Oops, Break Begins Next Week

Well, the title says it all. This whole time I was under the impression that our Oktober break began this week (Yes, even with my planner and mobile calender I still got my dates mixed up.) So I actually have one more week until it begins. Also I was going for a nice auburn color to write this blog due to the season but.. I couldn't find it xD

This past week hasn't been too crazy and I've had plenty of time to study and reflect on my time here thus far.  Thursday was the school "Probierstube" aka talent show and it was probably one of the best showcases and definitely one of the most organized I have seen. Even though it took place in such a small area (our cafeteria) which is another reason on top of the increasing amount of staff and students that the school is once again expanding its campus and in the process of constructing another building. The show amazed mostly due to the musical talent for example 5th graders who were playing Bach or watching a middle school'er play the harp or even just the three eleventh graders that killed their drumming performance which got everything short of a standing ovation. *The way that most Americans (the continent) are active in sports from a young age is the same way many Germans grow up perfecting an art for example: Dance and piano are the most popular.

Friday was a trip to movies with my host-dad where we watched "Gone Girl," I am not a Ben Affleck fan by any means however for him: the film was decent... I'd give it a 2.5/5. Also concessions cost much more here than back home, I'm talking 12 Euro for a small drink and medium popcorn and even more if you replace that popcorn with a nacho! Following this we grabbed a little late night bite at the restaurant just 3 minutes away

My solo trip to Park Sansoucci was pretty eventful. I mean what can beat walking in the wrong direction to the wrong Palace (snapping pictures along the way,) encountering two classmates on a date, Finally making it to the park and being asked to take pics of a couple who took (2 horrible pics of me (i didn't find that out until later as my battery was almost dead, and then asked for a picture with me) not to mention encountering a drunk American (soooo loud and he really got on the UNESCO workers nerves especially after asking to leave the kitchen tour early because he was about to pee himself.) On top of this, I walked the wrong way which put me on a journey at night walking around the park which is basically a 3 palaces spread by a few miles in a giant forest, and eventually I made it to a bus stop having scaled the university apartment area and ran through a meadow (The things you do to watch a soccer game!) However this wasn't enough for the soccer gods as Germany lost to Poland 2-0 which made history as Poland got its first win over Germany. Soo far this has to be one of my best days in Germany and has been a major confidence builder.

I guess you can said I walked the royal's way

Relevance to Versailles and Louis XVI in any way?

Next up, maybe meeting up with a fellow CBYX'r in Berlin for his birthday party

Stay tuned! and if any of yall want to Skype, you know to set it up through mama bear! 

Rostock pt 2.

WW2 bomb found in Potsdam last week? Yep and no big deal, just can't use a few streets for a couple hours, woopty do!

Anyways,  this weekend following a short week due to the German National Reunification Day.

Starting with our early 3 hour morning ride to Szczecin, Poland ( which, by the way, is so Americanized with KFC and Shell gas stations almost everywhere and of course McDonalds) to pick up furniture and then a 3 hour drive across  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to Rostock. Poland was okay, my first-impression wasn't great as soon as we crossed the border we went from smooth Autobahn roads to bumpy streets and abandoned buildings which I mostly overlooked due to the new language and later learned that Poland has their own currency and doesn't use the Euro YET.

Throughout the 3 days we basically built the kitchen from scratch and then assembled tables, chairs and shelves which was pretty fun ( I love feeling like I'm doing something.) We also took a little time to see the Baltic Sea (Ost Sea) and eat some fresh fish (they just stick a cut fish in bread and hand it to you) but it tasted pretty good and the city setup and buildings along the harbor which flowed into a canal was very cool to see along with an old lighthouse. We also walked around the old Hanseatic City which was o.k but to me a bit disappointing for various reasons, however like every other city there is always some nice architecture posing through the ages.

The old harbor

I also had a little event at a gymnasium in Eastern Berlin that I attended and gave a little speech at (in Deutsch,) and this was a great experience. For one i'm on a political scholarship. 2.) It improves public speaking. and 3.) It helps me see how my language skills are progressing.

Today, I spent a few hours at a classmates house ( and his family was welcoming and his mom made some pretty darn good potato( Kartoffel) soup.) Afterwards we took the bus back into the city; They had theater and invited me to come check it out sometime. I also had ample time to stop by Potsdam's Oktoberfest ( a nice sized fair) and  buy a crape. I will try to go back and get in a game or to.

Crape to go