Well, this is it

Ladies and gentlemen,

I never thought this day would come. Today is the final day of Bluegrass in Berlin. It has been an incredible ride.

I wanted to take this last post to thank you all for following along with me. I would not have had the same experience without you. I had a great time sharing my experiences with you. Let's rewind and remember some of those times:

-- I left for Berlin!

-- My first day of class

-- Seeing the Jehovah's Witness convention

--Who can forget when I stumbled across the cemetery near my house?

-- Meeting Nikolas for the first time

-- That visit from the frog!

-- Meeting Pascal and Otto

-- The beer festival!

-- Completing my test

-- Visiting Sachsenhausen

-- Starting a "ROBIN VAN PERSIE" chant at the Arsenal match

-- The newspaper lady

-- Coming home.

Nothing would have been the same without you all. I thank you all for being there to give me an audience. It has helped me think about my time, reflect, and really make a lot of sense of the things that I've done. All of you who posted comments and even those who didn't, thank you. I know I had some faithful readers, and none of this would have been possible without you. So thank you so much.

I can say that I'll have one more big photo post on the photo blog. I'm going to try to do that tomorrow.

Well, this is it. All good things must come to an end. If you liked what you saw, then my job was done. I'm glad. Additionally if you want to see more, convince other organizations like the DAAD to give me more money to go to more places so that I can blog again. Be sure that if I head out of the country another time, Bluegrass in Berlin will be resurrected.

Thank you, and goodnight. I love you all.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

Tschüss -- goodbye

Thursday

Let's rewind one wee. This time last week, I'd have about 3 more hours to sleep before I'd get up, shower, and grab my bags on the way to Tegel Airport to come home.

I'd say I'm back into the swing of things, now. I've been going to class, reading, meeting with professors, planning, and all those things you do as a graduate student. I have to say that overall, I'm still pretty much the same ol' Will.

Have I changed at all? Sure. I think I'dve done myself a disservice had I not. I learned lots of German. I sat down and talked with people from all across the world. I make conscious efforts to conserve energy (and am seriously considering contacting the City of Tuscaloosa to see if I can get some recycling bins). I think the contact I had with Berlin and with Europe was substantial, enough to make a considerable impression on me. Now that I'm back, I can look at myself and really see how much of an impact Berlin had on me aside from improving my German.

Being back for only a week, it is difficult to make big, sweeping analyses of myself. I think those will come with time. I can say, though, that I've had the "perspective widening" experience. After being to places like India and Vietnam, I didn't think something like that was possible anymore. But what is unique about Germany is that it is so much like America. It is so similar, yet it is so different at the same time. Politics in Berlin are different, culture (to some extent) is different, religion is different, and of course history is different.

What kind of impact will these differences have on me over the next few months? How can one know these things? I like to think that it can help me professionally and personally. I can say that I have a better sense of the German people. I've seen where they live, work, and play. I've seen how they remember what I study. I've seen the places that I study. I don't think I could have ever asked to experience so much in two months, and because of that, I have enriched the basis from which I can work. I've acquired a perspective that will help me think about my topics more appropriately and more completely.

Personally, it is a little more difficult to say. I can't say that I'm now a raging socialist or have picked up some new, bizarre European political views, but I'm more aware. I've learned how to interact (and deal) with all different types of people from all over the world in all different types of circumstances. I don't think I would have gotten the same experience anywhere else. I think studying in Berlin gave me a great opportunity to not only learn about German and Germany but also learn about people. I think that's just as valuable as the academic achievements I accomplished.

One more day, ladies and gentlemen.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

die Verwandlung -- metamorphosis

Wednesday

Our time is becoming ever shorter. It is sad, I know. But let's be thankful for what we've got left.

Now, Berlin was certainly wonderful. Nothing, though, is perfect. I bring to you the list of things that I will NOT miss about Berlin:

1. The dogs-- Let me preface this by saying that the dogs in Berlin are the best behaved dogs I have ever seen in my entire life. I hardly heard any barking, and owners used leashes seldom. The dogs would obediently follow their owners, sit, stay, lay, and do all things that well behaved dogs do. That being said, it became evident that Germans don't think it's a particularly good idea to clean up after their dogs. It was not uncommon to see piles of dog business along the sidewalks EVERYWHERE. Let's get with it, Germany. I intentionally didn't blog about this while in Germany because I didn't want to jinx myself, but now I can safely say this: I never stepped in any gross dog mess. Woo!

2. Kentucky-- Before you blog readers get up in arms about this, I was not embarrassed at all to be from Kentucky while I was in Germany. What I won't miss is the reaction I got whenever I said I was from Kentucky. Almost without fail, I'd hear, "Ahh! Kentucky Fried Chicken!" Ugh. Of course. Kentucky Fried Chicken. Wonderful. I don't even blame the Germans for this. Other students at the Goethe Institut were guilty of this, too. ATTN: World. More things come from Kentucky than just chicken. Let me say this though, we could be known for worse things. Everyone thinks Kentucky Fried Chicken is delicious. That's an undeniable fact. So you're welcome, world.

3. Math-- I didn't have to do a whole lot of math. The most difficult type of math I attempted required me to subtract either 7 hours or 6 hours from Berlin time. That wasn't bad. What was frustrating was the math that I didn't even attempt: metric conversions! Bah! I understand the entire world uses metrics. American scientists use metrics, too. I'm no American scientist. I just happen to know that I'm about 1.8M tall because I've created myself in my FIFA games before. How much do I weigh? About 180lbs. In kilograms? No idea. I wasn't asked my height or weight very often (and by that I mean never), but metrics did hamper my experience on two occasions. First, at the deli counter. I asked for 500 grams of ham. Apparently 500 grams of ham is only five slices. I bet that deli worker thought I was ridiculous asking for that small amount. Second, temperature. I didn't even attempt to make these conversions. My classmates would come to school and say things like, "Man, it is going to be a hot one today! 30 degrees!" I beg your pardon? 30 degrees. What does that mean? I know that 0 degrees Celsius is freezing. That is all. Needless to say, I never experienced freezing weather. Here is the equation that would have been helpful:

C = 5/9(F-32)

Am I going to do that in my head? No.

All joking aside, I won't miss being an ocean away from the people I care about most. While being in Alabama isn't much different than being in Berlin, it is comforting to be on the same continent as all of you. U-S-A all the way!

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

die Schwierigkeit -- challenge

Tuesday

Well, it is Dienst...Tuesday. I might be having some Berlin withdrawals. Nothing too heavy, though.

Today was my first day back to school. I had two classes, one lecture and one graduate class. It made it a little easier to get back into things for two reasons. One, we talked about Prussia in my lecture class. Two, the author of our book in my graduate class is Ira Berlin. I got to talk a lot about Berlin today, just not the right kind of Berlin.

So far, all is well. I don't have much to report on the home front. I can say that it is nice to have Sportscenter back. I never knew how much I actually enjoyed watching it until I was deprived of it for two months. And miraculously, it appears that ESPN is now covering soccer much more closely. Soccer is a regular installment on the scrolling bottom line. Hooray.

My apartment is still a mess. That is the mission for tonight. I'm going to put (and throw) things away, organize, and make things livable again. Not like I live in some kind of dump by any stretch of the imagination, but I decided to just drop my bags in my living room rather than put things away last night.

I've got to say that there are some day-to-day things that I miss about Berlin:

1. Coin money-- Yes, we have coin money in America. But the highest denomination is a quarter of a dollar. In Berlin, I had 2 Euro coins, 1 Euro coins, and 0.50 Euro coins that I used frequently. You know what is great about those? You can actually buy things with them. Every morning, I'd grab some combination of 1, .5, and .2 coins to pay for my breakfast that consisted of a 1E chocolate croissant and a .70E cup of coffee. I'd find myself buying cones of ice cream with coins, doner kebab with coins, beers with coins, etc, etc. You could do so much with two or three coins. In America, you've gotta have at least 4 to make a dollar. That'd don't get it.

2. Milchkaffee-- literally translated: milk coffee. Figuratively translated, warm delicious. I'd order a milchkaffee in under one of two circumstances: 1. after lunch, 2. reading at a cafe. The waiter/ess brings a big round mug of coffee with foam on top. I don't know if we've got an equivalent in America. It isn't a cappuccino, it isn't a latte macchiato, and I don't think it is a latte (I'm not a fancy coffee connoisseur--my standard morning cup of joe is black). When you get your little spoon and mix the coffee and the foam, it makes this creamy coffee concoction that goes great with a book, whether that book is German Harry Potter or American history.

3. Weather-- I haven't experienced anything awful in Kentucky or Alabama, and to be quite honest, the weather in Kentucky was wonderful before I left. But, Berlin's weather was spectacular. Nearly no humidity. Only got above 80 on occasion. Rained a good amount. The weather was priceless.

4. UBAHN-- You could probably guess that one. I don't like driving.

The whole vibe of the city was really great. The history, the people, the events, the places were all really inspiring. Being in such an important city is something that I will miss. I guess Tuscaloosa is pretty important. They've got some important football to play this weekend.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

vermissen -- to miss

Back in Amerika

Well folks, I have returned to the United States of America.

Thus far, the most difficult part was Heathrow. It was the first time being in an English-speaking place for two months. My brain, though, was still in German mode. I kept trying to put together German sentences in my mind, but when it came time to speak to attendants in the airport or waiters in the restaurants, I didn't need to do it. It was a little difficult to put together long strings of English sentences in a public place. A "nein" slipped out every now and then, but for the most part I did alright.

I had a Budweiser at home. I can't call it delicious. Sorry, Dad.

Now, I've come back to my apartment in Tuscaloosa. I can't stay too long because I need to try to get things put together and do a little reading before tomorrow. Though I promise more transition posts throughout the week. Fear not, folks.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika -- United States of America

Goodbye Berlin.

Alright,

It is 4:30am Germany time. I'm off to catch the Breitenbachplatz UBahn for the last time, make my connection at Fehrbelliner Platz and head to Jakob-Kaiser Platz where I will take a bus to the airport for a plane at 7:15. That plane will take me to London. From there, another plane will bring me back to the land of the free and the home of the brave. Whoa.

I'm coming home.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

der Rückflug -- return flight

The Germies!!

Well Americans, this is it. The last full day in Berlin. I can't believe it. It is already Thursday 27 August, and I'm nearly all packed up and ready to go. What do you do on a last day? I've got a museum or two to visit, a couple more gifts to buy, and plans to have a couple last beers with some classmates. More importantly? Celebrate. It has been a wonderful time here, and there's no use in moping over leaving. Why go out sad when you had a great ride? So today, I want to celebrate with you all by bringing you the first, and only...

GERMIE AWARDS!!!

I know it sounds like a kindergarten biology lesson, but let's not dwell on the name. It sounds better than Berlinies. Or maybe not. You can call them what you will.

Our first award of the night goes to the best cameo performance in a major motion picture. The winner...the NEIGHBORHOOD BLACK CAT! What film, you might ask? That film was called, "Peek in my window and climb onto the sill." This black cat just edged out the duo of Toad 1 and Toad 2 who made visits into my room. Sorry Toads, maybe next time.

The award for what I will miss most was a difficult one. I could say the people, I could say the atmosphere, I could say the history, etc, etc. What I think I will really miss so much is the PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. Man, this thing is wonderful! And I haven't driven a car in 2 months. I've only been in a car once, and that was a taxi. Hopefully, I haven't lost all of my driving skills and will not endanger all those around me. Maybe if Tuscaloosa would put a subway system together before I get back I wouldn't have to worry about this problem.

The best beer award goes to WEIHENSTEPHAN HEFE DUNKEL. Not only is Weihenstephan allegedly the oldest brewery in the world, but it also cranks out some delicious brews. A lot of times I could order a pilsner and be just satisfied, but this Hefe Dunkel was sweet and delicious. I don't know all kinds of technical terms to describe beer (though I do know that mouth feel is one--weird), but all I can say is try it.

My favorite restaurant goes to a restaurant whose name I actually do not know. It is a shame because I ate there several times after class. The restaurant was an Italian restaurant just across the street from my school. I call it the OIL RESTAURANT because I believe they specialized in cooking with olive oil. Whatever their secret, it was delicious. Yesterday, some classmates and I ate there for the last time and boy, did they treat us nicely. They gave us free pie! Free pie! It doesn't get much better than that! The food was delicious, the staff was nice, the drinks were tasty, and they gave us free pie. Thank you, mysterious oil restaurant on Pestalozzi Strasse.

Best villian--the EMU. See yesterday. I had a pretty neutral opinion of emus before this attack. I actually kinda felt bad for them because they had wings and they couldn't fly. I thought to myself, "What a waste of wings! It is a shame that even though you can run fast, you can't fly with your wings!" It is a cruel joke. But now, no sympathy what soever. I'm glad your taunted daily by your wings and your ugly face. I even have a touch of ill will against ostriches since they are so similar. So to the emu community of the world, I'm sorry but one haughty emu at the Berlin Zoo ruined it all for you.

Biggest surprise--this might have to be the Track and Field World Championships. I saw many sporting events; yes, 3 counts as many. I was aware that Arsenal played in Germany. As soon as I found out that I was coming to Germany, I thought to myself, "Arsenal played Stuttgart last season, and they train in Austria during the summer!" I'm just glad I got to go. But the TRACK AND FIELD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS were a complete surprise to me. Track and field is one of those sports that I watch during the Olympics and get excited about, but afterward, I lose touch because no one covers it anymore. It was really great to see a world record broken and to see how all of those athletes could perform. The Track and Field World Championships just beat out German mustard for this position. It is so delicious and so diverse.

Best night--I must say the ARSENAL MATCH. Okay yes, I got to see my most favorite sports team play. I got to see something that I might not get to see again (let's hope not, though). I saw one of the best soccer teams in the world play and some of the best athletes in the world perform. But I also got to meet some really great people. Paschal and Otto were a lot of fun. Uwe (Ulle? Uh oh, I can't remember) offered some good conversation. I can't describe how much fun it was. Maybe I should write a poem about it?

The most impressive sight--I saw lots of things while I was here in Berlin. I saw the Brandenburg Gate, the bust of Nefertiti, Sachsenhausen, Olympiastadion, Charlottenberg Palace, Usain Bolt run the fastest 200m race in the history of the world, and many, many other things. I must say that the CASTLE CHURCH may have been the most impressive thing that I saw. It wasn't particularly gigantic, but the sight was really something. The sanctuary was so intricately decorated and the building itself so rich with history that it is difficult to ignore. I was really impressed with the sights that I saw at that church.

And lastly, the award for "Will I come back to Berlin" goes to someone very special to all of us. This award goes out to YES. Berlin has been absolutely incredible. I saw so much, and at the same time still only scratched the surface. It is difficult for me to communicate how much fun I had, how impressed I was, and how much I learned while being here. I didn't just learn about the language, but I learned about the history, I learned about the people, and I learned about myself. I have survived two months in a foreign country. But I don't want to say alone because I certainly wouldn't not have had the same experience without my family and my friends. So I want to say thank you to you all for following along with me and keeping in touch. It has really meant a lot to me.

Before I take off for the day, one important note. As I said before, this is a terminal blog. All good things must come to an end, and that includes this blog. But! Even though I come back on Friday, that doesn't mean the blog stops on Friday! The last day of blogging will be the following Friday 4 September. I thought it would be nice to give some debriefing and let you know how American life is post-Germany. So stick with me for one more week!

Have a lovely Thursday, America, and I'll see you tomorrow.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

die Auszeichnung -- award

A triptych

I said a few weeks ago, when I posted about food, that I needed a complete post to talk about one of my most favorite parts about Berlin--

Beer.

Well, that time has come. But I realized that I can't do justice to my love for German brews by just describing tastes. So I bring to you:

Will's Poetry Corner.

I bring to you three different poems united by their similarities--

a haiku

golden majesty--

Crisp on a warm Berlin day.

Hops, barley, Heaven.

When in Germany

I like to drink beer while I'm out.

Don't care if it's light or a stout.

If it's from Berlin

I think it's a sin

to say no to a drink from the spout!

and lastly...

Ode to gold in a glass

Oh beer

Sometimes you are not clear

but I don't shed a tear

for that means you are brewed from wheat

and I think that's pretty sweet

You are so delicious;

no one should be suspicious

or feel malicious

because I drink you.

Simply put, you are a tasty brew.

Don't worry, friends. I don't have any sort of problem. I just really think that the beer here in Germany tastes delicious. I've also included a photographic tribute to beer.

Additionally and on a completely different note, did I tell you all that I was bitten by an emu last week? You betcha I was! At the Berlin Zoo. I was taking a picture of the emus, and one curiously poked its head through the cage. I didn't think much of it, and really I thought, "Cool! I can take a closer picture." And by closer picture, I mean have my finger bitten. No worries. The emu didn't have teeth. But honestly, who gets bitten by an emu!? See the two pictures here. It was actually a pretty funny incident. I laughed a lot.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

lecker -- delicious

No more class

Well, I am finished with class. Today was the last day of instruction. While I still have a test to take on Wednesday and Thursday, things are officially coming to a close.

We had a nice reception after class today. I'll see some of my classmates at the exam over the next couple of days, but it was good to have some last words with others and exchange emails. Of course every class has some sour spots and some tension, everyone seemed to be pretty happy. It was, for the most part, a great class. It was very diverse with lots of different opinions and world views, and that made class a lot more interesting.

As far as my German, I can honestly say that it is so much better. I can function quite comfortably in Germany with the language that I have. Some things pass me by, but for the most part, I can understand and function. I feel like I've accomplished something that I can use in the future. I definitely have developed my German to pave the way for other opportunities that come my way. Certainly, German will be helpful for my research that I will engage in the future. I believe that now no sentence is untranslatable for me. Before, I would come across sentences, have absolutely no idea what it said and further, no idea how to go about translating it. I thought I knew what to do, how the sentence was structured, etc., but when the translation came out, the sentence was meaningless. Now, I do not believe that that will happen. I built upon my skills that I learned in college, fine tuned them, and added to them. I'm really satisfied with the progress I made.

The big question that faces me now is how I can keep up the progress that I made. How can I keep building on what I've done and not lose the progress that I've made? Thanks to my mother, I am a fan of "The Biggest Loser," and for the contestants, it is always just as important to lose weight and maintain their lifestyle after the television show. Well, I'm now in the same boat. How do I keep that up? The biggest issue will be with speaking. Here, I speak German every day. I have to. I have to to talk with classmates, I have to to order food, I have to to function. Naturally in America, I don't have to do that. I could waltz down to Edelweiss German bakery in Tuscaloosa and try my hand at German there, but I could just as easily order pretzel rolls in English.

For reading and hearing, the internet is a valuable tool. I can access German newspapers, keep tabs on German Harry Potter, and work on my own research. That not only keeps my grammar sharp but simultaneously expands my vocabulary (it took me a while to think of that word in English). I can also find German videos easily on the internet. Many times, German news websites have videos, and there are countless other resources that I can use. I'm really looking forward to taking advantage of these things and keeping up with my German.

I think this a good challenge for me. Looking for new ways to use my German and finding ways to work it in and keep it sharp will be a good challenge. It would be a shame to lose the progress that I have made here, because it is considerable. I'm pretty proud of what I've done, and I won't let it go to waste.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

das Ende -- end

Alright, that's it...

I apologize to everyone. It is official--I'm not coming home.

You might be asking, "But Will?! Why!? Why are you not coming home?" One answer--beer gardens.

It is like an amusement park for adults. It is the most wonderful thing that someone could imagine. What do they have at beer gardens? Beer and trees and food. What a combination! The food is good hearty Germany food like bratwurst and potato salad and various mini-steaks, and giant pretzels. The beer, most of the time, doesn't come in weenie glasses but great looking mugs with thick walls and sturdy handles. Mugs that are built for slamming against other mugs, spilling beer all over the place and yelling, "PROST!"

Here's how I came to this realization--Today was actually shaping up to be a less than remarkable afternoon. Like usual, I dallied too long at lunch with my classmates, and that cut my "me time" this afternoon a bit short. (It was kinda worth it, though, because our Japanese classmate took us to this restaurant that she had found, and I ate some killer sushi.) When I got back to my place, I had to prepare my talk for tomorrow. Yes, I'm giving my speech on the last day of class. At least I'm giving one--that's more than some of our classmates can say. So, seeing that I got back to my room at about 4:30 and I had to prepare my speech, I thought this afternoon wasn't going to be too hot. I thought I'd take a few hours to prepare my talk, walk down to Kaiser's, pick up some ham and some rolls, make a sandwich, and watch the Liverpool v. Aston Villa match on my computer. Boooy was I wrong.

I managed to get my speech done reasonably quickly, and I picked out a new part of town to visit--Dahlem. I had aims to visit an old church there. I didn't find it until about 8pm (I went the wrong way out of the UBahn station. It was actually about a 4 minute walk from the Dahlem-Dorf station). Dahlem is lovely. It is an older part of town, and all of the houses are giant and old with ivy growing all over them. They look like they're all traditional German houses with peculiarly shaped roofs and dark brown frames against white stuccoed walls. It really is quite a site to see. Among these houses, I found the Alter Krug.

Around the time I found the Alter Krug, it was about time for dinner. I was thinking to myself, "Ohh, a beer garden! That'd be nice if I had other people with me." So I passed. In doing so, I found the old church I was looking for, but it was too dark to take pictures. I also thought, "Will, you're going to eat alone anyway. Who cares if it is a beer garden or not?" Good thought, me! I turned around, and marched up to the bar and said, "Könnte ich ein mal Berliner Pils mit Bratwurst und Kartoffelsalat bestellen?" Before I knew it, I was enjoying my beer, wurst, and potato salad. Here's a lovely shot of the Alter Krug:

The beer was good, the food was delicious, the weather was incredible, the atmosphere was beautiful. It was smaller than the other beer gardens I had visited and tucked away a little more. It was a little more secluded than the ones that I have been to in Tiergarten and Prenzlauerberg. I don't want to go on about how it is "untouristy" because I certainly heard some American English, but I do think it was a little bit more off the beaten path. I just got a really good vibe. Maybe it was the weather. Maybe it was the beer or the food or the name (the old mug), but I couldn't complain one bit--except I wish that you all could've been there with me. I'm glad I went. It was a lovely place to experience, but to make the night perfect, the Alter Krug needed good family and good friends.

So ultimately, I'm kidding. I'm actually coming home. I will be back on Friday. I must say this though, if graduate school doesn't work out, I will seriously consider my hand at being a German beer schlepper in Dahlem. I don't have to know about any fancy-pants cocktails. All I've gotta do is take money and dish out beer and wine. So America, I have a request. Can we get a few more places like the Alter Krug before I come back? Thanks

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

der Biergarten -- heaven

The newspaper lady

Yesterday I had an incident. Nothing extremely major, but it certainly weighed on my mind a little bit.

Senior year, I took a class about poverty and homelessness. I learned a lot about trends, legislation, psychology, and theology/philosophy relating to this topic. I didn't just read about it in books, but I stayed in a homeless shelter in Louisville as well. Ever since this class, I've had a heightened awareness for the topic and even started to shift my research interest a bit, focusing on welfare issues.

So that being said, I tend to think about issues regarding poverty and homelessness often. This is the first time that I have been confronted with such visible homelessness so regularly. I am 100% aware that there is a homeless population in Murray, Danville, and Tuscaloosa, but it isn't as visible as in Berlin. There are beggars on street corners, street performers, and newspaper salespeople.

My focus today is on the newspaper salespeople. I have a lot of respect for the newspaper salespeople. First of all, they are not selling the Berliner Morgenpost, the Tagesspiegel, or any other widely circulated German newspaper. They write their own paper with themes specific to homelessness and poverty. The salespeople will board UBahn or SBahn trains and give a small sales pitch that usually includes their name, how long they have been homeless, and information about the paper. Then, they walk up and down the train looking for interested buyers. When the train arrives at its station, they will get off, switch trains, and continue on their way.

Well, Friday night on the way home from Inglorious Basterds, I decided to give money to a newspaper saleswoman. It was about 11:30 at night, and I had some extra change in my pocket. She boarded the train, gave her pitch, and walked my way. I handed her my 1.5o Euro, but when she handed me my newspaper, I didn't take it. She said something like, "Are you sure," and I said, "Yes, thank you." She said, "Thank you" and went on her way into the night with her backpack full of newspapers. It is quite possible that she didn't give the exchange a second thought, but I did. I then gave it a third, a fourth, a fifth, etc, etc.

I felt bad. I will tell you why, and you can agree with me or disagree with me. By selling newspapers, she was doing more than sitting on the street asking for donations. She was using her power and abilities to reestablish a functional position in society in which she offered a product or a service and received compensation for that. Just like I offer a service to the University of Alabama or you perform your daily jobs at work, so did she. But when I gave her the 1.50 Euro and refused the newspaper, I broke that relationship that she was trying to establish between us. I was essentially saying, "No, I refuse your service, and I am giving you a donation." And that isn't what she wanted.

I could be reading too much into this. I keep telling myself that my heart was in the right place. I gave her money because I respected and admired what she was doing. But I don't just give money to people who check me out at Wal-Mart. I don't just give money to store owners because I like that they're offering me a service. By just giving her money, I was treating her differently than I would a regular salesperson, when I feel the whole reason she sells newspapers is to be treated as a regularly functioning salesperson.

Like I said, she may have not given it a second thought. It might happen to her all the time. I probably see more people refuse newspapers than actually take them, but for me personally, that doesn't make it okay. I look at programs like these newspapers as a step out of poverty. It helps initiate lifestyle changes, and I feel like I'm undermining that process when I give a donation and refuse the service.

What have I learned from this experience? Take the newspaper.

Thoughts? Agree? Disagree?

See you all again on Monday. One more week! Who can believe it?

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

die Zeitung -- newspaper

Postponed

Blog nation,

I apologize, but I am postponing today's post until tomorrow. I do have something good to discuss, but I need time to process a little bit. I actually have two good things to talk about, so don't fret. You will have a special Saturday edition tomorrow, and we will resume with standard operating procedure on Monday. Sorry, faithful followers.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

aufschieben -- to postpone

19.19

Back to Olympiastadion tonight. I don't have a lot to say other than this:

Usain Bolt isn't a human being.

World record. Incredible.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

schnell -- fast

All about da keedz!

Today, we have some special guests with us. I'd like to thank Canaan, Tyler, Mason, and Kelly from my mom's class for their excellent questions about Germany. Today I'll take some time to answer them and hopefully give everyone a better glimpse of Germany.

Question 1 comes from Kelly:

How big is the Castle Church?

As some of you might remember the Castle Church stands in Wittenberg. It was at this church that Martin Luther nailed up his 95 Theses to begin the Protestant Revolution. Kelly, it is quite a sizable church. In terms of square feet, I cannot say how large. The sanctuary was probably one of the largest that I have visited. It has a balcony that can accommodate a few hundred people. The church also has a large tower. I did a bit of research and found out that this tower is 300 feet tall. To get a good sense of how tall that is: take a football field, and stand it up on one end zone. That is 300 feet tall. Visitors could walk up to the observation deck which was just over halfway up, 170ft high. The pictures that look out over Wittenberg are from this deck. To get to the deck, visitors must walk up 289 steps. 289! Needless to say I was exhausted by the time I got to the top. And the staircases are spiral, so I was a bit dizzy as well.

Question number 2 comes from Mason:

Is it true that Berlin is big?

Yes, Mason. Berlin is big. In terms of people, Berlin is home to nearly 3,5000,000 people. Murray, on the other hand, has approximately 15,000 people. With regard to land, Berlin is about 35 times larger than Murray. Berlin is the largest city, in terms of population, in germany. Hamburg is second with just over 1.5M people. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Berlin is the largest city that I've lived in. I wish I could more accurately describe its size, but it certainly dwarfs Murray. I don't know if it is even fair to compare the two.

Question number 3 comes from Tyler:

Is it true that Germans are very nice?

From my experiences, Germans have been very nice. Many believe that Germans can be cold and a bit short when they talk to people. Some say that Germans are direct and don't care much for chit-chat. I, on the other hand, have found things to be quite different. Many of you may remember the Berliners that I met on the way home from the Arsenal match. They were very welcoming and very interested in talking to me. It could have had something to do with the certain soccer team that we both supported, but not necessarily. I spoke with a group of men and a son and a father. Looking back on it, these people had very strong relationships with one another and by no means had to open up their respective circles to an outsider American like myself. But they did, and there was no problem whatsoever. I've had other good experiences with people in the UBahn, in cafes, in bars, and many other places. People here in Berlin seem to be very open and very willing to talk with me and help me.

Finally, question number 4 comes from Canaan:

Are the Germans bad like on the Indiana Jones movies?

No, not at all. The bad guys from the Indiana Jones movies were Germans, but they in no way represent the broader population of Germany. They come from a small group of Germans that took power in the 1930s, but they spoke for only a radical minority of Germans. These Germans were only in power for about 12 years, and now Germany and the world condemns their actions. Germans are very nice and helpful people, as noted in question 3. The bad guys in Indiana Jones represent only a historical image of a group of people that identified with a terrible world view. They do not represent Germany or the German people.

I hope these answers help some of you, and I thank you for your questions. Keep them coming in, and I look forward to hearing from you all soon. Take care,

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

die Frage -- question

Ich bin kein Berliner.

A different spin on President Kennedy's famous quotation. I'll let you figure out what it means after reading this post--

I've gotten a question in about how I try to fit into a foreign environment. Do I try to pass myself off as a Berliner? Do I worry that I might stick out as a tourist? How do I try to experience Berlin? Touristy? Non-touristy?

This is a good question because it is something that I've certainly thought about, and I've come to the following conclusion. I am not from Germany. I'm not from Berlin. I speak German with a particularly strong American accent, and I sometimes have trouble speaking with real Germans. That means that unless I spend a considerable amount of time here in Berlin--years and years--I will be a tourist. And that is something that I'm completely comfortable with.

I visit the touristy sites. I've been to the museums, I've been to the Brandenburg Gate, to Olympiastadion. I do those things because I think, "Hey, I'm in Berlin. These things are interesting exhibits, and they're 'touristy' for a reason." People want to see them. I want to see them. As a result, I brave the tourist crowd to see what Berlin has to offer. I'm sure I probably do stand out because I generally carry around my camera bag just like everyone else. And that is alright by me. If someone pegs me for a tourist, that is just fine. Because I am. I don't feel particularly conspicuous when I visit these places or even if I go into a bar with a pamphlet from a museum or tourist site. It is a simple fact. Even though I've been here for almost two months now and I might consider myself more of a student than a genuine "tourist," I am touring Berlin, and there's no getting around that.

But, I also like to see the "real" side of Berlin. I actually spoke with Ulle about this on the way back from the Arsenal. We agreed that you can't understand the "true" culture of Berlin when you go to museums or the Television tower because "real" Berliners don't go there all the time. They can often give you a historical or a cultural basis from which to understand today's Berliners, but you can't get a really good understanding of present-day Berlin from these places. "Real" Berliners can be found in the cafes and the bars and at the soccer matches. I try to get my fair share of these experiences. I've been to a number of cafes, bars, sporting events, etc, and I've had a chance to see how people act, talk, work, laugh, and curse. But ultimately I know if someone approaches me, I'm not going to hide the fact that I'm a tourist.

This is so for a couple of reasons. First, I can't. My German isn't particularly sharp, and I also speak with a seemingly thick American accent. When you can't roll your r's in the back of your throat like Germans do, it's a dead give away. Second, I think Germans have very finely-tuned American detectors installed in their brains. People approach me and speak English fairly frequently without me giving any hint that I might be foreign. Do I look American? What does a typical American look like? Third, it opens the doors for an interesting exchange--bluegrass meets Berlin, if you will. The Berliners who have asked about my home think its fascinating that I'm from Kentucky and want to know all about chicken (actually, that's a tad obnoxious).

Ultimately, I don't worry about the fact that I'm a tourist. The touristy sites are popular for a reason, and I don't mind putting on the tourist bag and heading off to see what Berlin has to offer. But I also want to experience those things which are further away from tourist Berlin. I want to get a sense of the people and you can't do that in the Bode Museum. When I go to local bars or cafes, though, I don't worry about being identified as such. While I'm not going to parade around that I'm an American and everyone should know it, the simple fact is that I'm experiencing Berlin from an outsider's perspective. It would take me a long time (or maybe not even be possible) for me to experience Berlin the way true Berliners do, so I don't want to try. I want to partake of the same fare that Berliners eat and drink from the same tap from which Berliners drink, but I'll do that as a Kentuckian in a foreign land.

Do I want to visit the "real" Berlin? Absolutely. I don't want to spend all of my time at the KaDeWe because that's not what Berliners do. But I know that when I go to a non-touristy or "real" part of Berlin that I'm not experiencing the "real" Berlin because I'm not experiencing it as Berliners do. I'm experiencing it as I do, and I am no Berliner.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

der Auslander -- foreigner

Life on Bingerstrasse

Hello liebe Leute,

I hope you all had wonderful weekends. I certainly did. Not only was it extremely relaxing, but also I visited Wannsee. There I managed to get a good whiff of the German outdoors, and I visited the house where the Wannsee Conference was held. The Wannsee Conference was a meeting in 1942 at which a group of Nazi officers finalized the Final Solution. It was fascinating to read about it in the exhibit, but additionally to see how the house fit into the "lake scene." It looked like a perfectly normal lake-front house, well integrated in between the sailing clubs and private homes. I might be dedicating a blog post to this trip in the future.

Additionally, I learned quite a bit about construction this weekend. If any of you are in need of any sort of demolition job, just call up ARSENAL FC!! Completely OBLITERATED Everton on Saturday 6-1 at Everton! Whoa! What a way to start the season! Bring it on, Celtic!

To the truly important topic today: Bingerstrasse.

Bingerstrasse is a wonderful place to live. It is fairly residential compared to the rest of Berlin that I have visited. Thanks to my portal to the world--Breitenbach Platz--Bingerstrasse doesn't stay so suburban. Except to visit Kaiser's, I use the Breitenbach Platz UBahn station for nearly everything. I use it every day to go to class, I use it on weekend adventures, I use it in the afternoon. Whenever I need to go somewhere, I use the trusty Breitenbach Platz UBahn station on U3. It is conveniently located close to Heidelberger Platz when one can switch to the SBahn when necessary.

After emerging from Breitenbach Platz, first thing's first: cross the street. After, there is a small courtyard-esque area next to which stands an Italian restaurant. I hadn't tried it until yesterday, and I must say it is very tasty. I had the lasagna, and mmmmm. Mamma mia!

The stroll down Bingerstrasse is lined with trees and seemingly large houses. I don't know if these are single houses or divided into town house-like arrangements. I would venture a guess that many of the houses on the street are like the one where I live. Nikolas owns the house, but students or neighbors live in different rooms throughout the year. Currently, there are three students living in my house. Last week, Nikolas kept one of his neighbors while her family members visited. While none of these houses are identical, I guess that many of the residents have similar situations that Nikolas offers. I have no real reason for guessing this, but after being here for a month and a half, I just have a particular feeling.

The house in which I live is attached to another. The building is nice, with ivy crawling up and down the walls. There is not much room for a front yard, but what there is, Nikolas keeps in good shape. He ran a sprinkler yesterday, and I always notice some kind of improvement.

The house itself is very colorful. The foyer is pink. Maybe magenta (I'm not very good with color names). Needless to say, it is bright. It isn't something that I would choose personally, but it certainly works. I didn't walk in the first time and think, "Holy crap! This wall is pink! What was this person thinking?" The stairwell down to my room is a turquoise color. It, again, is a bit bright, but isn't shocking. It all works pretty well, actually.

Finally, my room. It has all of the modern luxuries that one might need as a student staying for two months in Berlin. I have a bed, a TV, a desk, a microwave, a refrigerator, a good reading chair, a sink with a goose faucet, and a nice collection of dishes and silverware. What else could one need? I only have one problem. There is no air condition in Nikolas's house which means that I keep my window open all day. As a result, I get the occasional bug in my room. Sometimes, the wildlife is a little more diverse than that, e.g., the neighbor's cat and a frog. But really, it's always an adventure opening my door, so I can't complain too much.

Bingerstrasse has been good to me. It isn't too busy like some other areas of town, but it isn't boring, either. I've found a couple of good cafes, Kaiser's, a restaurant or two, and everything is easily accessible with the UBahn. I really think I've got a pretty ideal living situation, here. I can easily make it into the city, but I can also have a break as well. I don't have to go out of my way to find some peace and quiet when I need. I can just walk up and down Bingerstrasse, and that works for me.

For more images from Bingerstrasse, check out my pictures here. There are only 3 beer bottles in my room.

Before I sign off, I just wanted to wish Danielle good luck today! Today, she begins her first day of TA training at UK, so everyone wish her good luck if you see or talk to her today. I know you'll do great today! Don't even worry at all.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

die Nachbarschaft -- neighborhood

Picture Day!

You know you loved it every year! Get you're nice clothes on, comb your hair, and smile for the camera.

Today's a little different. You won't get to have your picture made. I, on the other hand, have been sitting on a lot of pictures that have yet to be posted. Therefore, I mark the 14th of August 2009 as Picture Day!

I bring you 6 different albums:

1. My adventures around the Brandenburg Gate, Gendarmenmarkt, and Nikolaiviertel.

2. My boat tour.

3. The Jewish Museum

4. The Reichstag

5. A (small) part of Kreuzberg

and finally,

6. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

You might be able to view them in a better quality if you use the "slideshow" and "full screen" options.

Finally, I will leave you with these two things:

We're winding down here in Germany. I have two weeks left. Unbelievable, huh? If you have any requests about blog topics, send them my way. If any of you have any questions that you'd like answered, any themes you want to hear about, any specifics about my day-to-day operations, please send them along. I want you all to get something out of this, too, and I'm more than happy to oblige.

Many of you have been asking about where I live and what my house is like. That is why I am making this promise to you. Monday, I will bring you a Binger Strasse exclusive about my neighborhood, my house, my room, etc, etc. Pictures included. So, get ready. Tying in with previous point, if any of you have any specific questions about my humble German abode, get them in before Monday.

Have a lovely weekend, and enjoy the pictures!

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

das Foto -- photograph

How do we remember?

Brace yourselves, blog nation. A bit bumpy today--

Today I visited a former Stasi (Staat Sicherheit--State Security, i.e., East German secret police) prison. It was really a fascinating tour. I'll be the first person to admit that for a German historian, my knowledge of Germany after 1945 is embarrassing underdeveloped. The former prison, Hohenschönhausen, was converted from a former Nazi Welfare kitchen into this prison/camp. At this prison, political "offenders" were kept for indefinite amounts of time and subjected to extreme psychological abuse. When it was first opened, torture such as water boarding and water torture were employed, but afterward, the prison administrators moved to an approach that attacked the mind. Guards subjected prisoners to sleep deprivation, extreme disorientation, and created a general atmosphere of hopelessness. It goes without saying that to be a prisoner in this place would have been absolutely unimaginable.

But events and places such as this are apart of the history of Germany and Berlin. Additionally, events such as the Holocaust and the Third Reich weigh heavily on Germany's historical conscience. The question that I've been wrestling with for the last 24 hours or so is how do we we remember such a difficult history such as this? What does one do with such a catastrophic past?

This theme has been rolling around in my mind for years now, but since arriving in Berlin, it has become more and more germane. I've visited Sachsenhausen, the Jewish Museum, the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe, and now the Stasi prison, and it has been made apparent to me that such history is inescapable when one comes to Berlin. It is hardly even history yet because I read a small article in the Tagesspiegel yesterday about a 91-year old National Socialist who was recently found guilty for the part he played in the murder of 10 Italian civilians in Tuscany. More, I just looked up to the television and saw the German police shield and a swastika on the nightly news.

What really catalyzed this question was yesterday, seeing all of the people running around the monument. I was taken aback. I thought to myself, "This is a monument for murdered Jews!" It was as if people didn't understand where they were. I understand that some people might be of the persuasion that this is a sign of moving forward. When people can behave regularly again, then it indicates that people are moving past such atrocities. That might be so--BUT. There is an entire city for hide-and-go seek; there are entire parks for tag. The Alps are not far if you're into climbing, and I imagine that many health clubs have climbing walls. If you want to get some sun, Wannsee isn't too far (and even Wannsee has severe historical implications) and I'm sure Berlin has some very clean tanning beds. This city block is for something completely different.

Some of my response may be because I'm not European. It might be because I am not exposed to this everyday and don't read about Nazis or other historical catastrophes. But I don't think that should really matter. I don't want to think that I'm desensitized to the Holocaust or to the Stasi or any of these mass murders. When de-sensitivity develops, indifference rises. I'm by no means saying that any of these sites that I have visited contributes to indifference, I actually think the opposite. I believe that they serve a very important function--to remind.

We should never forget these events. Remembrance, though, isn't enough. What is important is how we remember these events. When I was able to tune out the noise that was around me yesterday, I actually felt a little disoriented and anxious. These giant stone slabs rose high above me, and it wasn't a comfortable feeling. I don't want to suggest that I could understand the realities of any of the events that occurred in the 1930s and 40s, but it create a particular emotion. The monument communicated a specific feeling to me that I could associate with the past. I don't want to say that everyone should have the same experience that I had, but there should be some sort of respectful connection. These places were preserved for a reason. These monuments were designed and constructed for a reason. They should evoke, remind, and help us grow.

Whether one is confronted with some representation of the realities of Sachsenhausen or Hohenschönhauser or the artistic interpretation at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, memorials and historical sites should remind. No one should have the same experience when visiting these places, but the focus should be on the subject. When visitors treat memorials with appropriate reverence, then we can be sure that we can remember appropriately. We won't become indifferent or desensitized. With such respect can we treat history with the attention and maturity that it deserves. That way we can learn not how to start over but how to move forward.

Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? Should we be able to play around on the slabs at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews? Let me know what you think.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

das Denkmal -- memorial

Great day

‘ello lads and lasses.

What a day today! All around a very solid day—

We begin with class. First before that, I’ve found a permanent place for breakfast. There’s a stand at my last UBahn stop, Wilhelmsdorfer Strasse. I’d always been a little skeptical about these stands in UBahn stations, but I’d seen other people using them, and I thought I’d give it a try. This stand has delicious Schoko-Croissants. A Schoko-Croissant is a normal croissant with chocolate injected into the middle. It’s like a cream-cram or a jelly donut, but instead of a donut and cream/jelly, it is a croissant with chocolate. Delicious. That plus a cup of coffee is a wonderful way to start any day.

Now class. Our teacher brought us chocolate! We’re doing some good things in class, but it gets even better when you get to learn AND eat chocolate! It wasn’t just regular old chocolate either. It was some special Swiss chocolate—regular milk chocolate and chocolate with some kind of strawberry filling.

Immediately after class, two things happened. Most immediately, I went to eat lunch with some classmates. My lunch = incredible. I wasn’t so sure what exactly I was ordering, but I went out on a limb and ordered the Regensburger Wurst with potato salad. I had an idea what I was going to get (meat and potatoes), but no one can ever be sure. How can one know these things? Well, it came, and it was primo good. The sausages were these fat little things, and the potato salad wasn’t runny or too mayonnaise-y. What made it all was this special mustard that came on the side. It was sweet and spicy at the same time. I don’t have any idea what it was aside from magic. I topped it off with a milchkaffee and was ready to seize the afternoon.

Next to most immediately after class, I came back to my room to get a few things prepared and decide where I’d head for the evening. I also ordered tickets to yet another sporting event. I’ll be headed to the Track and Field World Championships next Thursday. Among the events I’ll see is the Men’s 200M Final, i.e., Usain Bolt v. Tyson Gay. Awesome.

I did two really interesting things this afternoon (with a small shopping intercession in between). I visited the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Some of you may be familiar with this. It is a memorial that takes up about an entire city block and is composed of different sized concrete slabs. There are 2,500+, and they vary in height. It creates a maze-like affect in the middle that can be a little disorienting and create a little bit of anxiety. It was a really moving memorial. It’s interesting, and it also sends an important message. Additionally, there is a complimentary exhibit under the memorial that adds that much more to the experience.

I was a little taken aback by the atmosphere there. The memorial is clearly titled, “The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.” Nothing about that title or the mood created by the memorial itself suggests that visitors should climb or jump from one concrete slab to another or play hide-and-go-seek in between. For me, I expected an atmosphere of remembrance, and instead I found something that was nearly a playground.

What I think was most surprising: I also discovered that there were five Ralls that were murdered during the Holocaust, all from Romania: Moses (54), Crelli (51), Iacob (20), Rene (16), and Menzin (not known). Moving.

Following my visit, I wanted to visit Freie Universität Berlin. A former German professor of mine, Dr. Wilson, sent me images of the philosophy library and it looked like a wonderful place to visit. The architecture fascinating, and it would give me an opportunity to see that the university itself looked like. Recently, I discovered that the university was just three stops away from my house.Perfect. I didn’t find the library (it was getting a little late by the time I got there), but I did find probably the most peaceful place I’ve yet to find in Berlin.

This campus(?) was wonderful. It was like a little town, and while I don’t know a whole lot about how European universities are set up, I got the impression it was different that Alabama. Green space to be found everywhere, trees, wonderfully old-looking houses, and ducks! Yes, ducks! I can see myself packing up a book and heading back there ASAP.

Ladies and Gentlemen, that is all I have for today. It was a bit of a rundown, and I’m sure I’ll pick some of these themes up sometime soon. The main points of the day: it was good, I visited a fascinating memorial, Freie Universität Berlin is lovely. I know I blazed over some of this stuff, but like I said, I'll come back to some of these. Especially some of my thoughts about the memorial. Just need a little more time to process. Bear with me, blog world.

I also bought a jacket. It is red. It has a black Nike check on the left chest and a German flag on the right. It rules.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

affenstark -- (literally, as strong as an ape) really, really good

Schmeckt mir lecker!

New day, new blog...let's get it going--

I can't believe that I haven't blogged about this yet. One of the essential parts of my day--my life really. I can't live without it (and neither can you).

FOOD.

German food! How can I forget the German food! It is delicious! Most everything about it is delicious. Traditional German food consists of some kind of meat, some potatoes, and some bread. How can you mess that up? Answer. You can't. I've had lots of bratwurst over here. Bratwurst alone, bratwurst with mustard (Senf), bratwurst with saurkraut, bratwurst on bread, and the list goes on and on. I would make one suggestion to the German people: you need to understand the concept of the bun a little better. We all know how hot dogs and buns work, and I was under the impression that that concept was international. Nope. Germany uses what they call "Brötchen." Brot is the German word for bread, while "-chen" is a diminutive suffix. Put it together and you've got little bread...literally. If you order a Bratwurst mit Brötchen, you'll get a gigantic bratwurst with this mini-bun in the middle. No joke, it probably only covers about 1/3 of the sausage. I'm not going to complain too much because the bratwurst is excellent, but take that step to greatness Germany.

One thing that I don't order too often, or anymore, is currywurst. I don't understand what Germany's obsession with this food is. They love it so much that they're opening an entire museum dedicated to currywurst. What it is is a sausage chopped up, smothered with ketchup, and dusted with curry powder. In my opinion? Waste of a perfectly good sausage.

Honestly, though, I haven't been eating obscene amounts of German food. It isn't like I'm chomping on bratwurst mit brötchen every day. Berlin is actually pretty well known for its culinary diversity. I eat Italian, Turkish, Chinese, Lebanese, American, etc, etc. One staple is the Döner Kebab. It is a pretty delicious meal, and it is super cheap (we're talking 2 Euro). When one goes into a Döner shop, you'll see this giant barrel of meat roasting vertically on a spit. It's either chicken or lamb, and how they form this meat into a barrel shape is beyond me. When you order, they'll hack some off, stuff it in some bread (which is usually toasted), put some lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and some kind of magic dust on there and send you on your way. OH! There's also sauce. Typical Döner sauce is some white cucumber concoction. Many of you are familiar with my aversion to sauces such as these, and while I must admit I don't hate this sauce, I go with the red spicy sauce. When you're on the run or looking to save a couple Euros, a Döner will absolutely hit the spot.

I've been to two sporting events now, and some of you might be saying, "Will, can you get a big order of nachos or popcorn or peanuts at a German soccer match?" My answer to you is sadly, no. At both matches, I had bratwurst. But what I found most amusing (and different) was what they sold in the stands. We all know and love the beer man, the peanut man, the ice cream man--these hard-working salesmen greatly improve my experience at sporting events by allowing me to stay in my seat without getting thirsty. They come to me! In Germany, they have the beer man. That much is clear. But they also have the bread man. Yes, the bread man. He travels the stands just like the beer man, but instead of carrying 10 or 15 beers, he carries a giant wicker basket full of pretzels and rolls. It is really endearing to see a big, tough, drunk soccer fan picking a giant pretzel out of a wicker basket that, more often than not, has some nice decorative lining.

I've been completely satisfied with the German food. I can say that I've yet to go hungry. Some of you might also be thinking, "But Will! This is only the food! What about the drink?" Meine gute Damen und Herrn, I would do the drink injustice if I tried to include it here as well. Another post for another time.

Take care and feed yourself,

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

das Essen -- food

Olympiastadion redux

Well ladies and gentlemen, I returned to Olympiastadion. For a Jehovah's Witnesses conference? No. Why, then, might you have been there, Will? To celebrate the beginning of the 2009/2010 Bundesliga season and watch Hertha Berlin play Hannover 96. Now, you might remember Hannover 96 from a couple of weeks ago, and you would be correct! I travelled to Hannover to see God's Team (Arsenal) play. A week and a half later, I got a chance to see if they improved from their particularly stingy performance v. the Gunners.

I had been looking forward to this match for many reasons. First and foremost, I got to go into Olympiastadion this time. Nothing was going to keep me out this time. Second, this match was officially "competitive," as they say in the biz. At the Hannover-Arsenal match, only pride was at stake. The two teams were playing to prepare for their respective domestic seasons. Run a team out, give them a good workout, test out some different tactics, bring them back in. A win is always wonderful, but it isn't really something to boast about (though of course I do). This time, 3 points were at stake. This was the first match of 36 that Hertha Berlin would play in order to determine the winner of the Bundesliga championship. Wonderful! These teams would be chomping at the bit to kick off the season and make a statement. No one wants to look slack or weak on the first day of the season. This one would be a flier!

Two of my classmates and I headed toward the stadium at around 1:30 and the match started at 3:30. If it were up to me, I'dve been there at 1:30, but looking back on things, I didn't miss out. We took the UBahn, and it was quite a trek. That was completely alright by me. I felt like I was getting the best experience I could have by taking the UBahn. With about three stops left to go, the entire train was veritably full with Hertha BSC fans. Berlin songs were sung; anti-Hannover songs were sung. It was certainly a sight to behold. Everyone was decked out with blue and white from head to toe. I wore my Hertha jersey that I purchased a few days before. I think a few of my colleagues thought it was a bit overboard, but after getting on the train, I believe they were both a bit jealous.

Upon arrival, we saw blue and white everywhere. Not only shirts, but scarves, scarves, scarves. Tied on wrists, tied around waists, hanging from belts, scarves everywhere. Face paint, the whole deal. The stadium itself was absolutely incredible. 74,000 seats. I can't say that it's the largest stadium I've visited (Bryant-Denny = 91,000 and growing), but it was certainly gigantic.

Our seats were great. I purchased our tickets, and in the back of my mind I was worried about how good they would actually be, but I don't think there is a bad seat in the house. The crowd was a bit slim (around 45,000), but it certainly wasn't quiet. The Hannover fans sang their hearts out; the Ost-Kurve (Hertha fan central) jumped up and down, sang, chanted, played drums. I can honestly say that I've not seen anything like it before. There is nothing that compares in American sports. Or even comes close. The fans at soccer matches are incredible. If only American sports fans would sing. I think that would change things.

Anyhow, the game itself wasn't top notch stuff. You could see that both teams were still trying to get into a sync and knock off a bit of rust, but luckily, the match ended 1-0 to the home team. That makes now 3 professional soccer matches and 3 1-0 scorelines. I'd say that it might not be a goalfest, but it's better than 0-0. And while the game might not have been a barn-burner (I've now realized that this might be the most cliche-ridden post that I've produced yet), the atmosphere really made it something special. You could tell the fans were really rearing to go and ready to get the season underway. They were ready to see their team out there and challenging for the title again. With every new season comes new hopes and dreams, and you could really sense that on Saturday. I'm really glad that I went.

As for sports go in Germany, my schedule is officially empty. BUT! Two more prospects are on the horizon. First, the Track and Field World Championships are coming to Berlin next week. Some classmates and I are going to try desperately to get a hold of some tickets. 300,000 have already been sold. I really want to make it back to Olympiastadion for something competitive, but I also want to say, "Hey Usain Bolt! Let's race!" You can expect a blog entry about how I gave the fastest man on the planet all he could handle until he edged me out in the last 10M. Second, Berlin has 1. FC Union, a professional soccer team in the Bundesliga 2. I think that might be a completely different yet equally interesting experience.

Until tomorrow, I will leave you with this. Also, new pictures up. Take care:

Wörter des Tages:

Hertha Oma - Hertha Grandmother

Einmal Herthaner Immer Herthaner - Once a Hertha fan, Always a Hertha fan.

Bike ride

Today was a pretty adventurous day here in Berlin. Like I said yesterday, I went on a bike tour of the city. It was specifically themed--the Berlin Wall. It was a really, really fascinating trip. I got a chance to see several different parts of the wall, see where it first came down, a complete section of the wall that still stands, and lots of other different things throughout the city that I haven't gotten to see yet. It was a great new way to see Berlin.

Some of the things that we saw were things I expected--parts of the wall. These parts were generally covered in graffiti with glass shards on top. A lot of this graffiti was really fascinating, with phrases like "It's colder in Siberia" (it was even in English). But there were many things, though, that I'd never heard of before. People climbing through apartments to escape to West Berlin, soldiers running to West Berlin, etc, etc. Some of you may be familiar with this picture of Conrad Schumann. We stood at this spot where this happened:

I know I've belabored this point here, but this bike ride showed me how much Berlin and Germany has changed over the past 60-70 years. It is unbelievable to think how drastically one city can change and how it can do it so quickly. And to think that pieces of the wall are still around. Not even just that, though. Small things that one wouldn't think about--flag poles and street lamps--still stand where they stood to light the Wall. Our tour guide would show us pictures of segments of the wall, and then I'd look up to see the same building, the same view without the Wall. It was really something else.

On a little bit of a lighter note, this trip made me remember how fun riding a bike was. I see everybody on bikes, and to be honest, it annoyed me a little. Not that everyone was on a bike, but because people on bikes ring their little bike bells at me. We've already talked about this a little bit, but it really bugs me. It is completely different when I have a bell at my disposal. I never used it for its official purpose, but I rang that bell like it was my job. It was a lot of fun. Also, it was some great exercise. Never did I think, "Man, I can't do this anymore," but there were certainly times that I thought about how hard that particular segment was. When I go to the gym, I generally use the bike for a good amount of the time. It is a good way to work out the legs, and I always thought it was pretty easy. By riding a real bike, you get to change the scenery once in a while. You don't always have to stare at the people on the elliptical machines.

Unfortunately, my camera's battery was dead when the trip started. I think I left it on overnight. Oops. Sorry, friends. No bike pictures today.

Big weekend--the Bundesliga season begins, and I'll be heading to the Olympiastadion tomorrow to watch Hertha Berlin play! Woo! Pictures to follow. Have a great weekend, and I'll be back on Monday.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

das Fahrrad -- bicycle

I'm on a boat and it's going fast and...

I'm on top of the world, on a boat like Leo. If you're on the shore, then you sure ain't me-o.

Today I went on an Institute-scheduled program--a boat ride on the Spree River. The Spree runs through Berlin, and from it, you can see many of the famous sights around Berlin. I must say it was hot today. It definitely wasn't Kentucky hot or Alabama hot, but it certainly was warm. I didn't let a little hea

t and a little sun keep me from relaxing atop a tourist boat in the middle of Berlin.

When I say this ride was relaxing, I really mean it. The top of the boat wasn't too busy, so I had room to spread out a little bit. The soft hum of the boat motor mixed with the breeze made for an all around enjoyable atmosphere. After we floated past the Government Quarter, I nearly fell asleep. Not from boredom but from excess relaxing.

What I really enjoyed about this trip was that I could see some things that I had already visited from a different angle. I've included pictures from the Berliner Dom and Additionally, the Great Outdoors is something that I don't get to experience enough. I don't know if someone would count the middle of Berlin as the "Great Outdoors," but something about the boat made me think of the lake which in turn, made me think of Kentucky Lake and the forests, etc.

So in my mind, I was certainly in the "Great Outdoors."

These programs that the Goethe-Institut facilitated for us have been really great. Even though I've separated/lost from two of them, it has helped me see what Berlin has to offer. I don't know if I would have been able to see the same things had I not had the same type of program. Tomorrow, we're going on a bike tour of Berlin. That should be wonderful. Do you know why? I haven't ridden a bike for a substantial distance for probably 8 years. I signed a waiver saying that I know how to ride a bike. I probably should have signed a waiver saying that I used to be able to ride a bike and I'm pretty sure I can still ride one. I will definitely let you all know how that adventure goes. Additionally, the 3 day Berlin Beer Festival starts tomorrow. Prepare thyself. 300 breweries.

Sorry for the short length today. Take care, and I'll be back tomorrow.

Deutsches Wort des Tages:

das Boot -- boat