Day 59: Change in Flight

Hallo everyone! 2 more days of classes!! So, I actually got a decent amount of sleep last night and woke up feeling ready! It was nice to spend some time with Anna and Paula, and it made doing homework a little less lonely. They took me out to breakfast this morning to thank me for letting them use my computer and for helping with a little bit of editing of their video project. After a nice breakfast, we headed to class. A bit of a boring day, but only two more left to go!

So, after class, I headed right home to finish my last test! And I did! I finally done and all I have to do is look over my picture and video project before being done for the summer! Paula and Anna switched computers with me for the night so that they could finish their project. So, I will be done with my projects at this time tomorrow!! I'm very excited!

Hmm...What else? Well, my flight was canceled due to the British Airways strike. I tried to get on the same flight as Andrea, but that didn't work out. So, instead I am on an earlier flight that gets me into New York at 2:45 pm! Pretty cool! And that's much better than 10:00 pm! So, tomorrow morning, I am going to getting most of my packing done. I will finish all of my work tomorrow night before/a little after the going away dinner. And then Friday, I will be able to enjoy my last day and just have some fun! I am excited!! Well, that's about it for now...nothing really exciting to report. Since I don't have my own computer, I am going to have to wait again on uploading the pictures from this weekend. But they will come soon! 2 more days!! Hope all is well! 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Day 58: Hausaufgabe

Hallo! Wie geht's? Three days to go! Wow... Well it is very late here. I guess that you could say that we are attempting to get back onto US time. I am currently at Paula and Anna's and we have been doing work all night long...and all morning long too. So, let me first recount the day. I woke up and worked on some projects, but I was a bit worried about not having an adapter. I headed to school and got some advice on where I could find one. I didn't really want to buy another one with only a few days left, but I definitely needed to plug my computer in to work on all of our projects and I also was able to find one for very cheap. Class was driving me a bit crazy. We had presentations for the first section, which was okay. We then did some grammar (German 101 and Freiburg all over again...lovely). But we also had some interesting discussions about the Holocaust and life in modern Berlin. I like my teacher, which is really interesting for me because she is pretty gruff. My Freiburg teacher was so nice, but this one is just entertaining with the way she critiques us. It was interesting to gain the "stereotypical" German perspective in relation to immigrants. Much of what our teacher said confirmed what was said during our tour last Friday, but it kind of made me sad that there are so different viewpoints. I could definitely see how some of these differences could lead to prejudice. After class, Andrea and I headed to Alexanderplatz in search of my adapter and some gifts. Then, I started doing some more work, and was messaged by Paula and Anna. They were having trouble with their computer and so I went over to their house to let them use mine for their video project. And I have been here ever since! I am glad that I am staying here tonight, it is nice to have a break from my apartment. I am very happy with how much I have gotten done. I have not procrastinated and I am pretty much very close to being done with the final three projects we have. Awesome! And then it's summer! I'm not sure what I am up to tomorrow, but hopefully we won't be too exhausted. I don't think I'm going to have too much trouble with jet lag. Well, I better get back to work. Hope all is well! 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Day 54-57: Bad Sulza

Hallo all! Wow, what a weekend. I hope everything is going well with you all back home! Countdown: 5/4 days! Wahoo! Well, I have been without internet for the past four days. It wasn't like that fact was ending my life or anything, but I really didn't realize how much I have come to depend on its services. But I survived and everything is fine now. Haha!

Anyway, I will first begin by recounting Friday. Well, we awoke early in order to meet for a tour of Kreuzburg. I live in this section of Berlin, but there actually are two sections within this area, so the tour was of the other half. While my Kreuzburg is supposedly pretty well of, Anna and Paula live in the other section which has more of an interesting and eclectic character. On the tour of "SO 36" (their area), I learned so much about interesting post-WWII history. Back in the early days of East and West Berlin, Turkish women were asked to work as guest workers in the "island" between East--West Berlin. These women were really quite unique because it was more often foreign men who were asked to work in industrial countries. They came to Germany alone and sent back money to their families in hopes of either returning to Turkey or bringing their families to Germany. It was interesting to hear how some women stayed and how they were able to keep their original homes, which are now very high commodity spots in SO 36. We also visited the opening day of a huge mosque and ate some delicious home-cooked Turkish food. I really enjoyed learning more about the culture of Kruezburg!

After the tour, we took taxis to the train station in order to make our way to Bad Salza (I think I might be spelling it wrong). So, we had a little over two hours on the train before we arrived at this little town in the middle of nowhere. Dre and I worked on our movie project, so time passed pretty quickly. I was just glad not to be in class that day! We came to Bad Sulza and walked for about ten minutes down a winding road to get to the hotel. We stayed at a pretty neat spa. The place itself was interesting architecture-wise because it had been a former-East hotel. Our room had a scenic view out onto the hills and yellow flowers of the area. The room was a divide double, which was also pretty neat. So, Friday night, some of us went to the spa. The place is a pretty sweet resort with pools that have underwater speakers (called "Liquid Sound"), saunas, and some water therapy centers. The way these pools work is that you float on your back and listen to the music underwater. I'm actually not a good floater, which was evident pretty much right away. I wasn't able to get a spot on the wall where I could stick my feet and float better, so I opted for the middle. They have these sort of therapists who come around and move you through the water. It supposedly feels like flying to some. So, it really was no surprise to me that my sinking self was the first one to be chosen to be floated around. It was an interesting feeling, but I still wasn't really able to relax like some other people. After the Bach concert we listened to underwater, we explored some of the other pools and saunas. I liked all of the changing lights and the outdoor areas. The saunas were different, but not really my thing. It is interesting how the culture over here is a bit different, especially regarding the clothing-not-allowed part.

So, that was that for the night. We woke up the next morning and had an amazing breakfast at the hotel. Food can be so good over here! After breakfast, we headed to Weimar for a tour. We saw most of the historic sites around the small city. It was really neat to see both Goethe and Schiller's homes! After spending the morning there, we went to a concentration camp in the vicinity. This was probably one of the most horrific camps in Germany (the extermination camps were most often located in the territories Germany took over, such as Poland). I was definitely not ready for some of the sights I saw. But I spent a lot of time in the exhibit areas and learned all about the history: the liberation, post-WWII times, etc. I really had an interesting time. Although it is difficult and always emotional to visit these places, I think it is important that they are preserved as a memory of a horrific past. It ended up that most people spent a lot less time in the camp than me and one other Union student did. So, they went back to Weimar and waited for us there. We came back and split up again to go different places. I ended up going with Andrea and Paula to a local Volksfest. It was actually like a carnival. And no one was there...But we had fun walking around, talking, and hanging out. We met up again and headed back to the spa for another night of relaxing.

Sunday morning, we woke up early and went to to a private class on "water wellness." Professor Nelson actually knows a lot of people who work at this center, so we had some opportunities through her connections. In this class, we had to relax and be moved/move each other through the water for an hour each. I don't think that I was able to relax as much as some other people did, but I enjoyed the experience overall. We hung out and got some work done for the remainder of the day. After dinner together, we headed again to the spas. Here, we got yelled at a bit for wearing clothes, etc., but it all worked out fine. We didn't realize that we were supposed to meet Professor Nelson at another hotel restaurant to just discuss the next days plans, but luckily, we were able to catch up with her later on. In the meantime, Andrea and I hung out with Paula and Anna. It has really been nice to get closer to different people on this trip.

We had breakfast together this morning and figured out what we wanted to do today. It ended up that Professor Nelson's friend was driving through Leipzig, so Matt and I went there to explore the city, while the rest of the group stayed at the hotel. I am definitely glad that we went to Leipzig, but I am a bit tired from all of the traveling. I liked seeing another city and exploring some of the historic sites. We thought at first that the people of Leipzig were very into dressing in the Gothic style, but it ended up that there was a convention going on at the time. We wandered around a bit and then it started hailing out of nowhere while we were in a restaurant. We headed back to the train station in order to meet the rest of the group on the incoming train. Luckily, we made it on time and got back to Berlin fine.

It wasn't until I was back to my room that I realized that my adapter (which allows me to charge my computer in a European plug) was probably left in the hotel. I guess that what happened was that when I went to unplug it, I didn't realize that the adapter didn't come out of the wall. It stressed me out a bit because I still have a bit to do homework-wise before I leave Berlin. But Andrea let me charge my computer (I went over to her apartment for a couple of hours), so I think it will work out that I can charge it during class and have the battery at full for when I get home at night. Boy, do I feel stupid! But I am confident that I can get all of my work done! So, right now, it is pretty late. I am hoping to finish my final test tonight and get it handed in tomorrow. Hopefully, I can do that! I am pretty tired right now, but I will enjoy these last few days, as I hope you will all do, too! Well, I better get some more work done. 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Day 53: Museum Night

Hallo everyone! Day 53! Countdown: 8 days (again, I am writing this pretty late)! I cannot believe that we only have about a week left in Germany. I know this next week will be a fun one! So, today: class again. No school tomorrow because we are headed to Weimar! Then, we have Monday off too because it is a holiday. Very cool, indeed.

After class, and I headed to "Museum Island" for free admission night. We first hit up the Neues Museum, which was a very neat place. It had some of the same things we had seen in London: an Egyptian section (where I got in a bit of trouble for trying to take a picture...there weren't any signs saying we couldn't take them there...I wasn't the only one to get my camera shielded either!). But what I liked most was the history of the museum itself. This place was around in the pre-WWII era and it faced damage when Berlin was air raided at the end of the war. The museum was exposed to the elements for 40 years after the war before a roof was reconstructed and the contents resurveyed. That bit of history was more interesting to me and any of the relics contained within the building!

After the Neues Museum, we decided to go to the Altes Museum (maybe we should have done that in a different order). But we weren't really that interested at that moment in going inside, so we decided to go to another museum whose name escapes me at the moment (it sounded a bit like Parthenon, though). I guess that this is the "museum to see" while you are in Berlin, or so Matt told us when we happened to meet up with him in one of the rooms (again, what are the chances of seeing another Union student in a city this size?!)! This museum also had a long history before WWII and was again damaged by air raids. It really amazed me how someone was able to move huge building from Rome (or somewhere around there) and bring them to Germany in order to reconstruct them in a museum. Purely mind-boggling. There were literally ancient ruins in this museum. Quiet interesting stuff.

So, after our visit, Andrea and I saw a neat little restaurant and decided to stop there for dinner. We each got different types of wurst and potato salad. Delicious! I hadn't enjoyed traditional German cuisine in a while, so it was treat. I was invited over to Paula and Anna's for a sleepover, but decided to head home instead because I think that I really need a good night's rest. We are headed on a tour of my area of Berlin tomorrow and then we are leaving for Weimar. I am excited to eat and learn some more about Turkish history during the tour and I cannot wait to see Weimar! Should be a good weekend! I am not sure if I will have internet access until Monday, but if I don't, then I will be sure to catch up on our travels then. Have a nice weekend! 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Day 52: Bus 200

Hallo! Day 52! Wow! Well, since it is again after midnight as I am writing this post, the countdown has reached the single digits: 9 days to go! I woke up feeling like I might be on the verge of getting sick, so I have to make sure that I get a lot of sleep tonight. The weather here has just been getting everyone down! So, I just sort of hung out this morning and then headed to class. I decided to leave class a little early and took the U-Bahn to another section of the city to pick up the 200 line bus (Professor Nelson had recommended it). It is a public bus, but the places it goes are supposed to be interesting and scenic. The only thing I really enjoyed seeing was a church that had been bombed during the WWII and left unrepaired in order to remind everyone about the history they had gone through. I enjoyed seeing that, but the bus ride itself wasn't all that it seemed like it would be. It didn't really bring me anywhere that I hadn't already seen and when I got off at the end, I was in the middle of nowhere! Luckily, there was another bus headed in the other direction, so I hopped back on and went back the way that I had come.

I had decided to go back to the Sony Center (where we met yesterday before dinner) because they have a famous movie theater there that shows films in the movie's native language (meaning, not dubbed over). I got there perfectly in time to see "Robin Hood." The movie itself was pretty good, but I was getting a bit fed up with the German movie-going experience. I liked the theater; it was set up so that red curtains opened onto a hug screen. The seats were also very comfy. But I was forced to sit through 45 minutes of previews...after about 35, they close the curtains and come out selling the food that they had just been advertising. The previews just dragged on forever...And unfortunately, I was also sitting with some obnoxious pre-teens. I guess they kept getting on some British peoples' nerves in front of me, so all I was hearing was, "Can you please shut up and keep your feet to yourselves?!" in a British accent. But other than that, I had a fun time. It was nice to get out and explore the city a bit on my own. Sometimes I just need that, too.

So, it was a pretty relaxing night. I am glad that I made my own fun and did my own thing. I think living in a city is really quite unique. And this place is so different than anything I've seen before. I guess each city does have its own identity. There definitely is something different about being anonymous and just going about my own business. It's kind of cool that no one knows me; that I see all different types of people everyday. But I could definitely see a sort of loneliness here. And being around so many people all of the time can be a bit wearing too. But I am glad to have the experience and the opportunity to see Berlin and learn more about its amazing history.

So, only one more day of classes here before our trip to Weimar! I am very excited to have the chance to go there this weekend and to only have class four days next week. It ends up that another university group from the US at Goethe is also going to Weimar this weekend. I talked to one of the girls from the Utah school today and it was interesting to hear some of her insight on her college and learn some of the difficulties of being a minority in a school whose population is strongly of another religion. Interesting stuff. So, I'd better get to bed! 5 more days of school and 9 days total to go! I think a part of me is really going to miss Germany! Well, hope all is well! 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Day 51: Die Reichstag

Hallo all! It is Day 51...And only 11 days to go...Actually, it will change to 10 days as I am writing this blog! So, today was quite a long day. We woke up this morning and actually did the tour of the Reichstag. It was a pretty neat place! There was so much visible history there! I liked the graffiti that was uncovered on its walls from the end of the Second World War. I also liked the dome from which you could look down on parliamentary happenings. The tour itself was a little long-winded and no one was really having a good time. But it was definitely a good opportunity to have a personal tour organized through the Goethe Institut because typically, people wait hours in line to go inside. The security was very tight, they thoroughly checked our bags. And when I say thoroughly, I mean THOROUGHLY. The guy even commented on my soggy sandwich!

After the tour, we didn't have much time before class. No one was really excited about going to the Goethe Institut either. But we all managed to make it through the day. We met up at the Sony Center in Potsdamer Platz at 7 pm. In between the end of classes and the meeting time, I picked up some little gifts for Andrea's birthday. She's 21 today, so we went out as a group to dinner. It was neat to meet in Potsdamer Platz because I hadn't really seen the area previously. This was the former "No Man's Land" between the two walls dividing the city. The rebuilt this place into a business and shopping area. It was pretty interesting because as I was walking to the Sony Center, I encountered some remnants of the wall, in addition to an extensive police blockade around the Ritz Hotel. I think that I might have been on the wrong side of the fence, but no one stopped me from walking there. The place was pretty deserted anyway.

So, we met up and headed to another area of town. Andrea decided to eat at a cool Indian restaurant. It was a pretty miserable day again, but the outside eating area was huge, under a tent, and heated. We ended up sat there. So, we had a nice dinner...I was pretty full by the end of it. We parted ways in hopes of making it home pretty soon, but the U-Bahn wasn't really functioning properly. I guess they were trying to make some nighttime renovations. Anyway, we finally made it back and all is good in the world. I think that Andrea's unhappiness with being stuck in class on her birthday were really turned around by the celebration we had for her. I am glad that we were able to make her 21 birthday special! Well, I am a bit exhausted. I really need to get some sleep so that I don't get sick like the others. Hope all is well! We were talking today and we realized that we have definitely been out of the loop on somethings back in the US. It will be interesting to be back and hear about all that has gone on! 11 days...or 10 now! Gute Nacht! 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Day 50: Burning of Books

Halloooo! Day 50! 12 days to go...wow!! Well, today was interesting...I woke up pretty early (and went to bed pretty late) in order to go on the tour of the Reichstag (Parliament). But it ended up that the tour got moved to tomorrow without anyone knowing about it! Oh well...Since I was up, Andrea and I headed to the local university, which we had seen during the tour. It's actually a really neat story because during WWII, the university was the site where 20,000 "controversial/un-German" books were burned by the Nazis, students, and educators. The school vowed that it would never let something like that happen again, so every day, it holds a book sale outside its library. The other neat thing is that in the center of the square in front of the university platz, there is a glass window you can look through into the ground. Below are bookselves...enough to hold 20,000 books. I just thought that it was really neat that they would commemorate the event like this and that they say that it was a very dark chapter in the university's history.

After our visit to the book sale, Andrea and I parted ways. I headed back to the Goethe Institut to work on some homework, while she made the trek to the Olympic Stadium today. I got some work done (finally, almost finished with my test!) and then headed to class. I was pretty tired and a bit hungry in class. But it went by and my day was done. I stayed and worked some more before heading home. I really wasn't in any rush; I just didn't feel like going back right away. I did some grocery shopping and then walked across the street to my apartment. As I walked into my room, my host mother came out. She finally introduced me to her friend who lives here! Ja! He seems like a really nice guy; he complimented me on my German (ha!) and just was very friendly overall. My host mom really is a nice person, but I think that she may have just had bad tenants in the past and she is just a bit strict about things. It's nice not to take things so personally. So, I had some dinner and here I am blogging again. It turns out that I might actually write a blog next year for the Times Union Newspaper on college life. I guess we will see if that works out, but it definitely would be an interesting thing to do! Well, I must get back to work. 12 days to go! Wow! Enjoy the afternoon! 'Til next time...Tschuess!