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!
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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.
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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.
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