School Day Two

Today was much, much better than yesterday. I didn't make a single mistake on the public transportation. I got off at all the right stops and made it to school 45 minutes before class, which gave me time to study.

In class, I could understand everyone much better and was willing to offer my answers and such things. I still don't have a book yet... But my two teachers only gave us worksheets for homework. Yay.

After class I signed up for the movie that will be shown tomorrow at 15:30 at school. It will be in German of course. I feel like I'm learning. Being around the language so much is what makes it great, and also, in my class there are only seven people. This is great.

After class got out, I decided to roam around the city. I went to Tiergarten which is the largest city park here. Here's an aerial view brought to you by the internet:

Tiergarten was once the hunting grounds of Elector Friedrich III and was transformed into a public park in the last 17th century. Friedrich was the ruler of the Wittelsbach house in the 1500s. The Wittlesbach family is a European royal family and German dynasty which comes from Bavaria. Friedrich did a bunch of important stuff that, if your interested, can be found on the internet. Their coat of arms is to the left.

Anyway, Tiergarten is huge. It also has a famous Berlin landmark right in the center. This is the Victory Column also know as the Siegessaeule. This was initially built in honor of Prussia's triumph over Denmark. Hitler moved it in 1938 from the Reichstag to Tiergarten. It is just over 200 feet, and the statue of the goddess, Viktoria, on the top weighs about 38.5 tons.



Tiergarten means "animal garden." It is called this because of the many animals one might see roaming about. Tiergarten also boarders the Berlin zoo. It is 210 hectares, so it is smaller than New York's Central Park, and larger than London's Hyde Park.

This is the first time that I've been here that I've actually noticed a bunch of tourists. I took some pictures of the Victory Column and read my book and did some homework and then left. This won't be my last time going while I'm here. Maybe I can take Toni and/or Frau Luedtke and/or Lucy with me one of these days so I can get some pictures with the Brandonburg Tor and the Victory Column and things like that.

I must go because of the word of the day. Hausaufgabe means homework.

My First Day of School

I did it! I made it through without freaking out! Let me tell you why I had a few reasons to freak out...

This morning, I had to get to school to take my placement test. This would be my first time navigating the public transportation without Toni. Gulp. I was pretty confident that I remembered everything we had done the day before but little did I know...

When Toni and I did this yesterday, we tried two different routes. First, a route that would have me walking 5 minutes to an U-Bahn, switching stations to get on a different U-Bahn and then walking about 7 minutes to the school or catching the tram. The second route seems more simple. 5 minutes to the S-Bahn, get off to find the tram which will make a stop just across the street from GLS.

So I got up around 6:30 and left at 7:15. I took the "easier" route. I found the S-Bahn station, and got on the one going in my direction. I got off at the correct stop but then as I was leaving the station everything was completely different. I didn't recognize anything. So I took out my Berlin map that I bought from Barnes and Noble last week before departure (which has proved to be completely useless) to try and figure out where I was. I looked and wandered and stopped and looked and wandered which caused me to circle the outside of the station resulting in my finding out that I had just exited the station on the wrong side. My landmark? Good ole Mickey Dees. But this was not the time for food.

After this I was not panicking. I was still okay. I still had plenty of time to get there. I crossed the street where the tram was supposed to come. I had forgotten what the tram stop sign looked like. There were big yellow H's every so often, but I knew this to be the sign for a bus stop. Later I found out that tram and bus stops use the same sign... So I thought that I could just follow the rails to the GLS street since I couldn't find a tram stop. This would have been a better idea had I been focusing on where the tram was going yesterday. It was a long ride...

It was around 8:10 when I started asking people where my street was. People in Berlin are very nice. The first only spoke German and pointed me in a direction, so I went. This basically only led me to a person who didn't know where it was. And then (angelic music) an English speaking German. He pointed me in the right direction, although it was still far away so after a while I found (angelic music) another English speaking German whose directions finally got me there. I arrived at around 8:45, but it was okay. Many people were still taking their tests and many were just arriving.

The test went well. I finished it rather quickly deciding to avoid the things I didn't know rather than guessing. This really mattered to me though because in order for me to receive 200 level German credit with UAB, I had to at least be at the A2 level. (When studying a foreign language, they place you in levels in accordance with your abilities. An absolute beginner is A0 and I think complete fluency in a language other than your native is C2--- This scale is used in European countries.) I took about 10 minutes to take it. Then I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows some while waiting for someone to return with my results. There were many other people waiting as well in the restaurant inside the school. After a little while, a woman came in and gave me my test and asked for a short interview where she asked where I was from, why am I here, where am I staying, how long, blah, blah.

I am a level A2.

So, on to my first class then. Teachers came in and called out the people by their levels. There were many beginners and about 5 A1s, but only two new A2s. We were put with a class that wasn't all new people. They have already been learning for a week or so now... A few of them are only there until the end of this week, so we will see what happens then. Weird. I felt slow, and they didn't give me a book. They are apparently all out of A2 books at the moment, and will make sure to get one to me tomorrow.... So I can't do the homework... I feel behind already.

So, I will have two classes everyday that last 1.5 hours taught by two different teachers. The first class I was in, it seems that he teaches a lot of grammar type things. I wasn't really understanding everything he was saying and responded slowly when he asked me things. The second class was taught by a young woman and I started catching what she was saying, and by the end of class I was understanding, not every word, but every sentence she was trying to get across.

After class, which went by extremely quickly, I walked down towards the U-Bahn station and on my way looked around in a few "funky little places" I passed by, much funkier than anything in Nashville. I was looking for postcards. I found some and bought them. Then later on, I found some better ones and wish I hadn't bought the ones I got. I finally found a place that sold stamps. And then I continued walking towards to U-Bahn. It was lunchtime, so all the places around the station were crazy.... except one. I don't remember the name. I think it was just something like Pizza and Pasta... I don't know. I ordered penne cooked in a special way... I don't remember what I told the guy. I just chose the cheapest one because I didn't one what anything was. I can't believe more people weren't eating there. That was the best pasta! I sat in there for an hour or so eating slowly and writing out my postcards. From there, I went on the U-Bahn to head back home. I was feeling tired. I still don't think I've caught up on my sleep.

I only made a few mistakes. One the first U-Bahn ride I got off one too early and had to wait for the next one to come. Then I got off two too early on the next one, then one too early. But I didn't care. On one of those rides, there was a group of three men who came in with an accordion, a tiny keyboard tied around one of their necks, and some kind of small guitar I think. They played "Hit the Road Jack" singing in English just long enough to get from one station to the next. One of them walked around with a cup of change and some people put coins in. Because it takes about 5 minutes for me to get to where my money is, I did not.

When I got off at the right station, I found my way to the apartment without a problem. I've been here the rest of the day. I got here around 4 or 5. The day has passed quickly. It is 21:37 now. I still need to study some more for tomorrow, so I don't feel so behind. Most of the stuff in the first class today are things that have already been discussed in my previous German classes. I just forget so easily.

Word(s) of the day:  Deutsch lernen > to study German. ex. Heute ich muss Deutsch lernen! Today I must study German.

Getting Around

Today was supposed to be my first day of school at GLS. However, I did not know that I was expecting to go to school on a German national bank holiday. This means that everything is closed. Today was vastly different from yesterday during the Carnival.

So, instead of taking a test and going to class today, Toni took me to help me find my way to the school. There are about 500 different ways to get there. Check it out:

So this is my key to the city. I can get anywhere in Berlin from where I am now, without much difficultly. I purchased a ticket for the month that will admit me to any U-Bahn, S-Bahn, Tram or Bus. 


The U-Bahn is Berlin's largest underground (or subway) system. The S-Bahn is also an underground system owned by different people. Trams are railed subways that go through the city (not underground), and Buses are, well, buses. Just today, I traveled on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and a tram. We would have also taken a bus, but it wasn't a very long walk from where we were to where we were going and there wasn't a bus coming that we could see. So we just walked.

Toni and Leo have school tomorrow, and Frau Susanne has work. I must be at GLS at 8:30 to take my placement test. Though the school was not operating today, there was a person at the front desk to help us out. This entailed him and Toni speaking in fast German, him turning to me to ask something, me giving a confused look and pausing shortly before saying "bitte?", him giving a sympathetic smile as if he were thinking (yea... I know what she'll make on her placement test) and asking again in English. All is well. The test will take about 20 minutes, then they will process it and place me in a class. Classes start at 10 tomorrow and all Mondays. They begin at nine on regular days. Classes are 1 1/2 hours and I have two classes a day. Besides that, there are excursions in Berlin a couple days a week, seminars on German culture every Thursday afternoon and optional day trip excursions outside Berlin on Saturdays.

I am ready to start going to school. It's been really nice having the day off. I slept well last night. I believe I am sleeping on a king sized bed. It's huge. I will feel better about being here when I start school, though, I think.

This morning for breakfast, I had an egg prepared the German way. They are boiled for 6 minutes and then taken out and placed in a little egg holder. Kind of like this one. The shell stays on. Then, you cut the top 1/3 off with a knife and eat it after adding salt. And then scoop the rest of it out with a spoon. It was really good, especially after adding salt.

I think that's it for today. It is almost 16:00 here. I haven't seen Leo today and Toni is in her room on the phone I believe. Frau Luedtke is out somewhere.

Today's word: gelb. The U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses are all gelb.                          Tschuss!!!  

Arrival Day

I am typing this from my bedroom on Yorckstrasse in Berlin. Can you believe it? Both of my flights went well. I slept a good bit on the way from New York to Berlin, but the layover in New York was soooo long. I got there at 9:40 eastern time and my next plane left at 19:10... Nine hours. That's how long the flight was from New York to Berlin as well. The current local time is 15:37 which is 8:37 central time. I arrived in Berlin this morning at around 10:00 where Antonia (preferably "Toni") picked me up. We took a taxi through the city to Yorckstrasse which is the street the apartment is on. It is so beautiful! The neighborhood is really nice. Toni is patient with my German, and she tells me to be patient with her English, although I think her English is better than my German. She tells me that she has never taken any English classes, but what she knows she learned from listening to music and watching movies in English. She is very outgoing and friendly. We went for a long walk around the neighborhood weaving through all the people hanging around for the Culture Carnival. Even as I write, a type of gypsy music backed with a techno beat is floating through my window...

It's weird, but I feel right at home here. That probably has a lot to do with Toni. She's pretty cool. Hearing all the people speaking in German constantly just makes me feel even more determined to learn the language. Pets always help too. Lucy is a pretty big, really sweet dog who has the ability to walk around the city without a leash on and be perfectly fine (when there aren't tons of people around). I will meet Toni's brother Leonhard (pronounced Leonard) and her mom later tonight. Right now, I am going to shower. I haven't yet since I arrived, not that I've been here that long, and we've been walking all over the place. So I need to cleanse my body. Don't know what we'll do tonight.

Oh, why we were out, I had the best ice cream I've ever tasted. Great stuff. Shall I incorporate for my readers a German word in my posts? Today's is Eis meaning ice cream.

June Bugs

It is less than two days until my departure. I've been working on getting everything together for several days now, and I still don't feel like I have everything. I am only slightly nervous about the trip, and greatly, enthusiastically excited, although I will miss everyone in Alabama. Tomorrow (Friday 10), I will travel from Birmingham to Atlanta where I will stay with my aunt and spend the night. My flight from Atlanta to New York leaves at 7:30 (from henceforth, all times will be written from a 24 hour standpoint-- like the Germans do it), and from New York, I will arrive in Berlin at 9:20 local time where my host family has graciously agreed to pick me up.

My host family consists of three members. The adult is Frau Susanne and her two seventeens year old kids are Antonia and Leonhard. Frau Susanne and I have been emailing back and forth for a few weeks now. She seems very nice and is indeed very helpful. It seems that all three of them can find their way around the English language, and she tells me that her kids are looking forward to having the opportunity to practice more when I'm around.

The day I arrive, Frau Susanne tells me that there will be a world culture festival happening right outside the front door of their apartment. Here's the link: https://mail.ad.uab.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=0e5863118f7f4f6f92d2ab0b5721e1de&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.karneval-berlin.de%2fde%2fumzug.15.html

It looks pretty awesome. It apparently goes on for four days. Music and food and acrobats and stilt people and magicians and everything you can think of. There are people from all over the world who come to this festival. My host family was hoping that I would be interested in going after I arrive. Um... yes!!! I know I'll be tired from the trip and everything, but to adjust to the time change (Berlin is 7 hours ahead of Birmingham, thus 2:00 Bham is 9:00 Berlin) I should stay up until time to sleep on Germany's schedule. And why not experience a world of culture why I'm adjusting??? Talk about culture shock. 

I think I have everything I need.... I'm still throwing things in my suitcase. I hope I don't forget anything important. I'll be glad when I'm on the plane to Berlin. It still seems so weird that this is actually happening. It feels more like a dream... But it really is happening. Less than 32 hours until departure!

May Days

This is my first blog. So.... hi. It is May 7th. Today, I will play my last performance as a UAB band member: spring commencement. I took my last exam of the spring semester on the fourth which I dominated with a 98. Thank you, Dr. Pruett.

Now, I have a month off. May is my boring, sweet, editing, vacationing, relaxing, chilling, beaching, planning, preparing, English-speaking month. I shall elaborate.

Boring: For some reason, although it has only been three days since my last final, I find myself sitting on the couch, staring at the TV bored out of my mind. What's wrong with me?

Sweet: Mother's Day is Sunday. Mom is coming up from Enterprise to go to the Anniston Museum of Natural History with me. They are having a special exhibit about chocolate. She doesn't know what kind of exhibit it is yet. I hope she likes it.

Editing: My cousin Chris has this great job that pays really well, so guess who has a great connection to a well paying job? Yep. It's just proofreading. It takes me on average seven minutes per two documents. I finished over 80 in 8 hours. I am pleased with it so far, although I haven't gotten paid yet. Having a job, even though it's somewhat temporary and irregular, makes me happy.

Vacationing: What is this exactly? Dictionary.com says that a vacation is a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity,usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday.
So I will be involved in a few vacations this May. This Mother's Day pow wow will be sort of the first vacation that happens, albeit a short one. The first long vacation will be with my boyfriend at a Florida State Park. We'll be staying for ten days at St. Joseph's peninsula. Then, we will head north to Enterprise to stay with my mom and grandparents for a few nights. Then to his parents who will be staying one night in St. Augustine before they head towards their condo in Daytona. We'll stay there for a few days. Then leave June 1 for Birmingham, where we'll meet my Dad and stepmom at the Alys Stephens Center for a Herbie Hancock concert. During all of this, there will be great amounts of relaxing, chilling, and beaching.


Planning and Preparing: Now onto what this blog is really about. I will be studying abroad in Berlin, Germany from June 11- July 9. May is the month to plan and prepare. I have recently received the final amount of funding I needed for the trip, so I'm set on money. Now, we just must work out the details. I bought a plane ticket with the assistance of my mother a few days ago, and I have paid all the money to the program for housing and school costs. What I'm focused on now is the details. I need insurance. A way of contacting someone in an emergency situation. Transportation through the city. What to pack. Converters for electricity. A credit card. Euros. The list goes on. My main method of communication will be skype, and I'm switching computers with my mom during the trip. There are many details that must be worked out this month.


English-speaking: I want to learn German. May will be my last time of speaking English for a little while. From what I've heard, though, most people in Berlin speak English. In a way, this is comforting, but in a different way, I want to be forced to speak German. I want everyone around me to be clueless as to what I'm saying in English. I want to be the foreigner who doesn't understand, who begins to understand, who does understand. This is what I really want. 


So, let the May Days commence!