Ich liebe Berlin

  

Although I’m only a short flight away from Dublin, I didn’t have a chance to go there for St. Patrick’s Day because of classes; that did not stop me from enjoying a Guinness and listening to Irish music though.  Instead of going to the museums like we planned, a group of Erasmus (European students studying abroad) students + an American (me) decided to follow directions we got from a Facebook invitation to Berlin’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. This event proved that Berlin is, in fact, a very eclectic and quirky city.  After joining the parade put on by the Irish Embassy, we proceeded into Glashaus where the event was taking place.  Sinead and I tried on stranger’s hats and took selfies that can never be reclaimed on their phones while listening to Irish musicians from around the world. 

That Monday marked the first day of my intensive German course.  Being surrounded by students who learned English in school, I felt humbled, as my education was predominantly in English—the same language this course was being taught in. While I understood everything the professor was saying (the English parts), I had no idea what all of the grammatical terms were--or are. What is an objective case?  Actually have no idea.  I also discovered that I find accents extremely beautiful, as they are a characteristics of a culture--or a person--that is open to change and to globalization. 

We decided it was a good idea to go out on a Wednsday night—it turned out to not be such a good idea. 

 A group of us ended up going to Magdalena, where we danced under intense strobe lights surrounded by a very eclectic group of people. Despite missing class the next day (and getting home at 6 am), the night was definitely memorable. Thursday I spent the day shopping and using the Internet at Starbucks. On Friday, we all went to the Erasmus bar crawl set up by our International Office.  We went to three bars, and ended the night at Matrix.  I lost my iPhone, but realized that much worse things could have happened and enjoyed my night anyways. Surprisingly, I am finding it quite easy to survive without an iPhone.

 On Saturday, I joined some of Mia’s friends from Norway, and with a group of Eichkamp students we went out (making it the fifth night in a row that we wouldn’t be getting any sleep).  We went to a Jamaican bar, which was probably the weirdest experience of my life. We also saw the city at night, and made a point to stop at the Brandenburgator, which was absolutely beautiful.

Begrudgingly, we got up the next morning and went to Mauer Park for their weekly Flohmarket; we explored the makeshift streets lined with tents, vintage clothes, WWII articles, and homemade snacks. Mauer Park is located in what seemed to be the "hipster" part of Berlin--the area that everyone refers to when they call Berlin a "hip" city.  Living in the residential neighborhood of Charlottenburg, it was awesome to venture into Northern Berlin and see how young Berliners live.  Following Mauer Park, I joined Mia and her friends from home to see the East Side Galleries, as well as Checkpoint Charlie; I plan on going back there soon to visit the museum.  

  

Even just spending a few weeks in Berlin, talking to people who have had so many international experiences has made me want to study abroad a second time, or intern abroad.  And while I have always loved traveling, I never actually wanted to live abroad--that is definitely changing, especially since I'm doing it at 19!  I've adapted to not having mega supermarkets like Walmart, where I can literally buy anything I would need; I've learned to navigate a new metro system, and how to ask for directions in German.  I never thought I would be able to do this. These past few weeks have given me the confidence to set out and achieve any goal I may set for myself, and I cant believe that that has happened in less than a month. I'm not even close to getting back to the United States, and I am already planning more trips abroad.