Fleamarkets, Football, and Friends in U-Bahn Stations?

    Apparently the thing to do on a Sunday in Berlin is to hit up the Mauer Park flea market, oder der Flohmarkt auf Deutsch. Our friend Fernando suggested that we check it out, cuz apparently its a big deal. After spending my Mother's Day afternoon there, I can see why it was a big deal. This place was awesome. Stalls everywhere, selling anything and everything. Old stuff, new stuff, hand made clothes, refurbished Polaroid cameras. It was ridiculous! It had a ton of food and a ton of beer. But just outside the market, they had giant inflatables and performers. It really was a spectacle, and it happens every week. While grabbing a drink and some food, Paige met a girl from New York. She gave us a few tips and tricks about Berlins club scene. More interestingly, was this random jazz clarinetist who was also American. This guy was crazy. He went around holding his hat for tips, but if you didn't tip him then your table was the site where he would play his next song. Unless of course you paid him to leave. Haha he was actually enjoyable and not at all annoying. When Matt, Fernando, and I tried leaving, however, he quickly ran over and tried to get us to stay. He asked us to "watch his shit" as he put down his clarinet to go get his tip hat. The three of us just look at each other with dumbfound faces. How do you even react to something like that. Sadly we told him we had to go. But the day was a success no doubt.

 

     But then its back to class. Like I said I really like the center. Its reminds me a lot of the way I used to help students when I worked at Kumon, but a bit more interactive because it's a language. It just the two weeks I've been here, I've come to know my class quite well, and each new day brings more things to learn, German or otherwise. Our class is taught by Elwira, who for the most part is pretty serious about teaching, but if you say something stupid in German (not how you said it, but what you actually said) then she'll joke with you about it. Apparently to go is not quite the whole translation of "gehen", and apparently more than half the class not only goes to other places in Germany, but we also do by foot. Regardless, it's great to meet people from other parts of the world who are interested in the same things as you. Whats cool though is that there is mom and pop stand outside that comes everyday with fresh sandwiches, homemade deserts, and these amazing meat strudel things. And its dirt cheap (dirt cheap for like German things cuz lets be honest I went shopping the other day at market and I got a weeks worth of dinner for like 15 euros). Plus I'm only in class from 9 AM to 1:30 PM. How great is that! I think the CDC needs to talk to Michigan to get them to change the times of classes. It's weird though, because if you know me and my sleep schedule, I hate waking up. Mornings are probably the next worst thing to Marmite or SPAM. Yet I wake up at like 6:30 AM everyday. No troubles, no groaning, no blatant neglect of all responsibilities for 10 more minutes of sleep. If I take anything back with me from this summer, I can only hope that my new sleep schedule comes with me.

    After the first game lost to Barcelona, Bayern needed to win this game by 4 or more. It was Bayern vs Barcelona game 2, and we went searching for another bar to watch this game. Matt suggested a place called Bar 11 near his house. Yet somehow he got lost on his way over and was going the completely other way. It all worked out in the end, and Austin brought some friends from back in AA that were doing a post grad Euro trip. Good news was Bayern won! Bad news is not by enough. So sadly no Deutschland in the Champions league finals. But that didn't stop us from watching more Fußball. Leave it to us Americans to find an "American" bar. Hey its been a week and half, we were kinda home sick. And "American" is used lightly, but it definitely was the most "American" we have encountered insofar. The place is called Belushi's and it had some pretty awesome food and rock music playing (which I haven't heard too much around town yet, just techno, a lot of techno). This game had Juventus vs Real Madrid. Even though an Italian team was playing, our new Italian friend Giuseppe was rooting against them. The rest of the bar on the other hand, team Juventus all the way. Real Madrid scored first, some people cheered. Juventus scores, the bar goes bananas. No if bananas could "go bananas" then that's what they were doing. These Europeans and their Fußball. This was just the start of the night.

    I had my mind set on finally checking out a German club. Matt was on board and Paige was the conductor. She ducked out of the football game early and we met up with her at a bar called "Mein Haus am See" oder auf English My house on the sea (see Deutsch is not that hard at all). This place was actually one of the coolest bars I've been to yet. The bar essentially looks like one giant garage sale, and all they have to sell is couches. Couches everywhere. Also the second bar I've been to where I liked the music, but couches. It was a lot of fun, because even though you were in a place that was fairly packed with people, you still were able to have your own little space with your own conversations. At the same time though, with a turn of you head you can get to know the people next to you or across from you. This is definitely a place I hope to visit again. After a drink there, we head to a club. We decide on Tresor, since it was recommended to me by a Cultural Vistas alum who actually had the same job last year as I'll have for the rest of the summer. On the way, we met up in the U-Bahn station, purely on accident, with Pam. She's a Filipino student who's doing this learning and traveling thing with a bunch of other people. I don't know exactly what its is but she's in my class and she's awesome. Her and her friend Raymond accompany us to Tresor. Quick background of Tresor: its a club that repurposed an abandoned power station. I'm not a fan of techno, but its fun to just let the bass ripple through your body. Also with techno, you know there's some cool light effects going on. This might be the 7 years of technical production work I did, but I loved it. The whole abandoned power plant atmosphere definitely added to the experience. The club scene peaked my interest just enough so that I'm curious to see what other clubs around Berlin have to offer.


    Luckily that the Germans celebrated Vatertag (Fathers Day) last Thursday, so that we could have a day of rest after going out. That's not going to stop us from doing something Friday though. Friday was Fernando's last day (somehow friends were leaving me and not the other way around). So we grabbed a Döner before he had to start packing for the rest of his summer (he'll be in München in June though, so I might see him once again). Um Alex, do you mind explaining what a Döner is? Yes no problem, person reading this blog. Döner is amazing. It is everything you want at all times. Long day of work? Döner. Just bar hopped 4 different bars and spent about 30 euros of drinks? Döner. Just clubbed from Friday night to Sunday morning? Döner. There is a part of me that is saddened that there is no Döner shops in Ann Arbor. But Alex, what is in a Döner? Besides glory and fulfillment with every bite? It's usually lamb that has been roasted on a kebab, then shaved, with onions, cabbage, maybe some tomatoes, and a cucumber sauce. Alex, the Google is broken, may we see a picture of a Döner? Oh definitely! And yes, I just wrote a paragraph on a food. Cuz one word: Döner.

    Friday night, Matt, Austin, Giuseppe, and I ventured to a German movie theater, or das Kino around these parts. This wasn't a big movie theater like back home (general mentality here, more small stores instead of fewer huge stores). Pros: It looked like someone outfitted an old storage room with 60 or so seats; beers are allowed inside; and it's situated at the back of this super artsy alley right next to a bar with this cool urban floral backyard feel. Cons: none. After the movie, we wanted to grab a drink before the night ended, so we started walking around. Somehow we ended back up at Rosenthaler Platz (site of last weeks hostel bar, and also this weeks Mein Haus am See). So we decided to venture a little further and return to Schmittz. This place was completely different. Since there was no game going on, they brought out the foosball table and also the ping pong table. Cuz apparently this is what you do in bars. You have like 20 paddles on hand, and everyone who can grabs one. The game starts with everyone around the table and normal table tennis begins, but once you hit the ball you rotate around the circle. If you miss/overshoot/other typical ping pong rules that would give your opponent the point, then you're out. The fewer people the faster you need to move. After a few games, I could tell why there was a bunch of people playing it. It was actually a ton of fun. Especially because you're interacting with people in a relaxed, joyful environment. Even so, dang, there are some good ping pong players.

    I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! I want to say Happy Mother's Day to my mother, especially because she (and I guess my father too, but his day is next month) have helped/contributed so much to me being here. It's unbelievable to think that I flew here 17 days ago, but it's the truth. I can't wait to till my internship; I can't wait to get to see more of Germany;and I can't wait till I visit Rome in July! More adventures await. Schöne Woche!

Also shout out to Paige who takes awesome pictures and sends them to me.

A UMich ChE Takes Germany

    So I did a thing. A thing that I never planned on doing until maybe last year or two. A thing that I knew would have an amazing impact on my life. That thing was to visit Germany. But for those that know me, I can never do something simple or easy. I always need to find a complicated, time-consuming adventure that somehow makes me a better person. So I decided to do an internship abroad. That's how I found out about the Cultural Vistas program at UMich. Thus, my adventure started last fall. First the applications and the paperwork had to be filled out. Then in January, I had to interview with the program. Then a couple weeks later I got the acceptance letter. For the rest of the day I was excited and anxious about the upcoming summer. The next day, however, I started to think about what it really meant to live in Germany. Was I ready to completely immerse myself into a foreign culture? Am I prepared enough to take such a big step? So I reassured myself, my friends reassured me, and even my old German lecturers reassured me that I was ready. But still the butterflies in my stomach has butterflies in theirs.

    Then last Saturday, the day to fly finally came and I departed for the most interesting summer of my life. After two minor panic attacks (my luggage being overweight and my Berlin boarding pass not printing at DTW), 14 hours of travel, and three movies on the plane, I finally reached Germany. Not only Germany, but Berlin. I have to say it wasn't that exciting to step off the plane. The exciting part was when I got on a bus to take us to customs and baggage claim. Everything was in German! Shocker right? But this was it, I now had to start using everything I've been learning since Frau Vera said "Wilkommen," on my first day of German 1 at Walled Lake Western High School. Once I got my luggage, which I was confident wasn't going to get there because of earlier panic induced paranoia, it was time to hit the trains. I managed to take Berlin's three largest modes of transportation within the first hour of me being here: a bus to one station, a S-Bahn to another, and U-Bahn to the last.

    Then I got to meet my host for the month of May. His name is Txomin, and he's cool. Not much else to say. It's more of roommate feel than host family that my friends are in, but I'm not complaining. My room is much bigger than what I had to AA, and much bigger than I need for how much stuff I packed, but the space is nice. Stacy told me to stay up till 10 pm here so I can get over my jet lag. Honestly I tried, but I fell asleep at noon. The good thing is I can sleep for 16 hours if need be, and that's what I did.

    Monday rolls around and I go to my first day at the Carl Duisberg Center. After taking a test, and speaking with one of the instructors, I get placed into, what I can tell, the 4th level of the system. Apparently this system is used internationally though. I looked through the book that they gave me, and I have to say I know all of the grammar (thanks also to Stacy). But the important aspect is that I'm speaking. That's my biggest weakness. My class is a lot more forgiving than I expected. It has the feel of a high school class, with the learning intensity of a college course. I got placed with 2 of the 3 other U of M students that are here, so having a few acquaintances (now friends) is awesome. The four of us have been hanging out a lot this week. Paige is a quirky and energetic Enviromental engineer who has knowledge of "Deep House" techno (sorry Paige still have no clue what exactly that is!) like no other. Austin is a CS student who I had a class with last semester, so it's been great to know him better here in Berlin. Last is Matt, who is a Neuroscience pre-med who is a great person to get a beer (or 2 or 3) with. Class was super light, super easy, all I need to do is participate. But as the afternoon began, the 4 of us had one thing in mind, beer. Monday afternoon we hit up 3 restaurants/bars. It was a great way to get to know everyone. To my new friends, Geh Blau und Prost!

    Wednesday, was a dose of classic tourism, and college student spending their summer abroad tourism. After class we walked around for awhile, one to see Berlin a bit, but also to find a good brochure of whats what and where is said what. We ended up passing by the Reichstag and through the Brandenburger Tor. Without a doubt, Berlin is a city with one of the most active histories, and to see these sites was a necessary experience. Even so, how could I not take a selfie!

    That night however, we wanted to see your typical German in their natural habitat when a Bayern vs. Barcelona game was on. Our new friend Fernando, a Chilean economist who decided to learn German because, "I like the Germans and their culture." Hey I'm not complaining, he's an awesome guy filled with stories. Prior to Wednesday, Matt refereed to him as "a homie," and I can't disagree. He's an easy going, laid back guy who wants to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves. After grabbing dinner at a random pizza shop we found (seriously small hole-in-the-wall places are everywhere), we headed across the street to a bar. First off, wow! Just being amidst the dedication and passion sent chills through my body. Then I had a beer, and this beer is still my favorite one almost a week later. Schneider Weisse Original. Can't forget it when I go back home. Lucky for me, it's served at World of Beer in AA. Anyway, being in a bar with so many fans (I couldn't even pick out the super fans because everyone was thrilled) was something I am glad I can add to my list of things I did this summer. Even though Bayern lost, it was awesome and 10/10 would do again. We rounded out the night with popping over to another bar and for some conversation. That and Matt broke a glass. No the beer was not empty.

    Thursday was relatively light. Matt, Austin, and I visited the DDR museum with an instructor from our language center. But Friday was an adventure. Our plans: Hit up a Biergarten, find some food, mosey over to another bar, and wait till a Disko (club, people, not literally a 70's funk Disco, but that would be fun) opens up. This time we brought our friend Giuseppe along, an Italian who works for his family's hotel and needs to learn German to speak with his clients. That and he doesn't look to dissimilar to Hyde from That 70's Show. Topics of choice: more techno talk, explaining the Greek Life system of college universities, and how the saying "petnames" for American couples is quite confusing for those that are not familiar with English. The Biergarten had a great Friday, "Weekend is here" feel to it. We headed over to a Mexican restaurant (that was actually really good), which I got a margarita half off because the waitress made a mistake. Fernando tried arguing with her that I didn't order a Coke, but she already put it in that way so she just kept it as her mistake. I was picking up what she was putting down, but apparently Fernando wasn't. We headed a few neighborhoods over to go to a different bar that had a feeling of 90's bar that was throwing back to the 60's. I really liked it and so did everyone else. Like I said, our plan was to hit up a Disko, but by the time 2:30 rolled around, we ready to just get home. That's the thing with Berlin, the clubs don't open to midnight, so you have to plan accordingly, and accordingly is not starting with a Biergarten at 7. All in all, a successful night.

    I am excited that this was only the first week of four in Berlin, but also the first week of a summer in Germany. I found a place to live for my internship (rather cheaply too). So I'll be back to the multiple roommate situation I'm so used to. Even though I miss everyone and everything back home, I am glad I am able to take this journey. Schöne Woche!