Marathon

The first full day, last Sunday, that I was here I had two missions. 1. To go to orientation. 2. To find a girl who goes to Pitt, Brooke. Brooke and I had made plans to get together before we went to the school and then go to orientation together. Unfamiliar with the transportation system, I had directions to and from both of our locations from the school, so my master plan was to go to the university and then back track to Brooke's. Once I had arrived at the university, while waiting for the bus, I realized that a "Velothon" (bike race) was going on and therefore my bus was not coming. In fact, as I began to walk the route of the bus I wanted to take, I came to realize that the race route was EXACTLY my bus route. I found my way to Brooke's, eventually, after walking an hour a half. Finally I got to spend some time with Brooke and made my way with the group back to the university in time for orientation. Everyone was nervous and eager, but it was interesting to see the group there all together. 

I feel like after a whole week, giving a play by play might get a little long so I'll try to talk about the important things!

I've spent a good amount of time in the city. Primarily on Unter den Linden, which is the main drag in Berlin. This is where you find the Brandenburger Tor, the German History Museum, Opera House, where the palace once stood, the Berliner Dom, etc. I've also spent some time on the Kurfürstendamm which is the main commercial center of Berlin. Both areas I've been to already twice before in my life. Every time I'm here, things are different because Berlin is an ever changing city. I also appreciate them for different reasons and different points in my life. 

My class is interesting... it's been a bit boring at times this week because my professor (who, of course, is right) believes we cannot understand this city or country without understanding its past. So, we've been covering a lot of modern German history which I'm pretty familiar with. We spend the morning twice a week going over our readings and having lecture, which also usually involves some sort of movie. After our second and longer break, we go out into the city for an excursion. Tuesday we spent the afternoon in the German Historical Museum, and Friday we took a walking tour of the city. Thankfully the weather has been getting nicer and warmer so that it's a pleasure to be outside for these mini trips. 

As a group we've now taken a River Spree cruise which was chilly, but fun. And today, we went through the Reichstag, which was definitely enjoyable. I've also enjoyed watching a free opera outside the State Opera house yesterday, Eugen Onegin, and then a tour of the opera house today where I got to walk on stage. Any of these outings have typically included spending time with students from my program, grabbing something to eat, or what not. One day, a guy from Notre Dame (it's painful, I know) and I sat at a cafe speaking only German for about an hour and a half. I'm thankful for the students who push me to do that, because we all live together and all use English as the common language around the dorm. I've also befriended a Russian with whom the common language is German, therefore I'm getting better at having deeper conversations in German. 

Honestly, nothing terribly exciting has happened. Just getting into a groove. I'm so tired, all the time, but I do feel my language skills are picking up. Sometimes when I'm calling home, it's hard to not say certain words in German rather than English. The focal point of this week, for me at least, is building relationships with the people I'm living and going to class with. They teach us in Air Force leadership training that there are 4 steps to group formation: Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing (Storming and Norming can be switched). Anyways, I feel as if personalities are starting to rub people the wrong way and competition is high. 

But, as I was walking along this huge bike race a week ago, I was thinking about why on earth people would want to do this; I watched the super fit hard core bikers at the head, and the stragglers at the end. Everyone has the exact same goal: to finish. Some people wanted to win, to be the best, and for some people, it was a self accomplishment of being able to simply make it across the line. I feel like we, as students, are here for the same reason. Everyone has a different idea of what their experience in Berlin should be like, they all want something different out of it. I'm not sure what exactly my goals are for this trip, but I'm sure I'll find out soon. In the meantime, I'm trying not to let those who have goals I know I don't share bother me, or change my experience. 

Having a week to just be here, was probably exactly what I needed. I've started to really understand the layout of the city, and have solidified what I've already understood relating between the history of the city and the buildings I see. Everyone's friendly throughout the city, most of them trying to speak English as it is a VERY international scene. I also really enjoyed speaking to a security guard outside the US Embassy who has been working there since 1986, but is from Indiana. Truly, he has seen it all. Now all we see are green spaces where No Man's Land is and buildings that actually survived the war with bullet holes patched up. I'm determined to figure out this city and my class, I know, will help me do so. 

Anyways, there's still so much to see and do. I'll try to be more diligent in my blogging, especially when I make specific or special excursions. I'll try to post pictures soon, too!