Poor, but Sexy

Hallo Alle!

I know it's been a while since I've updated my blog, but with all of the things I've been doing it's hard to find the time to actually write about them! In any case, we were going to go to Hamburg today, but decided not to, so I have a bit of extra time to write a bit!

The first two weeks of class have been great. I switched down from the highest level of German into the second which was, I think, a good decision. I am now one of the better speakers in my class, but am definitely benefiting from the review of grammar and the extensive language rules that makes German the language of rule makers and keepers. Geesh! There are only five of us in the class, so it's a lot of one-on-one instruction, and we even went out on Thursday for a coffee and watched a movie based on a book by Thomas Mann. Other than German, I'm taking two other "content" courses which are about modern German and European politics. So far I'm enjoying them as well!

As part of our "extended classroom", we do full group excursion every few weeks. Last friday we all went to German Chancellory where Angela Merkel works. It was an interesting tour, although we didn't get to see much of the building where people actually work, but it definitely gives a good impression of the importance of symbolism in German politics and architecture. For instance, The chancellory is intentionally built to not stand higher than the Reichtag (the place of German Parliament) which is across the street, to remind the Chancellor that his/her role is not above the rule of the Bundestag (the lower, but more powerful house). Anyway, we did get to see the room where Merkel meets with her cabinet members and there's even symbolism to where the members sit! I really should go to Washington D.C... maybe we have all of this too.

Gifts to German leaders are also on display in the main hall and guess what Bush gave Merkel? A set of Broadway Musical DVDs. So among gold daggers and hand carved tribal chess sets, is a copy of Chicago...

Speaking of Presidents, however, yay!! We have a new one! Obama's speech fell right in the middle of one of my classes, but our teacher, Dirk, pulled down the overheard projector and we streamed cnn.com's live coverage. What a fantastic gathering. However, it has been especially interesting to be from the United States, a country who identifies so strongly with their flag, their national anthem, their president, their God, and to be in a country who is still recovering from the horror of what nationalism can do. Flag's aren't flown except in football games, the personal life of their leader is not considered appropriate for discussion, and never would you hear a German politician ask for God's grace on his country. As we said in Rotary, it's not better, it's not worse, it's just different. Different, and important to be aware of.

On a lighter note, I'm starting to explore the city a bit more! My friend Madeline (picture of the two of us) met this old man who invited us to a 50's dance club where he's a DJ. About nine of us went and we had the best time twisting, swinging and laughing until past 4am! Berlin's neighbors are also very fun and interesting to explore. My friend Casey suggested Kreuzberg and it's definitely the hip (as my mom would say) place to be. Really happenin'! A large section of it is mainly Turkish and houses many international bars and cafes as well as just has a fun, young, artsy feeling! As the Mayor of Berlin said about his city, "poor, but sexy!" So true.

I continue to enjoy living with Heide and Siggi. I'm not here a lot, but when I am, I enjoy their company and stories. This past Thursday we ate dinner together, and then sat for three hours and drank wine and talked. We joke a lot about their previous american home-stay students, all of whom were conservative, we talk about Obama and America, we talk about Berlin before the fall of the wall and about the tension since it has come down. Such a source of history and experience.

I should go. I went on a good run today, which was lovely, but now have homework to be done and beers to be drank before the weekend is out!

I hope everyone is doing well and I wish you a fantastic beginning to Obama-time!

Love,
Tess

After a full day of class, I thought I should update my blog now before I completely run out of time!

I do want to back up a bit and catch you up on the last week here! I moved in with my host family on Wednesday. I live with a fantastic mother and father, Heide and Siggi, whose three kids are grown and out of the house. Heide is a 1st grade teacher and Siggi is a moderator for the government. They, or rather we, live in a townhouse in the Southwestern part of Berlin, about 25 minutes outside of the Stadtmittel. I have loved getting to know both Heide and Siggi a bit as well as share stories and questions about each other’s countries. They are so open and inviting and truly treat me like family.

We had our orientation to the FU-BEST program the latter half of last week, which included a great historical tour of downtown as well as an unnecessary tour of the campus we won’t use. In any case, it provided an avenue to bond with and talk to the other students in the program, whose home campuses are scattered throughout the U.S. (and one in Canada). The program also organized a pub outing for the students and our student assistants. One of the assistants is from Bremen and I, of course, got very excited to talk about Beck’s and sing my song about Werder, Bremen (soccer team)!

I had the day off on Sunday and Heide, Siggi and I went to Potsdam, a town about 15 minutes from our house. We walked on the frozen Himmelsee where there were hundreds of people out with their sleds, skates, and well-packaged children enjoying the beautiful, but cold, day. A tradition I think the U.S. needs to take up is the selling of bratwursts and gluhwein (a sweet, hot wine) on frozen lakes. We got a gluhwein half way through our walk and a kaffee on the way back—it definitely made the weather more bearable.



This morning I started school! I was placed in the highest German class, which I’m still not sure I feel comfortable in. Most of my classmates have been doing this program since August, one did all of her high school in German, and the other two have German boyfriends! We will have to see, I was definitely a bit intimidated!

Besides German and a foreign Language, I am taking three political science classes: one on transatlantic relations, one on conflict and security in Europe, and one on contemporary Germany and its place in Europe. I have the other two in the next few days and am excited to get into more of a routine for the next three months…

Tja. I hope you’re all doing well. I am especially sending good energy to those at Seattle U who started their second week of classes…

Lots of love!
Deine, Tess

One week in

Have I really only been in Berlin a week? I was just leafing through photos on my camera and it feels like ages ago that I was at home doing Christmas things, even being in Seattle with Elena, seeing Zach feels like weeks ago.
Although I have yet to move in with my family and so still feel a bit unsettled in the Generator hostel, I have developed a nice routine over the past few days and feel more moved in. I also feel my hesitation and angst disappear as my own maturity and growth over the past five years becomes more evident and quells any fears. I find that I approach situations differently, or perhaps am simply better equipped and more prepared for the things life and Germany throw at me. I suppose I have grown up a bit in five years, eh?

I started running every morning about four days ago, which is great for exploring the nearby neighborhoods as well as being a defensive measure to the coming eight months of brötchen, potatoes and beer. Oh and don’t forget the spreadable meat! The runs have been hard on my sleep cycle as exhaust myself early in the day and by 9, I am passing out at dinner. Last night I did manage to make it out to the hostel’s pub crawl until 1am, so hopefully I am now over my jet lag!

I continued to hang out with Teal and Marco until two days ago when Teal went back to Southern Germany to fly back to the states for a few weeks. Teal reminds me so much of Casey Detrow, who was a good friend of mine when we both did our year abroad in high school, and it’s neat to see her go through the things we did when we first arrived--- the language still so foreign, cultural misunderstandings, host family problems, weight gain, etc. The three of us went out a few nights ago to the coolest bar, the band was playing polka/ska/punk music and it was literally like dancing in a mosh-pit full of Germans and sweat. Teal is a musician, so I have it on good authority that it was decent music, but I just so enjoyed the experience of one of many to come that is German, random, and fantasticly foreign to my life in Seattle. Here is a youtube video of them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TovC5QSNto

Yesterday I did the four-hour free walking tour around Berlin. I had done it a year and a half ago, and although the sights hadn’t changed, the history, stories and perspectives of Berlin never cease to move or inspire me. There is a conscious effort here to remember and honor the victims of hate and lack of tolerance and an effort to live a life of peace in memoriam of all those who have suffered. One of the sights that is on the tour is what is known as the Holocaust Memorial. It is an entire city block of cement blocks, varying in height. There is no official meaning to what they represent, but popular opinion has them as coffins, soldiers in lines, or trains transporting prisoners. When brainstorming ideas for the memorial, they decided to use the space directly next to the Brandenburg Gate, where people are confronted with it on a daily basis, face to face with the horror, with the inhumanity, and with the consequences of intolerance. I only hope that our culture can learn from our mistakes without it taking something so drastic.

On a lighter note, I move in with my family tomorrow, so I started to schlep my things today to the University where we will meet. It was quite the trek from north eastern Berlin to south western, but it’s all relatively close.

I’ll write soon, but until then, Ich wünsche euch alles gutes in der Neue Jahr!

Deine,
Tess

Berlin!

Guten Morgen!

I arrived in Berlin yesterday afternoon, after a quick few flights through Paris. Everything worked perfectly, and I was so glad to know that my luck in Mexico did not follow me to Europe! Instead, everything ran smooth and I arrived at my hostel around 4:30pm. Even though I hadn't slept in over 24 hours, I met with a friend of a friend, Teal, to get over my jet lag. We went to dinner with her friend Marco, from Berlin and had Kaffee und Kuchen after. It was really a lovely way to be welcomed to my new year abroad, with a familiar language and nice faces.
I went to bed early last night and slept for almost ten hours, but after three hours wandering around this part of the city, I went back to bed for six hours. I am just now returning from going out to dinner with Amanda, a friend from Germany class in Seattle, and her boyfriend and friends. I was thinking how I already have more friends in this city than I ever did in Bremen.

So much of my approach to this trip is based on my previous year in Germany. Part of the first experience has prepared me: I speak German, I know the culture, I can better approach people, but part of it makes it hesitant to put myself out there again. It's hard to imagine trying to make friends again, living with a host family, dealing with a culture with whom I greatly clashed. These last few days have been fantastic in settling any fears I have about this, as I have met many friendly and open Germans, but I think this will be my greatest learning curve.

eh. So ist das Leben.

I will be moving in with my family on Wednesday and our Orientation starts on Thursday. Until then, I plan on getting to know Berlin and finding the best clothes to ward against this Alaskan winter!

Lots of love,
Tess