Another great day. First day of classes including the placement interviews for the semi-intensive and intensive German language students. I was put in the class that I anticipated, A2 as a beginner. I already think that I will enjoy the professor and I've met several of my classmates already and those that I didn't know previously seem to be just as friendly. A group of us made it to the new part of campus that our classes would be on just fine this morning and then after a tour of the whole university (which is wide spread over the city :s) I, surprisingly, managed to find my way back for the final bit of classes all by myself. After our course work one of my housemates and I rode the U bahn to Alexanderplatz and visited a mall and saw a few sites. Not a lot, but it was a start. Other than getting around the city a bit and meeting a few very polite Berliners on the street there isn't a whole lot else to tell..

ARRIVAL!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE Berlin! Had you asked me about it for the first four to five hours in the city I doubt I would've said the same thing. Flight from Chicago to Amsterdam was about seven hours. Bad in flight movie and I slept through dinner. Passable. Also, sat by two large Dutchmen...only mildly passable. Despite how large and intimidating they looked, they were very polite :). Especially the man with the butterfly tattoo. Didn't sleep well, tho, so I I haven't been able to get on a sleep schedule. Barely made my flight for Amsterdam. Five minutes to spare. Hour long flight to Berlin. Best sandwiches I've ever had. First European food. BUT my ears didn't enjoy the flight much. Five hours after arrival in Berlin...during a phone conversation...my ears finally popped. Got lost trying to get out of the airport. Finally got outside and found my bus. Met other students in the FUbis program. Followed them to their accomodations...and then realized that's not where I was supposed to go. Got a taxi to the apartments that I was meant to go to, and it turned out that the taxi driver attends the university I'm studying at. Small world, huh? He was helpful and even gave me his phone number if I needed directions on campus or anyone to tour the city with. Lovely :). After exploring a few blocks around my apartment and failed at making a phone call at a pay phone a solid ten times and left pretty discouraged with no one to talk to and nowhere to go. Back at the house, though...amazing. Met my first two housemates, Emilia and Sergio. And that was the beginning. I share the house with a little over thirty other people. Don't remember a third of their names, but I don't need to to know that they're a good time. Hung out and watched tv in the living room and then went to the market (so wonderful. I've never been so excited about a produce section or fresh breads in my life). Then several of us went to the bar in the student village and watched some strange international American Idol wannabe show and bonded over fries with mayo (when in Rome, right?). A few stragglers that couldn't sleep walked around the burbs that we're staying in and we ended up home at about 1:30. A great first day and then today was breakfast, coffee, getting caught in the rain, and then orientation with the university....so many amazing people to talk about, but I'll just wait until I have a minute to upload their photos.

Departure Day

Triple checked my list and it says I've got everything, but I'm sure I'll get to Amsterdam or maybe even all the way to Berlin and realize that I don't. Still hasn't really hit me yet that I'll be away from home this long. A couple of weeks at camp or on trips with family or church groups is the most I've done so this'll be an adventure. Going to Europe for 6 weeks by myself is a tad overwhelming, but I think I'm about ready for it, and if not...well...I'll just have to get over it! It's happening, and it's definitely for the better!!! Well I got to go if I'm gonna finish everything up!

Pre-Departure!

One day left to prepare for departure...definitely not enough time. I'll have all of the essentials. Plenty of clothes, medicine, i.d.s and passport, plane tickets..blah blah blah...BUT I've barely begun reviewing German vocabulary and I haven't finished making plans for visiting my family after the program :s. Regardless, I'm outrageously excited. Very nervous, very anxious, but definitely, also excited. I hope I can get everything together!! 'Til then!

K.K.