On my final full day in Malta, my new friend Jasmine and I decided to visit two of the island's major sites: the Blue Grotto and the temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra. And so, yet again, we boarded another bumpy long bus and traveled to the southern coast of the island.
The Blue Grotto is not actually one grotto, but a series of small caves at the foot of the cliffs that run around the edge of the island. Small boats run by locals run every few minutes, taking tourists through the caves and inlets. Words cannot accurately convey how stunning all of this was.
The water of the Mediterranean was many different shades and tones, due to the playful nature of light outside and within the caves. The cliffs loomed high above, with their white rock face imposing and strong. Waves lapped quietly along the walls of the caves, and more forcefully at the foot of the cliffs. I kept dipping my hand into the water to remind myself that I was in the middle of the Mediterranean, which stretched out flat for hundreds of miles opposite the cliffs. The area was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been and I will not forget the childish wonder I felt while bobbing in and out of caves and looking up at the cliffs over my head.
Afterwards, we watched several owls, a hawk, and other birds of prey fly around at the hands of a local trainer, and then caught the next bus to the temples, a little further down the road. The Hagar Qim temples are the oldest religious site in the world, and are incredibly massive. They are paired with the nearby Mnajdra temples, built for the same reason and by the same people. Not much is really known about these enormous sites. However, I've been wanting to visit them and Malta for over a year after learning about them in one of my history classes. Jasmine and I wandered around the temples, both equally intrigued by their construction and purpose and marveling at the size of the rocks used to construct the structures.
Following that, we caught the next bus to Mdina/Rabat, where we had been the previous day, and grabbed dinner at a small local cafe. I had a massive lasagna that was delicious, and was completely stuffed. However, I had a while to digest it as we waited in frustration for another bus to take us back along the Dingli Cliffs so we could see the sunset. After giving up after over an hour of waiting, we jumped on the bus that would take us home, only to see the bus that we had originally wanted pull in, causing us to promptly get off the bus we were on at the next stop and grab the desired bus.
The ride along the cliffs was bumpy and fast but the sunset that we saw was gorgeous, with the light reflecting off the sea and the sky displaying a fiery red and orange range of colors. All in all, it was the perfect close to my last full day in Malta. After about two hours on buses to return home, I packed my suitcase and called it a night as I had to arise early the next day in order to catch my flight home.
The following morning, I awoke early and left the hostel after bidding Jasmine a quick farewell. We had exchanged addresses and connected on Facebook, in order to stay in touch. I walked to the bus station, reversing the course I had taken every day during my explorations, and sat in the early morning sun, soaking in my last few hours of Malta. It was a little after sunrise, so the light was just starting to rise over some of the buildings and hit Balluta Bay. It was a wonderful compliment to the sunset I had seen the previous night.
The ride to the airport was long and bumpy, as all bus rides tend to be. I arrived, checked in without any issue and went through security in about ten minutes. Then, with several hours to kill, I grabbed a pot of tea and a croissant, claimed a comfy chair, and hung out in one of the airport cafes. Having a cup of tea that tasted just like home was soothing, as I waited to depart for Istanbul.
I was flying to Berlin via Istanbul because it was the cheapest option that did not require me to travel nearly twenty-four hours and have an overnight layover in a Scandinavian country. However, the flight wasn't great, as the adult (yes, adult, not a child) behind me was constantly kicking my seat and the flight attendants missed me a couple times when passing out food and drinks.
Once arrived in Istanbul, I thought I was going to miss my connecting flight and therefore sprinted to the gate, only to find that I was okay. The only thing that sticks out to me in regards to that airport, besides how big it was, is the massive variation in the dress of women. I saw women in hijabs, niqabs, burkas, chadors, khimars, and al-Amiras. I also saw women dressed in low-cut dresses, tank-tops and jeans, long-sleeved shirts, saris, and more. Any type of clothing, it was there.
My flight to Berlin was uneventful, and I eventually arrived in the late afternoon. It was odd being back around German speakers again, but incredibly lovely to be somewhere familiar. My parents met me at my gate, and, as stated in a previous post, it was a wonderful surprise.
That's about it for my spring break summary. Up next, a catch up post on what I've been up to this past week. Tschüss!
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Recapping Spring Break - Day 6 - Malta
Wednesday morning, I once again awoke without any plan in mind. Originally I had thought that I would be able to do all of Malta in several days, but I had underestimated the size of the island. Although it is small, due to the crap bus service, it takes a while to get around. Therefore, I decided early on that I was going to explore at a slower pace, and just take things as they come.
Therefore, when I was pondering what I wished to do, primarily mulling over visiting Mdina, and the Dingli Cliffs, I accepted the offer of company from one of my roommates, a German woman named Jasmine, that I had briefly interacted with the previous day. We quickly became friends, as we spent many an hour on a bus together over the next few days.
The day was spent in the area of Rabat and Mdina, the Silent City and old capital of Malta. It was the sight that Game of Thrones used for King's Landing for the first season before they switched to a city in Croatia. Cars are not allowed within its walls and it's very Mediterranean, and overlooks much of the surrounding island. Located outside its walls is Rabat, another village whose name means suburb in Arabic. There, Jasmine and I explored the Roman house, the only one of its kind on the island, and the catacombs of St. Paul. The catacombs were larger than I expected, fascinating but creepy. They were dimly lit and a maze, and I kept picturing what it would have been like to be in them when they were full. Once we emerged from the darkness, we grabbed a lunch of snacks from a local bakery and munched on them in a local square, soaking up the sun and chatting amicably. The town itself is very Mediterranean, as it felt quite sleepy and quiet, with an occasional bustle of tourists wandering through.
We then took a bus to the Dingli Cliffs, which are 253 meters (830 feet) and are the highest spot in Malta. The view from them overlooking the Mediterranean was truly stunning. The sea stretched for miles around the island with no other land in sight, with the sun shining brightly through thin clouds, shimmering off the waves. Jasmine and I took all of this in, sitting against a stone wall running around the radar dome of the airport, which was located along the cliffs. With the local beer, Cisk, in hand, we relaxed and enjoyed the stunning view until the next bumbling bus arrived, and we began the long bouncy journey home.
That evening, we grabbed food at a local supermarket and had pasta for dinner, where I also sampled the local soda, Kinnie. We shared it with a French young woman, one of our roommates, and one of the Italian men in the hostel. He spoke barely any English, but was always incredibly nice, offering to share food, smiling at everyone and always saying hello. He spoke through the French woman who translated for us, and it was an enjoyable meal, since we all came from incredibly different backgrounds but could bond over food. Definitely a moment to remember. After some tea and a book with Cat Stevens on my lap, I called it a night, remembering with a slight shock that the next day was my last full day in Malta.
Therefore, when I was pondering what I wished to do, primarily mulling over visiting Mdina, and the Dingli Cliffs, I accepted the offer of company from one of my roommates, a German woman named Jasmine, that I had briefly interacted with the previous day. We quickly became friends, as we spent many an hour on a bus together over the next few days.
The day was spent in the area of Rabat and Mdina, the Silent City and old capital of Malta. It was the sight that Game of Thrones used for King's Landing for the first season before they switched to a city in Croatia. Cars are not allowed within its walls and it's very Mediterranean, and overlooks much of the surrounding island. Located outside its walls is Rabat, another village whose name means suburb in Arabic. There, Jasmine and I explored the Roman house, the only one of its kind on the island, and the catacombs of St. Paul. The catacombs were larger than I expected, fascinating but creepy. They were dimly lit and a maze, and I kept picturing what it would have been like to be in them when they were full. Once we emerged from the darkness, we grabbed a lunch of snacks from a local bakery and munched on them in a local square, soaking up the sun and chatting amicably. The town itself is very Mediterranean, as it felt quite sleepy and quiet, with an occasional bustle of tourists wandering through.
We then took a bus to the Dingli Cliffs, which are 253 meters (830 feet) and are the highest spot in Malta. The view from them overlooking the Mediterranean was truly stunning. The sea stretched for miles around the island with no other land in sight, with the sun shining brightly through thin clouds, shimmering off the waves. Jasmine and I took all of this in, sitting against a stone wall running around the radar dome of the airport, which was located along the cliffs. With the local beer, Cisk, in hand, we relaxed and enjoyed the stunning view until the next bumbling bus arrived, and we began the long bouncy journey home.
That evening, we grabbed food at a local supermarket and had pasta for dinner, where I also sampled the local soda, Kinnie. We shared it with a French young woman, one of our roommates, and one of the Italian men in the hostel. He spoke barely any English, but was always incredibly nice, offering to share food, smiling at everyone and always saying hello. He spoke through the French woman who translated for us, and it was an enjoyable meal, since we all came from incredibly different backgrounds but could bond over food. Definitely a moment to remember. After some tea and a book with Cat Stevens on my lap, I called it a night, remembering with a slight shock that the next day was my last full day in Malta.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Recapping Spring Break Recap - Days 4-5 - Malta
Here's the promised recap of my first two days in Malta.
I arrived in Malta early afternoon and stepped out of the airport terminal only to be greeted by brisk winds and a fifteen minute wait for the bus to arrive. Following that it was about an hour bus ride to the stop near my hostel, and an incredibly steep uphill walk to the hostel. However, I was greeted by a cheerful Slovak girl who checked me in partially, and showed my room, where we chatted amicably. I settled in and then decided to explore.
My hostel was located close to Balluta Bay in St. Julians which was incredibly beautiful, with incredibly intense blue waters and sky. I walked along the promenade that ran next to the bay, soaking up the sun and my new location. I browsed through some tourist shops, and grabbed an early dinner at a local Italian cafe. With food in my stomach, I discovered a small marina cove surrounded by nice hotels, and then the shore, which was a rocky beach, filled with tidal pools. While picking up bottles and trash (channeling my parents), I explored along the shore, picking up sea glass and shells and enjoying the wind, the waves and the scenery. It was perfect, as I was totally on my own and at peace with everything that was going on around me. After spending weeks surrounded by people constantly, it was just what I needed.
After exploring the rocky beach, I wandered back around to my starting point and went the opposite way for a bit, where I found a small sandy beach about fifty feet long, where I pulled off my shoes and socks. I waded in the cold but refreshing water, and stuck my feet in the sand, which was therapeutic. I also wandered through the small church (one of the 365 located in Malta) which was gorgeous before heading home to my hostel, via the uphill climb (it was the equivalent of about thirty flights of stairs - I kid you not). On my way to and from the bay, I would always pass a cat colony, consisting of several barrels and containers strapped to a tree that grew next to a wall, in which there was food and bedding for several cats that were always willing to be petted.
Additionally, the hostel that I stayed at also had a resident feline, named Cat Stevens. She was extremely friendly and I quickly became one of her favorite guests, as she learned that I was always willing to pet her and have her on my lap. It became a running joke with all of the other guests, as whenever I sat down, Cat Stevens would jump on my lap and fall asleep. However, after months of not being around animals, it was perfect to have a cat fall asleep on my lap for several hours.
That, combined with the wonderful family atmosphere at the small hostel, I was incredibly satisfied. My first night at the hostel was also an international dinner coordinated by guests and staff, and there were many different dishes cooked and shared, between a Slovak, Italians, Germans, Americans, Brits, French, and more nationalities. Everyone was very relaxed and friendly, and soon I knew many of the people's names (it was a fairly small hostel). Following that, I called it an early night and crashed.
The next morning I awoke without any idea of what I was going to be doing, and found that I thoroughly enjoyed having a lazy morning without having to deal with the needs of anyone else but myself. I had cheap but delicious breakfast at the hostel, wonderful scrambled eggs, baked beans and bread, made at the hands of the hostel owner, and wonderful human all around. Then, I headed out and rode a long bus to the capital of Malta, Valletta.
There, I wandered throughout the city, stopping to browse stores, viewing the waterfront (with cruise ships and oil platforms), wandering through the St. John's Co-Cathedral, which was the baroque style on drugs, and along the old streets and promenades, while munching on a a cheap yummy meat pie from a hole-in-the-wall bakery. I popped into the National Library of Malta, and ogled at the reading and research room. I also wandered into to the St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral where I chatted with one of the docents, a sweet British older man who was curious as to why I was traveling alone, and why I had come to Malta, as it isn't a top destination.
Deciding to call it an early day, I headed back to the hostel via one of Malta's many buses, which has an excellent network but shit timetable, as buses are regularly insanely late or early, and sometimes don't even stop at specified places, despite passengers waiting there. The rides are also long, crowded, and hot, as the routes that I frequented were packed with tourists. However, it was cheap, so I sucked it up and enjoyed people watching. During the late afternoon, after arriving back at my temporary residence, I watched the Julia Robert's movie Erin Brokovich, with some American girls who were killing down before their flight. It was highly enjoyable and Cat Stevens was curled up on my lap as well.
All in all, by the end of the day I had concluded that traveling alone was great, Malta was the perfect place to do so and the next few days were going to be wonderful.
I arrived in Malta early afternoon and stepped out of the airport terminal only to be greeted by brisk winds and a fifteen minute wait for the bus to arrive. Following that it was about an hour bus ride to the stop near my hostel, and an incredibly steep uphill walk to the hostel. However, I was greeted by a cheerful Slovak girl who checked me in partially, and showed my room, where we chatted amicably. I settled in and then decided to explore.
My hostel was located close to Balluta Bay in St. Julians which was incredibly beautiful, with incredibly intense blue waters and sky. I walked along the promenade that ran next to the bay, soaking up the sun and my new location. I browsed through some tourist shops, and grabbed an early dinner at a local Italian cafe. With food in my stomach, I discovered a small marina cove surrounded by nice hotels, and then the shore, which was a rocky beach, filled with tidal pools. While picking up bottles and trash (channeling my parents), I explored along the shore, picking up sea glass and shells and enjoying the wind, the waves and the scenery. It was perfect, as I was totally on my own and at peace with everything that was going on around me. After spending weeks surrounded by people constantly, it was just what I needed.
After exploring the rocky beach, I wandered back around to my starting point and went the opposite way for a bit, where I found a small sandy beach about fifty feet long, where I pulled off my shoes and socks. I waded in the cold but refreshing water, and stuck my feet in the sand, which was therapeutic. I also wandered through the small church (one of the 365 located in Malta) which was gorgeous before heading home to my hostel, via the uphill climb (it was the equivalent of about thirty flights of stairs - I kid you not). On my way to and from the bay, I would always pass a cat colony, consisting of several barrels and containers strapped to a tree that grew next to a wall, in which there was food and bedding for several cats that were always willing to be petted.
Additionally, the hostel that I stayed at also had a resident feline, named Cat Stevens. She was extremely friendly and I quickly became one of her favorite guests, as she learned that I was always willing to pet her and have her on my lap. It became a running joke with all of the other guests, as whenever I sat down, Cat Stevens would jump on my lap and fall asleep. However, after months of not being around animals, it was perfect to have a cat fall asleep on my lap for several hours.
That, combined with the wonderful family atmosphere at the small hostel, I was incredibly satisfied. My first night at the hostel was also an international dinner coordinated by guests and staff, and there were many different dishes cooked and shared, between a Slovak, Italians, Germans, Americans, Brits, French, and more nationalities. Everyone was very relaxed and friendly, and soon I knew many of the people's names (it was a fairly small hostel). Following that, I called it an early night and crashed.
The next morning I awoke without any idea of what I was going to be doing, and found that I thoroughly enjoyed having a lazy morning without having to deal with the needs of anyone else but myself. I had cheap but delicious breakfast at the hostel, wonderful scrambled eggs, baked beans and bread, made at the hands of the hostel owner, and wonderful human all around. Then, I headed out and rode a long bus to the capital of Malta, Valletta.
There, I wandered throughout the city, stopping to browse stores, viewing the waterfront (with cruise ships and oil platforms), wandering through the St. John's Co-Cathedral, which was the baroque style on drugs, and along the old streets and promenades, while munching on a a cheap yummy meat pie from a hole-in-the-wall bakery. I popped into the National Library of Malta, and ogled at the reading and research room. I also wandered into to the St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral where I chatted with one of the docents, a sweet British older man who was curious as to why I was traveling alone, and why I had come to Malta, as it isn't a top destination.
Deciding to call it an early day, I headed back to the hostel via one of Malta's many buses, which has an excellent network but shit timetable, as buses are regularly insanely late or early, and sometimes don't even stop at specified places, despite passengers waiting there. The rides are also long, crowded, and hot, as the routes that I frequented were packed with tourists. However, it was cheap, so I sucked it up and enjoyed people watching. During the late afternoon, after arriving back at my temporary residence, I watched the Julia Robert's movie Erin Brokovich, with some American girls who were killing down before their flight. It was highly enjoyable and Cat Stevens was curled up on my lap as well.
All in all, by the end of the day I had concluded that traveling alone was great, Malta was the perfect place to do so and the next few days were going to be wonderful.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Catching Up...Again
If there was ever a time to play catch up, it is now, as my hostfamily's neighbors are having a party, the walls are thin, and ta-da, my room is closest to the action. Loud music is steadily pumping, so I have some good energy to keep me going.
My apologies for falling behind, but as I stated several times, this final month is flying by, due to so many things going on. I will return to my recounting of my spring break adventures soon, but first I want to cover this past week.
I arrived back into Berlin last Friday afternoon, and one of the first things I saw out of the plane was my father's tall bald head at the arrivals gate, as he and my mother, who are now in town, had decided to meet me there. I could barely speak for the first few minutes as I hugged my mom tightly. It was so overwhelming to have them there and to be able to touch and get hugs from them. Following that, we went to their AirBnB apartment, where we caught up over beers. I was fairly zonked due to having traveled all day, so after a little while I returned home, where my host parents were still up and greeted me happily. It was so nice to be in my own bed for the night, and my parents had brought me clothes that I needed, so I now have several more things to wear, on top of my typical black sweater and scarf outfit. Hoorah!
Saturday was spent walking around Mitte and showing them the main sites, with myself acting as a wonderful tour guide. It was the typical walk down Unter Den Linden, with some detours for other sights as well, and a late lunch where I attempted to use my German with a nice waiter. Afterwards, my father and I went up to the top of the TV tower or Fernsehturm. The view of the city was at first obscured due to a rainstorm, but following that the sun peeked out for a while, causing the buildings to be shiny due to the water, and some rainbows to form. All in all, definitely worth the entrance fee.
Sunday arrived and my host family, myself and my parents had brunch together. At first I was a little nervous as, for me, it was two worlds colliding, in a way that is hard to describe. However, the food was delicious, and all went well. The meal was followed by a walk around Tempelhof and ice cream, as it was a lovely day. Then, my parents and I went to Mauerpark market, while my host family went to a birthday party.
Mauerpark was great, and I intend to return for the rest of my Sundays in Berlin, as now is the time that I should be doing my souvenir shopping. I bought several magnets, a CD, and a shirt of the TV tower and cranes as I wanted to be able to represent and remember Berlin when I return home. We also saw some of the karaoke the market and park are known for, as well as some street performers who were really neat. Two were playing a variety of percussion instruments and had a large crowd of listeners and dancers surrounding them. It was a quite a free and loose performance and atmosphere and very typical Berlin. Following that, we grabbed a late lunch/early dinner at a local Italian restaurant that I'm fond of and then called it a day.
Monday, I spent in class, catching up with friends and homework. It was lovely as the area surrounding my study center has really exploded with spring, and all of the flowers on trees and bushes are blooming in full force. After class, my parents and I found an excellent boat tour for the future, and had a drink in a cafe. The evening consisted of binging the new Game of Thrones episodes and ahhhhhh.
Tuesday was a boring day spent at the partner college. However, on my walk to the campus, I heard a rustling in the woods that border the sidewalk between some of the houses, and saw one of the infamous wild pigs or boars that live in the Grundewald, the big forest in the southwest of the city. It was pretty incredible, and I managed to snap a few photos while worrying that he/she would charge me. However, due to the noise of the group of students following me and the promise of better food, he/she went deeper into the brush.
The following day was spent doing a three-hour River Spree and Landwerhkanal boat tour, which I highly recommend. It was the perfect day for it, not too hot and not too cold, and provided a wonderful overview of Berlin. The crew was incredibly friendly, and although the narration was in German, we were able to get an audio guide which my mother and I split, and then told my father the highlights. After grabbing lunch, we met up with one of my friends and then proceeded to explore the Deutches Technik Museum.
This was interesting, despite the lack of English translations of the placards. If you're searching for the planes, trains, and boats, this was the place to go. From a DC-3 that participated in the Berlin airlift to a NSDAP train, to all other sorts of things, it was a really interesting museum, and I probably could've spent hours there. Afterwards, the four of us headed to a bar/coffeeshop in Kreuzberg that my friend and I are fond of, and ordered a three-liter tap of beer to split, which we enjoyed in the shade of the building, while also soaking up the lovely weather. All in all, it was a long but very good day.
Thursday was another day spent in class, with my stress level slowly beginning to rise, as I have a presentation due in every single class next week, eek. That evening, however, I went to Wannsee, a forty minute commute, to the American Academy to hear a lecture on gender, military and memory in World War II, as it related to the topic of my senior history thesis. While it was a good experience, the talk wasn't what I had hoped it would be and consisted mostly of statistics. I did get some ideas out of it, so all was not lost. Plus, I was also able to see the stars at night and experience the quiet outside of the city while walking back to the S-Bahn station.
Today, myself and my architecture class adventured two hours outside of Berlin to Dessau to see the Bauhaus, which was the site of an architecture movement in the 1920's and 1930's. I expected to the tour and location to be a little boring, but in actuality, it was quite fun and interesting. Our tour guide was friendly, the group was good, and the site itself is very intriguing. We toured the Bauhaus itself, the houses of the Meisters, as well as ate lunch in the bistro and browsed the gift-store. I'm quite happy as I found several new pins and postcards for my collections, and pentominoes, which is a game that I've been wanting since I was about twelve after I read Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett (highly recommend the book and the following series).
I arrived home, expecting to collapse on my bed before dinner, but ended up playing with my host brother and host mom. It was quite fun, as we were pillow fighting, wrestling, and chasing each other. I'm happy as my younger host brother finally had decided that it was okay to climb on me and play with me, something that has taken a while to occur, due to the language and trust barrier. This evening, my host family, my parents and myself went out for dinner at a local Persian restaurant in Kreuzberg. My younger host brother fell asleep at the table, while everyone was chatting. All in all, a wonderful dinner to close a really good day.
Which brings me to where I am now, with a party next door and tiredness calling me to switch off the light and attempt to sleep. We'll see. Tomorrow morning, I hope to write about the rest of spring break before I go to Potsdam with my program. Thanks for sticking around. Tschüss!
My apologies for falling behind, but as I stated several times, this final month is flying by, due to so many things going on. I will return to my recounting of my spring break adventures soon, but first I want to cover this past week.
I arrived back into Berlin last Friday afternoon, and one of the first things I saw out of the plane was my father's tall bald head at the arrivals gate, as he and my mother, who are now in town, had decided to meet me there. I could barely speak for the first few minutes as I hugged my mom tightly. It was so overwhelming to have them there and to be able to touch and get hugs from them. Following that, we went to their AirBnB apartment, where we caught up over beers. I was fairly zonked due to having traveled all day, so after a little while I returned home, where my host parents were still up and greeted me happily. It was so nice to be in my own bed for the night, and my parents had brought me clothes that I needed, so I now have several more things to wear, on top of my typical black sweater and scarf outfit. Hoorah!
Saturday was spent walking around Mitte and showing them the main sites, with myself acting as a wonderful tour guide. It was the typical walk down Unter Den Linden, with some detours for other sights as well, and a late lunch where I attempted to use my German with a nice waiter. Afterwards, my father and I went up to the top of the TV tower or Fernsehturm. The view of the city was at first obscured due to a rainstorm, but following that the sun peeked out for a while, causing the buildings to be shiny due to the water, and some rainbows to form. All in all, definitely worth the entrance fee.
Sunday arrived and my host family, myself and my parents had brunch together. At first I was a little nervous as, for me, it was two worlds colliding, in a way that is hard to describe. However, the food was delicious, and all went well. The meal was followed by a walk around Tempelhof and ice cream, as it was a lovely day. Then, my parents and I went to Mauerpark market, while my host family went to a birthday party.
Mauerpark was great, and I intend to return for the rest of my Sundays in Berlin, as now is the time that I should be doing my souvenir shopping. I bought several magnets, a CD, and a shirt of the TV tower and cranes as I wanted to be able to represent and remember Berlin when I return home. We also saw some of the karaoke the market and park are known for, as well as some street performers who were really neat. Two were playing a variety of percussion instruments and had a large crowd of listeners and dancers surrounding them. It was a quite a free and loose performance and atmosphere and very typical Berlin. Following that, we grabbed a late lunch/early dinner at a local Italian restaurant that I'm fond of and then called it a day.
Monday, I spent in class, catching up with friends and homework. It was lovely as the area surrounding my study center has really exploded with spring, and all of the flowers on trees and bushes are blooming in full force. After class, my parents and I found an excellent boat tour for the future, and had a drink in a cafe. The evening consisted of binging the new Game of Thrones episodes and ahhhhhh.
Tuesday was a boring day spent at the partner college. However, on my walk to the campus, I heard a rustling in the woods that border the sidewalk between some of the houses, and saw one of the infamous wild pigs or boars that live in the Grundewald, the big forest in the southwest of the city. It was pretty incredible, and I managed to snap a few photos while worrying that he/she would charge me. However, due to the noise of the group of students following me and the promise of better food, he/she went deeper into the brush.
The following day was spent doing a three-hour River Spree and Landwerhkanal boat tour, which I highly recommend. It was the perfect day for it, not too hot and not too cold, and provided a wonderful overview of Berlin. The crew was incredibly friendly, and although the narration was in German, we were able to get an audio guide which my mother and I split, and then told my father the highlights. After grabbing lunch, we met up with one of my friends and then proceeded to explore the Deutches Technik Museum.
This was interesting, despite the lack of English translations of the placards. If you're searching for the planes, trains, and boats, this was the place to go. From a DC-3 that participated in the Berlin airlift to a NSDAP train, to all other sorts of things, it was a really interesting museum, and I probably could've spent hours there. Afterwards, the four of us headed to a bar/coffeeshop in Kreuzberg that my friend and I are fond of, and ordered a three-liter tap of beer to split, which we enjoyed in the shade of the building, while also soaking up the lovely weather. All in all, it was a long but very good day.
Thursday was another day spent in class, with my stress level slowly beginning to rise, as I have a presentation due in every single class next week, eek. That evening, however, I went to Wannsee, a forty minute commute, to the American Academy to hear a lecture on gender, military and memory in World War II, as it related to the topic of my senior history thesis. While it was a good experience, the talk wasn't what I had hoped it would be and consisted mostly of statistics. I did get some ideas out of it, so all was not lost. Plus, I was also able to see the stars at night and experience the quiet outside of the city while walking back to the S-Bahn station.
Today, myself and my architecture class adventured two hours outside of Berlin to Dessau to see the Bauhaus, which was the site of an architecture movement in the 1920's and 1930's. I expected to the tour and location to be a little boring, but in actuality, it was quite fun and interesting. Our tour guide was friendly, the group was good, and the site itself is very intriguing. We toured the Bauhaus itself, the houses of the Meisters, as well as ate lunch in the bistro and browsed the gift-store. I'm quite happy as I found several new pins and postcards for my collections, and pentominoes, which is a game that I've been wanting since I was about twelve after I read Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett (highly recommend the book and the following series).
I arrived home, expecting to collapse on my bed before dinner, but ended up playing with my host brother and host mom. It was quite fun, as we were pillow fighting, wrestling, and chasing each other. I'm happy as my younger host brother finally had decided that it was okay to climb on me and play with me, something that has taken a while to occur, due to the language and trust barrier. This evening, my host family, my parents and myself went out for dinner at a local Persian restaurant in Kreuzberg. My younger host brother fell asleep at the table, while everyone was chatting. All in all, a wonderful dinner to close a really good day.
Which brings me to where I am now, with a party next door and tiredness calling me to switch off the light and attempt to sleep. We'll see. Tomorrow morning, I hope to write about the rest of spring break before I go to Potsdam with my program. Thanks for sticking around. Tschüss!
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Recapping Spring Break - Days 3-4 - Amsterdam, Rome
Continuing with the adventures in Amsterdam.
The next day, Saturday, the three of us met up once again, and grabbed breakfast at a local market. Two of us had fresh squeezed orange juice for a Euro, on top of a cinnamon-raisin roll, both of which were absolutely scrumptious. Then, while also encountering a man in a neon pink bunny-suit, we awaited the arrival of a fourth friend. All of us attend the same school in the States, and are studying abroad all over Europe, one in Amsterdam, myself in Berlin, another in Aix, France, and the fourth in Aberdeen, Scotland. He arrived much to the happiness of all of us and more hugs and smiles occurred.
Following the reunion, we then proceeded to explore the city even more, exploring the market once again, visiting the Cheese "Museum" (which is basically a shop with a dinky museum in the basement), tasting samples of cheese, eating stroopwafel (delicious, highly recommend it), visiting the Rijksmuseum (I saw some works of Vermeer's, my favorite painter), touring the Van Gogh museum, and partaking in some other local delicacies. That evening, we ate dinner at the crepe place again, and wandered the Red Light District, which was definitely an experience. We saw many drunk young British men, and curious tourists with a large range of facial expressions. After that, we called it a night and returned back to our lodgings to crash for the night. Our host also had three friends from Belgium visiting, in addition to the two of us, so we stayed up a little late over tea, chatting and laughing at each other and jokes. It was pretty relaxed and fun, despite it being a little cramped.
The next morning, I packed sadly, as my flight was leaving that afternoon, and bid farewell to my host, as my friend and returned to the city to meet up with the other two of our group. We ate breakfast in the houseboat, enjoying the atmosphere and sun that crept through the portholes. Then we enjoyed the beautiful day in a local park, where daffodils were blooming in full force, and birds and children were everywhere.
Following that, we grabbed sandwiches, fruits, and cookies at the local supermarket, and ate lunch on top of my friend's houseboat in the sun. It was a communal lunch of sorts, as we each had our own sandwich but had also bought Pringles, cakes, blackberries, mangos and strawberries which we all shared. It was a wonderful time, that was sadly ended by the departure of my friend who lives in the city, who had to travel to the south of the country for Easter with her host family. We bid her farewell, checked in my other friend into his hostel, and then I bid the other two farewell also, as it was time for me to head to the train station in order to go to the airport.
My journey from Amsterdam to Rome was smooth, but I arrived in Rome in a rush. One of my close friends is studying there, and the last bus was to leave from the area that my hostel was located at 11:30, leaving us with only an hour to catch up. However, we managed, checking me into my hostel, and letting me grab a healthy dinner of gelato. It was a brief but good reunion, and the day ended with me crashing onto my hostel bed, and waking up periodically to the in-tune chorus of snorers sharing my room.
The next morning, I quietly arose, showered, packed and chatted at breakfast with a young English man and two American girls, before I had to depart for the train station. In typical Italian fashion, my train and my flight were not where they were supposed to be, causing me to briefly panic. However, all was well, as I caught my flight to Malta from Rome.
This was the ultimate peak for me, as I would be entirely on my own in Malta, a country that I had been wanting to travel to for quite a while. And that is where I will end this entry.
The next day, Saturday, the three of us met up once again, and grabbed breakfast at a local market. Two of us had fresh squeezed orange juice for a Euro, on top of a cinnamon-raisin roll, both of which were absolutely scrumptious. Then, while also encountering a man in a neon pink bunny-suit, we awaited the arrival of a fourth friend. All of us attend the same school in the States, and are studying abroad all over Europe, one in Amsterdam, myself in Berlin, another in Aix, France, and the fourth in Aberdeen, Scotland. He arrived much to the happiness of all of us and more hugs and smiles occurred.
Following the reunion, we then proceeded to explore the city even more, exploring the market once again, visiting the Cheese "Museum" (which is basically a shop with a dinky museum in the basement), tasting samples of cheese, eating stroopwafel (delicious, highly recommend it), visiting the Rijksmuseum (I saw some works of Vermeer's, my favorite painter), touring the Van Gogh museum, and partaking in some other local delicacies. That evening, we ate dinner at the crepe place again, and wandered the Red Light District, which was definitely an experience. We saw many drunk young British men, and curious tourists with a large range of facial expressions. After that, we called it a night and returned back to our lodgings to crash for the night. Our host also had three friends from Belgium visiting, in addition to the two of us, so we stayed up a little late over tea, chatting and laughing at each other and jokes. It was pretty relaxed and fun, despite it being a little cramped.
The next morning, I packed sadly, as my flight was leaving that afternoon, and bid farewell to my host, as my friend and returned to the city to meet up with the other two of our group. We ate breakfast in the houseboat, enjoying the atmosphere and sun that crept through the portholes. Then we enjoyed the beautiful day in a local park, where daffodils were blooming in full force, and birds and children were everywhere.
Following that, we grabbed sandwiches, fruits, and cookies at the local supermarket, and ate lunch on top of my friend's houseboat in the sun. It was a communal lunch of sorts, as we each had our own sandwich but had also bought Pringles, cakes, blackberries, mangos and strawberries which we all shared. It was a wonderful time, that was sadly ended by the departure of my friend who lives in the city, who had to travel to the south of the country for Easter with her host family. We bid her farewell, checked in my other friend into his hostel, and then I bid the other two farewell also, as it was time for me to head to the train station in order to go to the airport.
My journey from Amsterdam to Rome was smooth, but I arrived in Rome in a rush. One of my close friends is studying there, and the last bus was to leave from the area that my hostel was located at 11:30, leaving us with only an hour to catch up. However, we managed, checking me into my hostel, and letting me grab a healthy dinner of gelato. It was a brief but good reunion, and the day ended with me crashing onto my hostel bed, and waking up periodically to the in-tune chorus of snorers sharing my room.
The next morning, I quietly arose, showered, packed and chatted at breakfast with a young English man and two American girls, before I had to depart for the train station. In typical Italian fashion, my train and my flight were not where they were supposed to be, causing me to briefly panic. However, all was well, as I caught my flight to Malta from Rome.
This was the ultimate peak for me, as I would be entirely on my own in Malta, a country that I had been wanting to travel to for quite a while. And that is where I will end this entry.
Recapping Spring Break - Days 1-2 - Amsterdam
Greetings and salutations.
It's been a while since I've posted, but in the past ten days I've flown 3517 miles, walked 156,139 steps (nearly 70 miles), and been in four countries, so cut me some slack.
I departed from Berlin on Thursday afternoon, via Alitalia, my favorite airline, and was first flown to Milan and then on to Amsterdam. The journey was not exciting in anyway, and I discovered that I hate the Milan airport. That evening, I arrived in Amsterdam, and met my friend in the central train station. We hugged for about five minutes straight, laughing the whole time, as we hadn't seen each other since mid-January, with her living in Amsterdam and myself in Berlin. Then, we went on the prowl for dinner and ate at a delicious crepe and waffle shop. I had the sweet classic, with sugar, butter, lemon juice, and strawberries. Oh, it was delicious.
Afterwards, we headed out of the center to meet my host for the next few days. Her apartment was quite cozy. The complex was made of shipping containers stacked on one another, and each container was a residence. The front part of the container contained the living/cooking area, then it narrowed into a hallway, flanked by the bathroom, and then opened up in the back into a bedroom with a balcony. I loved the idea and enjoyed stating there. My host's adorable cat also helped. After a cup of tea and some good conversation about books, tea and cats, my host and I called it a night.
The next morning, I met my friend again, and we wandered around the city, exploring and killing time before another friend arrived. We grabbed breakfast at a small supermarket and sat on a bench overlooking her street/canal (she lives on a houseboat with a host-family!), chatting and eating. Then, we went exploring, with her showing me many of the main sights, such as Dam Square, the area around the Central Train Station, a book market (where there was a Banksy work in a nearby courtyard), the main library with a wonderful view of the city, and NEMO, the city's science center.
The latter was quite interesting, as there was an excellent educational section about puberty and sex, that informed people of all ages with barely any bias about the topics in a factual and unstigmatized way. It's something you would've never seen in the states, as it contained exhibits showing various sex positions, birth control and protection methods, and other photos and items pertaining to the topic. It really made me think about the cultural differences regarding sex and the stigma surrounding it, particularly between America and Europe, the Netherlands in particular.
After that experience, we waited for the bus that was carrying another friend to arrive and the three of us had an excellent reunion, that involved many hugs and smiles. We dropped the newly-arrived friend's luggage off at my friend's houseboat (which was quite fascinating), and headed out for lunch. We grabbed quiche, apple pie, and french toast to go, and returned to the book market and ate in the courtyard with the Banksy piece behind us. The courtyard was quiet, with some children playing, and the food was incredibly good. Was definitely a moment to remember.
Following that, we wandered around the area some more, and visited various places such as the Cannabis College, which is a non-profit devoted to informing people about the many uses of cannabis and how to safely partake in the drug. It was pretty interesting, and provided some good laughs, along with the next stop, the Condomerie, a very thorough condom store, that also had informational materials, on top of condoms of all sizes, flavors, designs and colors. As you can tell, we were taking Amsterdam pretty seriously. The next thing on our list was the Old Church, some more wandering, and then we met up with our host for dinner at a vegan co-op restaurant.
Dinner there was five euros for a three-course vegan meal, which consisted of soup, pizza, an eggplant dish, rice, salad and a cake. All the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed, which the diners required to wash their own dishes. The cooks are all volunteers, and the money made from the meals is distributed throughout the city to various charities and causes. All in all, it was quite fun, and afterwards, we picked up my newly-arrived friend's luggage from the houseboat, and the two of us headed back to our lodgings to cuddle together on a mattress and call it a night.
In the next post, I will finish up the Amsterdam trip, recount my brief time in Rome, and then move on to Malta, as well as update you on what is currently going on now that I'm back in Berlin.
It's been a while since I've posted, but in the past ten days I've flown 3517 miles, walked 156,139 steps (nearly 70 miles), and been in four countries, so cut me some slack.
I departed from Berlin on Thursday afternoon, via Alitalia, my favorite airline, and was first flown to Milan and then on to Amsterdam. The journey was not exciting in anyway, and I discovered that I hate the Milan airport. That evening, I arrived in Amsterdam, and met my friend in the central train station. We hugged for about five minutes straight, laughing the whole time, as we hadn't seen each other since mid-January, with her living in Amsterdam and myself in Berlin. Then, we went on the prowl for dinner and ate at a delicious crepe and waffle shop. I had the sweet classic, with sugar, butter, lemon juice, and strawberries. Oh, it was delicious.
Afterwards, we headed out of the center to meet my host for the next few days. Her apartment was quite cozy. The complex was made of shipping containers stacked on one another, and each container was a residence. The front part of the container contained the living/cooking area, then it narrowed into a hallway, flanked by the bathroom, and then opened up in the back into a bedroom with a balcony. I loved the idea and enjoyed stating there. My host's adorable cat also helped. After a cup of tea and some good conversation about books, tea and cats, my host and I called it a night.
The next morning, I met my friend again, and we wandered around the city, exploring and killing time before another friend arrived. We grabbed breakfast at a small supermarket and sat on a bench overlooking her street/canal (she lives on a houseboat with a host-family!), chatting and eating. Then, we went exploring, with her showing me many of the main sights, such as Dam Square, the area around the Central Train Station, a book market (where there was a Banksy work in a nearby courtyard), the main library with a wonderful view of the city, and NEMO, the city's science center.
The latter was quite interesting, as there was an excellent educational section about puberty and sex, that informed people of all ages with barely any bias about the topics in a factual and unstigmatized way. It's something you would've never seen in the states, as it contained exhibits showing various sex positions, birth control and protection methods, and other photos and items pertaining to the topic. It really made me think about the cultural differences regarding sex and the stigma surrounding it, particularly between America and Europe, the Netherlands in particular.
After that experience, we waited for the bus that was carrying another friend to arrive and the three of us had an excellent reunion, that involved many hugs and smiles. We dropped the newly-arrived friend's luggage off at my friend's houseboat (which was quite fascinating), and headed out for lunch. We grabbed quiche, apple pie, and french toast to go, and returned to the book market and ate in the courtyard with the Banksy piece behind us. The courtyard was quiet, with some children playing, and the food was incredibly good. Was definitely a moment to remember.
Following that, we wandered around the area some more, and visited various places such as the Cannabis College, which is a non-profit devoted to informing people about the many uses of cannabis and how to safely partake in the drug. It was pretty interesting, and provided some good laughs, along with the next stop, the Condomerie, a very thorough condom store, that also had informational materials, on top of condoms of all sizes, flavors, designs and colors. As you can tell, we were taking Amsterdam pretty seriously. The next thing on our list was the Old Church, some more wandering, and then we met up with our host for dinner at a vegan co-op restaurant.
Dinner there was five euros for a three-course vegan meal, which consisted of soup, pizza, an eggplant dish, rice, salad and a cake. All the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed, which the diners required to wash their own dishes. The cooks are all volunteers, and the money made from the meals is distributed throughout the city to various charities and causes. All in all, it was quite fun, and afterwards, we picked up my newly-arrived friend's luggage from the houseboat, and the two of us headed back to our lodgings to cuddle together on a mattress and call it a night.
In the next post, I will finish up the Amsterdam trip, recount my brief time in Rome, and then move on to Malta, as well as update you on what is currently going on now that I'm back in Berlin.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Living with History
History is fascinating to me. The way it winds, repeats, circles, and stops pulls me in, no matter when, or where. Berlin is an intriguing city in this regard. When you visit Rome, London, Paris, Copenhagen or many other European urban centers, much of the visible history is extremely old, crossing centuries, or even millenniums, with scars of the past buried in layers. However, with Berlin, the majority of the observable history is extremely modern, only decades or even a few years old.
This is particularly fascinating, as due to the 'freshness' of the history within the city, its effects and scars are still extremely influential in everyday life. There are many here who grew up with (or even within) the Wall, those who remember the days of the DDR, or even the Third Reich. There are those who experienced it through the previous generation, or second-hand by recently moving here. No matter what, the history of the city and the nation are very much at work here.
I've had opportunities to talk with my teachers, my host parents, other host parents, artists and all sorts of people about their experiences growing up in a divided country and city. Each perspective is unique and it's an incredible experience to talk with people who are primary sources themselves.
From bullet holes in older buildings, to the destruction of symbols of past governments, to the construction of newer modern structures, Berlin is a city of modern history and that is definitely one of the reasons why I adore it so much. It's constantly being built, something that one picks up from the number of cranes scattered around the city. Construction and modern buildings are everywhere, stitching this city together as it attempts to move forward from the past.
As author Karl Scheffler said in 1910: "Berlin is a city condemned forever to becoming and never to being" (Berlin ist eine Stadt, verdammt dazu, ewig zu werden, niemals zu sein). That quote is constantly echoing through my head as I wander and explore the streets of this city.
This is particularly fascinating, as due to the 'freshness' of the history within the city, its effects and scars are still extremely influential in everyday life. There are many here who grew up with (or even within) the Wall, those who remember the days of the DDR, or even the Third Reich. There are those who experienced it through the previous generation, or second-hand by recently moving here. No matter what, the history of the city and the nation are very much at work here.
I've had opportunities to talk with my teachers, my host parents, other host parents, artists and all sorts of people about their experiences growing up in a divided country and city. Each perspective is unique and it's an incredible experience to talk with people who are primary sources themselves.
From bullet holes in older buildings, to the destruction of symbols of past governments, to the construction of newer modern structures, Berlin is a city of modern history and that is definitely one of the reasons why I adore it so much. It's constantly being built, something that one picks up from the number of cranes scattered around the city. Construction and modern buildings are everywhere, stitching this city together as it attempts to move forward from the past.
As author Karl Scheffler said in 1910: "Berlin is a city condemned forever to becoming and never to being" (Berlin ist eine Stadt, verdammt dazu, ewig zu werden, niemals zu sein). That quote is constantly echoing through my head as I wander and explore the streets of this city.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Anticipation
Spring break! It's finally here! After two months of waiting, it's here and I'm free!
Wednesday was spent mostly in preparation for said break, with packing, writing my proposal and laundry. However, I spent the evening at a friend's apartment. She's French-American, and decide to have a crepe party. It was great fun, as there were four of us from my program there, a girlfriend of one of the girls, two friends of one of the girls who study abroad in Seville, and two German friends of the group. All in all, it was a lot of fun, as crepes were consumed, and card (and potentially drinking) games were played. It was definitely one of those moments of studying abroad that I'll remember fondly, as there were seven Americans, and two Germans and most of us were strangers to the others. And yet, we got along fabulously and it was a lot of fun.
Currently, I'm sitting on my bed in my room at home, feeling the anticipation rise. I have to head out the door in about twenty-five minutes to go to the airport, where I will once again sit for several hours, first in the building, then on the plane, and the steps will be repeated once more, until I'm finally in my first destination: AMSTERDAM.
There I will be meeting up with a friend who is studying there, a friend who is studying in France, and a friend who is studying in Scotland, all of us being from the same school back in the States. It shall prove to be a jolly good time (can't tell I'm English, can you?).
I'm quite excited. However, I doubt I have time to update this lovely blog, but fear not! I have packed a journal so I can transcribe all of my adventures in real time and then post them upon my return. I can hear the applause and cheers now.
To those of my readers who have a Christian background, I hope your Easter is lovely. To those of my readers who are traveling, safe journeys! And to everyone else, I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week.
Tschüss!
Wednesday was spent mostly in preparation for said break, with packing, writing my proposal and laundry. However, I spent the evening at a friend's apartment. She's French-American, and decide to have a crepe party. It was great fun, as there were four of us from my program there, a girlfriend of one of the girls, two friends of one of the girls who study abroad in Seville, and two German friends of the group. All in all, it was a lot of fun, as crepes were consumed, and card (and potentially drinking) games were played. It was definitely one of those moments of studying abroad that I'll remember fondly, as there were seven Americans, and two Germans and most of us were strangers to the others. And yet, we got along fabulously and it was a lot of fun.
Currently, I'm sitting on my bed in my room at home, feeling the anticipation rise. I have to head out the door in about twenty-five minutes to go to the airport, where I will once again sit for several hours, first in the building, then on the plane, and the steps will be repeated once more, until I'm finally in my first destination: AMSTERDAM.
There I will be meeting up with a friend who is studying there, a friend who is studying in France, and a friend who is studying in Scotland, all of us being from the same school back in the States. It shall prove to be a jolly good time (can't tell I'm English, can you?).
I'm quite excited. However, I doubt I have time to update this lovely blog, but fear not! I have packed a journal so I can transcribe all of my adventures in real time and then post them upon my return. I can hear the applause and cheers now.
To those of my readers who have a Christian background, I hope your Easter is lovely. To those of my readers who are traveling, safe journeys! And to everyone else, I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week.
Tschüss!
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