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
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