This is me Alice and Carlye. They're part of the Mac group. This was the first Tuesday in Berlin. Gisela our program director signed us up for a queued guide around Pariser Platz (Brandonburger Gate) to the Reichstag Gebaeude (the German Parlament). It was interesting to learn about the history of the building, symbolism, and see where all the politicians do their business. If ya look closely you can see the German Adler (Eagle) in the background. We were on the second level of the conference hall and were lectured on the goings ons = queuing part. Right?

Anyway-

Although beer and food have definitely not been the highlight of my trip (don't worry GG and Mom), they have both added to my cultural experience. {Sounds better that way ; )}

Here are some of the beers I’ve tried

Reissdorf Kölsch, Krombacher Weizen and Pilz, Warsteiner Pilz, Louny Bohemian Dark, Bitburger Pilz, Franziskaner Weißbier, Diebels, Paulaner, Budweiser Budwar, Steinburg, Jever Pilz, Flensburger Pilz, Köstritzer, and Berliner Kindl.

Other interesting drinks here are Glühwein (mit schuß bestimmt!) – like a heated sweet red wine and of course one could add a shot of brandy, rum or amaretto if one so wanted. Schnapps are the popular type of hard alcohol here. I stay away from it- except for one incidence where I reached into the fridge to grab a water bottle, took a big gulp only to wonder why this water tastes like schnapps!? My roommate had left a water bottle full of schnapps in the fridge for me to find, though much to my dislike. There’s also Berliner Grün or Rot. It’s just the Berliner Kindl (Pilz = Pilsner) with a sweet shot of green (represents former East Berlin) something or red (and the former west) something. I haven’t tried it because it’s supposedly a girly drink. Just joking, it’s good, just too sweet for my liking. They say the shot of green or red is supposed to help with the extreme bitter bite of the Berliner Kindl. I like the Kindl just as it as, we have a good relationship, Kindl and I.

Food!

Lots of Wurst! Thüringer Bratwursts are the best. They are a white sausage and go perfect with scharf or sweet senf (mustard) and of course sauerkraut! Also on the street stands there are the famous Berliner Curry Wurst. Basically just grilled sausage with curry spice and ketchup. Good but totally anticlimactic; I thought it would be extremely great prior to my experience. Even though I was let down they’re fun to grab with some Pommes Frittes (Fries) at a open market in the middle of Hackesher Markt or Anton Platz just for example.

Cheese, Cheese and more Cheese! There are so many different kinds. I eat cheese for almost every meal only to realize that I’ve been eating cheese for every meal and then I have to take a couple days off just to be safe.

There’s always an open market next to where I live called Anton Platz. It’s just right across the street from my apartment building and makes shopping for meats, fish, vegetables and fruits extremely easy. For breakfast it’s usually boiled eggs and Musli has replaced my gigantic love for Raisen Bran. It’s really grainy cold cereal that goes good with milk or yogurt. It’s almost like granola, just with more rolled and cracked oats and dried fruits. So yes I’m keeping on weight for football cause the 240 club is always calling!

Shark Döner! Haha It’s a Turkish Imbiss (Biss is german for bite, so translated “in bite”. Simply means fast food). Döner is like a gyro but can be scharf, and there are wraps too. These Döner shops are very popular and are growing even more so. Nonetheless my favorite spot is a German restaurant my Goethe teacher showed us the first week of class called Lemke. They have a daily Buffet and it’s always authentic German food! I’ve been there at least six times and am always waiting for an invitation. Another amazing restaurant is Café Einstein. It’s in a very ritzy part of town, Unter den Linden, but has very good food and Kaiser Schmarrn. (It’s like funnel cake just with German Kraft! Plums and powdered sugar) Actually yesterday I saw Moritz Bleibtreu (Lola Rennt) there! Haha He was just chillin in the back having some coffee I assume, and of course he recognized me. We said our hellos, fines and goodbyes, it was short but sweet. Actually, right now is the international acclaimed Film Festival in Berlin called Berlinale so a ton of famous German actors are strolling the Berlin streets. Most of the action takes place in Potsdamer Platz quite a ways from where I live. But it’s still fun to go check out the red carpet where I saw Goldie Hahn actually. The Stones were here with the release of Scorcesy’s new film “shine on me”. And Madonna is coming because the premier of her new movie is showing here first. Funny huh-

Any way Café Beth is another great though small restaurant. It’s a Jewish kosher restaurant and is cozy. They serve amazing Minz Tee with sesam! There are great restaurants all over, it’s just trying to find the best quality for the best price.

Café Zosch

This is where the weekly Goethe Stammtisch is held. Every Wednesday all the international weirdos at Goethe Institut meet up to drink and listen to jazz music later in the night. I’ve been twice it’s just hard because class starts at 8:30am the next day which means I’m up at 7:30 just in time to catch my M4 street tram to Alex, then umsteig U8 and over to Weinmeister Straße to Goethe Institut on Neue Schönehauser Straße. So there aren’t too many late nights during the week. Thursdays are great too, it means free Eintritt to any BIG museum in Berlin. I’ve already been to all of the museums here (except one or two smaller ones) so it’s great to go back and try to remember the theme or topic that our guide talked about. Remembering is always a difficult task.

Classes at Goethe

At first I was very disappointed. I didn’t feel challenged or engaged. And for me that was odd. But I’ve realized that they are teaching us how to write perfectly in German. The focus is German Grammar. I’m actually really glad now that I’m able to get a grip on it and I’m known in class for asking question after question after … yeah. I just think if I’m going to learn German grammar, then I’m going to understand every little in and out and make our teacher teach it to us. Not the destination but the journey, yeah?

In my class there is a girl from Norway, a girl from Denmark, two guys from Portugal, a guy from the Swiss part of Franc, a girl from Southwest Africa (Togo), an adult woman from Spain, an older man from Oregon, a Turkish German from Berlin, and five Americans = the Macalester group. It’s fun but sometimes it’s crazy to have so many world perspectives in the room when we talk about religion, globalization, war etc. It could make for some heated debate but so far our teacher has been able to lead discussions from our presentations without to much controversy. The class is getting better and better, and I’m learning more and more … Grammar but also German taboos, and Kleinigkeiten dealing with German history and culture. My German is really progressing, I’m able to pick up local newspapers and listen to NPR or watch films and tv shows and get a good grasp of what’s going on. I’m just not speaking as much as I would like to, but I’m sure that’ll come.

I only have three more weeks left in Berlin. I’m really going to miss my spacious and comfortable apartment, my own kitchen and bathroom. I’m really going to miss Berlin. I feel like I’m just barely getting a handle of the city and directions, and discovering neat bars and cafes but o well. I guess I’ll just have to really enjoy the next three more weeks even more so than normal and of course make a trip back! Though Austria means dorms, new city, more courses and new transportation, it will be exciting to experience the different lifestyle.