I am having a great time in Berlin and it's been due in part to my two new friends and roommate. They are normal and fun. My friends Saria and Jeremias, are so friendly and they are easy to be with. I have been able to do some more sightseeing with both of them and it turns out that I know a little more about the city than they do. Thank you bus tours!
The weather has gotten colder and I am freezing! I can't deny it and I can't pretend any longer that I can handle it because I am doubting my resolve here. It is humid and it's colder than Vancouver. I grew up in a dry cold climate in FSJ and I feel ill-equipped here. Layers help but only so much. I really had it good back home. I will be able to survive but I need to get some wool-lined jackets soon.
I have taught my 2nd class and so far so good but I am not the best teacher and so I have to step up my game for the next class in 2 weeks. They need more of a challenge and I realise that what I was preparing or lack of, is not enough. I need to bring out more vocabulary and get away from the book more. They are good students though and they like to participate and answer questions, so I'm happy with that.
So far, I have been able to walk in Tiergarten park twice. The trees are so lovely and the leaves on the ground are amazing. I have seen Berlin city during the day and at night. I get home by 11pm now and on Saturday, I got home at 2:30am - I took a cab home, of course. We found a Karaoke place, called "Green Mango Karaoke" and it looks all tropical inside. We didn't sing that night but this Saturday, I am going singing. Hopefully the people there will be drunk enough to appreciate my songs. I think I'll be the only one of my friends though that's into it but we may go dancing as well. My friends are members and so it's nice to have good clean fun. In Germany, I see alcohol everywhere and people just walk around with it openly. There is smoking everywhere as well and I have to get used to this.
My friend, Jeremias, and his brother, speak to me in German as much as possible. Jeremias to help me with my German and his brother, because he doesn't speak a lot of English. So, I am getting the crash course. I am being introduced to common German phrases for greetings and conversation. I have found that the German I learned does not correspond with what I hear in the stores when I shop. I'm expecting to hear "Auf Wiedersehen" for goodbye but I hear something else "Schone tag noch" - Have a good day. I need to work on my pronunciation more and I have checked out some German workbooks and CD's from the library. I am an official library card holder. Yay! I have looked at German classes but the times do not work for my schedule, especially when I have to travel across the city to get there. The trains are good but not super fast.
I go to Church activities throughout the week, FHE and Institute. I kind of feel bad that I am so much older but it's for the social aspect until I don't need it anymore. Or, I can create a Mid-Singles group...which there are a few of us that I notice, so I'm going to look into it more. Yes, I can't leave anything alone, I need to make everything work for me. Is that so wrong? I think it's a good kind of selfish because it also benefits other people:) I have officially requested that my Church records are transferred. So, once that happens, I no longer belong to the Vancouver Stake. Sad, hey? I think so.
Food here is cheap but it's so cheap that it's easier to buy lunch than groceries. Also, at the activities, they make supper.
Christmas Markts (not a typo) - They are being erected everywhere and they have winter carnivals here during December:) I am going to have such a great time this Christmas season and I'll take a lot of photos.
Okay, I need to get ready to go out now. It's cold, so it takes me a while to layer up and make sure I have everything before I leave the house. I know, hard life. haha.
Tschus!
PS: The war is on the weather...I'll let you know if I win.
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