Hallo aus Berlin!

second time's a charm

no better way to start what was already destined to be a memorable experience that is study abroad, than with the memories of the airport. checking in my bags tuesday evening, i open my passport only to believe i might be having a nightmare-- a large EXPIRED stamp above my face. indeed, i hadn't checked to see WHICH passport i packed. as the airport is 1 hr + from home, there was no way to retrieve the correct passport in time.

so, my journey began 24 hrs late, but at least with a (at least in retrospect) funny, if not too emabarassing, anecdote.

Plane ride- sat next to horror film-documenting young german woman, and to begin brushing up on my german skills, read her german Vogue nearly front to back. after hailing a cab to my apartment in Kreuzberg (a young, largely turkish populated area of Berlin), it is 10 minutes before we are scheduled to start the FAT BIKE TOUR of Berlin. drop my bags with someone, I run into another duke student who hadn't yet left, and we get a short taxi ride to the aproximate location. we find the place about 15 minutes late, but the group was waiting! 5 hour tour via bike through all of berlin! highlights: 20 kids peddling bikes through the busy streets, seeing the great sites, eating my first WURSTE (sausage) in the tiergarten (a large public gardens, included an area of a nude beach though on grass... germany is quite liberal!), stopping at numerous monuments. after the tour, my professor takes a couple of us out for Kaffee (coffee) and i sipped a Milchkaffee which thez serve in bowl-like cups. incredible. dinner last night in Kreuzberg with some of the girls .. incredible macaroni like dish. early to bed after a looong day :)

the WorldCup is very popular! it's on tv's everywhere, including nice restaurants, bars, and outdoor locations in the city! Today was the Ukraine game- they won!!! (Ann and Dan- were you watching that over there with the relatives???) people are walking around everywhere with their country of choice's uniform or flag. reallz positive atmosphere.

Today we went up to the top of the Fernsehturm (tall TV tower) in central berlin.. could see all of the city! then visited the Duetches historishes museum, had a delicious Donar Kebab (turkish gyro of sorts... VERY popular here!). Tonight a few of us went with our professor to see 'Nathan the Wise' by Lessing. At a very old theter in central berlin and by a very prestigous ensemble. Amazing, even though i understood only a little. more coffee with professor donahue though to discuss it. and at a cafe along the Spree river at night....

Tomorrow is more orientation group BBQ trip to the Wannsee.

I'm so thrilled to experience this city with this mix of kids from Duke, Rutgers, and other universities!

posted by Jayne @ 4:26 PM