Time, Thoughts, and Trees

Yesterday I was at the grocery store, picking out some salad, and when I turned to check the expiration date and read "01.05.12" (day before month in D-land), I thought, "How can this salad last so long?!" And then I realized it's May in a couple days. When did that happen?

Puerto Rico

I'm almost at my 6th month mark here in Berlin and things have definitely taken a turn for the more promising. Along with a new job, an ever-growing social circle, and it being spring, things are looking up for this girl. Most of you know I just had my first work trip this past week. It was all a bit of a blur- signing the contract on Tuesday and sitting in the plane to San Juan on Thursday. The trip went something like this: plane, plane, plane, San Juan!, website edits, one hour beach, IEP reception, website edits, CIES conference, website edits, CIES conference, see friends!, website edits, plane, plane, London!, meeting, plane, Vienna!, meetings, plane, Berlin! SLEEP FOR 14 HOURS.

Vienna

So yes, it's all very exciting. And a bit overwhelming. Though I can't tell you how excited I am to fly home on May 11th for a good 3+ weeks to see family and friends, it makes me a bit nervous, too. Will it be harder to leave this time, knowing I've now accepted this job and am committing to a few years in Berlin? Will Berlin lose some of its magic once I'm inducted into the real working world? Will I be able to fit 5 jars of Potbelly's hot peppers into my suitcase? 

Berlin

Mal sehen.

A Peek

... at my week in Puerto Rico. Photos taken by my boss in San Juan's old town.

 

It's a... Job!

As most of you have seen on Facebook by now, my news has been revealed: I have a job! And a pretty great one! Tomorrow morning I fly to Puerto Rico via London and New York for my first Dienstreise (business trip). Will be a long trek but I am super excited for tropical weather and to see some of my former classmates at the Comparative International Education Symposium, which I attended last year in Montreal. I'll be gone a week and promise a solid recap when I return!

I would be remiss not to thank everyone for all the support and encouragement these past 5+ months as I searched for the perfect opportunity in Berlin. I was ready to give up hope more than once, but somehow you all had faith it would work out for me. I'd especially like to thank my Mama, who edited countless emails and cover letters for me (damn you, German grammar), and my Opa, for his incredible support, logistical and otherwise. I wouldn't be here without them.

A Brunch, A Bunch, A Hunch

On Saturday, Kelly and I threw a brunch chez moi. She came over round 11, I turned on the Otis (my standard cooking tunes), and we got to choppin'. Once friends came over we ate and drank til we could eat and drink no more, soaked up the sun on the balcony, and enjoyed what was left of our lazy Saturday.

One of the funnier moments of the day came early on, when two of our German buddies, still exhausted from partying the night before, messed up their plan to make freshly squeezed juice for our get-together. One forgot his juicer, and the other remained unaware as he dragged 5 kilos worth of oranges on the 40 min trek to my apartment. That's a bunch of oranges. When they insisted they run out to the nearby store to find juicing equipment, I didn't have much hope- there's no Target around the corner, after all. Ten minutes later they sheepishly returned, 5 cartons of juice in tow, and we were pretty much rolling on the floor in laughter.

In other news, I may have news. I have a hunch a big announcement is on its way, so stay tuned.

Parallels: Istanbul & Krakow

Places of Worship: Exterior

Outdoor Seating



Sweets & Coffee



Meat Surveillance

Street Scene



Veggie Soup



Colors

Places of Worship: Interior

Friendship

A Very Happy Sophia

Richtung Krakow

I'm off to Krakow today with my friend Sophie for a short visit. We'll journey there on the slow train that takes 9 hours but costs next to nothing with our discount cards. I love me a good European train ride. And on this one I'll have delicious snacks, a good book, and a lovely travel companion. I won't be blogging during the trip so I bid you temporary farewell and preemptively wish you all Happy Easter and Passover celebrations.

In the meantime, here are some more pictures of Berlin in the Spring. Isn't she pretty?

Half-Marathon High

Training group pre-race

Well, I spoke too soon on the weather. Saturday we were exposed to bouts of snow and hail (and rain). It was quite the day weather-wise. Temperatures have cooled down considerably, but thankfully the sun came out and we had perfect 45 degree temps for the half-marathon yesterday.

Our trainer, Mike, and I

After completing one half-marathon in the US and one in Germany, I am certainly no expert, but here are some differences I noticed.

German race = way more fun. There was music, there were bands, there was partying, and, there was beer. Alcohol-free beer, but beer nonetheless. And lots of it. After the race people flocked to the beer stands and guzzled down the stuff. I looked on in not-so-mild amusement but didn't partake for fear it would make me nauseous. Instead I opted for lots of water and a nutella crêpe after abstaining from the über-fattening spread all week. And then a celebratory curry at my favorite Thai place. And then a BBQ at a friend's apartment. What? I was hungry!

I will also take this opportunity to brag considerably about my time. I finished in 1:59:56 which was seconds better than the goal I already thought unattainable: 2 hours. After all the difficulties with the job search and other uncertainties in my life, I really needed this victory. A few of my Berlin gal pals also came out to support me, which was so nice.

Today, I am sore as a mo-fo. But it was totally worth it.