The Upside of Getting Lost

Before I explain the title, I just want to say how great it's been being here in Europe for the UEFA football tournament. For some time there were two games every night, and now that it's down to the final on Sunday (Germany vs Spain) it's gotten a bit insane. For Germany's last game, there was a huge display of the game in the middle of the city. People came from all over to fill the streets and share their passion for Germany's most popular sport. These people are very proud of their country - they had flags and jerseys and sang songs the entire game. There was also a good representation of the Turkish population here - I spotted several Turkish flags throughout the night. As we were waiting for the game to start we met these German teenagers. It was the first time I've just met someone on the street and started speaking German - I felt like I was at home. And as for the game - I knew that no matter who won I'd be happy because I've spent time in both countries and have loved each.

After the game I wanted to meet up with Teresa, a girl friend of mine. We finally found each other through all the crazy celebratory fans. Since she's studying sociology she's interested in the roles of men and women, and wanted to know about the differences between men and women in our countries. I explained to her that in the States, men are terrified of independent women like her, because we can't stand the thought that women don't depend on us and won't be there to wait on us all the time. She seemed to appreciate my honesty, because she said that most men would not admit a thing like this. She also held the stereotype that Americans need to get drunk to have fun, which I quickly dispelled. I explained that yes, getting drunk is sometimes fun, but I can have fun without drinking! So here I am, tearing down these steretypes one at a time...

We also made this bet that if Turkey won she'd cook me dinner and if Germany won I had to cook, so looks like I'm making a trip to the spice store to get stuff for Indian food next week! Not sure how it will turn out, but I'm always up for going out on a limb and making new dishes.

When we were done talking it had reached 2am and I was tired. I rode my bike to the road I normally take home, and it was blocked because of the game!! I started to panic - would I be able to get home tonight? I decided to take a road parallel to that one and started through a forest. After twenty minutes of riding I started seeing buildings again and, realizing I was lost, decided to muster up the courage to ask for directions home. I asked the guy at the hotel counter how best to go home (in German), and twenty minutes later I found myself at my front door.

I've found that in the situations where dramatic measures are needed we tend to grow a little in both our confidence and in our courage to try new things. When we are not challenged, we cannot grow. When life gives us a situation we've never experienced, we're in a position to use what we've learned and apply it to new situations. I can think of another example where this has helped me: learning German. Since I'm an American, I only know one language (until now!!!!!!) As I sit through class every day, I recall what I've learned in 7th grade English class - the different cases, parts of sentences, and parts of speech. Applied to the German language, I can visualize how sentences need to be structured. I have a tendency to construct my sentences just as I would in English - subject, verb, indirect object, direct object. However, in German it's a bit different depending on what you're trying to say. Learning this language has challenged me more than any class ever has at WVU or anywhere else (except maybe AP Calc in high school.) Take that, retarted American school system!!!!!!

Reunion

Today I was reunited with something I used to treasure back in the States - a bike. Every nice day we had my senior year at WVU I'd ride to class, passing by the pedestrians and shopkeepers with a breeze. In Morgantown though, I had no company to speak of while on my bike. College students, at least the ones in WV, have long forgotten about their bikes by the time they come to college.

Berlin, on the other hand, is a city of bikes. Elaborately designed are the bike lanes, one on each side of every road here, so that bikers will know they're welcomed in the big city. There are many rules which I have yet to learn while on a bike, but the basics are pretty easy. Stop at red lights. Lock up your bike when you're not riding. Always ride on the right side. Use lights at night. Most importantly, I look to others if unsure of what to do.

As I was riding to the bank today, the feeling of being free came back to me right away. I used to get that same feeling when I'd ride - a feeling of invincibility, that nobody could stop me. The wind flowing through my hair and the open road ahead - these are the things I miss. Except now I have it all back - in a new city with new sights. As I pass multi-level apartment buildings with shops at the bottom, over bridges with water beneath, and by a palace that's hundreds of years old, I realize that I'm living my dream. These are the things you can't find back home.

On a side note, I've been cooking at least once every day here at the apartment. Every few days I trudge to the market for veggies and meat, and when combined with pasta and cheese it makes a complete meal. For breakfast Anna (my host mother) makes toast and eggs and gives me plenty of fruit and cheeses. She even wakes me up at 7:30 - good thing since I don't have an alarm clock!! I really could not imagine eating healthier than this, not even in the states.

First Week of Language School

Today marked the end of the first week of my first four-week language course here in Berlin. On Monday it kicked off with a bang, when I met two other foreigners, one from Guatemala, the other from Italy. During our break I figured we'd speak English to make conversing more convenient - but no - I was grossly mistaken. Neither of them knew English! We proceeded to a cafe and spoke only German. I am not accustomed to being in an environment where not everyone speaks at least a little English - even in Turkey I could speak with everyone with whom I went to school. Most people here including shopkeepers, though, speak at least a little English. I prefer speaking Deutsch with them to practice.

The language course is more more difficult here than the two I took at WVU. It's about 4 hours a day of nothing but Deutsch - even grammer is taught in Deutsch. I find that I'm somewhat behind the others - they've had a bit more experience learning the language. Therefore, I try in my free time to learn new words.

The football games here have been fantastic - both the quality of the games and the atmosphere in which I watch them. For all games, especially when Deutschland plays, the local pubs and biergartens display huge screens and people come from all walks of life to watch together. As I witnessed the other day when Deutschland lost to Croatia, when the opponent scores there's a collective *sigh* and as the home team scores or otherwise makes a good play there's a resounding cheer. I went along with my new friends to watch (one Frenchman and two Russin gals.) It's really cool to be return to an environment where I can consistently learn about other countries firsthand.

On a side note, the beer served here is top-quality - it surely puts its American counterpart to shame. I love how I can go almost anywhere and drink amazing beer. Did I mention that there are no open container laws here? Yes, that means you may drink beer on the trains, in the streets, or anywhere you see fit. I guess it's the culture.

To sum up my first week of language school: it's difficult, but being immersed helps a lot. So does my new Deutsch-English dictionary ;)

The Winebar & Other Dissimilarities

Last night Kelsey (the other girl that lives here until this weekend) took me to meet some of her friends at a local wine bar. Since none of them have cellphones, she explained their method of meeting at the train stations. They will wait up to ten minutes for everyone to come, then they just leave, and those who are late are shit out of luck. She really stressed being on time - in fact I was in the kitchen making dinner when she asked me, "Do you know how long that's going to take?" I told her I'd make it quick.

Once we arrived, the 10 of us went inside and each rented a wine glass for one Euro and sampled our first glass. This isn't your typical bar - it works on the "honor system," meaning that they trust you to pay up. If you're like me (straight up American), then you have a hard time explaining how places like this exist. Americans are act-now-trust-later types - ones who want money up front. Two glasses and a few good conversations later it was time to leave.

After having been here only 3 days, I've noticed some other dissimilarities between America and Germany. People here are extremely efficient. They go out of their way to take used bottles back to the grocery store (each earns about 30 cents), drive cars that could fit 4 times in the volume of a Hummer, and enjoy physical activity. On my daily morning runs, I frequently pass several hundred other runners/bikers/walkers/people not sitting on the couch. Also, everyone speaks at least 2 languages. I've begun to realize that the lifestyle here is much more akin to mine than what I'm used to back home. If only I could bring my friends and family here...

On a lighter note, I practiced more German today, both listening and speaking. Opening a bank account required both German and English, as did finding an international SIM card for my cellphone. Obtaining an U-Bahn card for the month required going through the on-screen options in German, and activating my SIM card called for reading directions not available in English. Thank goodness people here are willing to help!!

Contact Info

In case any of you out there (no crazies) wish to contact me this summer, here's the info:

Address:

Ryan D'Souza
c/o Anna Wendler
Sophie-Charlotten-Str. 99
14059 Berlin

Phone: 304.906.4166

Don't worry about how the phone number works, just dial it like a normal number.

Email: rdsouza2@gmail.com

Arrival in Berlin

After 24 hours of traveling I've arrived in Germany's capital. Some crazy events have transpired over the last day:

• I ran into a friend at the airport in NYC. As I was sitting there attempting to steal internet, I heard a "heyyyy!" and thought it was just a bum. Then "Let's go Mountaineers," and i knew I had to look up. It was my Turkish friend Cengiz, who was on his way back to Istanbul! What are the chances of running into him, or anyone else I know, at that exact time and place in Terminal 4?? We had a great conversation about his time in American and all the trips he took. He told me of the things he appreciated from America and those which he didn't. He told me never to go to Miami, and that LA isn't what it's hyped up to be.
• I lost several items along the way at security checkpoints. First, I had to pay $80 to Delta because my bag was 20 pounds overweight. Why would an airline limit each bag to 50 pounds? And to top it off, I'd have to pick up my bags in NY and recheck them. I'll never fly Delta again unless there are no alternatives. First, I lost my shampoo and shaving cream because they were over the limit. I then lost the toothpaste. It seems that the rules for that stuff are so arbitrary. I learned, though, that those things are just possessions. They can always be replaced - I shouldn't ever let a lost possession upset me.
• Upon arrival in Berlin, I had my first conversation in German as I searched for a bus ticket. I asked the man in the window how much it would cost to get to my stop, and he responded and told me that it would be 2,10 Euro. (they use commas for periods and periods for commas) After missing my stop on the bus and taking it to the end of the route, the drive told me I'd have to get out. Great. Lost in Berlin with 200 pounds of baggage. After wondering around for a bit, I asked which train I should take. It took me a little closer, but I finally gave up and hailed a taxi. The taxis over here are all Mercedes!! He dropped me off at the front door.

All I wanted to do was sleep, but I was glad to finally meet my host mother, Anna. She showed me around and had some breakfast waiting. I was glad to be in a home after flying for so long. After sleeping for 7 hours (it's a staple for me that I must sleep with no alarm after a trans-atlantic flight), the other girl living here showed me around the neighborhood. She showed me the nearest train station and all the shops. Then we walked to the palace of Sophie Charlotte, the first Queen of Prussia (Kelsey told me this.) There were some nice gardens - I think I'll go running here, or even just relax and read a book.