Right now it is late Saturday night, and I can hear the cars and people on the busy street below me through the open top window in the kitchen. I can hear faint music and people as they stumble, celebrate and try to relax after a long work week. With the window open I find myself appreciating the double-pane windows in the room where my study abroad roommate and I sleep, as they do block most of the sound as well as having two consecutive window sets in series to help block sound and fend off the hot and cold air depending on the time of year. I made the mistake of laying down on my bed after a fun day of walking and sightseeing with a small group from my study abroad program. While I may be almost completely adjusted, with seemingly adhering to my usual early body clock wake up, I am still in what I will refer to as the danger zone for adjusting. It wouldn’t take much to topple all my progress I have built here with time zone adjusting, so I must stay with morning wake ups at the same time and a bedtime range every night. This can be hard with loved ones still on my old time zone and, while it may only be six hours ahead, it is enough of an offset to throw a wrench into the system of cogs. I must sacrifice talking to those at home during their afternoon to get the sleep I need during my night time and I can wake up earlier to catch them before they go to sleep. My mistake resulted in a teleportation through time into the evening still in my bed but I am unaware how many years have passed. I know I will have extreme difficulty getting back to sleep tonight. These things happen might as well be productive while awake.
I don’t have my usual unlimited data plan, or a permanent address so prepaid is the way to go here. I find I have to be mindful(I can hear someone aggressively sneezing repeatedly outside down on the street three floors down) of keeping my data off and turning off auto update on apps and phone updates to make it last for as long as possible. If I run out of data I can simple go to the sim card service provider store at their many locations and add more data onto my plan. I found that one out first hand. I have found my biggest achievements here on a day to day basis are when cashiers, employees at stores, and restaurant waitstaff don’t feel the need to switch to english, which can happen the moment they feel it would be easier for the interaction. I’ve had it happen twice of the many interactions I’ve had so far. The first was in a large tourist section with many stores and I didn’t know the word for box and the cashier was asking if I wanted the shoes I was buying in a box or in a bag and my friend I was with told me what was said and the cashier switched to english, in my mind I could hear myself re-enacting the end of Revenge of the Sith when Vader is told he killed Padme and he lets out, “NOOOOOOOOOOO”, yeah my exact sentiments there bud. The second was when I needed to buy more data, I started off in German but I knew it would be too much to even try to stumble through that with so many unknown words I switched to english and it was fine for this situation and easier for the gentleman helping me. I have tried my best to remove the possibilities for the english switch as much as possible but the fear of failure is something I am coming to embrace as opportunities to grow.
Recently I had to return some shorts I had purchased and it went very smoothly I wanted to exchange them for a bigger size but was told they would have to refund the money back onto my card and then I could go buy the shorts in the size I needed, no english there. I try to fit in as much as possible and get the accent with the language correct so I stay in incognito mode. I am finding my german is expanding at an unprecedented rate. I followed a suggestion from my UNH professor who is here with us, to keep a small notebook on me to put new words in there for everyday use and I can say I’m onto page 6 so far, I know, I know, I’m also impressed. The public transport system is becoming a part of everyday life and it often makes me think about life here. I find myself thinking about people who don't have a car payment and car insurance to pay for, that seemingly extra money unfortunately goes to the higher living costs of living in a city. The costs everywhere else, I will say, I am finding are much lower than that of similar things back home. The sheer volume of fresh food is astounding and even more so the low process you don’t expect to find here.
The Ubahn(subway) stations have food shops in many of them also cafe’s and almost all have free wifi which the same goes for large stores and many cafe’s. I am starting to see how people come here to visit and stay for a lot longer than anticipated sometimes indefinitely, or repeated visits every year. Berlin is really amazing and I’ve only been here little more than a week. (I cn hear someone laughing down in one of the cafe/ bars open right now and it is definitely a fake laugh). I may have already mentioned this but the stores are all very specific with the category of products. Fresh and organic foods, normal groceries, pharmacy, bakeries, hair products, etc. One would need to go to different stores for different things here, or if you are lucky like I am, you can live a few blocks away from a small mall that has a grocery store, a convenience store, an electronics store, a organic foods store, office supplies, and some other odds and ends but also there is another grocery store across the street. There is a large cathedral down there and an U-bahn stop too. I do get tempted by the small bakery at the entrance but I haven’t caved yet. …...for the most part...ok let’s be honest here, I totally caved but not there...yet.
So far I have been to two Biergartens and both times has been an awesome experience. there is outdoor seating at tables with benches or chairs, and there is multiple small room sized buildings around to walk up and order something off the written menu. the food is all amazing and you load up your tray with food, drinks( alcoholic or non) desserts and pretzels and then go up to one of the many cashiers, pay, sit down and enjoy. There has been great weather here with the exception of a surprise thunderstorm, which was while we were inside a museum so no harm done, no one melted. the temperatures here have been ten to twenty degree hotter than my New Hampshire counterparts, which resulted in buying some better hot weather suited clothes from a store called Decathalon over at Alexander Platz. It is a sports equipment store that has incredible prices and great products, and was suggested to me by my UNH professor, who is here with us.
We have had a number of sightseeing and cultural outings, it is incredible to see the history here and not just the WWII time frame either. There is a really rich culture and history from all points in time here and the various agencies do a fantastic job of preserving as much as possible to share with the world. From historic buildings and landmarks to grand pieces of art and all the way down to small pieces and items from history to help tell the stories. The museums are incredibly beautiful and are full of this rich history with great guides ready to give a peek into history. there are so many museums, landmarks and memorials, I hope I can see them all. I have seen a few but the most emotional for me was the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It is such an incredible memorial, while I was severely put off by the behavior of some of the people visiting the memorial, I still felt moved immensely while I was there and after it, even now still as well.
I have found the classes to be such in an incredible thing. The classes are tough exclusively in German with brief ventures of a word here or there in another language if needed but that is rare. The students here all have German language as the commonality, and often that is the only common language shared so we must use a various collection of different levels German we have to communicate with each other. There are those who know english but that isn’t why we are here. It can feel like a relief from the language anxiety but you are only taking steps back by switching out of german and back to english. My German, like I said earlier, it progressing at an exponential rate but it seems to stumble when I use english and takes a bit to go back up to full speed(well my full speed). It is incredible how words in German re now becoming knowledge without an english negotiator. It can be unnerving realizing I knew what was said without using english in the middle but it is also a great feeling as well. I am very excited for what this summer holds for not only myself but also my fellow students and friends I make. On a side note, we went to the Philharmonic and we all got dressed up. It was an incredible performance but I have never clapped so much in my life, it was almost an arm workout in the end. It is ok because the music was amazing and it was wonderful to have been able to experience that performance.
I don’t have my usual unlimited data plan, or a permanent address so prepaid is the way to go here. I find I have to be mindful(I can hear someone aggressively sneezing repeatedly outside down on the street three floors down) of keeping my data off and turning off auto update on apps and phone updates to make it last for as long as possible. If I run out of data I can simple go to the sim card service provider store at their many locations and add more data onto my plan. I found that one out first hand. I have found my biggest achievements here on a day to day basis are when cashiers, employees at stores, and restaurant waitstaff don’t feel the need to switch to english, which can happen the moment they feel it would be easier for the interaction. I’ve had it happen twice of the many interactions I’ve had so far. The first was in a large tourist section with many stores and I didn’t know the word for box and the cashier was asking if I wanted the shoes I was buying in a box or in a bag and my friend I was with told me what was said and the cashier switched to english, in my mind I could hear myself re-enacting the end of Revenge of the Sith when Vader is told he killed Padme and he lets out, “NOOOOOOOOOOO”, yeah my exact sentiments there bud. The second was when I needed to buy more data, I started off in German but I knew it would be too much to even try to stumble through that with so many unknown words I switched to english and it was fine for this situation and easier for the gentleman helping me. I have tried my best to remove the possibilities for the english switch as much as possible but the fear of failure is something I am coming to embrace as opportunities to grow.
Recently I had to return some shorts I had purchased and it went very smoothly I wanted to exchange them for a bigger size but was told they would have to refund the money back onto my card and then I could go buy the shorts in the size I needed, no english there. I try to fit in as much as possible and get the accent with the language correct so I stay in incognito mode. I am finding my german is expanding at an unprecedented rate. I followed a suggestion from my UNH professor who is here with us, to keep a small notebook on me to put new words in there for everyday use and I can say I’m onto page 6 so far, I know, I know, I’m also impressed. The public transport system is becoming a part of everyday life and it often makes me think about life here. I find myself thinking about people who don't have a car payment and car insurance to pay for, that seemingly extra money unfortunately goes to the higher living costs of living in a city. The costs everywhere else, I will say, I am finding are much lower than that of similar things back home. The sheer volume of fresh food is astounding and even more so the low process you don’t expect to find here.
The Ubahn(subway) stations have food shops in many of them also cafe’s and almost all have free wifi which the same goes for large stores and many cafe’s. I am starting to see how people come here to visit and stay for a lot longer than anticipated sometimes indefinitely, or repeated visits every year. Berlin is really amazing and I’ve only been here little more than a week. (I cn hear someone laughing down in one of the cafe/ bars open right now and it is definitely a fake laugh). I may have already mentioned this but the stores are all very specific with the category of products. Fresh and organic foods, normal groceries, pharmacy, bakeries, hair products, etc. One would need to go to different stores for different things here, or if you are lucky like I am, you can live a few blocks away from a small mall that has a grocery store, a convenience store, an electronics store, a organic foods store, office supplies, and some other odds and ends but also there is another grocery store across the street. There is a large cathedral down there and an U-bahn stop too. I do get tempted by the small bakery at the entrance but I haven’t caved yet. …...for the most part...ok let’s be honest here, I totally caved but not there...yet.
So far I have been to two Biergartens and both times has been an awesome experience. there is outdoor seating at tables with benches or chairs, and there is multiple small room sized buildings around to walk up and order something off the written menu. the food is all amazing and you load up your tray with food, drinks( alcoholic or non) desserts and pretzels and then go up to one of the many cashiers, pay, sit down and enjoy. There has been great weather here with the exception of a surprise thunderstorm, which was while we were inside a museum so no harm done, no one melted. the temperatures here have been ten to twenty degree hotter than my New Hampshire counterparts, which resulted in buying some better hot weather suited clothes from a store called Decathalon over at Alexander Platz. It is a sports equipment store that has incredible prices and great products, and was suggested to me by my UNH professor, who is here with us.
We have had a number of sightseeing and cultural outings, it is incredible to see the history here and not just the WWII time frame either. There is a really rich culture and history from all points in time here and the various agencies do a fantastic job of preserving as much as possible to share with the world. From historic buildings and landmarks to grand pieces of art and all the way down to small pieces and items from history to help tell the stories. The museums are incredibly beautiful and are full of this rich history with great guides ready to give a peek into history. there are so many museums, landmarks and memorials, I hope I can see them all. I have seen a few but the most emotional for me was the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It is such an incredible memorial, while I was severely put off by the behavior of some of the people visiting the memorial, I still felt moved immensely while I was there and after it, even now still as well.
I have found the classes to be such in an incredible thing. The classes are tough exclusively in German with brief ventures of a word here or there in another language if needed but that is rare. The students here all have German language as the commonality, and often that is the only common language shared so we must use a various collection of different levels German we have to communicate with each other. There are those who know english but that isn’t why we are here. It can feel like a relief from the language anxiety but you are only taking steps back by switching out of german and back to english. My German, like I said earlier, it progressing at an exponential rate but it seems to stumble when I use english and takes a bit to go back up to full speed(well my full speed). It is incredible how words in German re now becoming knowledge without an english negotiator. It can be unnerving realizing I knew what was said without using english in the middle but it is also a great feeling as well. I am very excited for what this summer holds for not only myself but also my fellow students and friends I make. On a side note, we went to the Philharmonic and we all got dressed up. It was an incredible performance but I have never clapped so much in my life, it was almost an arm workout in the end. It is ok because the music was amazing and it was wonderful to have been able to experience that performance.