Berlin!

Traveling to Berlin was uneventful and easy. I met a few kids from Jersey on the plane, had a window seat with no one sitting next to me, and I took an anti-anxiety pill so I had a restful flight. I awoke to a beautiful Berlin outside my window. It must have snowed last night because there was fresh snow on all the cars. A few of us split a cab to the FU-BEST headquarters, where we got our photos taken (after 12 hours of traveling!) and we had a small orientation. But best of all, we were told that we were going to move in to our apartments, and we have tomorrow off to do whatever we want around the city.

I unpacked all of my things, and made friends with my apartment. I love it! It’s the perfect size. I made my bed (which is meant to double as a couch, but I don’t see that happening). I then, by chance, met up with two other FU-BESTers and we decided to take a look around the city. We were starving, so we decided to take the train one stop north toward the city. Mind you, public transportation in Berlin is free for students, so I’m going to get used to the transit system really fast.

 We stopped off at a Turkish deli, and, of course I had no idea how to order. On top of all that, all three of us are vegetarians, and on top of that, we had absolutely no clue how to order! I spotted “Falafel” on the menu, hoped it was a direct translation (ha!) and decided to order that, and a Heineken. All that was about 4 Euro, and it was delicious and filling. After that, I decided I had had enough exploring, and decided I should get back to the apartment.

I moved around the furniture, hung up my clothes, and crashed hard. I fell asleep for two hours, thinking that I had set my alarm for only one. I awoke and it’s dark already at 6! I took a beautiful, hot shower and brushed my teeth, ready for the day at the crack of 6:30 PM.

So here I sit. In my apartment, where I can choose to clean the sink in the bathroom, or scrub the toilet. I am sitting in my apartment in Germany, where I can use as many italics as I like, and keep the light on if I don’t feel well, and listen to my music and make a cup of tea, all by my self. I can keep the door open if I feel like being friendly, and I can keep it closed if I don’t. It’s wonderful.