Technology, you constantly surprise me.

My favorite doner place has a website. In the past 24 hours, I've spent a lot of time talking with friends about what our loved ones should do when they're in Berlin. The list seems to go on and on, but one thing I believe all of my visitors should experience is a currywurst from Curry 36 and a Doner from Mustafas. I had 2 doners this weekend. They're that good.

P.S. Four days until my Jason arrives!!

I love Spring and IKEA

I think Spring has nearly arrived in Berlin, and not too soon. The moment I knew it was spring had nothing to do with the flowers rising from the ground, nor from hearing bird chirp during my commute. I knew if was spring when the bakery had a rhubarb pastry. It was such a relief, as the picture shows. The long dark days in Berlin affect my outlook on life far more than I anticipated when I first moved here. (This is one reason I'm a member Team Jacob. Bella has no real clue of SAD, IMHO.)


It's time I officially announce that my palindrome prediction is accurate. I'm moving back to the states at the end of June. This move is bittersweet, as I love my life here. I'm particularly fond of my Berlin friends and the feelings of independence and the ability to overcome challenges I encounter each day. I know I'll miss these aspects of life here, but there are more challenges and joys on the horizon in Ohio. Incidentally, if you want to help me find a job, I'd be happy for the help.


Today, I went to IKEA. (Please tell me you clicked on the link.) I love IKEA. Love. The only things I needed to purchase were for my classroom, but I spent 2 hours browsing the inexpensive and witty furnishings. My favorite part of the Templehof IKEA is the last section of the downstairs. First, you enter the candle area. I can spend hours smelling candles (ask Jordan) and so I sniffed until my sniffer was sniffed out. Then, you meander into the plant area and I promise the air is cleaner and more delicious than a greenhouse. I stood and breathed. I was not alone in my endeavor to get the awesome oxygen. Finally, grab a push cart and enter the chaotic "get your stuff area." It smells like sawdust. I like it.

Jason will be here in 12 days. I think it will be better than the Twelve Days of Christmas when he arrives. Can't wait, but he says I'll have to.

Leaving you with 2 St. Pat's Day pictures to enjoy...

Are the snakes really out of Ireland? All of them?

The ladies at the table next to our started copying our party tricks. One was capable of mine.

Schadenfreude

"Happiness at the misfortune of others? That is German!"

-Avenue Q

The Ossies are surely having a field day with this...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090226/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_germany_cashier_1

A Few more London Photos

See all of my photos on Facebook...

My attempt to be artsy at the Tate Modern.

Those red phone booths seem to now be trash bins... Stupid handies (handys?).

Donuts, donuts, donuts. You ask for it, you got it, Toyota.

This made me think if Jason.

Big Ben and White Hat Ashley. (And the runner between us.)

How do we encourage people to be kind to one another?

Hm. Maybe we could make passive-aggressive posters for the subway of stereotypical people promising not to commit social faux-pas.

Yes. Great idea.

Third Big Thing: London Trip

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. -Mark Twain


I just got back from a lovely week in London. I understood (nearly) everything people said, bought magazines for reasonable prices, and ate decent Mexican food. Oh yeah, and I toured 8 museums (Tate Modern, Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tower of London, Science Museum & Victoria and Albert Museum) saw 2 shows (Avenue Q and The Sound of Music) and 2 churches (St. Paul's and Westminster Abbey). It was a good trip and now I need a nap.

At Trafalgar Square with the Lions. I couldn't resist. OBIC

Outside of Buck House (Buckingham Palace).
Mom said she compared her life to Princess Di's because they got married around the same time and had their first children at the same time. She even told me once she imagined I would marry Prince William and perhaps live here.
Sorry to disappoint you, Mom, but not gonna happen.

I stayed with Laura for the first three nights, and knowing my bad sense of direction, when I went to explore her neighborhood I took pictures as my bread crumbs.
They came in handy later.

My beefeater tourguide. Excellent. Hilarious. British.

Outside of the Tower of London. Notice that my neck is well protected.

Second Piece of Big News

Today I attended the Berlin Film Festival for the first time. Yes, I know that film is one of those interests listed in the ever popular "Bible of White People Stuff" and I decided I must attempt to gain interest in this habit as well.

I just returned from seeing Rage at the Friedrichstadt Palast. Hm... It begins as a school project from a kid with a highly developed sense of ironic/witty humor. Each take consisted of a character talking to the camera as though a part of a documentary. After about 30 minutes, I felt like a total loser with no knowledge of film. It certainly seemed arty enough, but I didn't get it. Then, I noticed the scores of people leaving (note: Slight exaggeration, but as Lisa said this weekend, "You gotta make the story good.") and watched Rachel do the head bob thing. Clearly, I was not the only person who was wishing the screen was a bit brighter to do some reading or darker so I could do some sleeping. As the film shown on, more and more people left and at one point the end was made evident by the words "Last Day." At this point, a man in fron of me raised his arms like Blaze, the American Gladiator and I began applauding. Now, looking back, I'm ashamed at my impropriety. But the movie was really, really bad.

We're going to see something else on Wednesday. Wish me luck!

Here are some pictures from AGIS...