First Weekend

Hello all. Things are going good here. After one week of class I am feeling pretty comfortable with the work. They’ve assigned some small assignments but nothing too long yet. Our class through UNL over the history of Berlin will probably take up the most time.

On Thurday we vistited Checkpoint Charlie and the Wall Museum.  The exhibits dealt with the wall itself and showcased the various ways in which people attempted to cross the border into the West.  The means to which some people resorted to was striking, especially in comparison to the nostalgia for the old East Germany that one occasionally sees. 

We visited the Wannsee Conference house on Sunday.  At the Wannsee Conference, Nazi leaders met to discuss the genocide against European Jews.  The house itself is quite aesthetically pleasing, but it certainly had its own disquieting aura about it.  It sits on the outskirts of Berlin on the shore of Wannsee, one of the many lakes around the city.  The neighborhood was imbued with a quietness that was a refreshing change from the huslte of the city.

This weekend I hope to visit Potsdam with other students from DID, so I should have an update soon.  Till then,

First Daz

Today was the first day of class, which went surprisingly well.  We took a placement test, which I thought was fairly easy, so a good sign hopefully.  I’ll go ahead and apologize for any typing errors right now.  German keyboards are mostly the same, with a few differences in key placement.  Nothing too extreme. 

My host family experience has been exceedingly positive so far.  My host mother, Marion, is very nice as well as being a very good cook.  She has a son, Christopher, although he is not around the house very often.  She has been hosting another student from my school from Switzerland.  Her name is Amana, although the spelling here is purely conjectural.  She has been attending DID since October, and has been very helpful with getting to school and knowing what to expect.  The house itself is very nice, although it take awhile to feel completely comfortable. 

I am writing this from an internet cafe in Wittenau, the neighborhood of Berlin I am staying in.  I am still trying to sleep off the jet lag, so I suppose I should be going.  Till later.

Andrew

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Welcome

Thanks to every one who is taking the time to read this.  This blog will serve as a means for anyone interested to keep updated on my German trip.  I hope to post every week or two, depending on how busy I end up. 

I am writing this sitting in the Blue Moon, on hold while trying to call the HP service center.  I’m finishing up some last minute business, such as finding out how to use my computer in Europe without frying the battery.  That, and actually packing, which I’m sure cannot take more than a few minutes.

On Saturday, I will fly out of Omaha to Chicago, then on to Germany.  I’ll arrive Sunday morning and meet my host family for the first time.  By Monday morning, I will be in class.  It is finally starting to sink in that in just a few days, I will be gone.  My nerves may be starting to act up a bit, or that might just be hunger.  Either way, I’m anxious to get up in the air and be on my way.

 Please, feel free to contact me at acunning3@gmail.com if you have any questions.  I will reply in as timely a manner as I can manage.  And so, till next week.

–Andrew