Every Tuesday there’s a jazz party at a place called the Eidelweiss party lounge. Different local bands come to the stage and perform, so you can really see all the different cultures that live in Berlin. Parties start at 10:00 pm, so it’s a little late, but it’s a fun event.
Author: Tori (Page 1 of 2)
The Boros Bunker has a lot of interesting history and shows the extent of human creativity and also the progression of Berlin. Once a Bunker, a storage center, and a rave area, it is now a museum of art open by appointment.
The art pieces in here were very modern and interesting. Pictures were not allowed inside, but among the exhibits was a tree hung upside down and constantly being dragged in a circular motion on the ground, a popcorn machine that popped popcorn when you entered the room, and a pipe that extended through at least two walls. The art was modern and creative, very interesting to see.
The street art tour was very interesting as well. Getting to pay attention to a different type of art that was out in the open and seeing What Berlin people think through what they make was very eye opening as well.
The other day we visited two cites: the Memorial to Murdered Jews and the Topography of Terror. Visiting these cites was sobering. Although I had learned about the Holocaust and some of the politics beforehand, I wasn’t prepared for all that was coming my way. The memorials, particularly the information center for the Memorial and the entirety of the topography of terror, are every upfront about what happened, laying out the process from the beginning of the Weimar Republic to the end of the Nazi Regime in 1945. The Topography of Terror also had information on the trials of the top perpetrators of the crimes against humanity that was the Holocaust. The Nazi Regime is a cautionary tale, and I fervently wish I could take certain people voting for a certain politician to this exhibit to see the results of hatred, racism, and extremism.
Walking through the underground center dedicated to the history, testaments and families of the murdered Jews was very sobering. While it’s a given that what happened was a tragedy, walking through this cite gave faces and voices to people that were originally an anonymous piece of horrendous history. The sheer number of the lost-around 6 million-made it very difficult to connect to any of them before I came to this memorial. With each black and white face and stricken letter individuals emerged from the fog, and each time their biography ended with their life I was saddened anew. Even though I knew very few survived, I couldn’t help but retain a spark of hope, and think “maybe, maybe this one made it, please let them make it.” As I left the memorial, the thought stuck with me, that while I couldn’t even partially imagine what they were thinking…there was a chance that that same feeling of hope despite the odds flowed through the hearts of innocent people whose only crime was being the unfortunate target of fear, anger and bigotry.
Honestly, how are you doing?
A: Honestly, like anything in life, I have ups and downs. I’m navigating a new city in a new country, and I’m still learning the ropes on the language. But I’m still optimistic, and learning as I go, and doing the best I can, which is the best anyone can do.
Do you hate it here, or do you love it?
A: In general, I love it here. It’s relatively clean, for every bad apple I’ve encountered there has been fifteen friendly and accommodating people that just want to help, and the food is sensational.
Are you homesick?
A: Well, yes, of course. There are, and always will be, times where I do something or see something and I wish I could share with my family. But that’s what pictures and the internet is for, and I have the opportunity to make new friends and family here.
Are things getting hard?
A:Depends on what you’re talking about. Things were hard the moment I stepped onto international tile, but challenges are the spice of life and help keep you on your toes. Of course classes are hard-I’m drained from just trying to understand my German classes before I plunge into class seminars, and I often feel vastly unqualified to participate during seminar-but the best I can do is listen when I have nothing pertinent to say and try to integrate what I learned into the next session. Doesn’t mean I succeed, but I do have some interesting notes as a result of listening.
What is your temporal experience at this point? (For example: I don’t operate on dates or days of the week)
A: Try, try, try. If I fall, I just get up, dust myself off, and keep going. My existence is juggling far too many things at this point and smiling while trying to pick up whatever I’ve dropped without breaking rhythm. I don’t always succeed, of course, but I try.
Are you remembering things? Can you access images and feelings and emotions at any point in this city?Are you unable to?
A: For the most part, yes. I remember things of priority, but sacrifices have to be made. I’ll remember to read the week’s readings, but forget to buy toothpaste. I can remember some landmarks to get home if I go on autopilot, but lately remembering the city’s topography on top of everything else is a tall order.
Are your habits changing?
A: I was never an early bird. That has been forcibly changed. Any new habits picked up are forced or for survival
What is scaring you?
A: Showing up to class late, not having a bus pass, getting so sick I have to miss class, and of course, the ever looming shadow of failure.
How do you handle being alone?
A: If you go to a bar, You’re never truly alone. And you hear some interesting stories. infants and drunks never lie.
What could you possibly do in a strange place to truly calm down? (For example: when things get bad, I go into antique shops to assuage my anxiety)
Get out of the street traffic, close my eyes, take a deep inhale/exhale, repeat as many times as necessary, then open my eyes and troubleshoot until I get clarity.
Is class stressful?
A: I mean, it’s an upperclassman class abroad. That’s to be expected. It’s not so bad that I’m tweaking out in an alley somewhere, though. As long as I don’t screw up too majestically, I can handle it.
What kind of thoughts are you thinking? There’s usually a pattern there.
A: Man, what I would give for a a drink right now (Answer: about €1:80). Also, Where am I? I think I took a wrong turn…
Do you miss anyone (it’s ok to not)?
A: I miss my friends and family back home, and the solid grasp of the English language. But once I go home I’ll miss German charm and the smorgasbord of meat options.
Well, here I am! My wonderful buddy Kristen and I are here in Bratslava in Slavakia for a fun weekend trip! After some trial and error I booked an Airbnb from a nice man named Eruch, and oh my god. After scrambling to get to the airport, we discovered that we had some interesting passengers joking us, from some Coachella-looking people to a whole bridal party. After an entertaining plane ride that involved stripping bachelors, video cameras, and high-stakes lotto scratching in the span of a glorious hour, we touched down and took our cab to our Airbnb house. And oh. My gosh.
Set in the outskirts of the city, the houses are big, beautiful, and colorful, and ours was no exception. After being buzzed in and donning the guest sandals, our host showed us around the house. From there he gave us a short synopsis about the bus and a history lesson of Slovakia under the socialist regime.
Woth hungry bellies we prepare for a night out in Bratslava, excited to try some Slovakian comfort food that our cabby told us about. More to come!
For my psychic city song I just turned on a German playlist until a song I liked the sound of played. I settled on Materia by Kids (2 finger an den kopf) The first listen through, it made me feel like a bad ass just listening to it. Listening the second time its sounded like a bit of a tough, rebellious song. Upon looking up the lyrics I realized the lyrics were bemoaning how suburban everybody was now, and how no one’s wanting to be exciting or different anymore and how that was stupid. I so feel this song.
A fun park with cool sculptures
A picture at the Berlin wall memorial.
Famous picture of a soldier who jumped over the Berlin wall
My host family and I.
Wen traveling, have some fun with the buddy system. Kristen rocks.
Just some pretty spring blossoms.
While trying to find and apotheke that sold the type of face cream I wanted, I began wandering aimlessly, and quickly the area around Schillingstrasse became foreign. Gradually the Turkish neighborhoods started taking on new forms. Russian started popping up more frequently, and as I strolled through Gorlitzer Park an attractive black man started talking to me in Spanish, and I got to brush some of the dust of my first secondary language. With the the evening starting to set in, clamoring could be heard from the Dunmore Cave Pub as they got ready to open. More languages besides German started to fill the air, and a woman with a massive half wolf-looking dog waited at the corner with me. As I wandered further it was becoming readily apparent that no more apothekes could be found in the area. Though the search was a bust, I did encounter plenty of new places, met quite a few interesting people, ad found a delicious-looking Italian food restaurant. If I can find my way back there, I will definitely come visit again.
