Noch Nicht ein Berliner

Next step in this journey called Life. Twenty-something female navigating the streets of Chicago circa summer 2013

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Quickie

Booked my one way plane ticket woOt! Details to come. Next on the list: Make more informative posts Revise CL ad and post again Start searching for lodging via Airbnb

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Update

So just a quick update. I have so many resources and useful info that I've come across ---- as well as other stuff I want to post about but I've been too busy.... No excuses! I'll do better... Anyway I've set my departure date from home to May 22nd. It works out well because N from college is visiting LA the week before. Also May 22nd seems to be one of the cheapest days to fly around that time. I have yet go book the ticket but plan to do that SOON. As for the Craigslist ad I posted, one person has replied so far. We'll see where it goes. I will definitely also be browsing those who post ads in case I find a good fit. Until next time...

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CRAIGSLIST ROOMMATE AD --- draft

So... here's my roommate listing that I've drafted up:

I am looking to either find housing with someone already with an apartment (but needs a roommate) or someone else new to the city (like myself) that needs to find an apartment.  I have specific ideas of where I want to live, who to live with and etc… but all that is pretty negotiable.

$: Looking for something around $500, but can go higher depending.

Where:  I want to live in either Logan Square, Buck Town or Wicker Park --- MUST be close to an El train stop…

When:  On May 23rd I’m getting on a one-way flight bound for Chicago.  Let’s hope I find housing before I get there.

What:

Ideally, I am looking for permanent housing (but will accept month to month if needed). Obvious requirements are that it is clean --- I am okay if it is a little small (within reason); would prefer if it had laundry facilities and was located near a grocery store … and other shops.

Me:

So a little introduction ---- I just graduated college a year ago and moved back home.  Then I got a job and started saving up money to move out… and now here I am!  I have enough money to last me at least 6 months.  I am responsible, respectful and clean.  I like to keep common areas neat but my own room, admittedly, is somewhat messy (never dirty though!).  I enjoy going out and being active --- going to museums, galleries, shows and trying new foods.  I laugh loudly and easily. I like to have fun but never bring the ugly home.  I’m a people-pleaser and will try (almost) anything once.  I don’t like confrontations but can stand up for myself if the moment arises.  I have goals and am working hard to achieve them.

Looking for:

I need a good solid female roommate. If we become good friends, that would be awesome!  It’s not necessary for us to be BFFs, but I’d like it if we get along well and can sometimes grab a drink and catch up on our lives.  You must be responsible (as in able to pay the bills on time and pick up after yourself).  Do you like to keep active --- it would be cool to have a workout buddy to run, go to the gym, or hike (do they have hiking around Chicago?).  I want someone, ideally, who’s in it for the long term (more than a couple of months) and who is in a similar boat.

I know this is 4 months+ from now but I figured I would send this out now and see what happens.  We can Skype and get to know each other before meeting in Chicago and finding a place together.

Please reply with something about yourself and what you are looking for.  Serious inquiries only.

Any takers? :X

^ or suggestions on how to improve it?  I'm going to post this and see what kind of response I get... :)

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FINDING A ROOMMATE

If you asked me right now, at this moment, what my living situations would be like, I would tell you that I’m going to find a roommate (or two) on Craigslist.

But wait! Don’t freak out.  Let’s start from the beginning:

Chicago was always my plan from day one.  A good friend from college, D, mentioned how awesome it would be to live and take on the real world together after graduation.  I couldn’t agree more.  That was while we were still in school.  Plans change, life happens. Now I am not so sure it’ll happen. I’m sad about missed crazy adventures with D, but am also exciting about what it means.

What does it mean?

Before I continue ---I love novel experiences, the good and the not so pleasant.  I will try (almost) anything once – this isn’t restricted to food by any means.  Tell me about an experience – if I haven’t done it, now I want to.  I want to try waitressing; find obscure street art I see documented online; shoot a gun; strike up a random conversation at a bookstore; … the list is endless.

So by having one less variable figured out, it expanded my world that much more.  Posting an ad on Craigslst --- answering ads --- visiting potential future homes --- meeting new people.  Even the not-so-pleasant potential experience of encountering weirdos is exciting.

Isn’t too early to start looking?

Well, yes, a bit.  It couldn’t hurt though.  I plan to write up an ad and post it to Craigslist.  I'm hopeful that someone in my very similar situation will pop up.  If not, I still plan to use Craigslist, later on in my journey, to look at sublets or roommate requests from those already having a space.

As this process is still a work in progress... I don't have much else to say.  Once I finalize my Roommate Request, I will post it on here.

And now I leave you with this:

Source.

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CALLING CHICAGO HOME

Another step you need to prepare for is the chance of contracting homesickness and loneliness.  IT HAPPENS.  You are by yourself, going through all these new novel experiences and those emotionally closest to you are physically 1000s of miles away.  To combat that, you need to settle in, walk in circles a couple of times before plopping down.

Make it your own.  Restaurants, bookstores, coffee shops, bars --- I want to be a ‘regular’, where they know my name and what I always order.  Obviously I wouldn’t just spend my time at the same places all the time… but enough so that on a bad day, I can go to one of my regular spots, feel comfortable and be noticed.

Make sure to subscribe or pick up a weekly publication of events and local news (eg. Chicago Reader ). Challenge yourself to attend at least one event a week (or 3).

Join Meetup.com --- and attend the events! Meetup.com is fun because it’s merely a venue where people of similar interests gather virtually before meeting up… IRL and engage in group activities such as networking, getting drinks, playing group sports, etc).  These groups are created by fellow members; same for the events planned.  Sometimes groups can be exclusive or require you to pay to attend an event --- it really depends.

Bottom line is that before you move far, far away from all sense of familiarity and comfort, you should be prepared.  Come up with a method or procedure to follow when you are at your lowest.  This will ensure you don't have a breakdown, give up and run home :P

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CHICAGO

These old entries of my study abroad experiences in Berlin, Germany will remain, both as evidence of what a bad blogger I am … but also as proof of how far I’ve come.

I’m choosing to redefine, re-purpose and rekindle my dusty dreams of adventure.  Those that know me know what I mean when I say “Chicago.”  My El Dorado, Tabula Rasa … my dream.  I’ve said the word constantly and consistently since graduating from college (which was an achievement in itself by the way) to anyone who would ask or listen.  The next step in my life is to move out on to own to find myself --- yay for the quarter-life crisis!   

        My timeline since graduating:

 May 2012 – Moved back home

June 2012 – Began working at my first ‘real’ (full-time, non-seasonal) job

June 2013 – Move to Chicago!

                Being privileged that my mom isn’t charging me rent, I’ve been saving 60% of my income into a savings account labeled Chicago.  I was too cowardly to move out right after graduation and felt that financial stability (or as close to it as a recent grad can obtain) was key.

                I think it’ll be helpful and convenient for me if I document the before and during of my adventure.  I guess you can say I am still at the beginning stages of planning.  I am a pretty cautious person --- preferring to delay something and take the time to do some in-depth research rather than jumping headfirst into the unknown.  There are SO MANY unknowns when it comes to living on your own, being on your own, and becoming your own person that it can easily become overwhelming.

                Anyway, be on the lookout for future posts. I’m excited about this.  The title of the blog may or may not change… I’ll be updating things soon. Stay tuned!

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St. Petersburg Day 2 Monday: How to Be a Tourist. --- DRAFT

I am publishing this draft as is. This is 2 years old FYI.

I believe I used for the shower this morning. It was SO nice having room to move around and use as much water as I wanted without worrying about wasting (my host’s money). I didn’t bring my bar soap with me so I had to settle for the body wash/shampoo combo they had —- it was gross… the say the least.

Also it was awkward for me to be brushing my teeth with bottled water… that took some getting used to. I decided I needed new toothpaste and face wash; the ones I brought with me were not adequate!

Breakfast was a buffet; for the first day it was great —- everyone had good things to say about the creamy porridge that was served. I had croissants, cheese+meat, fake eggs?, orange juice and other things. I really appreciated that for breakfast and lunch we could get as much coffee and tea as we wanted! (definitely a luxury in St. Petersburg, Berlin… and Kenyon —- Pierce coffee always tastes burnt, ok?) Coffee in St. Petersburg is really expensive! (it’s almost $6? or… dare I say, more!) and coffee in Berlin is ok, you just still have to pay for it ;P)

Next, we took a bus tour around St. Petersburg using another tourist bus. It was way touristy. Sit in the bus, listen to a tour guide talk, and take pictures along the way. Then maybe you get off at some of the main sites and take more pictures in front of big, famous monuments and get approached by vendors eager to sell their wares to rich, dumb foreigners.

Oh no, I forgot where we had lunch… for the first time.

Anyway, after lunch we all met back at the hotel lobby and took public transportation (the bus) for the first time to the university. Too bad we missed the bus, tried to run after it, failed, and probably had to wait a good 20 minutes for the next one (we had to attend class on our own the next morning so it was important that we all knew how to get there by ourselves).

Taking the bus for the first time was definitely an experience. During our St. Petersburg workshop, they described it was pushy and crowded. There was supposedly a little Russian lady who always sought you out and asked for the bus fare.

I would say that Russians are different from Germans in the sense that they aren’t afraid to push you out of the way. It’s totally normal and not rude at all. This morning, for example, I was riding the Sbahn and this lady needed to get through (it really wasn’t a tight spot) but she wouldn’t squeeze past me. Instead she chose to stand there and say entschuldigung. It’s not like I ignored her… I was merely waiting for her to pass through by herself… but no she just stood there and said it again… and I had no choice but to move aside and make space for her to pass… You see, if it was a Russian, without a word, she would have just shoved her way through (not in a rude sense either!); I think I would prefer it that way (or am I still fresh from a Russian way of life?)

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St. Petersburg Day 1 Sunday: Arrival -- DRAFT

I am publishing this draft as is. This is 2 yrs old FYI

First arriving in the St. Petersburg airport was a little daunting. No one really talked much (excluding us loud group of Americans) and I felt like if I opened my mouth to say something I would instantly be penalized …. with stares (as the way I look didn’t determine that already).

So, yes, definite feelings as an Other arose, and almost immediately as well. Thank goodness we were lumped together as a big group of Others or it may have felt uncomfortable.

A touristy bus was hired and we all scrambled in —- on our way to the hotel a “guide” talked to us about St. Petersburg and its history. The first few pictures are taken on our way to the hotel. I was caught by the Cyrillic alphabet and randomly took pictures of billboard and street signs…

We arrived with a little time to rest and settle in before dinner (breakfast and dinner was provided for us by the hotel).

My roommate and I threw our things in our room and immediately to went to liquor store (or am-pm/convenience store —- whatever you want to call it haha) and stocked up on the water! We each purchased 2 2-liters. Oh, before doing so, we went to exchange/withdraw money —- they had such machines in the entrance of the hotel, which was quite convenient. I took out 2000 roubles —- ~ $30+

Our dinner was a full 4 course meal — salad, soup, main course, and dessert. We just sit down… and they bring everything to us; I felt so special haha! I don’t think I took pictures of any of the food… but it was mostly the same but varied. (Salad was light, oftentimes creamy, soup … was soupy, main course had meat w/ sauce + vegetables, dessert was sweet).

There were no set plans after dinner. I remember walking with some people to the convenience store again but I don’t think I bought anything. It was most likely an early night :).

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Warp Speed - DRAFT

I am publishing this draft as is. This is 2 years old FYI

I arrived in Paris Sunday evening and it has already zoomed by… now it’s currently Wednesday night! Today was the first day of classes (crazy, right?) We only have one session per class this whole week. I had three today, one on Friday and that means none tomorrow! (We leave early Saturday morning —- movingmovingmoving).

Let’s just get this out there now…. I AM TERRIBLE AT FRENCH. I can’t even manage a proper French pronunciation of any of the words… -____- *sigh*

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DAY 1

Sunday night —- boring… arrived in Paris, took a bus, arrived in hotel and went to dinner. We were all pretty excited :) For the whole week except today we have breakfast and dinner provided. This time one of the IES guides (I guess that’s what I’ll call them) took us to a delicious (and cheap) crepe place :D I got a jambon et fromage (ham and cheese) crepe … yummmm! :) and also a citron sucre one (lemon juice + sugar). It totaled 9 euros. (for comparison a “cheap” 3-course meal in Paris is 15 euros [Berlin… a good, inexpensive meal with a drink is like… 10 euros]).

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DAY 2

Got up, showered, went to breakfast. The breakfast is pretty much the same everyday: lots of pastries like croissants, bread… other kinds of pastries… >.< jam, coffee, tea, cereal, yogurt, honey… etc It’s not superb… but do-able (although I feel like all I eat in Paris is bread).

After we went on a sight-seeing tour bus. It rained… and the wind blew —- it was cold but we sucked it up. There was a situation with the ticket printer on our bus so we had to get off and get on another one. Originally we were on the green line which was the grand tour… but then we got on another one without realizing it was the blue line … which was a short tour. K and I stayed on until we saw the stadium were the ATP masters tennis tournament was taking place!

We had been planning on staying on the tour for one full circle (so like 1.5 hrs) but since we got on the wrong bus and were… RIGHT there we decided to get off. I braced myself because K had said the “really good” seats were like 70euros but once we got there and tried to get tickets, it turned out that the best ones were only 20,50 euros! I was like.. YESS

This was around 1230. We stayed until 1730 :O time went by so fast! I was SOO excited. It was my first pro live tennis tournament! All the top dogs, of course, got byes for the first round … so we didn’t get to see them. We saw a match against Malisse and Nieminen(W) (Roddick killed Nieminen the next day); Lopez and Clement (W); and some doubles team. We also had the opportunity to get autographs + pictures (sort of) from Verdasco and Davydenko (all which had byes for the first round too).

I also got a mini Head racket + bag :DD I was SUPER EXCITED about that haha. I am trying to go back on Friday (depending on what happens) because hopefully I’ll get to see a top-ranked player in action!! (Tickets will be super expensive by then …)

Anyway, after we went to meet everyone for dinner. Every night we all meet at the same restaurant to eat dinner. We are given a list of usually 3 choices for appetizer, main course, and dessert and pick. Some are definitely better than others.

After dinner I went to see the Eiffel Tower at night. We had heard that it’s lit up all pretty and really wanted to see it :)

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DAY 3

versailles - rer regional train, left someone behind saint michel stop smells like PISS

chateau tour, jap artist„ raining a lot

notre dame?

walked a little bit in latin quarter aka souvenir shopping

pont neuf — boat tour on river seine more raining, eiffel tower again!

dinner

After dinner that night we decided to walk down Champs Elaysee and ended at Arc de Triomphe. It was great —- reminded me of Unter den Linden and the Brandenburger Tor haha. The arc is kind of on an island … as in there isn’t a pedestrian path to it. We quickly found out that we had to reach it underground… went underground and were like… wahhh… we have to PAY for it… no way.

We sat down in the tunnel for a bit to rest and then were like… ok let’s go. As we were leaving, this lady comes up and asks us how to get up under the arc. We’re like… oh it’s this way but you have to pay for it.. blahblah and just then J realizes there’s this sign that points up the steps and says “free entrance” in English… We were a little hesitant in the beginning because we saw a booth at the entrance (that’s if you want to go UP to the top of the arc, by the way).

So we ha-ha-ed ourselves and went on up and camera-whored for a bit. The Eiffel Tower was also visible from the arc and it started sparkling :)

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DAY 4

bfast, went to mass at notre dame 30mins short, lots of flashes

went UP notre dame 376 steps, great view, eiffel tower, gargoyles —water, bell tower, went up even higher, LOTS of steps around adn around

walked around pont neuf, book shopping, old postcards!

quick coffee went to IES for arhis tour to louvre + ministry of culture + royal palace

louvre shppiing + IM pei pyramid

sex class, fragmented city class —- prof <3! intersting thinggss! took lots of notes

dinner

went out with blakes friends —- french french french

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lots lots lots of things, no time for pastries, camera sort of broken. time at hotel at night, then sleep.

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Quicky

So today was the first day of classes!

I've been so overwhelmed (not necessarily in a bad way... yet) already! Kenyon is Kenyon... and everyone is still the same... and yet nothing is the same; does that make sense?

People are living in different places, we are all taking different classes... and yet when you see someone you haven't seen in a while, all you can do is smile wide and approach them with a welcoming embrace :D

Anyway, I have "tons" of work to do already and have made possibly hard to keep goals (working out everyday? ... AND at 7am).  I'm highly skeptical that it'll happen... but we shall see!

Also this semester, the bulk of my classes are in the evening and that goes against what I'm used to.  I hope it isn't a bad thing... 

Anyway, anway, I have to go to bed so I can wake up tomorrow... >.< @7am

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Reverse Culture Shock??

I was warned about the effects of reverse culture shock. I won't go through the possible symptoms because I find that tedious.  If one wished to know of such, they can simply go to Google and type "reverse culture shock" in.  The last sentence sounds really obnoxious, I didn't mean it like that.

This is just a quick entry about possible feelings of,

I was supposed to do it last week but I've been quite busy.

I love life most when it's going at a normal pace (not a super slow one, like when it's boring and not speedy, like when events/obligations just come at you one after another).  Life is pretty speedy now, yikes!

Last Thursday-Sunday were like the best days, I did (practically) nothing, and it was great.  I've been working at my last-summer's job because I need the money to help cover expenses spent ... most of which were from studying abroad. double yikes.

Anyway, back on pointe, hehheh.

I thought I showed symptoms of reverse culture shock last week or so, but it could have been something else.  I brought it up once while talking to a friend but she quickly dismissed it --- the reason being unclear because we got distracted onto another topic.

But I felt like I was showing signs of depression (not feeling like hanging with friends ... not because I didn't like them! but just because I didn't feel like it); also not wanting to do much at all, just hang.  Yes, this could be interpreted as lazy... but I don't know... it was just a thought I had..

Also at first, I think it's faded a bit, I started disliking certain "American" things.  For example, why does the US have such unhealthy food options... organic, even natural products are as hard to find as a needle in a haystack.  Why do all food options feel so greasy, obesity-inducing... and just... gross? Why don't people walk around more, the whole driving things is inconvenient and lazy. Why are American food products SO processed?! 

I also had a few days where I was "so over being home" was how it was phrased in my head. I wished I drifted back to Kenyon faster. I needed to be there already.  It wasn't specific home-things that pushed me away... I suspect it was due to reverse culture shock?

Yeah, for some reason my negativity was strongly related to food availability and a little bit about transportation in LA...

Other than that... (maybe some minor things that I can't recall right now) I suspected I had a mild case of reverse culture shock... but who knows?

Also I think symptoms may show up more pronounced when I return back to campus... I don't know why... just maybe :P

We'll see.

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Random Great Things About Home

The following is a random list of things I appreciate about coming home after so long... this is not all inclusive list, just things that came to me... like right now.

- rediscovering all the things you left behind, be it clothes, makeup, shoes, or pens! :D

- being able to go outside without being bundled up, as in just a a light jacket :)

- being able to understand 99.2% of what's going on around you, instead of the very low <35%

- familiar foods and (OMG) free water galore!

- being able to text, like crazy, and pic messages too! (and use my cell as a camera :P)

- (not that I've had a chance to do this yet) being able to access music from UMG, or some other random company that Germans don't have access to... 

- and of course... my family. there, said it! <3

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Random Thoughts about my Semester Abroad

It's hard to sum up your experience of four months abroad.  If I try, I might leave out important details that impact or have affected my semester abroad.  How to sum up Berlin?  How to sum up Europe?

One thing I can say is that my experience abroad probably has nothing to do with the academics I experienced; it was, generally, a joke.  This may seem harsh but that's really how I feel.  There were some awesome parts to the courses I took, but as a whole, the academics of this IES program lean on the weak end.

I've been reading fellow Kenyon student blogs (who are also studying abroad) and they are able to describe their experience, extensively and coherently.  

I can't seem to do that.

I've traveled tons, saw lots, and experienced much ... but how to put that into a concise, complete thought?

I must ponder that some more.  Maybe it'll come to me when I get home, experience some reverse culture shock and then, magically, will be able to reflect better.

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Grisly Flight Details (updated)

Yeah I thought it was bad.... talks of London airports shutting down like crazy.... I don't know why I didn't expect it to happen to me.

Well it did.

My flight INTO London is still a GO but my flight out of London was a NO GO.  Who the fuck in their right minds would flight into London at this time, when escape seems impossible? Not I!

So I spent the next new hours (4+) talking (actually most of the time I was probably put on hold) to multiple airlines (British Midland, United, Continental, Lufthansa).  Why, you ask, was I talking to all those?  Because two of them decided to have an awkward merge and the others are too small (?) so they share flights... SO ANNOYING.

What was the result?

I am now schedule to fly on Wednesday through Munich -> Chicago -> LA.  I just found out that someone who was supposed to fly home through Munich today got stuck until tomorrow... ! WTFFF .  I really hope that doesn't happen to me... because seriously... another DAY of delays... it will be Christmas Eve! :( 

If all works out, my flight experience is a tad better; After landing in Munich I have an almost 3 hr layover and after Chicago, it's almost a 2 hr layover; I have to admit, that's much better than the 10 hrs of layovers I was going to experience tomorrow.

As for flying: 1 hr flight to Munich, 10 hr flight to Chicago, and a 4.5 hr flight to LA.

*sigh*

just let me go home!

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Grisly Flight Details (you are warned!)

I know I had a crappy flight schedule from the time I decided to change my flight.... but I didn't know the extent of its brutality, madness, and sheer exhaustiveness...

So, without further ado:

On Tuesday Dec 21, I flight out of Tegel airport in Berlin at around 7 am and arrive in Heathrow (London) at around 8 am (The flight is a little more than 2 hrs long).  

Next, after an 8 hr layover, I flight out of there at 430 pm and land in Washington DC at a little before 8 (Flight is about 8.5 hrs long)

Next, after a 2+ hr layover, I leave Washington DC at 10 pm and FINALLY land in LA at 1 am (Flight is almost 6 hrs long).

SO

To sum it up, I will be "in the air" for about 16 + hrs, and have about 10+ hrs of layovers... will be stopping twice and also pay extra baggage fees (the flights werent all booked together, blah blah blah...)

Also! When I booked the second half of my journey, I was told it was a direct flight home (so I was thinking, ok one transfer is fine, standard almost). Then I got my booking confirmation, it still said it was a direct flight... but it also had an asterisk and after the asterisk it said that the following portion was operated by another airline and THAT airline had its own pitstop... effectively making my trip just a *tiny* bit longer.

Aiya! I will NOT be a happy camper once I land in LA... but I guess I can't wait (dreading the traveling definitely).  Also I hear talks of London airports being a shitshow right now, in particular Heathrow. Lets hope that they will have gotten their act together come Tuesday.

ciaooo 

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A little more than 2 days...

Not much time left in Berlin.  I am so ready to go home but also ready to stay strapped and stay... If I had to choose, going home would left win.

Anyway enough rambling.

Today I was finally able to pig out at the Christmas Markets ever since the beginning of December I've wandered into one... several, and all multiple of times.  For the majority of those visits I did not purchase anything; for some reason I always didn't have cash with me --- it was such a bummer.

Today I was ready!  I got:

- bratwurst (sausage nestled in a piece of bread)

- fried dough pieces with powdered sugar on top (YUM, forgot the German name... if I go again to get it tomorrow :D I'll remember it)

- candied walnuts (way too sweet and expensive!)

- a LONG piece of green apple-flavored chewy candy, about the length of an average arm?)

- 4x Shaumkuesse (meaning foam kisses) they are chocolate-covered giant marshmallows, usually with other toppings like coconut... and etc

I did NOT get them for myself, planning (attempting for like it) on bringing it home to the fam; one of them already incurred a fatal wound :(

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I am hoping that Heathrow airport in London get its act together soon; I keep hearing of all the flights being cancelled and just a mess of bad news :( 

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I will also attempt to keep this blog going for at least a bit longer after my journey is over being during the end of our semester, we had another orientation meeting, or shall I call it a de-orientation meeting? haha? not funnny..?

Anyway, at the end they talked about reverse culture shock and said that if you kept a blog, maybe it might help to continue to write in it, which I think I will :)

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Tomorrow is hopefully a day filled with events... I have tons to do and not enough time to do it?  My room is a total mess, need to start packing and throwing things away :X

ALSO! I have SO much food that I need to either finish or leave it for my host; I had planned accordingly but did not expect to be skipping meals (either not being awake, not having time to eat,  or eating out) like I've done for the past few days, yikes!

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Pain Pasta Philharmonie

1) Yes... I semi-abandoned this blog --- too busy to update at times... and other too sad because I was so behind on events..

2) I'm coming back on Dec 22, on Tuesday --- it'll be a longlong, tiring journey home but it'll also be all worth it

3) Tomorrow I have my last two finals and a paper to turn in (not started yet, obviously).  It's the home stretch! Almost there.  Also have our IES dinner, final goodbye and good riddance--- also planning on partying it up! :D Gotta celebrate right, right? haha

P1 - I currently have 3 different wounds on both of my legs... each have their own interesting and funny story.  All three still hurt; one is currently stinging a great deal because I ust applied lotion to it --- I hope I don't get any sort of allergic reaction to it! :X

P2 - So the other night I made pasta for the first time. I was SO proud of myself.  Right away I make a huge mistake... I accidentally jumped like 2/3 of the bag in! Yikes... that created, easily, 5 servings of pasta... >.< geez.  So I first minced some onions, then threw it in the pan along with some ground beef.  It was my 2nd time, ever, cooking with raw meat (so proud!).  I also used too much meat...  The first time I cooked with it (also in Berlin) I bought the "premium" one because there was a smaller serving (I wanted to use it all at once).  This time, I just got whatever and I think it was 500g!  Anyway, after the meat was cooked well, I threw in one can of tomato sauce (judging from the fact that I had TONS of beef and pasta, the sauce wasn't quite enough... but it turned out fine).

I also take out some brie cheese and just ripped a couple of chunks and threw it on top after I served myself a heaping serving (I am seriously in love with that cheese...) Verdict?  It turned out good!  Definitely could have used more pasta sauce, was very meaty but the cheese balanced that out nicely I think :))

I tried to eat as much as I could... but no such luck: leftovers were two heaping plates-full. (I ate it once again for lunch today!)

P3: Berlin's Philharmonie.  It's a beautiful place where classical or orchestra performances take place.  In my opinion the tickets are quite expensive (I mean it totally depends on where you sit, but I would always yearn to be closer).  Because my host is totally into the arts and culture (by totally I mean extensively! :D)... she somehow has access to the rehearsals.  Rehearsals don't happen all the time and are NOT open to the public.  She can usually bring in one guest.  

I've went with her once before and it was awesome :D Apparently the conductor is really popular; I may have already mentioned this.  Anyway I've been talking to my friends about what was on their "things to do" list before they leave Berlin and one of them was attend the show at the Philharmonie.  I know the tickets can get expensive so I suggested that I could ask my host if she can get us into one of the rehearsals.  Sure enough, everything worked out alright (first mentioned last Sat?) and there was a rehearsal the next Wed (today!) and she talked with the people at the Phil. and explained the situation (of bringing more than the allotted number of people) and they were totally cool with it :) YAYYY

This time, it was as awesome, as last time's, but it was still good :).  Plus, I always love free stuff and experiencing classical music for free is something that should happen more often and for more people... but that's another topic for next time.

I have two finals and a paper to finish before tomorrow! :( see ya