Today we had class in the morning, which consisted of walking around the streets of Berlin and going into different stores asking where things were. It was actually a pretty fun class!
Then we went to the Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen, which I really can't describe in words, so I'm not going to try. I think everyone should visit a place like that once in their lives, and mine was today.
After a somber afternoon, Lindsay and I just stayed in and had bread and chocolate for dinner. We have just been doing some homework and laundry. In a couple minutes, we will be having a Prague fashion show to strategically plan our outfits for the weekend so they fit in backpacks. That could be difficult...
Before we leave for the weekend at 4pm, we are going to a city just outside of Berlin that is supposed to be really cool called Potsdam for another walking tour with Nick.
No internet at the Prague hostel this weekend, but I'm sure I'll have a lot to update about the weekend on Sunday night (after the Germany World Cup game, of course)! Hope you all have a good one :) Auf Wiedersehen!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Sehenswürdigkeiten (sights)
I am officially a TU Berlin student! We got our IDs which work as train passes and meal cards. Unfortunately, we can't keep them, unless we "lose" it, but then it will cost me 50 Euros. I think it's worth it..
My TU Berlin student ID
Yesterday morning was our first language class at TU Berlin. After class, we had 2 hours to go to lunch before we were to meet again for our walking tour around all of the Berlin sights. So, a group of about 7 of us went the the Zoo Beer Garden, which is about a 5 minute walk from our classroom. Lindsay, Zack, and I decided that we needed to get the full Biergarten experience, so we ordered "ein Halb" of their house beer and brats in a roll.
Zack, Lindsay, and I at the Biergarten by TU Berlin
It was so good! Needless to say, the walking tour was much more fun after that lunch... Just kidding! :) The walking tour was great though! We saw all the main sights that Berlin has to offer and our tour guide helped us with places to go back and visit. It lasted 4 hours, so my feet were dead afterwards, but it was totally worth it. The best was to describe it is probably through pictures, so here it goes!
First, we started by our school and then took the train to Hackescher Markt, which is like a really nice area to eat and shop in. Then we continued to Museum Island, which is an island in the middle of the city that has about 5 museums on it.
The Berlin Dome on Museum Island
After these, we walked to some of the remains of the Berlin Wall. It wasn't the same part we saw the other night in the train station, this was more of a touristy spot, but was still really interested. The entire way there our tour guide, Nick, told us all about how and why the city was split, and stories of how people snuck over to West Berlin. Even though it was completely closed off, the West seemed to be the place to be! On our way to the wall, we stopped at the site of Hitler's bunker, where he killed himself at the end of WWII. It is honestly in the middle of a parking lot, and cars park over it on a daily basis. Nick said that the Soviets couldn't destroy the walls of the bunker, so they are still underneath, weird to think about huh? There are apartment buildings all around it, and there is only one little marker. We were the only people there. Nick said they don't mark it out because the government doesn't want to acknowledge places like that, but rather remember those who suffered.
Hitler's Bunker, underneath those 2 parking spots
All of us on top of it
Our tour guide, Nick, in front of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The bus we took to lunch, hahah
The restaurant we ate at
My TU Berlin student IDYesterday morning was our first language class at TU Berlin. After class, we had 2 hours to go to lunch before we were to meet again for our walking tour around all of the Berlin sights. So, a group of about 7 of us went the the Zoo Beer Garden, which is about a 5 minute walk from our classroom. Lindsay, Zack, and I decided that we needed to get the full Biergarten experience, so we ordered "ein Halb" of their house beer and brats in a roll.
Zack, Lindsay, and I at the Biergarten by TU BerlinFirst, we started by our school and then took the train to Hackescher Markt, which is like a really nice area to eat and shop in. Then we continued to Museum Island, which is an island in the middle of the city that has about 5 museums on it.
The Berlin Dome on Museum IslandThen we walked all the way down Unter den Linden and saw Bebelplatz and the memorial to the Book Burning that took place there during the Nazi era. At the end of Unter den Linden, we saw the Brandenburg Gate and walked under it to a memorial for the murdered European Jews of WWII. The Holocaust memorial is about 3000 steel blocks, all separated along straight lines, but cut at different heights and angles. You can walk through all the rows of blocks. The tour guide said that the artist didn't specify any symbolism or meaning to the art, it was left for the viewer to decide.
Book Burning Memorial
Lindsay & I at the Brandenburg Gate
WWII Murdered European Jews Memorial
Book Burning Memorial
Lindsay & I at the Brandenburg Gate
WWII Murdered European Jews MemorialAfter these, we walked to some of the remains of the Berlin Wall. It wasn't the same part we saw the other night in the train station, this was more of a touristy spot, but was still really interested. The entire way there our tour guide, Nick, told us all about how and why the city was split, and stories of how people snuck over to West Berlin. Even though it was completely closed off, the West seemed to be the place to be! On our way to the wall, we stopped at the site of Hitler's bunker, where he killed himself at the end of WWII. It is honestly in the middle of a parking lot, and cars park over it on a daily basis. Nick said that the Soviets couldn't destroy the walls of the bunker, so they are still underneath, weird to think about huh? There are apartment buildings all around it, and there is only one little marker. We were the only people there. Nick said they don't mark it out because the government doesn't want to acknowledge places like that, but rather remember those who suffered.
Hitler's Bunker, underneath those 2 parking spots
All of us on top of it
Our tour guide, Nick, in front of the Berlin Wall
Berlin WallThere is so much history here! I think that is one of my favorite things about this place. I still have so much more to learn though.
After the tour, we napped and then four of us went back to the Markt stop for a late dinner. We found a random Russian cafe and ate there at a really cool table in the window, so we sat around there until about 12:00.
Today was a tour at an engineering firm called IAV, which is also located in Michigan. We looked around at their engine testing facilities and then we got to test drive electric MiniCoopers! Pretty awesome! When you take your foot off the gas, the car stops on its own, which took some getting used to. IAV took us to lunch at this warehouse with a bunch of really expensive cars that people can use for 60,000 Euro a year.
After the tour, we napped and then four of us went back to the Markt stop for a late dinner. We found a random Russian cafe and ate there at a really cool table in the window, so we sat around there until about 12:00.
Today was a tour at an engineering firm called IAV, which is also located in Michigan. We looked around at their engine testing facilities and then we got to test drive electric MiniCoopers! Pretty awesome! When you take your foot off the gas, the car stops on its own, which took some getting used to. IAV took us to lunch at this warehouse with a bunch of really expensive cars that people can use for 60,000 Euro a year.
The bus we took to lunch, hahah
The restaurant we ate atI'm sure there's more, but I am so tired, so I am going to take a nap before dinner tonight! We're planning a low key night, nothing too special. Tomorrow is class and a tour of the Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen. Friday we are going to Potsdam early, and then leaving for a weekend in Prague!!! I'm sure there will be much more to come soon. Missing you guys tons!! Auf Wiedersehen!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Beaches in Berlin
On Sunday, we started the day off with brunch at the café on the corner of our street and then went to Wannsee Beach, which was about a 45 minute train ride. As you get further away from the center of the city, the houses get nicer and nicer, which made the train ride really interesting. We got to the beach around 2. It looked like a lake you would find in Michigan but there were hundreds, maybe thousands, of people there.
Wannsee Beach
The bathing suit fashion there is extremely interesting. I think the main goal for women is to wear the least flattering, tiniest bikini possible. On the other hand, for the guys, they wear swimsuits with weird pictures in places that there shouldn’t be pictures. (see picture below)
Berlin beach fashion
Some of the guys in our group went down the beach to throw the Frisbee around, and wandered a little too far down into the fenced off nude beach. They came back so fast! It was hilarious! We just talked, laid out, and hung out there until around 6pm, when we headed back to Wedding and ate dinner at a little Italian carry out place. We had class really early today, so we just went to the café for a little bit and then talked in our room and went to bed.
Today was our first day of German class, which was held at the Berlin Zoo. Our teacher is really nice, so we just walked around looking at die Elephanten, die Eisbären (polar bears), and die Giraffen. Our “homework” was to talk to 6 German people and get directions to different places, writing down their answers. Every time I would start to speak in German, they would answer in English. Embarrassing! At least I tried.
The whole group at the Zoo
The Berlin Zoo's famous polar bear Knut
After that we went to go look at TU Berlin’s campus, which is beautiful! We ate lunch in the school cafeteria, which was intimidating to say the least. They just do everything differently and we are always wrong. After a little break, we then went on our own private dinner cruise around Berlin with the program student advisors and professor. They made us awesome food and were stocked with Berliner Beer and nice red wine. We cruised around downtown Berlin drinking with our professors, too great!
Lindsay & I with our adviser Dawn on the Dinner Cruise
Our friend Benny told us all about the Berlin wall and what it was like here during the years right before and right after the wall. He grew up in West Berlin, which was like the liberal part of Berlin that was encircled and closed off. He said he can remember the day the wall came down like it was yesterday. It was pretty cool hearing a first hand account.
Now I am about to go downstairs and meet some of the group to plan our Prague trip this weekend! We are leaving on the train Friday afternoon after our visit to a city just outside of Berlin called Potsdam. It should be a really good time, and I just can’t wait! That’s all for now, Auf Wiedersehen!
Wannsee BeachThe bathing suit fashion there is extremely interesting. I think the main goal for women is to wear the least flattering, tiniest bikini possible. On the other hand, for the guys, they wear swimsuits with weird pictures in places that there shouldn’t be pictures. (see picture below)
Berlin beach fashionToday was our first day of German class, which was held at the Berlin Zoo. Our teacher is really nice, so we just walked around looking at die Elephanten, die Eisbären (polar bears), and die Giraffen. Our “homework” was to talk to 6 German people and get directions to different places, writing down their answers. Every time I would start to speak in German, they would answer in English. Embarrassing! At least I tried.
The whole group at the Zoo
The Berlin Zoo's famous polar bear KnutAfter that we went to go look at TU Berlin’s campus, which is beautiful! We ate lunch in the school cafeteria, which was intimidating to say the least. They just do everything differently and we are always wrong. After a little break, we then went on our own private dinner cruise around Berlin with the program student advisors and professor. They made us awesome food and were stocked with Berliner Beer and nice red wine. We cruised around downtown Berlin drinking with our professors, too great!
Lindsay & I with our adviser Dawn on the Dinner CruiseOur friend Benny told us all about the Berlin wall and what it was like here during the years right before and right after the wall. He grew up in West Berlin, which was like the liberal part of Berlin that was encircled and closed off. He said he can remember the day the wall came down like it was yesterday. It was pretty cool hearing a first hand account.
Now I am about to go downstairs and meet some of the group to plan our Prague trip this weekend! We are leaving on the train Friday afternoon after our visit to a city just outside of Berlin called Potsdam. It should be a really good time, and I just can’t wait! That’s all for now, Auf Wiedersehen!
What an adventure...
The view from my window when we got home this morning.
What a day! It is currently 4am. The moon is out, and the sun is rising. Did you know there’s only about 3 hours of darkness in Germany? It doesn’t get pitch dark until around 12:30am. We just got home about 20 minutes ago and I just couldn’t attempt to go to sleep without writing everything down that I can remember from the day. When we landed in Berlin, all 6 of us quickly went through passport control and went to meet our advisors. We were all in separate houses in this apartment complex, so my roommate Lindsay and I were driven by our new friend, and TU Berlin student, Benny, to our house. He specifically brought his “big car,” I think a Toyota Prius or something, as opposed to his regular ride of a 2-seater Smart Car so that we could fit our bags. Even his big car could fit in the trunk of my Jeep at home. The ride from the airport to the house was about 15 minutes, and we talked about school and things to see in Berlin.
When we got to our apartment, Lindsay and I were shocked at how big it was. We have a double, which has two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Our room is also a handicapped room, so although we have to crouch down just to open the door and use our fridge, we also could have a dance party in our bathroom.
My roomAfter we unpacked and were just trying to figure out what to do, we got a knock on our door from Benny and two other UM students, Colin and Ben. We met up with a couple others and walked around our neighborhood of Wedding (said like Vedding) and ate a traditional German dönner. Then Lindsay and I bought some towels and household stuff for our room at a Target-like (not quite) store on the main street in our neighborhood. After that, a small group of us was taken to the main train station in Berlin and we walked around the central downtown and sat by the river people watching. We saw the parliament building and a bunch of sweet museums. Berlin is such a neat mix of modern and traditional architecture, perfectly blended together. We’re planning on going back during the week.
After our quick tour, we went back and met up with all the rest of the UM Students who were all finally in one place. We got our local cell phones and set up texting and calling amongst each other. After that, Lindsay and I went to an Internet café about a block away from our building. I finally got to email my Mom and Skype with Matt for a few. They were so worried because I have no phone or internet, and had no way of getting a hold of me. Matt’s working hard at studying for finals, but it was still great to talk to him for a little bit. Everything here reminds me of him, I know he would just love it! After a quick Internet session, we went looking for some good German beer and found some at a little hole in the wall convenience store. After clinking to a fantastic trip, Lindsay and I headed back to the room to get ready for the night.
Our advisor decided to take us out for a night of dancing and drinks. I guess nobody shows up to clubs until at least 12:30am, probably because it’s still light out then, so we just hung out in front of the train station talking and laughing. About an hour into our conversations, Benny was like “Oh ya! I forgot to tell you that there is the Berlin Wall!” We were all like "WHAT!??!?" Sure enough, about 100 yards away there was the largest remaining piece of the wall that divided east and west Berlin for years. How could he just forget to mention that!? We didn’t get to go much closer because it was across a highway, but it was still a ridiculous moment. After that, we went into this old train station, which has been turned into a dance club. There were three floors, and majority of the music was American. We all danced around in a circle and were just messing around, which I guess really upset the Germans. Apparently, Americans dance much more obnoxiously than they do as we were jumping all over the floor. Well, regardless we had a great time until some angry German girls started pulling on Lindsay and I’s ponytails. I guess that meant it was time to go.
My roommate Lindsay and IA great first night though. SO much more to come. We are meeting for breakfast in approximately 6 hours, so I best be getting to bed. We’re headed to the beach tomorrow, because almost all the shops and restaurants are closed on Sundays. We start school Monday, with a German class at the Berlin Zoo. How cool is that? Until next time, I miss and love you all!! Auf Wiedersehen!
Polish Goodbyes
My grandma hates goodbyes. Really, everyone in my family hates goodbyes. When leaving the house, whether for a couple hours, or in this case, a couple months, you can usually count on adding an extra 10-15 minutes, or more, to your travel time specifically designated to long hugs and multiple “I Love You’s” yelled your way. Although it makes leaving even harder, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The goodbyes started this past Memorial Day weekend. Although my sister and I weren’t really speaking earlier in the weekend, she planned a surprise going away party for me. So I guess she really does like me after all. She hung German signs all over the yard at my Dad’s house that read “Wir lieben dich” (We love you) and my personal favorite that read “Be Gut…. Or Matt will hunt you down.” After that, I decided to make an impromptu trip to Chicago to drive Matt back for his last weeks of school. He was running late for work Tuesday morning, so the quick goodbye on the corner of Wacker and Madison was probably for the best. Things could have gotten ugly. Goodbye #1. Then Thursday night, Bill left for New Orleans so he stuck his head into my room about 7am and in true Bill form said, “Have fun in Germany!” Next came Thursday night, I went to my Dad’s house. It seemed like any other day at first, the babies running around, giggling with each other, and my Dad “not yelling” because company was on their way and my sister’s room was a mess. Then came tearful goodbyes, well for everyone but Camryn, she’s too cool to cry. I know the tears will come in a couple weeks when she’s looking for someone to go to the mall with.
Friday morning started with a breakfast at Leo’s Coney Island with my mom, Casey, and my grandparents (who will go by G-unit for the remainder of my blog). Casey narrated the way with useful tips. “Don’t murder your roommate,” she shared, “those trials over there are crazy.” Thanks Case. At least she lightened the mood. We stopped by G-unit’s house after and Casey gave me a really nice card and gift. My grandma gave me about 35 hugs with my grandpa quietly repeating, “Man, I’m gonna miss you…” Tears flowed again… I’m such a sap. My mom, Casey, and Ralph drove me to the airport. After my mom bitched out an 80 year old man crawling in a Buick on Oakwood, we were at the curb of DTW departures. Although I warned everyone “NO TEARS,” I broke my own rule when I started to say goodbye to Ralph, of course. Casey and Mom played it cool. I was mildly disappointed I couldn’t get my mom to cry at the curb. She famously cries at McDonald’s commercials and doesn’t cry when her babygirl is going halfway around the world!? It’s okay, she admitted tears later.
So, after a stop at New York’s JFK and a couple delays later (who’s idea was it to only leave JFK with one runway?), here I am on a plane headed to Berlin. I’ll be studying at TU Berlin with a group of about 20 U of M engineering students, or as my roommate Lauren lovingly calls us “engiNERDs.” 6 of us are flying over together from DTW, which makes the trip a little more bearable. I will be taking two classes, one centered around a computer programming group project and the other an intermediate German class. When we get to Berlin Saturday morning, our program director will be picking us up and taking us to our apartments. I’m so anxious to see what they are going to look like. Then we have a meeting at 5pm as a meet-and-greet. We have been warned not to sleep on Saturday so that we can get acclimated to the 6-hour time change. Looking forward to an exhausting day… Should get some sleep in now! 5 hours to go. Auf Wiedersehen!
The goodbyes started this past Memorial Day weekend. Although my sister and I weren’t really speaking earlier in the weekend, she planned a surprise going away party for me. So I guess she really does like me after all. She hung German signs all over the yard at my Dad’s house that read “Wir lieben dich” (We love you) and my personal favorite that read “Be Gut…. Or Matt will hunt you down.” After that, I decided to make an impromptu trip to Chicago to drive Matt back for his last weeks of school. He was running late for work Tuesday morning, so the quick goodbye on the corner of Wacker and Madison was probably for the best. Things could have gotten ugly. Goodbye #1. Then Thursday night, Bill left for New Orleans so he stuck his head into my room about 7am and in true Bill form said, “Have fun in Germany!” Next came Thursday night, I went to my Dad’s house. It seemed like any other day at first, the babies running around, giggling with each other, and my Dad “not yelling” because company was on their way and my sister’s room was a mess. Then came tearful goodbyes, well for everyone but Camryn, she’s too cool to cry. I know the tears will come in a couple weeks when she’s looking for someone to go to the mall with.
Friday morning started with a breakfast at Leo’s Coney Island with my mom, Casey, and my grandparents (who will go by G-unit for the remainder of my blog). Casey narrated the way with useful tips. “Don’t murder your roommate,” she shared, “those trials over there are crazy.” Thanks Case. At least she lightened the mood. We stopped by G-unit’s house after and Casey gave me a really nice card and gift. My grandma gave me about 35 hugs with my grandpa quietly repeating, “Man, I’m gonna miss you…” Tears flowed again… I’m such a sap. My mom, Casey, and Ralph drove me to the airport. After my mom bitched out an 80 year old man crawling in a Buick on Oakwood, we were at the curb of DTW departures. Although I warned everyone “NO TEARS,” I broke my own rule when I started to say goodbye to Ralph, of course. Casey and Mom played it cool. I was mildly disappointed I couldn’t get my mom to cry at the curb. She famously cries at McDonald’s commercials and doesn’t cry when her babygirl is going halfway around the world!? It’s okay, she admitted tears later.
So, after a stop at New York’s JFK and a couple delays later (who’s idea was it to only leave JFK with one runway?), here I am on a plane headed to Berlin. I’ll be studying at TU Berlin with a group of about 20 U of M engineering students, or as my roommate Lauren lovingly calls us “engiNERDs.” 6 of us are flying over together from DTW, which makes the trip a little more bearable. I will be taking two classes, one centered around a computer programming group project and the other an intermediate German class. When we get to Berlin Saturday morning, our program director will be picking us up and taking us to our apartments. I’m so anxious to see what they are going to look like. Then we have a meeting at 5pm as a meet-and-greet. We have been warned not to sleep on Saturday so that we can get acclimated to the 6-hour time change. Looking forward to an exhausting day… Should get some sleep in now! 5 hours to go. Auf Wiedersehen!
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