Hallo aus Deutschland!

In Henri Nouwen's book, "Gracias!", a journal of the time Nouwen spent living and working with the poor in Peru and Bolivia in the 1980's, he discusses how it is good for people to be forced back into a child-like state of learning. He discusses how when you set yourself in a position of uncertainty, in a setting far outside of your comfort zone, it is as though you have become a child again, and you are forced to learn in a child-like manner, asking all of those "why" questions, and wondering how, what, when and where...

It challenges the mind, body and spirit to grow in new ways when you place yourself in unfamiliar settings. Moving yet again to another country, where they speak a language that is so foreign to me, and the way of living is so different than what I have become used to, has been a beautiful challenge, and opportunity to grow.

Of course it is frustrating coming to a country where I can't even say, "hello, my name is annie". I hate being "that person" that goes to a country without having studied their language even the slightest bit (the most I studied prior to coming was maybe 45 minutes while sitting in the Des Moines airport getting ready to board the plane. and by "study" I mean listening to a German phrase book CD).

As I struggle at the baggage claim in Berlin trying to figure out how to unlock one of those suitcase carts, I hear a knock on the window just in front of me. I look up and see my friend, Nunja waving happily on the other side. It was so great to see her - I didn't know she would be waiting at the airport for me! Once I finally had collected all of my bags, I went out to meet her, and out jump two more friends, Eike and Jan, from behind a post. What a lovely surprise. It was such a blessing to have them all here with me for my first couple of days so they could give me my "how to survive Berlin crash course"! They taught me things like, "stay off the red bricks on the sidewalk or you'll get run over by a bike" and "don't take it personally if people don't smile at you and don't seem very welcoming." Oh, and they also helped me get my reduced-fare student transport pass (with my hilariously terrible and overpriced photo) - I'm pretty sure I never would have been able to figure that one out on my own. Que complicado...

Oh, and the maps and chocolate Eike gave me as a "welcome to berlin" gift have come in quite handy over these past couple of weeks! Can't get enough of that German chocolate...good thing we don't have a scale in my apartment.

There have been several moments over the weeks when I have returned back to the child-like feeling Nouwen talked about in his book. They say it's good for you...

Immediately upon arrival to Berlin, we came to my apartment in Neokolln to drop my things off (a very Turkish part of Berlin), then we headed out for my first meal in Germany - PIZZA. Then we hit the city to see the sights. We went to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. Also spent some time walking through the Monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe. We also strolled through Alexander Platz to see the World Time Clock.

That was about enough for one jet-lagged day. But then the second day, we slept in until about 11am, then Eike had us over to her place for some true German food - sausage, mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. It was heavenly.

For the past week and a half, I've been partaking in intensive German courses with some fellow classmates from the Masters program. It has been just that - intense. But, I'm at least beginning to learn a language that I once found impossible to understand. After having 7 days under my belt, I decided it was time to venture out and try to fix my cell phone so I could use it here. I was a little skeptical when I went to the hole-in-the-wall electronics store, and the guy took my phone and said, come back in 30 minutes. I was a little nervous that between my minimal German, and his minimal English, there had been some miscommunication. I thought maybe I'd never see my cell phone again.

So, after pacing the hopping street for a bit, I went back to the store and sat outside to wait for the next 15 minutes to pass. I whipped out my German dictionary, and started to study. The guy from the store came out and offered me a seat at the counter inside, so I took him up on the offer.

He offered me a baklava, and reminded me that it was "sugar fest day". The end of Ramadan - a reason to celebrate for sure. He then surprised me with a tea from a Turkish bakery next door, and then followed by a candy. When he started to explain his background (he's Pakistani) and he asked me if I was afraid of Pakistani people, I started to feel a bit bad about being skeptical of leaving my cell phone with him...

One hour and 50 minutes later (yes that's right - I timed it), he finally told me that they were having difficulties unlocking my phone, and that the technician was going to have to look at it on Saturday. (remember, it initially was only going to take 30 minutes...) I was meeting up with some friends that night, so rushed back and threw myself together just in time to meet them only 10 minutes late.

So, that's about it for now. I expect things to pick up quite a bit this next week, with the beginning of the course. So if I go into hibernation mode again, you know this is why.

Much love to you all from Berlin! (a beautiful, warm sunny day here today! got to spend some time in the park studying German. was lovely.)