliament and a Spanish sculpture that was donated. Quite literally, no one is sure what the sculpture is supposed to be. No - one- knows. Conjectures range from a hand shake to a gate bursting open.
Inside are a series of different colored walls. The colorings were chosen by an artist who used medieval charts to project meanings: i.e. deep red signifying valor, ...etc. Which I found very interesting! And no, the welcome statue is not modeled after Angela Merkel.
Ever chancellor gets the opportunity to hire their favorite artist at the end of their term to do a portrait. They were not what I expected, but the majority of them I enjoyed. This was a particularly interesting one which got heat for being "unfinished," although that's why it struck me.
Council room!
Above is the press center, a new addition to German television.
"Oh, oh, what, Angela? Oh geez, I dun forgot to pay attention to what you were saying! Anywayses, I recently had an unsuccessful yardsale and need to get rid of some things. Coincidentally, I also have to give Germany a present on behalf of the United States! So, uh...here ya go!"
The present from the United States to Germany was literally a box of DVDs and CDs. Complete with "Singing in the Rain" and "The Sound of Music." While other countriest such as China give these grandiose and intricately carved gifts, George gives Germany an attic present.
A hand-carved chess set from Nelson Mandela.
Bundeskanzlerin from outside!
I forgot to mention that New York is actually only a five minute walk outside of the Hauptbahnhof S-Bahn station.There was this strange little food convention called Grune Woche. It was in Charlottenburg close to where I live. Hundreds of sellers set up shop to sell cheese, meat, wine, and every food imaginable.
The Pope feat. Adam made an appearance.
The park outside of my house. The snow is melting. Slowly. O so slowly...
This is actually the lake outside of my flat. You can see people going ice skating and playing on the ice. I'm curious as to when/if they know when it's not safe to do that anymore. If I had a kid, that's probably how I'd test it.
The Pope feat. Adam made an appearance.
The park outside of my house. The snow is melting. Slowly. O so slowly...
This is actually the lake outside of my flat. You can see people going ice skating and playing on the ice. I'm curious as to when/if they know when it's not safe to do that anymore. If I had a kid, that's probably how I'd test it.
Watergate, Berghain, and a small Hispanic restaurant were also visited!
Until next time! Which will definitely be in less than a week.
Raleigh
Sunday, January 17, 2010
.17.01.2010 Sick day. Sicky sick sick.
I've quite literally been in bed all day. Anna has fed me cookies up to my gills and enjoys taking care of me way too much. I'm rather enjoying my lazy day though. It's given me time to overplan what I want to do during my stay here in Berlin. I've also been planning for when my mom and Wayne visits! Fun! They're coming for my birthday! We may go to the zoo. I'm still deciding. Not because I like to see animals in small cages, but because my like of just seeing the animals outweighs that dislike. There's too much to do! I sent my mother an entire itinerary.
Highlight of my day: Spongebob in German. Although Spongebob lacks his trademark laugh, Squidward sounds like a stuffy Frenchman and the show can do no wrong in any language. Fairly Odd Parents took a close second with their title song repeating "Cosmo und Vanda, Cosmo und Vanda" over and over. The title of the show here is "Elfen Helfen" or "Elves Help." I'm sorry, Deutschland. They're fairies.
Tschuss!
Highlight of my day: Spongebob in German. Although Spongebob lacks his trademark laugh, Squidward sounds like a stuffy Frenchman and the show can do no wrong in any language. Fairly Odd Parents took a close second with their title song repeating "Cosmo und Vanda, Cosmo und Vanda" over and over. The title of the show here is "Elfen Helfen" or "Elves Help." I'm sorry, Deutschland. They're fairies.
Tschuss!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
.16.01.2010 It gets dark at 4pm here.
I'm definitely still figuring out this blog picture business, so I appreciate your lack of vocal frustration.
These are fantsatic posters in all of the metro (U-Bahn) stations here.
My friend Kristina's host family has this air freshener in their car that has a picture of Obama on it and it says, "Obama Rama." The host father speaks English and said, "I know what 'Obama' means, but what does 'Rama' mean?
In the previously mentioned host family's house is this fantastic little gadget that sits on toiletpaper rolls.
To the left is Andreas, a student named Pat's host father who is absolutely hilarious. He knows English well enough to make puns and joke about the difference between Hamas and Hummus. In the middle is Kristina's host sister Siara, and on the right is her host father Manfred (who I lovingly refer to as Manbearpig).
Glauwein!
Children are toted around on sleds all the time, it's adorable and surprising all at once!
Behold, The Turkish Market in Kreuzburg!
Cheeses sold at the market.
Eggs...sold at the market.
The Turkish Market sign! At least I believe so...
Free Willy?
The following pictures are some of my favorite exhibitions from The New Museum in East Berlin.
Here is an outlined figure ready to be cut out. You can see the marker lines the artist drew as a guide. This was particularly interesting to be having been in Egypt a few years ago.
Inside the museum.
Ee!
I particularly enjoyed this one.
Old Assyrian carvings.
It's not cold here.
Museum Island!
Pinocchio, Chris, and Kristina chillin. Puntastic!
Famous Church.
Hot dog man with an uncomfortable metal thong.
East Berlin! Alexanderplatz! It's actually just like the Vegas Stratosphere, there's a rollarcoaster at the top!
--------------------------
These are fantsatic posters in all of the metro (U-Bahn) stations here.
My friend Kristina's host family has this air freshener in their car that has a picture of Obama on it and it says, "Obama Rama." The host father speaks English and said, "I know what 'Obama' means, but what does 'Rama' mean?
In the previously mentioned host family's house is this fantastic little gadget that sits on toiletpaper rolls.
To the left is Andreas, a student named Pat's host father who is absolutely hilarious. He knows English well enough to make puns and joke about the difference between Hamas and Hummus. In the middle is Kristina's host sister Siara, and on the right is her host father Manfred (who I lovingly refer to as Manbearpig).
Glauwein!
Children are toted around on sleds all the time, it's adorable and surprising all at once!
Behold, The Turkish Market in Kreuzburg!
Cheeses sold at the market.
Eggs...sold at the market.
The Turkish Market sign! At least I believe so...
Free Willy?
The following pictures are some of my favorite exhibitions from The New Museum in East Berlin.
Here is an outlined figure ready to be cut out. You can see the marker lines the artist drew as a guide. This was particularly interesting to be having been in Egypt a few years ago.
Inside the museum.
Ee!
I particularly enjoyed this one.
Old Assyrian carvings.
It's not cold here.
Museum Island!
Pinocchio, Chris, and Kristina chillin. Puntastic!
Famous Church.
Hot dog man with an uncomfortable metal thong.
East Berlin! Alexanderplatz! It's actually just like the Vegas Stratosphere, there's a rollarcoaster at the top!
--------------------------
The people in this program come from all over the country, and, as one can imagine, range just as greatly in personality. However, I find myself unable to have a conversation at meal time that isn't political (which is absolutely fantastic albeit uneducated at times, but I myself only have a foundation for political knowledge; this is fantastic in a whole other way). Most of the people here are rather well educated and the majority of them study some form of global politics. It's a wonderful environment and I find myself constantly challenged by even my colleagues.
Although I've somewhat taken to East Berlin more than the West where I live, the entirety of the city just has this excitement. Last night was the welcome dinner for host families and students and speaking to people who had lived through the Wall's building and takedown is just another reminder of how brand new the city is. A woman who I met had actually had a sick grandfather in the East who her mother visited every other week. When the wall was about to be built her mother was crossing into the east and everyone began shouting at her to turn back but she continued. I don't and couldn't give this story justice, but it's just so powerful to actually hear people candidly speak about their lives here.
My host mother herself grew up poor in Hannover. One Christmas she received an orange as a present and was thrilled. Her family had about 12 people living with them and only had two beds so everyone slept in 8 hour shifts. It's fascinating to see where she is now (and I will post pictures of my home soon).
Overall, an invaluable experience.
My journies over the past few days have included a very touristy camera excursion to the New Museum and around the city (as you can see above).
Until later!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
.13.01.2010 I'm golden...
Stream of consciousness in my host mother: "So you broke all the electricity in your room and lied to me but I'm sick and thought it really was just the light that was broken so I dragged my 56 year old body up and down a ladder today to figure all that out? Aw, and you only have four more months here?"
When I first arrived here in Berlin my host mother told me this horror story of her very first exchange student breaking bother her freezer and dishwasher. Host students are just known for an inverse Midas touch where everything they put their American, lil hands on dies on the spot. The Raleigh is apparently not exempt from this superpower.
Yesterday I happend to try a different power converter than I had been using. I plugged it in and heard a loud pop as the lights and TV went. Now, I could have owned up to it, I could have been the bigger person than I was, and just...told her. No. Nah. Nope. I'll tell her that the lights aren't working in broken German and everything'll be peachy. Flawless plan. I'm Golden....
But now it's eight at night and I'm thinking, "I have homework...and no lights."
After paying in guilt and appologies, my host mother wrote (oh, I shall address this in a moment) to "just tell me next time dear." Only more broken English than that. It's great. Better than my German is the sad part.
I'd just like to backtrack and point out that she expects me to destroy a whole other room of electricity. Damn, she's caught onto my ploy. I wasn't going to do anything more, but now that she's given me the okay to Host-student-ize at least three more times, I believe I may have to!
I was impressed I took out an entire room.
Now I address the written note portion of this: my host mother has been sick for a week and a half. I walk in the door the other day and give a friendly, "Halo," because I saw through the window on my way in that she was here. No response, so I say it twice more (slower and louder, right? Because I'm obviously trying to be the ugly American upon whose shoulders rests the weight of the future). She hurries up to me and hands me a note. The note says, "My Doktor says I can't talk until Friday." I'm thinking, "That's because she knows I'm a lost cause and probably doesn't want you to waste your breath speaking German, Ja?" So, the past two days have been a whirlwind of...silence. She's still sweet and hurries around to get me food but we're...not speaking until Friday so-to-speak.
In all seriousness, the silence isn't bad and I've been getting home late from school this week anyways. Oh! Tonight I had hash browns with apples on them (she tried to call them something else, but I knew better), and the other night I had Cauliflower with cheese on it! Interesting as whole meals, but good, nonetheless. SEGWEY!
Thus, I end this with a question: Break? Or make better?
Also, I'm off to sreep! Gute Nacht! Enjoy this photo of my friend Aric and a bear from a death march through the snow last week!
-Ponyboy
Monday, January 11, 2010
.11.01.2010 Snow Storm in Germany
German word of the day: Probieren. Meaning: (v) To try.
As in: I walk into a Biometric passport photoshop and the owner doesn't understand why I don't Probieren to speak better German.
After almost a week of being here, my first day of classes started. I am taking three hours of German a day as well as Integration Conflict and Security in Europe, Islam and Europe: Historical and Contemporary Dimensions, and The Human Condition and the Totalitarian Experience. I'm looking forward to them all! We had a written test back in the United States, an essay in German today, and an interview in German today. Our placements will be decided on the morrow as well!
Catching up to speed (my apologies, I've been settling in): I had a traumatizing remaining leg of my travel to Berlin which demonstrated both the kindness of people and monstrosity of snow. Our flight was delayed over 6.5 hours because of the snowstorms passing through London (and undoubtedly coming to Berlin as I now feel). The flight attendants (of who I intend to write to British Airways with name specifications and notify them how outstanding of employees they have) let me use their phones. London to Berlin is definitely a roaming call. The nightmare of getting into Berlin was that neither my director nor I could get through to my host mother. Four bags, no place to stay, no real meal, or sleep in two days began to wear on me.
I now reside in Charlottenburg, a rather wealthy and interesting region in West Berlin. There's an U-Bahn station about a three minutes walk from the gorgeous gated community. My host mother's name is Anna Meissner and she is a journalist for Bild Am Sonntag, Europe's largest Sunday paper. She speaks English and is very kind and generous albeit strict. Strict in an interesting cultural way if there is such a thing. She's taken to teaching me German etiquette like it's nobody's business. She has a cat that weighs about 20lbs (a figure I have yet to calculate in the Metric system) and a daughter named Eva-Sophia who is currently studying in England (and dating her host brother over there). My host mother misses her very much and Skyped with her on my computer the other day! I am fortunate to not only have this experience but such a fantastic place to stay in great company.
Last weekend, some students (Kristina, Cadance, Christina) and I decided to venture off in East Berlin together in Alexanderplatz Friday night. The following day we had a walking death tour of East Berlin, guided by Dr. Dirk Verheyen, the director of the FU-Best Program. FU meaning Freie Universitat, not what I'm sure the majority of individuals would hope/be appalled at it to be. The tour was absolutely wonderful and I've fallen in love with East Berlin, but alas, it was a four hour walking tour in 20 degree weather. Snowing and all. My affinity for exercise still doesn't explain why my friends Chris, Adam, and I walked around Kreuzburg later that day for another 3 hours after that experience.
In Kreuzburg we explored in the young, art center along the Communist parade route. Later that night we went to Madame Claudines, a popular bar with furniture stapled to the ceiling, and Tresor, a massive club converted from a power plant.
My apologies for making this post so long, but I've been settling into Berlin! I absolutely love it here and everyday is a new experience (and challenge seeing as how I tend to get lost everywhere I go).
I also successfully navigated obtaining a cell phone here with my babyGerman!
Herzliche grusse,
Raleigh
As in: I walk into a Biometric passport photoshop and the owner doesn't understand why I don't Probieren to speak better German.
After almost a week of being here, my first day of classes started. I am taking three hours of German a day as well as Integration Conflict and Security in Europe, Islam and Europe: Historical and Contemporary Dimensions, and The Human Condition and the Totalitarian Experience. I'm looking forward to them all! We had a written test back in the United States, an essay in German today, and an interview in German today. Our placements will be decided on the morrow as well!
Catching up to speed (my apologies, I've been settling in): I had a traumatizing remaining leg of my travel to Berlin which demonstrated both the kindness of people and monstrosity of snow. Our flight was delayed over 6.5 hours because of the snowstorms passing through London (and undoubtedly coming to Berlin as I now feel). The flight attendants (of who I intend to write to British Airways with name specifications and notify them how outstanding of employees they have) let me use their phones. London to Berlin is definitely a roaming call. The nightmare of getting into Berlin was that neither my director nor I could get through to my host mother. Four bags, no place to stay, no real meal, or sleep in two days began to wear on me.
I now reside in Charlottenburg, a rather wealthy and interesting region in West Berlin. There's an U-Bahn station about a three minutes walk from the gorgeous gated community. My host mother's name is Anna Meissner and she is a journalist for Bild Am Sonntag, Europe's largest Sunday paper. She speaks English and is very kind and generous albeit strict. Strict in an interesting cultural way if there is such a thing. She's taken to teaching me German etiquette like it's nobody's business. She has a cat that weighs about 20lbs (a figure I have yet to calculate in the Metric system) and a daughter named Eva-Sophia who is currently studying in England (and dating her host brother over there). My host mother misses her very much and Skyped with her on my computer the other day! I am fortunate to not only have this experience but such a fantastic place to stay in great company.
Last weekend, some students (Kristina, Cadance, Christina) and I decided to venture off in East Berlin together in Alexanderplatz Friday night. The following day we had a walking death tour of East Berlin, guided by Dr. Dirk Verheyen, the director of the FU-Best Program. FU meaning Freie Universitat, not what I'm sure the majority of individuals would hope/be appalled at it to be. The tour was absolutely wonderful and I've fallen in love with East Berlin, but alas, it was a four hour walking tour in 20 degree weather. Snowing and all. My affinity for exercise still doesn't explain why my friends Chris, Adam, and I walked around Kreuzburg later that day for another 3 hours after that experience.
In Kreuzburg we explored in the young, art center along the Communist parade route. Later that night we went to Madame Claudines, a popular bar with furniture stapled to the ceiling, and Tresor, a massive club converted from a power plant.
My apologies for making this post so long, but I've been settling into Berlin! I absolutely love it here and everyday is a new experience (and challenge seeing as how I tend to get lost everywhere I go).
I also successfully navigated obtaining a cell phone here with my babyGerman!
Herzliche grusse,
Raleigh
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
January 6th! Transfers and arrival.
Guten morgen! Ich bin in Heathrow and have just demonstrated the extent of my German knowledge. This will be fun.
Everything's blanketed in snow and it's gorgeous although I'm currently more concerned with the keyboard configuration overseas. I apologize if I end up speaking neither German nor English.
My journies have begun, starting in Phoenix and heading to Newark, NJ. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with my grandparents and aunt in Jersey for several hours. My grandpa was excited I was coming and bought me socks! Eep! After spending the majority of the day with everyone and incurring no expenses (something no day will see from here on out), I hopped on my next leg from Newark to London.
I'm currently in the British Airways lounge thinking how strange it is that I'm now of legal drinking age. It weirded me out so all I've had is water. Although my host mother would appreciate me being trashed on top of me smelling like a cat shelter of death. On my flight here I sat next to a nice gentleman from Benin. He was rather interesting and had studied in Montreal for six years and currently works as an economist. I enjoyed picking his brain until I awoke from my plane nap and realized that I couldn't understand his accent for about fifteen minutes.
Well, I'm hoping my flight has a gate! Because in an hour I'm leaving, and sans gate, it will be a trying process (Heathrow's so backed up right now, you see).
Bis spater!
Frau Raleigh
Everything's blanketed in snow and it's gorgeous although I'm currently more concerned with the keyboard configuration overseas. I apologize if I end up speaking neither German nor English.
My journies have begun, starting in Phoenix and heading to Newark, NJ. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with my grandparents and aunt in Jersey for several hours. My grandpa was excited I was coming and bought me socks! Eep! After spending the majority of the day with everyone and incurring no expenses (something no day will see from here on out), I hopped on my next leg from Newark to London.
I'm currently in the British Airways lounge thinking how strange it is that I'm now of legal drinking age. It weirded me out so all I've had is water. Although my host mother would appreciate me being trashed on top of me smelling like a cat shelter of death. On my flight here I sat next to a nice gentleman from Benin. He was rather interesting and had studied in Montreal for six years and currently works as an economist. I enjoyed picking his brain until I awoke from my plane nap and realized that I couldn't understand his accent for about fifteen minutes.
Well, I'm hoping my flight has a gate! Because in an hour I'm leaving, and sans gate, it will be a trying process (Heathrow's so backed up right now, you see).
Bis spater!
Frau Raleigh
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