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