Zweite Liga tut so weh

On Tuesday I went to Travolta bar again, for the "Sprachwechslung/language exchange" and out of the maybe 6 people I talked to, one was German. Accents facinate me more every time, especially because I got to  hear an Italian. Irish, Norwegian, Malaysian, and I don't know what else accent spoken in German, not English.



I've had an overall eventful weekend. I went to my first soccer game ever, in Germany of all places. I'm big on sports at all, but soccer is something I was able to follow and get excited about - mostly because of the atmosphere I was in. The super crazy fans made it awesome and there were lots of hugs shared when a goal was made. I don't know how football games are, but these chants are awesome here.
 < - - also found my childhood drink!

Halloween is becoming popular here. It's weird, but I remember as a kid dressing up too and going to school things in Hamburg. But they trick or treat in my neighborhood apparently, so in a couple of hours, I'll be observing the little childrens. It's for a treat to sit by the undead on a train while I'm in a toga at four in the morning.


I also went to this international students party - and it was a legit club party with multiple rooms. Everyone wore name tags saying where they were from, so I met quite few new people, again.


And pretty soon, I will negate the show I just took by applying too much making, drawing scratches on myself and being a toga zombie. Happy Halloween, world

3 Decades

Friday for me means a necessary visit to the Turkish Market! I tried two new fruits I had never seen before, but I can't remember the names of them for the life of me! The night was spent with an high school friend again. They took me a "kickerbar", which I learned is a super chill bar, with a basement, good music, couches and Foosball tables. I am still horrible at it, but I had fun anyways! Afterward, we rode the Bahn around and stopped at a restaurant/bar and just hung out until pretty late and decided to go home for some sleep.

Saturday I finally got around to watching Lord of the Rings III. Finally, it came time to go to a concert of legendary German musicians. I have only heard two of their albums and was quite impressed. This was the 30th anniversary or something. It was one of the most interesting concerts I got to witness - they used so many things for sound effects and instruments; leaves, cigarettes, steering wheels? cheek slapping, usw, etc. Since they don't really perform anymore, they got a lot of positive responses and begs for Zugaben (encore). They stepped off the stage and got back on, maybe three times - for a total of a 2 and a half hour set - at least.

Sunday I went to a friend's soccer game, but it started raining so me and another friend left to play uno, eat sushi and watch Boy Meets World. She somehow got a job at a Turkish bar, where I sat and read while drinking tea and listening to the soccer game. I'm surrounded by soccer here, I've noticed.

Indiana Jones in German is somewhat distracting.
I'm building a tradition of scrabble/dinner/movie nights and it's great.

'Ne kleine Maus

So, this post's warning - random details about concert, because I want to keep it all on record in case I decide to write a report on vergleiching shows in Berlin and Minneapolis.

Anyways. I've been pretty busy this week and I've been living alone since my host mom and her son have been in Paris for the past week. I didn't have class on Monday, so I went to a friend's house for dinner and movie... and school the next morning. Never doing that again on a Monday or Wednesday. We did see Funny Games - which is originally a German movie but was remade in English to have the same exact script (translated) and scenes (including the clothes the actors wore, if I remember correctly).

On Wednesday, I finally got to see a band I've been in love with for the past three years or so - Blind Guardian! IN THEIR HOMELAND! It was awesome to be in a "metal atmosphere" again for the first time since Wacken.

So I figured there'd be a line to get in, so I got all cozy in my winter jacket - no line! I just walked right in... I was shocked! I checked my coat and headed up the stairs of the wonderful Huxely's Neue Welt (New World) and stood in the third row. The first band started (Steel Wing) and they were pretty fun. The crowd didn't move in, nor did I see any movement/little headbanging. The band was pretty energetic and fun to watch/listen to. During the set break, I was approached (I went to this show alone) and offered a beer. Of course I took up the offer! I had the chance to drink beer and quatsch with some metal Germans in a different language! I mean, yes, when I told them I was from the states, they'd speak English, but I'd just respond in German. When they had issues saying things in English, and I told them to say it in German, they said "ich muss mein Englisch üben" = "I gotta practice my English"

The guy in front of me looked over and said "ach, hier ist eine kleine Maus, lass sie nach vorne" = "Oy, look there's a small mouse, let her up front". So everyone made room for me in FIRST ROWWWW.

The next band up was Van Canto, which is a German power-metal-acapella band. And yes, it's as epic as it sounds. The only instrument they have is drums. When some electric guitar is needed, they just distort the microphones.

Then, came Blind Guardian! Everyone in my area of standing had never seen them before. They're incredible live, and just intense. Hansi's gaze the audience is extremely intimate - especially when he made direct eye contact. I had a total fan girl moment - he did a gunslinger and giggle at me  after I mocked his dancing. And during their set, there was some movement, more  headbanging, but I was not squashed against the railing in front of me, which felt kinda foreign to me - but I had read somewhere that Germans are normally more peaceful during concerts anyways. The singing alone was epic as well - especially during Valhalla. After the stopped playing, the crowd kept singing the chorus for a long time. Hansi was trying to shush us, but no luck. They also did three or four encore songs, but they keep the audience waiting longer than in the states. It's like they knew we wouldn't leave without one.

I did notice the place get fuller as I was leaving - getting to coat check took a while.. overall, a great show, though the lack of movement and me not being squeezed made it feel a little emptier. Oh well. I also lost my voice/got a cold. Ewww.

Yesterday, well I had school all day, until 5:45 and then headed over to the Dali Ausstellung (museum/exhibition).. that man is more than amazing. I'm proud to be named after his wife. He makes things that don't make sense flow together in a really strange and beautiful way. Too bad they didn't have all his paintings - but they had his sketches, so the progress was interesting to see

 

Soccer Games

Gosh, those 10-12 hour school days kill me. I've only gone to the gym twice in the last week. I've also had three flat bike tires since I've been in Berlin - so that option's gone, unless I really want to ride dangerously with super high resistance.

I've attended two bar showings of soccer games this week. The one this weekend, two local teams, was pretty intense to experience, even though I don't follow soccer at all. Just the way the bar erupts and loves each other at the end of a game. I might start watching more soccer... ya know, when in Berlin..

I have two German concerts this coming week, and I'm thrilled because neither bands comes around the states often - Blind Guardian and Die Einsturzende Neubauten. The Euro-trash music is super addicting. I'd say I'm pretty integrated here.

Yesterday, I played scrabble in German - I need to do that moreeee. And then we went to Club Friz. I had a really great time. We had sing a longs in the taxi too! The place has three or four rooms with different kinds of music! One room has lots of swings and one room is made for smokers. I'd go back again.

Još Više Riže!

So the semester begins and the responsibilities are starting to pile up. The classes are at the perfect level for me. It's not too slow, the vocabulary isn't too easy, is understandable, with some words still a challenge for me. The subjects I have (Germans and Jews; Advanced Topics in Conversation and Composition; Portable Roots - Reflecting Otherness in German; Pop Culture; History of of Art/Architecture) are pretty interesting so far. I've already had four writing assignments, lots of note taking, and a few articles to read. Oh, all this being in German excites me :). One thing though, the favorite topic is the Berlin Wall lately.. probably because the 20th year of unification was just celebrated last weekend.

So I sort of witnessed a sporting event! Turkey vs. Germany... probably one of the biggest games. When I was at the Market, I saw A LOT of Turkish fans, wearing their flags and colors... it reminded of the days I'd see the lightrail filled with Twins fans back home. I met up with some people and we sat at a bar and watched the game.

Yesterday, I visited the FlohMarkt at Mauerpark. I WANT TO LIVE IN THAT ATMOSPHERE! That's all. It's beautiful art on the remains of the wall, being touched up every other day by a new artist. The things being sold at the Market are super interesting and random. The crowd at the park seems just laid back, musical and fun.

 This guy here is probably on youtube for being the drunkest walking thing on earth. Obviously, he couldn't keep walking

And a random man stopped in front of us at the station, maybe an arm's length away and starts snorting coke off of his hand. Welp, Berlin!

The week off and Oktofesties (long post)

So this last week was the transition between "Intensiv Deutschkurse" and "Unterrichte" (Our lectures/classes), so we had a week off. Many students went on an east Euro trip for five days, some planned their own trips and I assumed that about half the students would be in Berlin. Well, I was very wrong. I found, through facebook stalking, another person to hang out with! Someone I rarely saw or talked to, but it was a good choice to leap in and say "hey, let's kill some time". She took my falafel virginity! We also danced with a turk who loved hugs and kisses. I don't mean to sound racist here at all (okay, intrinsic racism, here we go), but before Germany, I haven't seen any pretty turks. Because here, they have Döner Kebabs... "Döner Macht dich Schöner". Makes sense, right?

Well, we bonded about the little things in the Twin Cities and decided to look for a free night club - since we're both on a budget and it was a Tuesday night. We walked the street it was supposed to be on maybe three times and didn't find it, so we went to a dinky casino (this wasn't no Mystic Lake - this place had a bar and three slot machines) and I took Rosie's Casino virginity. We both lost a couple of Euros or so and decided to just take an Ubahn to Mitte and walk abouts - this is where we found another fellow IES-er who was actually on a hitchhiking journey the day before. We all went around town and checked out Kunsthaus Tacheles. This place is so pretty. It's basically an abandoned building that was squatted by artists long ago. Now, it has a small bar, a couple of art shops/exhibits, a club, etc attached to it.

On Wednesday, the three of us met up again in the evening and were joined by a fourth IES-er. We basically just went to our Hookah bar (Kleopatra) on Oranienburger Strasse. While there, we talked to some people, in German (finally) and I blew smoke rings. We ended up staying for quite a long time. We ate nachos, which to me seems like something that shouldn't be ordered in Germany. It's too... American. Also, there are wayyy too many Dunkin Donuts here. I don't believe that any exist in Minnesota. We saw that it was getting late and the Bahns don't run all night on weekends. I for sure made the last train home one minute of it leaving. Whew!

Thursday, I made the two ladies model for me while I drank beer (I love love LOVE BERLINER KINDL). Pictures will be ready soon, maybe even tonight! I also discovered possibly the yummiest espresso I've ever had - at Einstein Kaffee (not bagels). Unfortunately, the pictures so far aren't as great as I anticipated due to lack of light. Oh well, photoshop helps :/

Our plan was to check out the Dali museum because many museums have free entry on Thursday evenings and I was named after this genius' wife - I have to go! Too bad this one you gotta pay for. So me and Rosie went to some random museum in the middle of a neighborhood. It's called the Anti-Kriegs Museum (anti war). It had a history of lots of philosophers, a former torture room. It was for sure an interesting ride, since neither of us had been in that part of town before. We then met up with her old friends who are studying in Freiburg and went to another place which may become a regular spot for food and cocktails. We split an order of some spring rolls and yumyumyum was it great. Again, we had to run to the Bahns around 12:30 to avoid having to walk home. I don't approve of German weather, but's more acceptable now that it's October.

Speaking of OKTOBER, guess what somewhat spontaneous decision I made? Oktoberfest, naturlich! The ride there, I wasn't too prepared. I forgot to charge my phone and Ipod. I also left my snack for the ride in the fridge and ya know when you don't eat for a long time and you're bored on a train you go crazy? Luckily, our train route somehow got changed, so instead of being 30 minutes late, we arrived 30 minutes early! The whole Munich Bahnhof was a complete shit show. People in Lederhosen everywhere, singing, trying to catch trains, giving me high fives.. I got myself some real gross greasy food and took a seat to people watch. What I saw was: people passed out on food court tables, two African AMERICANS with thick southern accents (I forgot such a thing existed), and an old man drinking water out of the puppy bowls. Yes. That's right.

After waiting for a couple of hours, almost getting followed by some stranger man and almost trying to find the hostel I stayed at over a year ago, I met up with Gill and Bryan - During our attempt to find where we were to stay, we met a fellow American heading the same direction, but still got lost once we split ways - this resulted in meeting new people. Mostly because Johannes was on my back, as always. I love that boy

 

The next morning, off to Oktoberfest! I wasn't too impressed... mostly because it was Saturday and we arrived there a bit "late". By late I mean after 9AM. Most of the tents were already full and had lines waiting HOURS to get in. Literally, hours. We went line hopping until we found an almost secret entrance to a beirgarten type thing. So it wasn't the full Oktoberfest experience with table dancing, music and singing, but just people sitting and having beers that costs too much. I of course ate a pretzel! The only time I buy candy and pastries is in Europe.. 

After meeting random people and drawing on heads and talking about the history of my birthplace with some italian, I got some German's phone number who "wanted to teach me how to ski". Then went on a ride and lost half the group. The bathroom lines were insane. It took me about 30 minutes. It's okay, because I met up with John! We met last year, in the very same city. And just like last year, we corrupted the city. We had many memory talks and prosts to things that deserved many cheers. We also somehow got free passes for this night club. Along with free cigarettes. And free beer? I'll stop there. Let's say I got back at around 5, almost taking a nap at the train station and being forced out of bed at 9AM. I wasn't having it, so I stayed behind while the troopers went to have more beers. 

I've discovered that I feel totally comfortable traveling and walking around countries alone. Transportation systems are easy to figure out and cheap - but then again, I've basically been "schwartzfahr"ing in Munich. I think it'd be very easy to do that on regional train as well..

Today was the first of classes with IES. I only had one class - Portable Roots. It seems interesting so far and appears to share some topics with other classes I am taking this semester. Hopefully it'll be easier.

With that, I apologize for the long post and now must be a nerd and look up words I don't know. Grussi!