Berlin, ich liebe dich!

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Please forgive my lack of blogging. I hope the plethora of pictures over the past week or so will make up for my absence! So, what have I been up to? Well, I just finished my second week of german class and I am finally able to go out and not feel like a complete goof with my german! And, on top of that, I am able to listen to a german conversation and sort of understand what the hell is going on! Es ist sehr wunderbar! And I've made great friends in my class as well. Everyone is foreign...South Korea, Italy, Australia, Canada, and me, America! Hehe if only you could see my apartment...there are german posts everywhere and my walls are covered with adjectives and pictures. It's been quite a fun experience so far! I forget how much I love learning. Fulfilling to say the least! My friend Barbara (the Italian woman in some of the pictures) has been the BEST tour guide! Today we ventured to the Berlin Wall and memorial. Again, like everything else I have experienced here, the pictures do not do it justice. It is so amazing to see the beauty that artists have brought to this once very dark place. To think that people would risk their lives and jump out of their windows to try and make it across the wall...we can't even fathom what they must have been feeling. To not only go through a war with the Nazi regime massacring everyone who they considered otherand then for the surviving people to be put behind a massive wall under patrol is unimaginable to someone like me. But I am so thankful for the monuments and memorials in order to educate those of us who did not live through this horrific time. It not only puts your life into perspective but opens your eyes to what is happening in today's world. I found this even more so when we went to the Holocaust Memorial. The architect did an incredible job with re-creating what the Jews must have felt like. It is almost like a maze when you get to the middle of the memorial, because the cement blocks are far taller than any human and there are rows and rows of them and the ground is not level. It is like you are walking on waves. The idea is that when you go in the memorial you lose your bearings to better understand and empathize. It was an eerie, emotional experience. One that will stay with me forever. The Brandenburg Tor is also amazing! Right in the center of all the embassies. And the Cathedral...wow. It is on the Spree river and is the most vibrant green you can imagine. To think it is only about 100 years old is incredible. This neoclassical design is simply beautiful. I didn't realize how new and young Berlin is...almost everything was destroyed in the war and just since the Wall came down have they been able to rebuild this glorious city. There is construction everywhere, but even so, they have done so much work in just 26 years! And I complain about Dallas' never-ending construction. haha get a clue, Texas!

In other news, I have been enjoying the end of summer in my park across the street. Many beers have been guzzled and books have been read...along with endless people watching. It's quite exciting. I think my most favorite day was when it was raining and everyone sat under the cover just enjoying the beauty that the rain brought with it. Feeding the Earth! It's hard to dislike the rain on days like that.

Now that my neighbor is back in town I am hoping to get her out to the Komische Oper soon!! I will keep you updated on that! Yay! Also hoping to meet a voice coach that I was recommended to from a fellow singer who has a great career over here. Apparently he is very "with it" in the industry so we shall see! I am honestly just excited to network and get a feel for the classical music culture over here. It seems to be very different than in the States, but boy am I excited to find out!!!

Until next time! Tschüss!!

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Comments

[Kelly]

Kristen, I just love reading your blog!!! It's like we're right there with you!! I'm SO happy for you, stay safe... love you!!....