A Meeting of the United Nations

Dear globalized world,

I became globalized in one weekend. I went to Dresden with the other international students that go to my university, and had a marvelous time seeing Dresden and hanging out with cool people from all over the world that happen to be involved in the arts in some way. But in some respects in kind of felt like a G20 summit, because of how diverse a group it was. So I am going to try and assemble some sort of list, of the nationalities represented. First and foremost their was the United States, represented solely by me(this is a scary thought). But there were people from Canada, Brazil, England, Ireland, the Faroe Islands, Sweden, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Greece, Romania, Estonia, Israel, China, and Australia. I believe I am probably forgetting some countries, but this seems like the majority. But, it was helpful for me because they all spoke english pretty well, and thus I could continue to tell dirty jokes. But it was good all in all. I am not sure if this was the weekend to pick up learning any new German, but I sure as hell can swear in 15 different languages now. And I learned that partying is an international language(spoke most fluently by the Spanish), and that no matter what country you are from, a porcelain museum is not interesting. So maybe extreme boredom is also an international language. But either way Dresden was a lot of fun, and it was made that way by all the people that came along. I have posted a few pictures of my experience and some of the people I spent time with. 

But I want to focus on several subjects. First I must finish telling about the height of German Bureaucracy which I thought I saw when I wrote my last blog. But I was so wrong. Getting my visa proved to be the worst experience of all. I arrived to the visa place with all my paper work in hand at 1 o'clock, with a friend of mine who had the exactly same paper work. The short version of the story is that after 4 hours of waiting in 5 different lines, one of us came out with their visa and the other didn't. I was the one who did not acquire my visa. The gist of it all is that I will be spending another full day waiting in line with the exact same paper work I had previously. But its all right because they say that familiarity is a comforting thing. And I am starting to get used to angry German woman scream at me in a language I don't understand. But all is good, if anything it gives me topics to write blogs on. 

The other topic I want to focus on, is museums, and museum education. One of my favorite places in the whole entire world is museums. There is nothing better than browsing through a great art museum or a cool natural history museum. Generally I think they are pretty peaceful places that surround the viewer with objects that beg to be looked at. BUT... I hate guided tours. And maybe its that the guide is bad, but I dont like learning the history of gold tea cup sets and silver plated doll houses. But the tour guide thinks I do, and so somehow the guide can stand in front of a one tea cup for 3 hours, and talk to me, like I'm a brick wall, about every moment of this precious little tea cups life. And while this goes on my body goes from an alert ready position, to slightly slumped where I shift the weight on each foot every two minutes, to looking for the closest place to sit down and still look interested, to looking out the window and wondering what's for dinner. But things like a porcelain vases, and baroque furniture is just something you look at and kind of admire, and stroll through leisurely, and if you are still interested you buy a book at the very end. But don't make a bunch bad ass young artists, listen to the complete history of a three hundred year old plate, because they will all be looking out the window, planning their escape. So if you are ever in Dresden or in Meissen, and you plan on checking out some of the museums, I would recommend not taking the guided tours, or at least not the guided tours of 17th century dishes. You wont learn anything, or at least you wont retain any of the information. The only thing I retained was something about King Augustus the Strong, and how much stuff he owned. Mostly because I looked at all of it. 

And I dont know maybe I am just bitter right now, but these kind of museums are similar to taking everything I own and putting it in really nice display cases with fancy lighting, and being able to talk about the history of it. Boring!!! Except for the Nutella jar that now permanently sits next to my computer, that is worth putting in the Louvre. 

But let me know, what you think of museums like this and, if you think maybe museum education needs to happen in a different sort of way.

Check out the link to my pictures on the right hand side for images of Dresden

Bureaucracy

Dear Line Waiters,

I am cutting in front of you, because I am sick and tired of dealing with waiting. You would think coming to another country for only four months, would be easy, but this isn't so. I am almost done dealing with all of this bureaucracy, but Ill give you a little insight into all of the lines I had to wait in. When I got off my plane I first had to wait in line for my bags, and then there was the line for the bus. And on my way to the hostel with all my bags there was the line for the currywurst. (Well Ok I waited until after I put my bags away.) But the real trouble started after I got settled in and had that very first currywurst. My first mission was to get a cell phone, because I couldnt get anywhere with out a cell phone. And then the apartment search started, which took way to long, but I found a place after hundreds of calls to people who wanted someone longer or just didnt speak english. Then once I got a place my troubles with the government began. First was waving the German health insurance, which was quite easy once I found the door to the place which was practically down an allee. Next was my trip to the bank to get an account, so I could receive German welcome money. This was also quite easy once I found the only German bank teller that has ever tried to speak English. I think after our conversation, I signed a mortgage but I am not quite sure because it was al in German. Then I had my papers for registering my address, but it was all in German, so I sat at my computer and used apple translator for a couple of hours, so I could write down, that I am single, and tell them my birth-date is correct. But apparently I forgot to translate the part that said I needed my passport and not just a copy. Because I went to the location, and waited 2 hours to sit down with this nice man that didn't speak any English. But when he couldn't find my passport he called over the english speaking lady with one eye, to come yell at me and tell me that I needed my passport. So I went all the way back home to grab my passport wait in line again, to have the same guy look at my passport, for maybe half a second and stamp the papers that were still on his desk. Then tomorrow I have to go get my residency permit, and bring a stack of papers, stating that I have a cell phone, and an address, and a passport, and health insurance, and that my address is registered, and that I am a human being and not some other creature. Its all a little ridiculous, but the worst part is that none of these locations are even remotely close to each other. AND... Germans in the government apparently only work for three hours a week, because most of the places are only open for short periods of time. But I am almost through with it all, and wont have to worry about anything else except for not getting arrested. But at least if I get arrested everyone in the city will know who I am, and will have three copies of my picture. I think the only word for this is a phrase popularized by my grandfather. GODDAMN

Improvment, and thinking in Broken German

Dear German Speakers,

I can finally think in German. But its sort of like being mentally challenged (no offense) because I can only think in a select amount of vocabulary and I am always searching for the right word. But really, its ok because 90% of the time I am think of currywurst, or Nutella and then these words are just constantly repeated in my head. But I think Nutella is Italian in origin so maybe Im also thinking in Italian.

Ok so enough for the bad jokes. But I am improving, and I just had lunch with my roommate and his parents, and I followed most of the conversation quite well. We had a typical spanish dish with shrimp, calamari, and mussels, with rice. So much for a typical German experience. But it was very nice, my roommate is half spanish, and the conversation was almost completely in German, and a little in Spanish and a little in English. Somehow though we spoke of American relations and the job Obama is doing(excellent). It was a good time, and I tried to follow quite closely. And I have set a goal that by the end of two months, I want to be able to speak good enough German to be able to be sociable and charming again. Maybe this is a stretch but I'll get there. 

In other news I head to Dresden next weekend, and I start in my studio this Tuesday. So I will start making more work and have more to talk about then what I ate for lunch and struggling my way through a city. 

Anyway Prost. (cheers)

 

Nutella, and things Germans have that we dont.

Dear fans of things we cant have,

Germany is the land of milk and honey. Well no... more like the land of chocolate and beer, which I would choose over milk and honey any day of the week. And since I have been over here I have been indulging in some of the delicacies that the German are offering up. First Nutella. We have this in the states, but it is definitely not as popular in the US as it is over here. For those of you who don't know, Nutella is a spreadable hazelnut chocolaty snack, that you can put on pretty much anything. And don't worry mom, almost everything I have eaten in the last week I have put Nutella on. Sandwiches, fruit, toast..... well I guess thats pretty much all I have eaten this week. eek. Somehow since moving to a new country all my cooking habits have gone out the window. I have resorted to the unhealthy style of eating that freshman year of college had to offer. So much for the six pack I worked so hard for. But thats alright because now Nutella is in my life, and were very happy, although chocolate is getting on everything I own. But its something that is very tasty and, goes well with ham and peppered salami sandwiches. Dont judge. Anyway Ill let this guilty pleasure go until I get to the bottom of the jar (tomorrow), and analyze from there if this is an object that will be good for my diet. Its one of those objects thats hard not to buy because you see it in Germany pretty much anywhere you go, and is more popular than peanut butter. (which apparently they don't sell in grocery stores.) 

But even though the Germans live with out peanut butter, they are making up for it with all the foods that most of America has long since forgotten about. Such as the McRib sandwich. I have not tried it, but almost all German McDonalds sell the McRib. Which is good because they stopped selling this boneless wonder in America a few years ago. The only other place in the entire world that sells the McRib besides Germany is a select few branches in the Chicago area. (all of which surround my apartment.) So really, I kind of feel at home, which gives me a comforting thought that the link between Chicago and Germany is a mystery meat that melts in your mouth. mmmmm. 

Anyway I am going to try and stay away from McDonalds while I am in Germany, and stick my health regiment of chocolate and beer. And hopefully I can stay fit like the Germans. But let me know if you have ever eaten  Nutella and how you kept yourself from over endulging. And then also let me know if you think the McRib should make a comeback to America.

Im posting a few more pictures of Berlin at night so check out the link to my pictures on the right hand side.

Grocery Shopping, Food, and more Cultural Differences,

Dear Grocery Shoppers.

Sprechen sie English? Hopefully, because I have no clue what I am doing. I moved into an apartment yesterday, and had to go grocery shopping, which turned into being more nerve racking than Jewel-Osco, Until now I have been eating out at currywurst, doner kabab, and pretzel stands, because I was in a hostel(these are all excellent foods. This has been working out because I only have to say the name of the food I want, and Danke schoen, and i can go about enjoying my merry self. However this gets expensive, and this weekend is easter holiday, so stores are closed on sunday and monday. So thus I was forced to grocery shop. Now maybe I am not used to going into this particular grocery store, but I dont believe that is the case. I had a hell of a time. I bought meat, but in Germany, the germans just throw shit in their meat. Iv seen, and eaten meat with carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower in own slice. Although I think I bought ham and salami, but with the language gap its quite possible i bought dog , or rat.(just kidding)(hopefully).  Besides the meat, I bought bread and some other essentials, but I am sure i looked ridiculous walking around this small grocery store doing maybe 8 to 9 laps and only coming out with less than ten items. Oh well maybe life is about looking a little ridiculous. 

But I havent talked about food recently and I feel a little ashamed. So.... let me start this off.  

Currywurst and fries with mayonnaise. This food equals a heart attack I would be proud of. Currywurst is sausage chopped up sprinkled with curry seasoning and drenched in ketchup. Delicious! Definitely on my top 5 hot dog list. Its exactly like you would imagine, and it just works, with a nice mesh of curry and sausage and ketchup. WOW! I have noticed most people like to get fries with hot mayonnaise with this. Mostly because they don't feel fat enough. And once again mayonnaise and fries are exactly what you would expect, and it works. I have enjoyed this tasty snack more than once, and I believe it goes well with a Berliner Pilsner. 

Doner Kabab!!!! Top five favorite sandwiches, watch out. This is a sandwich that will blow you out of the water (if your in a boat, or swimming or something). This sandwich is turkish, and I am excited because I am now living in turkish town. I may come back fat. This sandwich starts out with a flat bread, and consists of shaved lamb, chopped lettuce cabbage, onions, cucumber, and tomatoes, topped with a red sauce i wouldn't know because i don't speak german. But this warm snack goes good at anytime, from early in the morning to late at night. And besides the lamb, it has to be healthy. But ill be honest it doesn't taste that way. I would recommend to anyone to try a Doner Kabab sometime soon, its a sandwich that America is mourning not having much of. And at the price of 2 euros you can never go wrong.  

Schnitzel. Ok wow. I had a turkey Schnitzel and it was amazing,  but this is a German treat that once again America is missing out on. I am going to try and come back knowing how to make them, because, its simple that it need to become part of my diet. I am not quite sure how or what it all consists of, but it had lignin berries on top and I enjoyed every bite. I'm sure I will eat more before I get done, and I can explain more later. 

So thats just a small portion of the food over here that is good. Please let me know if you know of any german food you think I should try and Ill give it a go. 

And last but not least cultural differences. Which I believe this may be a running segment in my blog for a while. But this difference is good and made me laugh. In my hostel before I moved out, I had a conversation with the bartender at mid-day, about why Chris Brown hit Rhianna. He could not understand why rappers do bad things when they have so much money. I ended up trying to explain to him that most rappers are thugs and that they are products of American ghettos. He couldn' t understand that these people were never taught good habits, and so when they get a lot of money their old habits sometimes don't leave them. He just kept telling me that when he gets a lot of money he will just chill. I smiled and remembered that Germans dont have problems with things such as guns, and the ghettos are cake walks compared to American ghettos. I live very close to the turkish ghetto, but I am still very very welcome and all most all of the turkish people I see smile and say hello. So far Germany has been pleasant-vile and everyone is very friendly. Either way I had to laugh that, in Germany, American rap is really popular and they don't understand what it really comes out of.  

But I have posted a link to my photos on the left hand side, so please check them out, I will post them as I have time, and will try to add captions as much as possible. 

Thanks and Tschüss (thats bye)

Funky Town

Dear Foreign Travelers,

I am going to let you all live vicariously through my experiences. So the next time anyone asks where in the world you have been, you claim Berlin on your list. This way my stories can become you stories, and you can spread the good news of Berlin across the globe, bringing peace and joy to all that seek it. Well maybe not. But if someone asks you what Berlin is like, you can now tell them. 

Its an interesting mix between old and new. The buildings and the architecture, runs the gamut, from extremely old building that looked like they were built for roman emperors, to very hip looking office buildings, to everything in between. Many buildings are sprawled with graffiti and most of the people look like have partied for the last 20 years. But has a unique European feel with people riding bikes everywhere, and small streets with unique sausage stands everywhere. Yes they know sausage and they know it quite well. But that is for another post. But here are some pictures I took within the last coupe days of trying to get apartments, talking to my school and getting used to the time difference.  

 check it out ill post more pictures later

sign language

Dear foreign speakers,

I dont know how you do it. I came to Berlin imagining it would be a city I would be able to communicate in easily. Everyone I spoke to, said oh yes when Berliners see English speaking folks they speak english because they want to practice their English. This may be the case. But Im not speaking to the right Berliners then. And I have found I am not speaking better German at all, but I am learning. Such as how to communicate via street sign language. This involves a lot of pointing, smiling, and hoping. This is good because I have skills in all of these areas. And thus far I have managed to smile, point, and hope my way through Berlin. 

But really its not that bad. I would say more than half the people I have spoke to speak very good english and are happy to speak to me. And the other half know a little. Today was a good example of me speaking to someone who knew little. I was trying to buy a cell phone to use for the next four months. The young man behind the desk was trying his best to keep up with me, and smiled and pointed a lot, and together we got the business of my cell phone taken care of. However I had to take my passport out at one point, and hand it over to him. As he took it, he got this big grin on his face and said "oh... your from America." I said yes hesitantly, not sure what he was going to say next. But he comes out and says "TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, Is it real?" I laughed out loud in the store, I thought out of all the cliches America is know for, I didnt know the Texas chain saw massacre movie was one of them. I was personally a little embarrassed I had never seen the movie. However things seemed to run a little more smoothly after that. Which means a lot more smiling and a little less hoping. 

But I must go look for a place to stay, Please share with me if you have any stories of any hack job sign language that you have had to do. Im sure Ill have more stories by the end of the trip. And their will be picture and descriptions of Berlin tomorrow so please tune in, thanks.

Traveling

Dear friends,

I have made it into Berlin safe and sound. But I smell terribly from hot airport terminals, I haven't slept more than 2 hours in the last 26 hrs, and Im paying for internet by the minute. So I will make this brief. First off, disappointments. I did not become a member of the mile high club like I expected, but there were several flight attendants that were looking me up and down, and were pretty cute. If they hadn't been serving me good food all night and morning, I would have been in the club.  But thats another thing. The food. In the past I have only ever rode on domestic flights. And they don't compare. I was served a whole dinner that rocked my socks, no top 5 or anything, but Chicken with rice and mushroom in cream sauce is one hell of a treat, compared to the stale crackers I am used to getting. And to have a nice selection of liquor was also nice. Well not nice selection, but a free selection, which was nice. The trip was enjoyable besides the layovers and there was lots of cute women. Europe might be a place to come back to. Anyway, I must explore the city and so I can let you all know what it really has to offer. 

Enjoy the States

I Bid You Adeau

Dear Friends, Lovers, and all others... oh and family,

I bid you farewell, this will be my last blog before I go global. I will miss you, and you will all be in my thoughts. The only thing left to do is to leave you with a song to contemplate. I feel confident about my trip, and I believe this song reflects how I feel.

So Auf Wiedersehen, Ill write for you all when I arrive in Berlin