I don't really know how to begin this post other than to jump right into what's been happening in my life. If you're still keeping up with this, than you're clearly fascinated with my adventures, and are eagerly anticipating the next episode, so therefore I will not delay you the pleasure of reading it any longer (and if you think I'm being seriousl than you clearly do not know me well).
Monday morning was spent in class, where I took my first German exam. It went fairly well, as I got ninety percent on it. I'm content. Following that, I hung around the study center for a while working on my homework, and then headed off to explore around Alexanderplatz yet again. I'm not quite sure why I enjoy that area greatly, but there's always something to look at or someone to observe, so maybe that's why. This time I wandered along the Spree River, to the Marienkirche, ruins of the Franciscan Monastery and to a part of the old city wall.
The first site is one of the oldest churches in Berlin and contains a pulpit sculpted by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, one of Berlin's most influential architects. I spent about twenty minutes in the church, soaking up the architecture, and then moved on. The Monastery dates back to the mid-thirteenth century, and was destroyed in World War II, with only the shell of the outer walls left behind. Its gates were closed, but from what I understand, it is used as a venue for summer concerts and events at times. A fifteen-foot long section of the old city wall stood nearby. Afterwards, I called it a day and headed home.
The next day was Touro Tuesday, my day spent at the program's partner college that is a twenty-minute train ride, a ten-minute train ride, a ten minute bus-ride and a ten minute walk away from where I live. The classes weren't particularly exciting, nor was most of the day. However, that evening was Stammtisch, a regularly gathering of the group at a local bar. I met up with one of my local friends and a program friend, and we went there together.
Two new programs have arrived in the past two weeks that are also based out of the study center, so one of the groups was there, doe-eyed and new to the city as one could instantly see by the fact that upon getting off the tram, they were unwilling to leave the station platform at all, as they didn't know where they were located or in what direction they had to travel. Ultimately, some of us in my program had to go fetch them from the stop, as we had been on the same tram with them and had attemped to let them figure it out on their own (hey, it's Berlin, sink or swim).
Anyway, I stray. Stammtisch was fairly relaxed, as my two friends and I had a few drinks and then decided to head to the ping-pong bar that two of us had previously visited in our first week of being in Berlin. The bar was as chill as ever, and soon the three of us were engaging in rounds of Around-the-World, beers (and cigarettes in one person's case) in hand. It was a really fun night, and was nice to get away from the large program group and go off on our own.
The next day, three of us met up, had breakfast together and then headed out of the city via the autobahn. And yes, Porches, Mercedes, BMWs, Audis and other fancy cars constantly zoomed by us in the left lane, despite the fact that we were going anywhere from 140 to 160 km/h - do the conversions, folks, that's 87-100 m/h. I've never experienced that type of speed before and it was awesome. Too bad I'm not allowed to drive while here.
Anyway, we first went to Kloster Lehnin, where we explored Lehnin Abbey, a Cistercian monastery that was built in 1180. The church itself is gorgeous, and is built in the style of Brick Gothic. It's a pretty quite town, which was refreshing after spending over a month and a half in cities such as Berlin, Prague and Copenhagen. Following that, we headed to Burg Rabenstein, a castle built around 1300. There we saw a massive falcon, climbed to the top of the castle's tower to see the amazing view of the countryside and had some food at the restaurant in the courtyard. It was a nice day, and spent in wonderful company. Thanks again to my local friend, Fiona, for taking my other friend and myself there.
Afterwards, we drove back to Berlin and I went to a make-up session for last week's architecture class at a restaurant in Prenzlauer Berg. There I had black lemonade (which was actually red), a light local beer and delicious chicken tikka masala with naan bread, all while discussing the merits of Art Nouveau in Prague and Barcelona. Following that, I went home and called it an early night.
Today's agenda consists of classes, German and architecture, with a three and half hour gap in the middle which brings me to the present. This morning I received two letters from friends, both of which contained something that made me laugh from a fraternity composite photo (Hi, Dan), to fraternity chapter bing to a cut out of a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch (Hi, Calvin).
I've received over seven letters since I've been here, and have been incredibly frustrated as I haven't been able to reply due to a lack of stamps. However, on Monday I finally forced myself to wander into my local post office and communicate in terrible German that I needed international stamps. So, friends who are also pen-pals, I'm sorry that I suck at writing back and I promise you will have a reply within the next two weeks, as today I'm going to acquire envelopes.
In other good news, I've found a place to stay in Amsterdam with my friend for spring break, am close to booking my lodgings for Malta, and this Sunday I get to see an old classmate during the day, and my close friend arrives that evening to spend two nights with me. I'm quite excited. Tomorrow, I have an excursion with my architecture class to the Werkbundarchiv, and Saturday the program is visiting Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.
Oh, also, I've been accepted to help with the reconstruction of Günther Schaefer's work Vaterland, on the East Side Gallery this coming Tuesday. So, I will be painting on the actual Berlin Wall, with one of the original artists of the Gallery. Go me.
That's all I have for now. Tschüss!
No comments:
Post a Comment