It has been a while since our last aquaintance! For that, I apologize. As the crow would put it, "Nevermore, CAW, Nevermore."
I will begin with one of the highlights of my Berlin experience: For springbreak my boyfriend, Ian, couldn't fly to Berlin, so he graciously flew me out to come see him in Beaufort, SC! Party town, let me tell you (when calling for a cab, one needn't say crossroads, one merely has to vocalize the building you're standing in front of. Example: "And where are you, ma'am?" "In front of Wal-Mart." "North or south side?" "Uh, McDonald's side." "Alright, ma'am, we'll have a cab out there for you in three minutes.") Honestly, the town is gorgeous, and everyone is so very friendly. I soaked that up, particularly because I could understand people. On my flight over from Paris to Atlanta I struck up a conversation with the women in front of me because I heard English. Now, understand, I don't speak a terrible amount of German here because well...I can't. But I've gotten to the point where I can not only ask for directions, but understand them back when gestures are involved. Two thumbs up. However, it's fantastic being able to order a Subway sandwich and understand how to say "lettuce, bell pepper, olives, oh, you just asked me if I want cheese, let me explain to you in a perfect language what type I would like. And you better put Ranch on that, because now I don't have to just say 'nothing' because it's not going to just be quicker, because I get you, and you get me, Mr. Subway worker-man. Now feed me." English speakers, let me clarify, NATIVE English speakers are a lightsaber to Luke Skywalker when he's tied up and about to be eaten by an Abominable Snow Man.
Alas, I digress because of how much joy English and the United States now brings me. In all seriousness I've gained not only a better understanding and articulation of the United States and our culture, but a large appreciation for all that we are (yes, that even that includes you, Bible Belt). I even welcome my frustrations with our government and foreign policy more readily now. Dr. Hovsepian was correct when he delineated, "We study there to learn about here."
Seeing Ian, my boyfriend, was such a fantastic and remarkable feeling I'm not sure if I'd be able to articulate it because I'm afraid my words wouldn't do the abstractity justice. It was by far the best time we've had in the history of me visiting him. Distance is difficult but I couldn't be more positive that it's more worth it to go out of my way to fight for us! Let me show you a picture that invokes these intense feelings of love, and you too, dear reader, will fall in love a thousand fold with him as well:
Ee!
Deuces!
Take dat! Take dat!
Aww...And now for the lovegraffiti on the walls of cemetaries portion of this blog:
Yesterday the entire program took a trip to Potsdam. Although I had already been, I rather enjoy the town in an unfacetious way, and unlike the former sentiment, I also enjoyed the FREEZING COLD THAT ISN'T JUST IN BERLIN.
Ernesto....FREEZING.
These are the gardens of the San Souci palace of Friedrich der Grosse (Friedrich the Great). It was a small palace (only twelve rooms compared to his Berlin 700 room castle) that he preferred, something virtually unheard of at the time of the Prussians. You cannot tell from this picture, but surrounding the fountain are marble, Roman statues holed up in grey boxes to protect them from the cold because IT'S FREEZING STILL.
Here are rows of trees lining the entrance to the garden.
I thought this was a beautiful picture. There's a ring of columns near the entrance to the palace and we left at dusk.
Kri Kri Lovercakes and I standing in the columns. Of Totaltraubchen.
People still place rememberances on the grave of Friedrich the Great. To the left are roses, and on the right are potatoes because Friedrich the Great saved Berlin from starvation. People originally didn't eat potatoes because they thought them only tubers. Friedrich the Great knew that he couldn't just hand them out and tell people to eat and enjoy them so what he did was he told his guards to act like they were guarding his potatoe fields as if they were something of high value. He also told them to look the other way if someone tried to steal potatoes. He tricked an entire city into stealing potatoes for their survival. Friedrich der Grosse is the ultimate master of reverse psychology.
An old windmill being restored.
Just some ballers I ran into.
The front of Friedrich the Great's palace is covered with statues of Bacchus, the God of wine. "Sans Souci," the name of the palace means "without worry." Friedrich the Great had a tough childhood and considered this his place without worries, hence, the name. Freddy originally didn't want to rule so he and his friend planned to escape. His father heard about this and stopped him. As punishment, and to show Friedrich what could become of him, he educated Friedrich Prussian style. Friedrich's father executed his friend in front of Mr. Great.
A garden house on the palace grounds. Friedrich the Great took the Dutch (his mother was Dutch) idea of growing fruit and implemented it.
Kevin climbing a national monument. Much appreciated by the locals.
Hey kids! Aaaaand now we come to the mature portion of the blog! Enjoy! :
The man bending over is one of the student assistants. Like.
Wasn't that fun, kids? The eight year old in me very much enjoyed my trip to Potsdam as well as the 20 year old in me.
There was a girl named Kristina who had a problem. She was addicted to Milka chocolate. One day, when Kristina was delirious from a lack of Milka intake, she was stumbling through the wilderness of Potsdam and, ah, behold! A milka wrapper!!! She found the strength to carry on.
This is an extension of a typical German house. There are tables and often many plants sheltered from the weather! I believe they're called Wintergartens, but don't quote me on that. I actually hope you never quote me on any of this blog when we meet up next.
This kid's name is Kevin. Let me introduce you to Kevin. He doesn't speak English. Well, he can, he just gave it up for Lent and is going strong. Oh, I forgot to mention, he doesn't speak German. I've sworn to break him before Easter...
Potsdam neighborhood.
I thought this was an interesting little house!
Kristina and I have learned that we are incapable of successfully sharing a sittin stump.
We've also learned we're soulmates.
Can you see the face?!
Yeah....that was it. Don't worry, it'll rear its loving head again.
Yesterday the entire program took a trip to Potsdam. Although I had already been, I rather enjoy the town in an unfacetious way, and unlike the former sentiment, I also enjoyed the FREEZING COLD THAT ISN'T JUST IN BERLIN.
Ernesto....FREEZING.
These are the gardens of the San Souci palace of Friedrich der Grosse (Friedrich the Great). It was a small palace (only twelve rooms compared to his Berlin 700 room castle) that he preferred, something virtually unheard of at the time of the Prussians. You cannot tell from this picture, but surrounding the fountain are marble, Roman statues holed up in grey boxes to protect them from the cold because IT'S FREEZING STILL.
Here are rows of trees lining the entrance to the garden.
I thought this was a beautiful picture. There's a ring of columns near the entrance to the palace and we left at dusk.
Kri Kri Lovercakes and I standing in the columns. Of Totaltraubchen.
People still place rememberances on the grave of Friedrich the Great. To the left are roses, and on the right are potatoes because Friedrich the Great saved Berlin from starvation. People originally didn't eat potatoes because they thought them only tubers. Friedrich the Great knew that he couldn't just hand them out and tell people to eat and enjoy them so what he did was he told his guards to act like they were guarding his potatoe fields as if they were something of high value. He also told them to look the other way if someone tried to steal potatoes. He tricked an entire city into stealing potatoes for their survival. Friedrich der Grosse is the ultimate master of reverse psychology.
An old windmill being restored.
Just some ballers I ran into.
The front of Friedrich the Great's palace is covered with statues of Bacchus, the God of wine. "Sans Souci," the name of the palace means "without worry." Friedrich the Great had a tough childhood and considered this his place without worries, hence, the name. Freddy originally didn't want to rule so he and his friend planned to escape. His father heard about this and stopped him. As punishment, and to show Friedrich what could become of him, he educated Friedrich Prussian style. Friedrich's father executed his friend in front of Mr. Great.
A garden house on the palace grounds. Friedrich the Great took the Dutch (his mother was Dutch) idea of growing fruit and implemented it.
Kevin climbing a national monument. Much appreciated by the locals.Hey kids! Aaaaand now we come to the mature portion of the blog! Enjoy! :
The man bending over is one of the student assistants. Like.
Wasn't that fun, kids? The eight year old in me very much enjoyed my trip to Potsdam as well as the 20 year old in me.
There was a girl named Kristina who had a problem. She was addicted to Milka chocolate. One day, when Kristina was delirious from a lack of Milka intake, she was stumbling through the wilderness of Potsdam and, ah, behold! A milka wrapper!!! She found the strength to carry on.
This is an extension of a typical German house. There are tables and often many plants sheltered from the weather! I believe they're called Wintergartens, but don't quote me on that. I actually hope you never quote me on any of this blog when we meet up next.
This kid's name is Kevin. Let me introduce you to Kevin. He doesn't speak English. Well, he can, he just gave it up for Lent and is going strong. Oh, I forgot to mention, he doesn't speak German. I've sworn to break him before Easter...
Potsdam neighborhood.
I thought this was an interesting little house!
Kristina and I have learned that we are incapable of successfully sharing a sittin stump.
We've also learned we're soulmates.
Can you see the face?!Did you see the vine? (Only my mother will appreciate that.)
This is the building in which the Potsdam Conferences took place. Typically there's a red star of flowers (symbolizing Russia) in front, but flowers can't grow in the arctic tundra which decided to relocate itself to Germany.
One can see the faint outline of the star here.
Winston Churchill's tea and crumpet sittin' place! All babies look like Winston Churchill by the way.
Conference table where Truman, Stalin, and Churchill sat.
This is an interesting picture of a Muslim grave at the Islamisches Friedhof Columbiadamm. I went to a Turkish mosque in Neukoln called Sehitlik Moschee for a tour with some other students. I arrived first because I was coming from an excursion my German class went on (Germany has changed me, I'm actually on time now and even early to events. No promises if this is temporary). I heard the call to prayer and suddenly about 70 men come through the gates and make a formation in front of the mosque, outside. I noticed that no one knelt and at the appropriate moment everyone would turn their heads North and then South while cupping their ears sporadically. Then they brought the coffin out of the.....WAIT, WHAT?! Yeah. This girl crashed a funeral Thursday. Yep. Yup. Point for America.
Our tour guide in the mosque was a German convert, and because our group was so small and all female (not being sexist, pointing out a subconscious comfortability level in the female portion of the mosque) which led to a free for all of questions which nobody felt ashamed to ask or fearful of doing so for that matter. What I learned and took from it is too much to type, but if you're curious, please ask me.
Our tour guide turned this chandelier on just for us. The inside is a series of existential quotes concerning God and light.
The mosque from a graveyard nextdoor.
This is the building in which the Potsdam Conferences took place. Typically there's a red star of flowers (symbolizing Russia) in front, but flowers can't grow in the arctic tundra which decided to relocate itself to Germany.
One can see the faint outline of the star here.
Winston Churchill's tea and crumpet sittin' place! All babies look like Winston Churchill by the way.
Conference table where Truman, Stalin, and Churchill sat.
This is an interesting picture of a Muslim grave at the Islamisches Friedhof Columbiadamm. I went to a Turkish mosque in Neukoln called Sehitlik Moschee for a tour with some other students. I arrived first because I was coming from an excursion my German class went on (Germany has changed me, I'm actually on time now and even early to events. No promises if this is temporary). I heard the call to prayer and suddenly about 70 men come through the gates and make a formation in front of the mosque, outside. I noticed that no one knelt and at the appropriate moment everyone would turn their heads North and then South while cupping their ears sporadically. Then they brought the coffin out of the.....WAIT, WHAT?! Yeah. This girl crashed a funeral Thursday. Yep. Yup. Point for America.
Our tour guide in the mosque was a German convert, and because our group was so small and all female (not being sexist, pointing out a subconscious comfortability level in the female portion of the mosque) which led to a free for all of questions which nobody felt ashamed to ask or fearful of doing so for that matter. What I learned and took from it is too much to type, but if you're curious, please ask me.
Our tour guide turned this chandelier on just for us. The inside is a series of existential quotes concerning God and light.
The mosque from a graveyard nextdoor.
And fin!
More to come:)
Raaals Royce (as now dubbed by Stephan/Seabiscuit)
"English speakers, let me clarify, NATIVE English speakers are a lightsaber to Luke Skywalker when he's tied up and about to be eaten by an Abominable Snow Man" You are basically Shakespeare.
ReplyDeleteOh man I always appricate your blog b/c I'm usually laughing with tears rolling down my eyes by the end of it.
MILKA MILKA MILKA.
Love you, soul mate.
PS let Seabiscuit know your nick name is "Rals balls"
ReplyDelete