As I was thinking of the title for this blog entry, the noun "reflection" crossed my mind. Generally meaning to look back in a contemplative and peaceful manner, it seemed appropriate for my current mood and activity. (Dancing to Lady Gaga in My Room would have worked as well, but let's keep the level of dignity a bit higher for this bit, shall we.) So here are a few reflections on my part which I wrote while in the city today:
If I gave you ten chances, I bet you wouldn't guess where I am writing from. But to those of you who possess psychic abilities, yes, I am sitting on the edge of the Neptune Fountain. The watermarks on this paper would have been a bit of a giveaway, but I cannot exactly add watermarks to my blog, now can I? Then again, it may not have been too much of a help anyway. Berlin is a city of rivers. Since the city began to expand in size and population, the numerous lakes and waterways, once a sort of highway between Berlin and the rest of the world, have become the circulatory system of the city itself.
It surprises me how peaceful this spot is, right in the middle of a city. And trust me when I say that Berlin has just as much "hustle and bustle" and approximately ten times the amount of construction as New York, London, or Paris. Everyone, myself included, is always rushing to some place or other to relax. (Yes, it sounds odd, but it's true.) And now that the comfortable summer weather has finally taken hold, it's so lovely to just stroll along the cobblestones and pass by streets lined with modern or vintage boutiques, or to sit on a part bench reading literature or simply admiring the beauty of the day.
Although I am eager to return to my loved ones in the United States, I do admit that a part of me shall remain in Berlin. Even after I board that plane going West, a shadow of me will walk the streets of this city. (A bit like Guinan in Star Trek: Generations! Okay, maybe comparing Berlin to the Nexus isn't the greatest idea, but still..) You see, I have come to love this city. It's people, its history, its culture. And while I have and always will think of myself as an American, I know in my heart of hearts that I am also a Berlinerin.
Yes, this place has altered me; how and in what way will only be determined with time. There will be challenges in my future, of this I am sure. But of this I am also certain: the roadblocks and hindrances that I have had to overcome have already prepared me for what is yet to come in the story of my life. And sitting here, with two worlds dancing and combining inside me, I must admit, that it looks like it's going to be an amazing ride.
Hello! Me from the present here, again! I think I will conclude this post now. Even though it is somewhat shorter than my previous blog posts, I believe that it says just as much. (And I, as the author [without an editor at this point] have the final call, hehe!) So I hope that you liked reading my thoughts. Dancing to Lady Gaga in my room, TGWTC ;)
11.6.11
6.5.11
You're Crazy!! ...And??
So when my host sister came into my room and saw me fully dressed, applying makeup at 7:15 this morning, the look of utter confusion was clearly apparent on her face as she asked me why the heck was I up. You see, due to the increasingly odd and incomprehensible schedule changes, I do not have school today until 12:45, and then only for one and a half hours. So why the heck did I drag myself out of bed at 7am? Well, the answer has something to do with my nature, and something I have discovered about myself since I've come to Germany. That is (drummroll, please) that I cannot wake up after 8:30 without feeling as though I have wasted my morning, and therefore, at least a third of my day.
My family is a bit like this, too. We like to be on the move, doing something, not wasting our time. Oh, there are exceptions to my 8:30 rule. Such as, if I was out partying the night before. Then it is certaintly okay to get eight to ten hours of sleep, lol. I'll let you speculate as to when I get back after a club night with friends. ;) Also, the first two days of break, I can sleep in without feeling bad about it or anything. And yes, it is odd that I have a criteria that dictates when and how much I should sleep, but hey, it helps me.
The reason I even wanted to get up fairly early today was so I could get to Starbucks, which as everyone knows, is the plethera of yummy coffee, free wifi, and a relaxing yet productive atmosphere. I feel proud that I have graduated from hanging out at the mall to claiming my comfy chair with small side table at Starbucks. Like Tom Sawyer when he testifies an evil which he knows will then threaten his life because of his action, I am growing up. (Note: You do not have to like coffee to be an adult. This is a myth!! Or alcohol, for that matter. So don't make fun of me when we're at a bar and I order a milkshake or hot chocolate. Thank you.)
There's another thing about growing up: peer pressure. I never thought I'd encounter this; it just seems like such a brainless thing that someone would judge you because you always order something non-alcoholic. I mean, most of the time it's just that you have to say no every time and come off as a sour puss or the baby, even though you may be older than the majority of people who are drinking. You may seem to be not so adventurous because you don't want to try smoking or ever get drunk just to see what it feels like, or in more serious situations, because you have no interest in trying a drug.
But as long as you have confidence in yourself and your decision, nothing can get to you. I will admit that I have tried a few alcoholic beverages, and they all taste absolutely nasty to me. And I do not like the feeling of fumes rising up my nasal cavity. (This could just be a mental reaction, but I swear it feels like it irritates my nose, lol.) Maybe when I'm older, my taste buds will change, and I may appreciate a drink with my dinner, but for now, no thanks. And I never want to get drunk. You miss out on so much, and a lot of the time, you can say things you didn't mean to say and do things you didn't mean to do. And it can still sting someone else even if they say to themselves, he's drunk, he doesn't mean those things. Because there's always that doubt, that maybe he did mean it, he just never said it before because he had a filter between what he thought and what he said.
I am in no way saying that people shouldn't have a good time. But why are the concepts of getting drunk and having a good time seemingly always connected to one another? Do people just want an excuse to do things they would never attempt while sober? Why should people get a hall pass for messing up "because [they] were drunk"?
And a few words about drugs. Even if they aren't addictive, they are harmful. First they burn through your wallet, then through the people you love and care about, and all the while through your body. I was offered a cigarette at a bar once here, and I declined it. The scary thing is how easy it would have been for someone in my position to take it. More kids smoke in Germany than in America, at least from my experience, and it is almost comic how incredibly simple it would be to acquire cigarettes over here. Which is why all those drug free lessons we had in elementary school are sometimes completely ineffective. Because what it really comes down to is you. Whether you can overcome the curiosity and, for lack of a better word, temptation of drugs. It's up to you; I have no influence. I am just a bunch of black and white pixels on a screen. But know that the people you socialize with will not have to live with your decisions; you will.
Well, sorry to be so somber, but that just felt like something I should get out there. I've recently come across a writer's concept which has been ringing pretty true lately. That if there is something you would like to read about, or that you think should be read, that is not availabe or does not yet exist, then it is because you should write it. So long as there are things that should be read, there will be writers to write them.
NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, so now I'm at home, and just a wee bit annoyed. At Starbucks, I had written what I thought was a pretty dang good blog post. And then, when I klicked post, it lost half of it. *Sigh* I will admit to some of the blame due to the fact that I lost track of time. But really, Starbucks! Must I lose all that work because you chose to make the limit two hours instead of two and a half?! I think not!! Well, anyway, I will try to put a bit of the substance back into this post. At least the hard-core-facing-an-issue part didn't get deleted. :)
So, in my original blog post, I quite eloquently thanked my friends who had sent me letters during this year. I just wanted to relate to you that I didn't receive a few until recently because they were sent to my first host family... I'm not quite sure how they got to me! Anyway, your letters pretty much made my week. The start to my week wasn't going so well and it's always nice to know that your friends and family are thinking of you (hopefully fondly!). And then I went on to describe, in detail, how I react to unfavorable and even crappy situations. (Excuse my French.) Basically, I tend to hold it together until the crisis is averted, and then, when I no longer have to make any important decisions, I end up crying because of something as simple as my favorite tube of lipstick breaking. So, really, I'm a good person to have on your side when the going gets tough... just don't expect me to be in the mood to go out for coffee afterwards. ;)
I cannot recall the next section too well, but I remember having written something about the youth of today feeling invincible and therefore not backing up their essays and other work onto external drives/sticks/whatever you use for an info storage thing. Oh, the irony! Speaking of which, time to plug in the laptop so I don't have to face yet ANOTHER technology shortcoming! Losing some of my blog post wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. I could have lost all of it, or worse, my laptop could have been activated by the cube, transforming into a bionic robot, bent on destroying all forms of life on earth. Fortunately, that did not happen, lol. At least, not yet..
I think this is about the original word count that I had the first time I wrote this blog post, so I'll end here, for now. I hope you all have a lovely day and a wonderful weekend. TGWTC, inventing the art of productive chillin'. :)
My family is a bit like this, too. We like to be on the move, doing something, not wasting our time. Oh, there are exceptions to my 8:30 rule. Such as, if I was out partying the night before. Then it is certaintly okay to get eight to ten hours of sleep, lol. I'll let you speculate as to when I get back after a club night with friends. ;) Also, the first two days of break, I can sleep in without feeling bad about it or anything. And yes, it is odd that I have a criteria that dictates when and how much I should sleep, but hey, it helps me.
The reason I even wanted to get up fairly early today was so I could get to Starbucks, which as everyone knows, is the plethera of yummy coffee, free wifi, and a relaxing yet productive atmosphere. I feel proud that I have graduated from hanging out at the mall to claiming my comfy chair with small side table at Starbucks. Like Tom Sawyer when he testifies an evil which he knows will then threaten his life because of his action, I am growing up. (Note: You do not have to like coffee to be an adult. This is a myth!! Or alcohol, for that matter. So don't make fun of me when we're at a bar and I order a milkshake or hot chocolate. Thank you.)
There's another thing about growing up: peer pressure. I never thought I'd encounter this; it just seems like such a brainless thing that someone would judge you because you always order something non-alcoholic. I mean, most of the time it's just that you have to say no every time and come off as a sour puss or the baby, even though you may be older than the majority of people who are drinking. You may seem to be not so adventurous because you don't want to try smoking or ever get drunk just to see what it feels like, or in more serious situations, because you have no interest in trying a drug.
But as long as you have confidence in yourself and your decision, nothing can get to you. I will admit that I have tried a few alcoholic beverages, and they all taste absolutely nasty to me. And I do not like the feeling of fumes rising up my nasal cavity. (This could just be a mental reaction, but I swear it feels like it irritates my nose, lol.) Maybe when I'm older, my taste buds will change, and I may appreciate a drink with my dinner, but for now, no thanks. And I never want to get drunk. You miss out on so much, and a lot of the time, you can say things you didn't mean to say and do things you didn't mean to do. And it can still sting someone else even if they say to themselves, he's drunk, he doesn't mean those things. Because there's always that doubt, that maybe he did mean it, he just never said it before because he had a filter between what he thought and what he said.
I am in no way saying that people shouldn't have a good time. But why are the concepts of getting drunk and having a good time seemingly always connected to one another? Do people just want an excuse to do things they would never attempt while sober? Why should people get a hall pass for messing up "because [they] were drunk"?
And a few words about drugs. Even if they aren't addictive, they are harmful. First they burn through your wallet, then through the people you love and care about, and all the while through your body. I was offered a cigarette at a bar once here, and I declined it. The scary thing is how easy it would have been for someone in my position to take it. More kids smoke in Germany than in America, at least from my experience, and it is almost comic how incredibly simple it would be to acquire cigarettes over here. Which is why all those drug free lessons we had in elementary school are sometimes completely ineffective. Because what it really comes down to is you. Whether you can overcome the curiosity and, for lack of a better word, temptation of drugs. It's up to you; I have no influence. I am just a bunch of black and white pixels on a screen. But know that the people you socialize with will not have to live with your decisions; you will.
Well, sorry to be so somber, but that just felt like something I should get out there. I've recently come across a writer's concept which has been ringing pretty true lately. That if there is something you would like to read about, or that you think should be read, that is not availabe or does not yet exist, then it is because you should write it. So long as there are things that should be read, there will be writers to write them.
NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, so now I'm at home, and just a wee bit annoyed. At Starbucks, I had written what I thought was a pretty dang good blog post. And then, when I klicked post, it lost half of it. *Sigh* I will admit to some of the blame due to the fact that I lost track of time. But really, Starbucks! Must I lose all that work because you chose to make the limit two hours instead of two and a half?! I think not!! Well, anyway, I will try to put a bit of the substance back into this post. At least the hard-core-facing-an-issue part didn't get deleted. :)
So, in my original blog post, I quite eloquently thanked my friends who had sent me letters during this year. I just wanted to relate to you that I didn't receive a few until recently because they were sent to my first host family... I'm not quite sure how they got to me! Anyway, your letters pretty much made my week. The start to my week wasn't going so well and it's always nice to know that your friends and family are thinking of you (hopefully fondly!). And then I went on to describe, in detail, how I react to unfavorable and even crappy situations. (Excuse my French.) Basically, I tend to hold it together until the crisis is averted, and then, when I no longer have to make any important decisions, I end up crying because of something as simple as my favorite tube of lipstick breaking. So, really, I'm a good person to have on your side when the going gets tough... just don't expect me to be in the mood to go out for coffee afterwards. ;)
I cannot recall the next section too well, but I remember having written something about the youth of today feeling invincible and therefore not backing up their essays and other work onto external drives/sticks/whatever you use for an info storage thing. Oh, the irony! Speaking of which, time to plug in the laptop so I don't have to face yet ANOTHER technology shortcoming! Losing some of my blog post wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. I could have lost all of it, or worse, my laptop could have been activated by the cube, transforming into a bionic robot, bent on destroying all forms of life on earth. Fortunately, that did not happen, lol. At least, not yet..
I think this is about the original word count that I had the first time I wrote this blog post, so I'll end here, for now. I hope you all have a lovely day and a wonderful weekend. TGWTC, inventing the art of productive chillin'. :)
2.5.11
My Two Cents
Hello Everybody! I hope that you are all having a good day, and if not, then I hope it gets better. :) Sometimes life throws you curveballs: for example, an odd bugbite that hurts when you touch it, a German telling you how to play basketball, coming to the realization that you will NEVER be a composer, walking the beagle in 10 degree celcius weather. But after all of that, tomarrow is going to be another day.
Time just keeps coming at you, not stopping, not even slowing. Someone once said, "Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived." (For you other Trekkies out there, yes, that was a Picard quote from the movie Star Trek: Generations.) No matter your opinion of Star Trek (*cough* IT RULES! *cough*), the idea of time being a friend is a pretty insightful one. So whatever life threw at you today, take a breather and remember to "Just keep swimming!"
So, down to business. The last two weeks were my Easter break, which is now over. Today, being the first day back after a very relaxing and independent break, was probably the worst. In Fitness, I discovered that I do not, in fact, possess frog DNA. And there was a very interesting slide show about the Holocaust in my history class. The presentation was accurate, but what really interested me were my German classmates' reactions. Like most non-psychotic human beings, they sobered up pretty quickly. And that was about it. The solemnity weighed down the room like a canvas tent that had suddenly deflated, but other than that, just human beings learning about a darker point in human history.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the LA Times Festival of Books this year. (If you haven't guessed by now, I'm in a country whose name begins with "Germ-" and ends with "-many.") Some of the things I missed this year: author panels, lemon shaved ice, the cute little Japanese erasers and pens, and BOOKS. I am a book fanatic. Anyone who has seen my overflowing book cases will know that.
Well, I think this may be a bit of a shorter, not-so-hilarious blog post. I'm plum tuckered out from Fitness today (and yes, a German told the American she was playing basketball wrong..), so not to be narcissistic, but I think I have earned a little me time today. :) Take care! TGWTC, aka temporary zombie due to too much exercise.
Time just keeps coming at you, not stopping, not even slowing. Someone once said, "Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived." (For you other Trekkies out there, yes, that was a Picard quote from the movie Star Trek: Generations.) No matter your opinion of Star Trek (*cough* IT RULES! *cough*), the idea of time being a friend is a pretty insightful one. So whatever life threw at you today, take a breather and remember to "Just keep swimming!"
So, down to business. The last two weeks were my Easter break, which is now over. Today, being the first day back after a very relaxing and independent break, was probably the worst. In Fitness, I discovered that I do not, in fact, possess frog DNA. And there was a very interesting slide show about the Holocaust in my history class. The presentation was accurate, but what really interested me were my German classmates' reactions. Like most non-psychotic human beings, they sobered up pretty quickly. And that was about it. The solemnity weighed down the room like a canvas tent that had suddenly deflated, but other than that, just human beings learning about a darker point in human history.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the LA Times Festival of Books this year. (If you haven't guessed by now, I'm in a country whose name begins with "Germ-" and ends with "-many.") Some of the things I missed this year: author panels, lemon shaved ice, the cute little Japanese erasers and pens, and BOOKS. I am a book fanatic. Anyone who has seen my overflowing book cases will know that.
Well, I think this may be a bit of a shorter, not-so-hilarious blog post. I'm plum tuckered out from Fitness today (and yes, a German told the American she was playing basketball wrong..), so not to be narcissistic, but I think I have earned a little me time today. :) Take care! TGWTC, aka temporary zombie due to too much exercise.
18.4.11
Hop, Hop, Hippity, Hop
Whew! It's only 3 in the afternoon, and I'm already beat! Right now I'm sitting in the Fantasia del Gelato Cafe with a 2/3 finished "After Eight" glass of ice cream in front of me. Let me just say that the Eis cafes in Germany are pretty darn amazing. Their picturesque towers of ice cream in artistic glass bowls are meant to be admired and then devoured. So, basically, it's a pretty damn good bowl of ice cream. Of course, the fancy-schmancy mints with which they topped my ice cream raise the price a little (which is why I have waited eight months to get one..). But you can't really blame them when your tastebuds are screaming, BELGIAN CHOCOLATE!!!
Now you may be thinking, oh, goddness, how am I going to get rid of all the deliciousness I just consumed. Well, I have a solution for you: go to the Berlin Zoo! I did earlier today, and I walked around for three hours. I didn't realize how excited I'd be when I saw the African lions, and Bengal tigers, and polar bears- oh my!
Speaking of polar bears, in case you haven't heard, I should take upon myself the sad task of informing you that (If you are reading this to your children, I beg you to skip to the next section; this could really hurt their little hearts!) Knut [pronounced ka-NOO-t, but in one syllable] died earlier this Spring from causes yet unknown. Investigation into the zoo's poster-animal's untimely death has revealed that Knut may have suffered from a brain condition such as epilepsy, an attack of which may have instigated the animal's death.
Okay, so I know that none of MY readers would EVER be immature enough to laugh at this, but in case there is someone out there who just happened to laugh at this news, let me tell you something. Knut was abandoned by his mother when he was just a young cub. He grew up in the Berlin Zoo and was mothered by a zoo keeper. When he came into contact with other polar bears, Knut had just as much if not more trouble making friends as you on your first day of school. He captured the hearts of millions of visitors from around the world, just by being himself. So let him go with dignity, and remember him for the great animal he was. Rest in peace, Knut.
Sidenote: Knut's death has rocked Germany. Everyone (myself included) could not believe what they were hearing when Knut's death was made public. Oh, and polar bear stuffed animal sales have gone up by like 100%.
All done with my ice cream now. (By the way, "After Eight" means mint over here. I was completely unaware of this before I came to Germany... O.O) Now I understand why so many writers go to cafes to write. The atmosphere is so nice; a little background noise, maybe a little music, nice comfy chair, and no need to worry about getting food, lol. It's so nice to just sit and write and RELAX.
But you don't want to read about that, hahaha. Who ever read a book about someone who just sits around relaxing?! What a boring idea for a story!!
So, on to the adventure of the asian supermarket! I had been walking along the street in the close-to-blazing sun. My feet were beginning to scream uncle, so I decided to call it a day and hop on a bus and head home... but two stops later, I saw this asian supermarket! Going with my gut, I jumped off the bus and headed through the door. You know that fear when you walk into a completely culturally different store and you're clearly the only *cough* white *cough* duck out of water? Well, after meandering around Mitzua Marketplace AND going to the Nisei Week Parade in LA about half a dozen years in a row, I am pretty much fearless when it comes to being the only cuacasian in the room. (Oh, and did I mention I went to Japan as a kid?)
Today, I was on a hunt for something. The surprisingly ellusive Japanese treat known as Mochi. I had just about run out of aisles when I found some! And pocki sticks! And candy with edible rice paper! It was like finding a jackpot on Treasure Island! Man, you have no idea how thrilled I was. Gee, I hope the cashier wasn't too freaked out by my cheshire-cat-worthy grin...
When I get back, I am going to make, I mean... encourage my host family to try some of my Japanese treats! ;) Woohoo for multiculturalism! (It's supposedly what got Elle into Harvard.) TGWTC, munchin' on mochi!
Now you may be thinking, oh, goddness, how am I going to get rid of all the deliciousness I just consumed. Well, I have a solution for you: go to the Berlin Zoo! I did earlier today, and I walked around for three hours. I didn't realize how excited I'd be when I saw the African lions, and Bengal tigers, and polar bears- oh my!
Speaking of polar bears, in case you haven't heard, I should take upon myself the sad task of informing you that (If you are reading this to your children, I beg you to skip to the next section; this could really hurt their little hearts!) Knut [pronounced ka-NOO-t, but in one syllable] died earlier this Spring from causes yet unknown. Investigation into the zoo's poster-animal's untimely death has revealed that Knut may have suffered from a brain condition such as epilepsy, an attack of which may have instigated the animal's death.
Okay, so I know that none of MY readers would EVER be immature enough to laugh at this, but in case there is someone out there who just happened to laugh at this news, let me tell you something. Knut was abandoned by his mother when he was just a young cub. He grew up in the Berlin Zoo and was mothered by a zoo keeper. When he came into contact with other polar bears, Knut had just as much if not more trouble making friends as you on your first day of school. He captured the hearts of millions of visitors from around the world, just by being himself. So let him go with dignity, and remember him for the great animal he was. Rest in peace, Knut.
Sidenote: Knut's death has rocked Germany. Everyone (myself included) could not believe what they were hearing when Knut's death was made public. Oh, and polar bear stuffed animal sales have gone up by like 100%.
All done with my ice cream now. (By the way, "After Eight" means mint over here. I was completely unaware of this before I came to Germany... O.O) Now I understand why so many writers go to cafes to write. The atmosphere is so nice; a little background noise, maybe a little music, nice comfy chair, and no need to worry about getting food, lol. It's so nice to just sit and write and RELAX.
But you don't want to read about that, hahaha. Who ever read a book about someone who just sits around relaxing?! What a boring idea for a story!!
So, on to the adventure of the asian supermarket! I had been walking along the street in the close-to-blazing sun. My feet were beginning to scream uncle, so I decided to call it a day and hop on a bus and head home... but two stops later, I saw this asian supermarket! Going with my gut, I jumped off the bus and headed through the door. You know that fear when you walk into a completely culturally different store and you're clearly the only *cough* white *cough* duck out of water? Well, after meandering around Mitzua Marketplace AND going to the Nisei Week Parade in LA about half a dozen years in a row, I am pretty much fearless when it comes to being the only cuacasian in the room. (Oh, and did I mention I went to Japan as a kid?)
Today, I was on a hunt for something. The surprisingly ellusive Japanese treat known as Mochi. I had just about run out of aisles when I found some! And pocki sticks! And candy with edible rice paper! It was like finding a jackpot on Treasure Island! Man, you have no idea how thrilled I was. Gee, I hope the cashier wasn't too freaked out by my cheshire-cat-worthy grin...
When I get back, I am going to make, I mean... encourage my host family to try some of my Japanese treats! ;) Woohoo for multiculturalism! (It's supposedly what got Elle into Harvard.) TGWTC, munchin' on mochi!
17.4.11
Almost-Sunny Berlin
It is a wonderful day in Berlin, everyone. The weather is like Goldilocks, and the all-around mood is lazy contentment. I myself am sitting on a low cement wall encircling a patch of grass in front of the Berlin Dom. Across the river to my right is a flea/art market which I strolled through before sitting down at this lovely location to type a little bit.
There are so many upsides to Spring that I never even noticed before; changing seasons is something new to this California girl. People go out just to be outside, they relax and meander through the steadily blooming parks and green places in the city.
Okay, side-note here. This is the third time that someone has come up to me asking for money, and in the same manner, too. I gave a little to the first woman who asked me just to be charitable, but this is really getting out of hand. The second and third human beings who asked me for money were both children. The indignity of the whole thing is beginning to get on my nerves. I mean, it is altogether too obvious that they are working together, and I’m not sure if I believe that story of theirs either. Well, I just hope that they haven’t resorted to pick-pocketing.
Okay, fourth person, a woman again, just came up to me! Gosh dang it, can a writer have no peace? Must we always be forced to think of world hunger, and the suffering of others, and whether or not someone is trying to con you? I do recognize that helping others is an important piece to being a complete person, but if a group of people are going to go around asking for money, could they not, oh, I don’t know, give me a sign to put on my forehead saying, “I gave your group a euro”?
Well, due to these circumstances, I think I shall save and make the trek to Starbucks. Besides, the sun is a bit bright (God, third child asking for money!!) for my laptop anyway. Okay, I need to get out of here before I go on a weird guilt trip or something. See you in a bit!
A little later: Hello! I'm back! I have made it to Starbucks without getting trampled by tourists or sidetracked by sweets! Although I may just have to get a crepe later, hehehe. ;)
Speaking of tourists, guess what!! It's TOURIST SEASON!!! This is both a good and a not-so-good thing. On thee one hand, tourists mean that there is suddenly a lot more to do in Berlin. People open shop, Spring carnivals are starting, and the city bustle is just that much more apparent. The down side is that prices do go up a bit, and sometimes you can be mistaken for a tourist if you speak a language other than German.
Sometimes being a tourist is fun, especially when one does so in one's own city. ;) Then it's REALLY fun! I have every intention of speaking German whenever possible when I get back to the US. Washington, DC, and Disneyland should be especially interesting places for my little experiment. The question is this: Could I pass myself off as a German tourist in America?? And here is a special notice for everyone who hangs out with me: If you blow my cover, I will shout at you in German. It is not a pleasant experience, trust me. So just don't blow it please.
Well the plan for the rest of this afternoon is to go with a friend to a large swap meet. (Remember, this is Berlin. Not everything is smaller here. Except the cars... Yeap, the cars will never reach big ol' American truck status, lol.) And then tomorrow is a Berlin Zoo day. I am going to get there relatively early, walk around a lot, and have a blast reminiscing on my childhood. I may have to buy a hat, just so that I can look like a silly zoo enthusiast.
This has been a very relaxing first Sunday of my Easter Break. Thanks to everyone who reads this blog. It's nice to know that this blog isn't wasting away on the outskirts of the world wide web, never to be read. (Sorry if that image brought you down any!) Anyway, I'm off to have a lovely rest of my Sunday! Tschuss!! TGWTC
(P.S. Happy belated Birthday to my brother back home! Love you, dude!)
There are so many upsides to Spring that I never even noticed before; changing seasons is something new to this California girl. People go out just to be outside, they relax and meander through the steadily blooming parks and green places in the city.
Okay, side-note here. This is the third time that someone has come up to me asking for money, and in the same manner, too. I gave a little to the first woman who asked me just to be charitable, but this is really getting out of hand. The second and third human beings who asked me for money were both children. The indignity of the whole thing is beginning to get on my nerves. I mean, it is altogether too obvious that they are working together, and I’m not sure if I believe that story of theirs either. Well, I just hope that they haven’t resorted to pick-pocketing.
Okay, fourth person, a woman again, just came up to me! Gosh dang it, can a writer have no peace? Must we always be forced to think of world hunger, and the suffering of others, and whether or not someone is trying to con you? I do recognize that helping others is an important piece to being a complete person, but if a group of people are going to go around asking for money, could they not, oh, I don’t know, give me a sign to put on my forehead saying, “I gave your group a euro”?
Well, due to these circumstances, I think I shall save and make the trek to Starbucks. Besides, the sun is a bit bright (God, third child asking for money!!) for my laptop anyway. Okay, I need to get out of here before I go on a weird guilt trip or something. See you in a bit!
A little later: Hello! I'm back! I have made it to Starbucks without getting trampled by tourists or sidetracked by sweets! Although I may just have to get a crepe later, hehehe. ;)
Speaking of tourists, guess what!! It's TOURIST SEASON!!! This is both a good and a not-so-good thing. On thee one hand, tourists mean that there is suddenly a lot more to do in Berlin. People open shop, Spring carnivals are starting, and the city bustle is just that much more apparent. The down side is that prices do go up a bit, and sometimes you can be mistaken for a tourist if you speak a language other than German.
Sometimes being a tourist is fun, especially when one does so in one's own city. ;) Then it's REALLY fun! I have every intention of speaking German whenever possible when I get back to the US. Washington, DC, and Disneyland should be especially interesting places for my little experiment. The question is this: Could I pass myself off as a German tourist in America?? And here is a special notice for everyone who hangs out with me: If you blow my cover, I will shout at you in German. It is not a pleasant experience, trust me. So just don't blow it please.
Well the plan for the rest of this afternoon is to go with a friend to a large swap meet. (Remember, this is Berlin. Not everything is smaller here. Except the cars... Yeap, the cars will never reach big ol' American truck status, lol.) And then tomorrow is a Berlin Zoo day. I am going to get there relatively early, walk around a lot, and have a blast reminiscing on my childhood. I may have to buy a hat, just so that I can look like a silly zoo enthusiast.
This has been a very relaxing first Sunday of my Easter Break. Thanks to everyone who reads this blog. It's nice to know that this blog isn't wasting away on the outskirts of the world wide web, never to be read. (Sorry if that image brought you down any!) Anyway, I'm off to have a lovely rest of my Sunday! Tschuss!! TGWTC
(P.S. Happy belated Birthday to my brother back home! Love you, dude!)
14.4.11
Dieting in Germany and Other Myths
Dear Reader, I have something to tell you in this post that may startle you. Are you sitting down? I don't believe that you are sitting down. Because in the time it takes for the average person to read that four-word sentence, you could not have gracefully pulled up a chair, while reading, and sat down. Now, you could have plonked yourself on the carpet, but, dear Reader, I know from personal experience that to go from a standing position to a sitting lotus position with laptop in hand can be a jolting, if not completely traumatizing thing to go through. If you are still reading this and have not already sat down, then I advise you to do so now. I will even be so kind as to insert a paragraph break here. :)
(Note: Most people sit when they surf online. Four-legged creatures, Fish, and the Flash do not apply to this scenario. A lot of the people who read my blog refuse to put the book down in the middle of a paragraph. Therefore, for my standing, two-legged friends, the paragraph break, lol.)
Anyway, back to the awful and all-too apparent truth: It is nearly impossible to diet in Deutschland. At least, for us American kids it is!! I mean, their bread and chocolate is just so dang good! And, if you have ever heard of Nutella, you will know that these wonderful Europeans have invented a way to combine the two! And it's considered an appropriate breakfast food as well! (Chocolate Croissonts are a different category entirely. They are under the "pastry" instead of "bread" section.)
With all the wonderful, delicious calories, it's just altogether too difficult to diet. Possible solution: exercise, or as it's called in Germany: Sport. I myself have become rather fond of a jog every now and then around the neighborhood. (God, I sound like Mr. Collins!! But of course he would have said something like "turn about the grounds." The word jog could have been seen as crude by the upper classes during that time period. Well enough about the pathetically unromantic, could bore an insomniac to sleep, ends up marrying Charlotte [don't worry, I didn't just ruin the WHOLE book] Bennets' cousin.)
Onto this round of Odd Encounters of the European kind:
They have licorice here, but not the long rope kind. It's only in pinwheel form. Black and red, but no vines, like in the USA. I was not aware of this sad fact of life until recently.
It is extremely hilarious when a German teenage boy (typical blonde hair and blue eyes included) sings, "I am the girl with the golden hair," out loud, especially when you know he has a girlfriend.
Being told you wrote the best English essay in front of the class is only slightly less embarassing when you're a foreign exchange student in a country whose native tongue is not that language. In America, the other students blame it on your expanded vocabulary and the stack of books by your bed. In Germany, they blame it on the fact that you have been studying this language every day of your life since you were born. The second can be interpreted as brain wash, and you can't really blame anyone for that. ;)
Differently shaped chocolates taste fancier as well as look it.
The public bathrooms that actually MAKE you pay (turnsdail, who'da thunk?!) are slightly nicer than the regular ones. I vote yes to put a turnsdial bathroom on campus back home. (Yeah, girl! Right after we get the paper towels that aren't made of sand-paper! Like that'll happen... [insert eye roll, if so desired].)
Well, I do have one more day of school before my Easter Break (which I am allowed to call Easter break since that is it's name here), so I had better get an adequate amount of sleep tonight! Hope that wasn't too similar to wading through muck. Until next time, TGWTC!
(Note: Most people sit when they surf online. Four-legged creatures, Fish, and the Flash do not apply to this scenario. A lot of the people who read my blog refuse to put the book down in the middle of a paragraph. Therefore, for my standing, two-legged friends, the paragraph break, lol.)
Anyway, back to the awful and all-too apparent truth: It is nearly impossible to diet in Deutschland. At least, for us American kids it is!! I mean, their bread and chocolate is just so dang good! And, if you have ever heard of Nutella, you will know that these wonderful Europeans have invented a way to combine the two! And it's considered an appropriate breakfast food as well! (Chocolate Croissonts are a different category entirely. They are under the "pastry" instead of "bread" section.)
With all the wonderful, delicious calories, it's just altogether too difficult to diet. Possible solution: exercise, or as it's called in Germany: Sport. I myself have become rather fond of a jog every now and then around the neighborhood. (God, I sound like Mr. Collins!! But of course he would have said something like "turn about the grounds." The word jog could have been seen as crude by the upper classes during that time period. Well enough about the pathetically unromantic, could bore an insomniac to sleep, ends up marrying Charlotte [don't worry, I didn't just ruin the WHOLE book] Bennets' cousin.)
Onto this round of Odd Encounters of the European kind:
They have licorice here, but not the long rope kind. It's only in pinwheel form. Black and red, but no vines, like in the USA. I was not aware of this sad fact of life until recently.
It is extremely hilarious when a German teenage boy (typical blonde hair and blue eyes included) sings, "I am the girl with the golden hair," out loud, especially when you know he has a girlfriend.
Being told you wrote the best English essay in front of the class is only slightly less embarassing when you're a foreign exchange student in a country whose native tongue is not that language. In America, the other students blame it on your expanded vocabulary and the stack of books by your bed. In Germany, they blame it on the fact that you have been studying this language every day of your life since you were born. The second can be interpreted as brain wash, and you can't really blame anyone for that. ;)
Differently shaped chocolates taste fancier as well as look it.
The public bathrooms that actually MAKE you pay (turnsdail, who'da thunk?!) are slightly nicer than the regular ones. I vote yes to put a turnsdial bathroom on campus back home. (Yeah, girl! Right after we get the paper towels that aren't made of sand-paper! Like that'll happen... [insert eye roll, if so desired].)
Well, I do have one more day of school before my Easter Break (which I am allowed to call Easter break since that is it's name here), so I had better get an adequate amount of sleep tonight! Hope that wasn't too similar to wading through muck. Until next time, TGWTC!
4.4.11
Blumen! Sonne!! Bauschmerzen...
Scene: Lovely day outside, birds singing, flowers blooming, pretty pretty yada yada. Girl sitting inside at her computer with a stomach ache...
Yes, this is me at the moment, unfortunately. But on the upside, I decided that I should probably write another blog post. So here you go, it may not be very long, though. It all depends on if I end up getting too drowsy to write, lol.
For starters, has everyone heard?! It's spring!! Flowers are popping out of the ground, well, like daisies, lol. I finally understand where that phrase comes from.. The weather's been fluctuating a bit, but when the sun's out, it's out!! It was so warm yesterday that I had to take my jacket off (which, in case you didn't know, is warm for Deutschland).
I went on a weekend trip to Bonn/Koeln (Cologne) a little while ago. It was so much fun, and I got to see everything while enjoying the nice spring weather! One of the highlights was the Schokolade Museum. Yes, you guessed it. That translates to (trumpets) the Chocolate Museum!!! (And before you ask, no, it is not made of chocolate. It is your fault if you go and get kicked out for chomping on the cornerstone. And no, I will not know you and help you out of the situation with my basic german skills, lol.)
This place was like Willy Wonka's factory. My favorite room in the museum has to be (the giftshop doesn't count; I would say the giftshop, but then the people who know me know that I usually like giftshops, hahaha) the room where people were decorating all the chocolate figurines. This one woman was painting the inside of a mold with white chocolate so as to achieve the different colored hexagons on a soccer ball. (They are hexagons, right?) And there was also a workshop where people were learning to make truffles! They even had a truffle machine!!! Hey, Santa? Uh.. I sorta kinda would like one of those if you can fit it on the sleigh this year. ;)
A brief note to my brother back in LA. Dude, I would have totally gotten you one of those chocolate soccer balls if there would have been any chance that it would have come through the mail un-destroyed. But alas, we have yet to invent an international system which is reliable and delicate, lol.
Oh, so I went to what was like a swap meet yesterday. (It was one of the only things open, besides restaurants. Sundays can be really annoying if you don't have a list of things to do!) It was lovely weather (Did I already talk about the weather? Oh, well, I think I can go a little crazy about it after the cold icy snowy cold rainy icy MONTHS that we had.)
It was actually a rather large market, much like the ones I'm used to in LA. It was so much fun to just go around with friends for a while and look at all the crazy stuff! One guy had a pair of helmets from WWII and let me just say that if you want to find something with communist symbols on it, look in a German swap meet, hahaha.
Well, I suppose that that's all I'm going to write for the present. I hope that wasn't too bad! Until next time, TGWATA (That Girl With A Tummy Ache)!
Yes, this is me at the moment, unfortunately. But on the upside, I decided that I should probably write another blog post. So here you go, it may not be very long, though. It all depends on if I end up getting too drowsy to write, lol.
For starters, has everyone heard?! It's spring!! Flowers are popping out of the ground, well, like daisies, lol. I finally understand where that phrase comes from.. The weather's been fluctuating a bit, but when the sun's out, it's out!! It was so warm yesterday that I had to take my jacket off (which, in case you didn't know, is warm for Deutschland).
I went on a weekend trip to Bonn/Koeln (Cologne) a little while ago. It was so much fun, and I got to see everything while enjoying the nice spring weather! One of the highlights was the Schokolade Museum. Yes, you guessed it. That translates to (trumpets) the Chocolate Museum!!! (And before you ask, no, it is not made of chocolate. It is your fault if you go and get kicked out for chomping on the cornerstone. And no, I will not know you and help you out of the situation with my basic german skills, lol.)
This place was like Willy Wonka's factory. My favorite room in the museum has to be (the giftshop doesn't count; I would say the giftshop, but then the people who know me know that I usually like giftshops, hahaha) the room where people were decorating all the chocolate figurines. This one woman was painting the inside of a mold with white chocolate so as to achieve the different colored hexagons on a soccer ball. (They are hexagons, right?) And there was also a workshop where people were learning to make truffles! They even had a truffle machine!!! Hey, Santa? Uh.. I sorta kinda would like one of those if you can fit it on the sleigh this year. ;)
A brief note to my brother back in LA. Dude, I would have totally gotten you one of those chocolate soccer balls if there would have been any chance that it would have come through the mail un-destroyed. But alas, we have yet to invent an international system which is reliable and delicate, lol.
Oh, so I went to what was like a swap meet yesterday. (It was one of the only things open, besides restaurants. Sundays can be really annoying if you don't have a list of things to do!) It was lovely weather (Did I already talk about the weather? Oh, well, I think I can go a little crazy about it after the cold icy snowy cold rainy icy MONTHS that we had.)
It was actually a rather large market, much like the ones I'm used to in LA. It was so much fun to just go around with friends for a while and look at all the crazy stuff! One guy had a pair of helmets from WWII and let me just say that if you want to find something with communist symbols on it, look in a German swap meet, hahaha.
Well, I suppose that that's all I'm going to write for the present. I hope that wasn't too bad! Until next time, TGWATA (That Girl With A Tummy Ache)!
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