Berlin's first winter snow...a dusting of magic!

A golden pink glow from clouds so low with snow gently falling.  It was a magical moment punctuated with thunder and lightning that seemed contradictory to the peace and beauty.  And the snow softly fell.  The snow falling with gentle swirls like a snow globe.   Enveloping us in luminosity.  2:00 in the morning and mother nature has cast a spell on the city and magic is at play.  Everyone is safe and everything is possible.  The roof tops stretching into the glow as if to see how far the magic reaches.

Our snow globe existence, with gentle snow swirls in a golden rose orb, where life is perfect and everyone feels the magic.  Neighbors are more friendly and the rosy-cheeked children all bundled can't stop smiling while trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues. 

Berlin is magical at this time of year.  The Christkindlmarkts or Christmas Markets are beautiful and everyone is in good spirits.  Homes are decorated and everyone is buying boughs, wreaths and branches saving the tree for last.  The magic of the season has arrived!

The tragedy of death...

My stepfather died last Thursday of a massive coronary...I am not even sure how to even write about such a sad thing.  I just sent an email to Ben to tell him since he sent me an email and I started to cry...then my friend Samer called and asked if I had a cold since my voice sounded funny.  I started crying again and explained.  If I don't think about Jerry I am fine but it seems that if I try to tell someone on the phone or email or if someone offers me their condolences I start sobbing all over again.

Jerry's death was so unexpected, he was going to be here in Europe for 2 weeks at Christmas and we were all looking forward to seeing him.  Who would have thought that we would all be reunited in the States for his funeral?  It was the first time in 12 years that we were all together in one place.  We see each other with frequency but just not all at the same time.  It was really nice to be together but such a sad reason and of course there is the stress that comes with processing such a loss.  

There were two funerals, one in Iowa and one in Wisconsin where we grew up.  Both were really "nice" - as nice as funerals can be, but the one in Wisconsin was particularly beautiful.  It was held in the church where we were all confirmed, where Aimee and Rusty were married, and  where Allison and Gary were baptised.  There is comfort in the familiar surrounding, the familiar faces.  Grieving with friends and family is really a comfort.   It was so great that so many people came and it was so nice to hear all the stories of what a difference Jerry made in so many lives.  The things he did for people and what a presence he was...some things I wasn't even aware of.

Jerry was clearly a person who had an impact on many, it was really nice to hear their stories.  Also, it was nice to see the genuine grief of so many who will miss him.  Somehow their grief validated the impact of his life, validated a life well-lived.  He will be missed by so many including me.

Jerry's life really was a beautiful journey for him and for those blessed with being a part of it.  I have never known anyone who evolved in their lifetime like he did.  He leaves a big hole in our lives and our hearts that we will fill with the beautiful and funny memories of a life well-lived.

The good thing for me is that I have no regrets of anything said or unsaid.  Jerry's death is a reminder of the fragility of life, the balance that can be taken away at any minute and the appreciation I will continue to have of all the moments that make a beautiful life.

 

My FIRST dream in GERMAN!

So, they say that you are really absorbing the language when you start to think and dream in it...well I am happy to say that I have had my first dream in German! : )

I was hoping for a more exciting dream but in my dream I was reading and writing in German...doing German "Hausaufgabe" (homework) to be exact - not very exciting but progress nonetheless.

[I wonder how common it is to read and write in your dreams? I do this frequently and when I wake up I can remember what I read as if it were in a book next to me. Strange.]

Hopefully my dreams will get better! ; )

Meersburg

The air is crisp scented with the smell of burning wood, the night peaceful. The vineyard harvest is being unloaded in the center of town...in the small town of Meersburg the winery is nestled between the tourist shops, restaurants and homes. The lights around the lake (Bodensee also known as Lake Constance) twinkle. The moon creates diamonds from the 'see'.

So peaceful off season; the tourists become locals and if you visit the same place twice they remember you (and if it's a restaurant they remember what you like) and great you warmly with "Gruss Gott!" the greeting in most of Southern Germany.

I am here to learn German and have class from 8:30 until 5:30 but with a beautiful and historic location it is hard not to feel a bit like I am on holiday. I have been here now for 2 weeks and will be sad to leave. Meersburg is a small town and there is a sense of peace in knowing the town so well. To recognize locals and their daily rhythms and to also have been in one place long enough to create one for myself.

I have seen everthing, explored all the streets and shops and don't feel a 'need' to 'do' anything and am content to just 'BE'! ; )

Staying with 'Family Wodsak' is also such a pleasure. Their home is beautiful and stately,

Hamam?...or Human Car Wash??

I am in Meersburg am Bodensee (aka Lake Constance) taking intensive German classes for 2 weeks. [Check out http://www.meersburg.de] Intensive means from 8:30 - 5:30...4 hours of grammar to start the morning and another 4 hours of conversation and an hour for lunch. Anyone who has studied German (or any language for that matter!) will know that 4 hours of grammar alone is enough to give you a headache.

The truth is I am really lucky to be here and am thankful to have a chance to focus on learning German because after living in Germany for 3 months I am finding it quite difficult to really LIVE without knowing the language. I can get by, but I really want to create a life for myself in Deutschland ; ). So, here I am with 4 hours of grammar, and 4 hours of practicing...and the practice doesn't end when I leave the course...surprise! I leave the course and still get to speak GERMAN! ; ) Did I say how much I LOVE speaking GERMAN?

For a bit of relaxation I decided to take advantage of the beautiful spas that they have here in the area.

This is how they advertised the massage I selected:
Massages / Hamam

The Greeks, Indians, Persians and Chinese have used massage for centuries for healing or simply for well being.  Treat yourself to one of the various professional massages offered by the Meersburg Spa. From the traditional back and full-body massage to the Oriental foam massage in our Hamam, we will relax you from head to toe.

HAMAM - Ceremony - Enter the world of the Arabian Nights and leave it totally relaxed, refreshed and reborn.

The Oriental HAMAM is a ceremonial method of cleaning the body through a foam massage, during which you lie on a warm stone and are showered gently with warm water. You will receive a soft face peeling with special silk gloves and a full-body massage with pure, biological plant oils. You will instantly experience deep relaxation and feel your stress, tension and worry subside.

Along with a picture of a man with about 8 inches of foamy bubbles covering his body as he is being massaged...that looked pretty amazing.

Clemens approached as I waited at the Spa Bar and introduced himself as my masseur. We entered the Hamam and he asked me to take off my towel and lie face down on a large heated ceramic "bed".  (The spas here are pretty much clothing free, as are the massages, this is not for the prudish.)  Next to the bed was a ceramic fountain. Clemens asked me if I had ever had a Hamam, I said this was my first.  He asked if I would like him to explain what was going to happen, I told him that I liked surprises and we should just start.  He asked me to take 2 deep breaths and relax...not a problem.

The massage began by him taking bowls (I peaked!) of water at the perfect temperature and slowly pouring them over my body from about 2 feet from above. The warmth and the sensation was quite nice and very relaxing. He continued until he had slowly poured water over my whole body. Off to a nice start...I began to relax. Ahhhh! ; ) Suddenly he was taking buckets of water and throwing them at me as if I was a fire and he was trying to put me out...his life seemed to depend on it. Interesting...I felt very wet....

Next he start at my toes and worked his way up as we scrubbed my whole body with a very rough loofah glove...okay, not exactly relaxing but I am sure it is good for circulation or something! Again with the onslaught of warm water. Fine...the payoff came next - the foamy bubbles, thick and luxurious...very nice. He seemed to have a bag of foam that he put all over my body. The sensation was amazing, I could seemingly feel each bubble as it burst on the surface of my skin. The bubbles started sliding across my body...also a nice sensation...then came his hands as he massaged me with firm strokes. Ahhh! ; ) When he gets to my shoulders he senses the tension and really digs deep to loosen the muscles. He works very hard at it and it almost seems like he is either trying to pull my shoulder out of its socket or to put it back in while he jumps up and down...I wasn't quite sure if he thought I was possessed and he was trying to exorcise me or exactly what he was trying to accomplish. Not very pleasant. : (

He finished and asked me to turn over onto my back. Completely naked he began the ritual by slowly pouring the warm water all over my body paying particular attention to my breasts. He then poured warm water for several minutes across my forehead and into my hair...this felt so nice. For some reason my front did not need to be loofahed and he skipped right to the foam which was fine with me! The foam is thick and luxurious scented with Sandalwood, he applies the foam with something that is soft and silky. The bubbles burst and slide across my body; it feels as if there are hands all over me. Very relaxing...mmmmm. Then he begins to trail his fingers across the foam, he accidently touches my nipple and the foamy fantasy begins...before my foamy fantasy gets very far he is pelting me with bowls of freezing cold water (the equivalent of a cold shower??) and I wonder if I should have after all asked him to explain what the Hamam entailed. He asks me to open my eyes, sit up, then stand up with my back facing him. The torrents of cold water continue with fury and force. He finally stops, puts his hand on my shoulder, looks me in the eyes as he smiles and asks if I enjoyed the Hamam. I am not sure what so say and wonder if this is really what it was supposed to be like or if he is maybe still in training.

I thank him (I am not sure why) and he escorts me to a "quiet" room where he asks me to relax while he goes to get me some herbal tea to warm me up.

So, I ask myself, was that really a massage or a human car wash?

...finally pictures from Praha... ; )

Praha, as the locals call it, was beautiful....  

This is a medieval astronomical clock on the wall of the Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square.  It consists of 3 parts - the astronomical dial representing the position of the sun and moon in the sky with the astronomical details, "The Walk of the Apostles" upon the hour the Apostles come out and other sculptures move drawing quite a crowd! and lastly a calendar dial with medallions which represent the months.  A beautiful and ingenious creation!

As mentioned, this clock is quite a draw as on the hour it chimes and the doors open, the Apostles come out, the statues move - a skeleton rings a bell - you get the picture ; ).  Tourists begin to gather around the clock about 20-30 minutes before the chiming begins.  The crowd had gathered.  Beth and I had claimed our position in front for a perfect view.  We watched as a man walked and stood directly in front of the clock.  He was on his cell phone, he continued his call as he stood in front of the clock looking at the tourists.  He didn't seem to care that he was in the way, that he would be in every picture that anyone would take - he seemed rather clueless.  It is interesting how oblivious some can be.

My favorite part of Prague was the castle grounds contained within were many impressive buildings including the castle, church, Golden Lane, etc.  It is so easy to imagine life as it must have been so long ago.  It was interesting to see where Franz Kafka lived (22 Golden Lane - but only for one year), to see the history of so many lives come alive so vividly.  As I comtemplated the history of many it brought to mind my history which always leads to the future...I am looking forward to many adventures.

I love the gargoyles; they seem poised to leap upon the passersby!

 

Meine Lehrerin...

I am so lucky to have such a great German teacher.  ; )

It is difficult living in a country where you don't speak the language and trying to navigate the simplest things.  I think my enjoying the German police officer in my previous post doing charades was really driven by my desire to be on the other side.  Usually it is me trying to act something out or making some kind of physical gesture to get my point across, it was fun to have the tables turned.  I am desperately working on my German so that I don't have to endure the charades any longer.  

My German teacher comes to my office for my lessons - usually 90-120 minutes a lesson several times a week.  Today a colleague asked me what meeting I had this morning that made me laugh so much.  I replied that it was my German class.  He was surprised that I was having so much fun learning German, I guess I am too.  I am thankful that learning German is fun because "it is not an easy language" (I actually think it is not very difficult, probably because I am having too much fun learning it!).

I feel very lucky to have a German teacher that can laugh at me as much as I laugh at myself.

Lessons in Living...Berlin:

Finding a reason to laugh (especially when it is at yourself) makes the day brighter

Entertainment or German Practice...hmmm?

The great thing about cars in Europe is that they all basically come with GPS - it really is a great way to help navigate in a new city, state, country.  I would be lost in Berlin without it...it also turns out that I get lost in Berlin with it! 

There is a small flaw in my current GPS system, I am not sure if this is a German flaw or a Mercedes flaw - but I guess it is one and the same!  My GPS request begins by entering a street name, no problem (usually except when the words have the funny umlauts!), then I enter the street number.  When I enter the street number it gives me a grouping of numbers to select, for example 1-12.  Which is what happened yesterday.  I was trying to find the market research pilots we were conducting at Potsdamer Platz, 9.  I entered "Potsdamer Platz" - great, halfway done...then I entered the street number "9"  and the grouping "1-12" came up.  I selected that grouping as it contained "9".   

I headed off toward my destination "Interview & Exploration".   As enter the center of the heart of Berlin my GPS announced "You have reached your destination"...I am surrounded by high rise buildings, intersections, traffic, pedestrians and no number 9 in sight - or any other number for that matter.  Obviously the GPS was only going to get me so far! : (

I slowed down to try to find number 9 - I validated that I was on the right track having found 4 and 12.  However, I was afraid my search would be futile and I didn't have the patience to search too long.  I called Andre who was already at the location.  I explained my situation and he looked out the window trying to find landmarks to help me identify the correct building.  "We are across from the 'Price Waterhouse' building", okay I saw the PW building; "We are across from the 'Die Bahn' building".  Good, I was on the right side of the street that was helpful to know.

Suddenly I see this hand having in my passenger side window...somebody with a bright (ugly!) green sleeve.  Okay, interesting.  Then I see a face in the window...it is the Polizei!  Ooops!  I guess that even when you are lost it is still illegal to use your cell phone without being "hands free".   His wave became more urgent as he directed me to follow him.  I quickly hung up on Andre and followed.  We turned the corner and he continued down the street...clearly not in the direction that Andre had indicated.  I was definitely going to be late for market research.

After pulling over I parked and waited for instructions.  The officer approached my car and said something intelligble (to me!) in German.  I am sure it was important and meaningful, I just didn't understand.  I decided my strategy would be to play "dumb American tourist"...it is not a stretch at all for me.  "Sprechen Sie Englisch?" I asked.  He looked at me with frustration and said "Nein".  Okay, so maybe this would work, he didn't seem to want to deal with a English speaking tourist.   Unfortunately for me, he decided to be tenacious.  

His left arm was in the air with his finger wagging at me with his right hand poised in the universal "call me" sign.  He looked so funny, I had to hold back my smile.   He asked me for my driver's license in German and I understood this but I was decided to "play through".  I just looked at him puzzled.  He pointed at my wallet and I quickly pulled out 50 Euros and he shook his head.  He started reaching for my wallet and I pulled it away as if I were afraid he would take something.  He said emphatically "Fuehrerschein" more loudly. 

I was glad to see that Americans aren't the only ones who speaks more loudly when a foreigner doesn't understand in hopes that the increased volume will result in fluency in understanding the foreign language.  If I don't understand German he can say it as loudly as he wants and I still won't understand.  It was starting to get funny.  His frustration increased as I looked at him perplexed.  He then starting pantomiming driving a car, putting his hands on an invisible wheel wiggling his hips and moving his straight arms in the 10:00 and 2:00 position...with all the passersby in Potsdamer Platz to bear witness.  (There are about 70,000 passersby on a daily basis, I hope some of them appreciated the entertainment that I was helping to provide!)

I think I pushed him too far.  He gave up and decided to just run my license plate.  Having already racked up my share of tickets in the 10 weeks that I have been here I was afraid of what he might find!  He came back and asked me to verify that the address he had written down was mine.  It was.  I nodded with a worried look thinking that he was starting to gain on me and sorry that charades were over.    He originally was going to have me pay a 40 Euro fine but once he verified my address he gave me my money back and handed me an ominous green slip with tiny German words with a few boxes checked.  Before I let him go I asked him if he could tell me where Potsdamer Platz, 9 was.  He said "No", grinned at me and waved goodbye.  

Lessons in Living - Berlin:  

Don't make it a habit of getting pulled over by the police for entertainment or to practice your German

Don't trust your GPS - use back-up methods for directions (Mapquest!)

Prague...

Spending the weekend in Prague was really a lot of fun...once I got there!  

This was my not so auspicious start to the weekend...

I missed my plane in London after sitting in traffic for 3 hours - there was an accident on the M11 so nothing was moving.  There were no more flights to Berlin, Tegel is closed to arrivals after 11:00 PM, so I had to spend the night in Stansted - the middle of nowhere! how can they even call it London?! - and wait for the next flight in the morning, which was 7:55 AM and with the time change meant arriving in Berlin at 10:55 AM which meant that I would miss my train to Prague which left at 8:45 AM...the best laid plans!  

Arriving home, I unpacked and prepared for Prague and left for the 2:45 PM train...unfortunately what I could gather from the cab driver in my still quite broken German, is that the Doctors were demonstrating/striking (does that really happen?) and traffic was bad and I might not make my train due to "stau".  I began to think that maybe I really wasn't meant to see Prague.  I decided to call the train station to see when the next train would leave for Prague.  

Meanwhile, my friend Beth who left on the 8:45 AM train to Prague was already there, getting settled and scoping out what to do for the weekend.  I was hoping that someone at the train station would be able to speak English and was lucky after waiting a few minutes to get someone...I was informed that the next train was at 5:00 PM and I would arrive into Prague at 9:30 PM.  Not terrible news, at least there was a train!   The cab driver asked my options and I told him about the 5:00 train, he seemed relieved that I had another option.  He suggested that I sit in the station, relax and have a coffee.  I suggested that by the time I arrived at the station and had missed my train I might prefer wine.  He then said that after 2 hours of drinking I might be too drunk and miss my train again...of course, I didn't exactly understand what he was saying so he started acting out me being too drunk to walk...all this while driving! ; )

When I was on the phone with Die Bahn the gentleman had said that the train was leaving in 1 minute and that they left on time.  German transportation is notoriously timely so I didn't have high hopes that it would be late - but it was my lucky day! (okay, not really but at least this part was lucky!).  The train was still at the "gleis" and I was able to talk to the conductor who let me use my same ticket even though it was for 2 people and the ticket should not be split.  I settled into my First Class seat and began the 5 hour train journey.   

Arriving into Prague h.l.n. was like another world, it was dark, parts were under construction and it wasn't exactly clear where to get a taxi.  I finally spotted a sign and head in that direction, as I approached the exit a light was shining in the distance through a smokey alley where about 5 gruffy men were gathered in muted conversation smoking.  It was like a scene from a scary movie where you were willing the character not to go out the door because something bad was going to happen.  I really had not choice but to face the demons.  I exited to the smokey alley and found that it was a dead end under scaffolding with more men huddled around a fire in a garbage can.  I saw one car with a yellow taxi sign on the roof facing the exit somehow validating that I was in the right place.  I still wasn't sure but after asking was assured that this was the official taxi stand...welcome to Prague!

The taxi headed to Hotel Clarion one block from the river and on the edge of the old city.  The cab driver spoke only Czech so that limited me to taking in the sites as we drove to the hotel...ten minutes and 30 Euros later, I had arrived.  Beth had gotten us a great rate 115 Euros and a room with a view of the castle!  I was starting to relax and get in the spirit of a weekend away!

We dined at Nostress, and the restaurant was a psychological portal for me to actually have "no stress" at dinner I began to unwind and appreciate my surroundings.  The message in the name of the restaurant was not lost on me, nor was the humor or the irony.  Nostress was French Asian fusion, not exactly local but the fish was delicious and the wine was great.

Saturday morning we awoke to the amazing view and began our 'walkabout' journey...[more to come...pictures too! ; ) ]

Polizei!

This morning on Gleimstrasse I was so graciously hailed by the police officer to pull my car over.  "Who me??"  Surely there must be some mistake.  Okay, so I know that I was speeding, I was trying to get to the office quickly, how else can I do that?  I thought, this is perfect, I really don't speak German so maybe they will get frustrated with me and just tell me to leave.  Well, I am not so lucky - at least not this morning.  The police officer, even though he did not speak one word of English, managed to make if very clear to me that I needed to pay him 35 euros because I was driving 49 in a 30 zone.  He was able to make this clear simply by writing the numbers with an "X" through the 30, circling the 49 and putting a Euro sign next to the 35 and pointing an arrow to him.  I will have to remember his simple communication techniques.

I paid him his 35 euros and continued on my way to the office...driving the required 30 KMH - which is about 18 MPH...not very fast at all.  At least in the States they let you drive 25-30 MPH on side streets.  

I have not had a speeding ticket in the US for over 5 years (that's my truth as I remember).  Since I have arrived in Berlin, or really just this week I have had TWO speeding tickets.  Today and on Monday when I was driving to Tegel Airport to pick up Beth.  The traffic was terrible and her flight landed 40 minutes early (when does that EVER happen???).  There was a small segment of road where there was miraculously NO TRAFFIC  on Staatwinklerdamm, so of course I took advantage of this and was driving 80 KMH...all of a sudden there was a paparazzi flash!  At first I thought that someone realized who I am  (: ), then I quickly realized that no, my "paparazzi" are the police and they always seem to take such clear pictures - I hope I was smiling!  I am sure that this ticket from Monday will be coming in the mail any day now with a nice price tag and possibly some points from my license.  

I am becoming worried that before I have the chance to even get my German driver's license I will have used up all my points!  Last Thursday my car was towed...it was very strange, I came out of work at 8:00 PM to go to a business dinner.  I was running late (imagine!) and when I got to the street realized my car wasn't there.  Did I really park on Sellerstrasse?  After running through the details of the morning, I confirmed that Yes, I had parked on Sellerstrasse, right in front of the bus stop.  OOOOPPS!  Maybe I was too close to the bus stop?  I was a little frustrated as I knew that I had to call the police to find out what had happened to my car.  The police here don't have a very good record in my experience of speaking English.  How was I going to communicate all of this coherently?  I admitted that my terrible German would clearly miscommunicate my predicament and only serve to further alarm the police.  So, I very astutely asked our security guard in our building to call for me to find out where I could indeed find my car.  

The security guard called and found that my car had been towed to the corner of Gartenstrasse and Gartenplatz.  I asked the guard how much I would have to pay to get my car, he said nothing.  I was pleased that there would no fine for my poor parking judgement and exclaimed as much.   With a smirk, he quickly set me straight declaring that although my car was just towed to this particular street corner and all I needed were my car keys to pick it up that very soon there would a large bill for my "illegal" parking in the mail.  He estimated the cost to be about 200 Euros.  My sense of relief vanished. 

Oh well, I called a cab, found my car and am still waiting for the ticket in the mail.  

Lessons in Living in Berlin:  SERIOUSLY follow the posted signs for speed limits, parking, etc.  If you don't know what they mean (?!) find out fast or else the bills will really add up quickly!

PBN: It's strange, I almost forgot that it was 9/11 until I got an email from a colleague.  I guess when you are not in the States you aren't reminded as much of these things.  I was glad to be reminded and to remember those we lost that day and to appreciate more the people we have in our lives.

Why am I here? ...a Berlin crisis...

Okay, so this is not the existential question about why I am on the earth, it is the question of why am I in Berlin?   I am not really sure but I am pretty settled now and instead of rushing around trying to buy lights, lamps and closets, I am starting to actually be ready to create a life for myself here and I am not really sure what that looks like or how to create it.  

Why didn't I move to someplace warm and beautiful like Mexico?  Everyone else is doing it! ; ) The people in Mexico are nicer (right?).  The weather is getting cooler here, noticably fewer hours of daylight...it is only going to get worse.  But I am not sure that it is really the weather...or the people.

Anyway, I am sure I am just hitting some sort of bump in the road...or maybe an impenetrable roadblock (?) and that I will snap out of it.  Creating some sort of routine would be good.  Also, it sounds simple but I have a terrace and I have no plants there yet, granted they will not likely last long but it would be nice to have some green.  Nothing like a bit of nature to lift the soul.  

So, I will let you know when I have found the detour around the roadblock...

Guy & Swaantje's End of Summer Party

Okay, so I was finally invited to my first non-work related event in Berlin (besides the girls night which I was invited to because the host was friends with a colleague).  Quite an exciting thing to look forward to...first there was the invitation, all in German with my language skills leaving much up to interpretation.  So, I managed to have the "einladung" (invitation) be part of my German lesson today.  Of course there was a cultural component to the German lesson as well where I quizzed my instructor on the appropriate ettiquette...gift, what to bring, etc.  So this was an "End of Summer Party" and "Belated Birthday Party" for Guy, a Londoner who lives in my "haus". 

The good news was that Guy is British, and of course, speaks English.  My fear was that although he speaks English that others might not.  Although I have been a bit sick the past couple of weeks with a cold (thanks to my beloved family! ; ) I thought maybe I was too "sick" to go to the party.  Okay, so I am not really sick anymore, I just wanted an excuse!  It is hard to put yourself "out there" into a social situation that is a bit stressful.  But, I decided I would do it.  My German instructor told me to bring Proseco, flowers and sushi.  So at 7:00 I was dutifully at the grocery store looking for my purchases.  The sushi didn't look so great, the proseco didn't either - it was either something for 3 Euros that I had no idea if it was good or Veuve Cliquot which I knew was great but it cost 35 Euros, which with the flowers and the food would be over 50 Euros for a Guy that I had only met twice!  Additionally, I didn't want to seem like I was over doing it.  Suddenly I felt my illness coming on again...okay, not really but I was at least feeling a bit sick to my stomach.  Then I thought of my sister Aimee and I what I would tell her in the same situation..."just go, you will have fun - don't worry, whatever you bring will be perfect and it will be fun".  I decided that I should heed some of my oft given advice.  I bought some cheese, bread, dates and flowers.  I skipped the proseco and decided to bring a bottle of Pinot Noir from Oregon - I knew it would be good and it wasn't a $60 bottle.

I arrived home, created a psuedo cheese plate, arranged the flowers in a vase with a ribbon, put the wine in my pocket and headed out to the first floor.  Worst case and my commute home would be quick and painless.  Wondering if I brought too much or too little, if I was dressed appropriately and if I would have anyone to talk to - I bravely pressed the door bell and waited.  There was no answer.  Okay, now that I spent all this time preparing and agonizing I wanted to be inside the party.  I juggled the vase and cheese tray and pressed the bell again.  No answer.  I wondered if someone had looked out the peep hole and decided not to answer.  ; )  (How could that be??)

I was determined.  Balancing my gifts precariously in one hand, I opened the outside door and walked into the courtyard.  I entered the common courtyard and passed people on the terrace, walked through Guy and Swaantje's bedroom and into the heart of the party.  Thankful that I had made it into the party and hadn't dropped anything on the floor I promptly set everything on a table.  Luckily I spied the host nearby, I reintroduced myself and quickly told him I have been sick and didn't think I would be able to stay long since I was still feeling under the weather (what I chicken!, but it is always good to have an out).  Guy quite graciously thanked me for coming and for the gifts and said he hoped that I would be able to stay for a while and enjoy the party.  As he thanked my I was thinking that I hoped he didn't think that he could actually keep the dishes that I had brought the food on...  

Speaking with Guy made me feel much more at ease.  Then I recognized Paulo, another neighbor and house member.  I met Paulo right before I traveled to Valencia when I had to ring his bell at 8:00 AM to retrieve a chandelier that I miraculously was able to order on German eBay that he had signed for.  We quickly began talking and with a glass of wine and another English speaker on hand I started to relax...

...the evening was a success.  I stayed for 2 hours and also had the chance to meet Nicolas who also lives in the "haus" with his pregnant girlfriend Heike.  Their baby is due September 5.  I was happy to meet Nicholas since he and Heike had invited me to their house warming party which I wasn't able to attend since it was in June and I was in the states at the time.  Both Nicolas and Paulo explained to me that the "haus" we are all living in is newly renovated and that all the tenants are new since about March.  Because everyone moved in around the same time there is a closeness of the occupants.  Most have had parties where they have invited everyone living in the building.  The group also organized for a movie to be shown a few weeks ago in the common courtyard on a large screen.  So, it seems there is a great sense of community.  I will invite everyone to my house warming birthday party.  Or maybe I will have a party when my mom and Aimee are here.  I always love when my family has a chance to meet my friends and colleagues.  

The lesson in living...when invited to a party go, don't worry about it.  After all, how bad can it be? ; )  I look forward to many more "haus" events...

Shan Rahimkhan

When I need my haircut it is one of things where I wake up and look in the mirror and decide I absolutely HAVE to get my hair cut TODAY!  That was my experience this morning upon looking in the mirror.  Today is the day and I need a haircut!

Being in a new city finding a stylist that you like can be quite a traumatic experience.  A haircut, unlike a bad outfit, cannot be easily discarded.  So, I consider myself very lucky to have found Shan even before I moved to Berlin.

Shan Rahimkhan has an amazing sense of style which is evidenced in his Cafe, Coiffeur, and Casa.  You have to check it out on www.shanrahimkhan.de!  The first time I got my hair cut Shan did it himself.  I felt like a princess when I left and was warmed by the kindness and encouragement that Shan offered after hearing about my stolen purse at Tegel Airport.

Well, being impulsive as I am about my hair and calling at the last minute unfortunately meant that Shan was not going to be able to cut it.  Okay, so I didn't even ask.  But in any case, I got a nice cut today from Marty.  I got about 4 inches cut off and I am happy to say I won't be able to wear it in a pony tail for a while!

After my hair cut I went around the corner to Gallerie Lafayette.  I think it is pretty cool to have one of my favorite French stores in Berlin (okay, so we don't have an Apple store yet, but we have Galleries Lafayette!).  So, I went and tried on some sun glasses.  I found some that I liked but they just seem too glitzy for Berlin.  Berlin is a solid "cool" city and doesn't have as much of the flash that New York has.  The "window" shopping was fun (they already have winter scarves...I hope that is not an omen for winter weather in Berlin!

I am looking forward to going to Helsinki tomorrow.  It is one of my favorite places.  I will be sure to add some pictures to my blog.  Also, I need to add some from my family's visit as well!  The haircut photo was taken with my Mac...! ; ) 

Girl's Night

Last night was a fantastic girl's night hosted by Melissa H. There were about 8 of us and it was a lot of fun. The evening started with "bubbly", bruschetta, organic (and very green!) olives, and radishes. It was really a lot of fun to meet a great group of women and I was really surprised by how much we all laughed.

Melissa is a fantastic hostess, she made everyone feel welcome and she has a very cozy and charming apartment in Mitte off of Oranienburger Strasse which is a wonderful neighborhood. She made a roasted pumpkin, risotto and a lovely green salad. Dessert of berries and a light cake was enjoyed by all!

It is funny how small the world is...one of the women, Anja Schuhmann, was receiving pilates instruction at Body Balance in Chicago the same place that I was going to at the same time! Anja now has her own studio in Berlin - www.studio-a-pilates.de.  Melissa is a photographer and she knows most of the women at the ladies night from the Laugh Olympics which she participates in. The Laugh Olympics is usually performed in the fall/winter/spring at the Spirit Yoga studio in Hachesher Markt. However, they are moving to a comedy club in Prenzlauer Berg...my neighborhood. Anja also is practicing for the Laugh Olympics as well. It was funny when I met her, I thought she was American, her English is perfect! She was saying her street address in German and I was so impressed by her German pronunciation. It turns out she is German...so then I was impressed by her English.

After the wonderful food, introductions and bubbly, Melissa turned the evening toward the quite serious matter of "I never...". Well, I never played I never before, it is a game where one person starts and says "I never kissed a stranger" and then anyone who has kissed a stranger has to "drink" (doesn't have to be alcohol, this is just so you have a visual cue as to how has really kissed a stranger) and then you go around the circle and share the story of kissing a stranger. A new "I never..." statement is then given by the next person after all the stories have been told. After being transported back to college days (I felt a bit old!) I very easily fell into the fun, the stories and the laughter. Despite the sharing of very personal information, it was a lot of fun and we all laughed so much!

I am fighting a cold so by the end of the evening I was losing my voice. The first time I glanced at my watch it was 1:00 AM! I couldn't believe how quickly the time had past. At 2:00 AM, I was only the second to leave. I am glad I did. I was really tired and as it was I slept today (Saturday, the only day to do errands since the stores are open!) until 1:00.

Upon rising, I very promptly decided that it was critical that my hair was cut...hence my visit to Shan.

Lessons in Living...Berlin!

So, this blog will now be dedicated to my experiences while living in Berlin. Believe me, there has been quite some shenanigans here so far! ; ) But really moving to Berlin has been wonderful so far and really part of an unexpected journey!

So, I will regale you with stories - happy, sad, funny and bad - about my experiences living abroad.

Check back for updates!

Family visit...

My family came for a visit...Dad, Debbie, David, Ben, Katelyn and Abigail. It was so wonderful to see them. They arrived on Wednesday evening. I greeted them with tears of joy! I was so excited to have them in Berlin, happy that they would have time with me in my "home town". We had a wonderful time, very relaxed. They left yesterday...at 4:00 AM. Now I am in my flat with remnants of their visit. Glasses on the counter, Dad's crumbs from the streuselschnecke, Abby's yogurt bowl, wine glasses from dinner the night before. Rumpled sheets on the bed. The sofa bed with pillows strewn. I am still enjoying the aftermath and basking in the joy of their visit. I hate to clean up and wipe away the last visible traces...

Missing you!

Starting my blog...

With Anna's encouragement, I have officially started my blog. ; )