Happy Thanksgiving!

This morning I realized that this is my first year without a true turkey dinner! Even in Honduras I was able to celebrate with the other foreigners. I was never disappointed in the amount of delicious food we were always able to whip together, often with limited access to the “necessary” supplies and ingredients. However, things are a bit different here with no fellow Americans to spend the day with! I did however meet up with an Italian friend (another student in the master’s class) for a coffee at Starbucks (mocha praline soy latte – highly recommended. It’s like liquid Nutella heaven.). What a perfect way to give thanks – thank you America for spreading Starbucks to Germany, and locating one just a few minutes’ walk from my apartment. And thanks Starbucks for created such a scrumptious (and low fat I’m sure) drink.

I have just begun to boil my potatoes to make our family’s traditional dumplings. They informed me they will not be eating them this Thanksgiving, because I’m not there to make them. That is sad news. I will have to eat enough for all of us. That is good news. The dumplings will be accompanied by a sausage (please see the photo to the left of the terrible package they came in. I'd really prefer to not see the animal on the package.) instead of turkey, sauerkraut (as usual) and corn (instead of the delicious green bean casserole my family will be eating). I’ll miss the pumpkin pie! But I guess I already had my desert for today.

I will soon have the pleasure of meeting with my family as they prepare to sit down for their Thanksgiving lunch (many thanks to technology for allowing me to skype with my family and “sit” at the table with them today, even across the ocean!) After they eat, we will try to meet online to play the German card game that has been passed on through the generations of the Kautza family – sheepshead (the photo to the left is of us playing cards on our computers. hilarious, i know). Thanks Yahoo games for allowing us to meet online to play cards across the globe!

(Potatoes now off the stove, mashed, and cooling in preparation for the formation of the tasty balls of dough they will soon be transformed into.)

Oh, and most importantly, thanks to Professor Vogel for not being able to make it to the institute to continue expanding our knowledge of health economics. I really don’t think I would have been thankful to discuss more about accounting and bookkeeping. So, thanks for the day off of class, and please be nice when grading my essay. THAT I would be thankful for.

Now, a quick rundown of what’s been happening ‘round these parts.

Nina, a good friend and colleague from the NPHI Medical Services team came to visit a couple of weekends ago. She finished the masters program I am currently in this past December. Yes, she's the one that got me into this mess. =)

Friday night we went to a classmate's house for an amazing Ghanaian dinner that his mother prepared for us all. Thanks to Edmund's momma! Saturday morning we slept in nice and late, and walked around the city a bit to pass the time. We came home to make a delicious pasta dinner, then headed to the Jamie Lidell concert, followed by some dancing at La Havanna Club.

We had a lazy Sunday, and got out of the apartment just in time to make it to the East Side Gallery just before the sun set, to enjoy some wall artwork, where the Berlin wall used to stand.

The day was topped off by making baleadas and micheladas with a couple of friends from class.

This past Tuesday I went with a few friends from class to the Nina Hagen concert, which proved to be quite an interesting experience. She is a crazy older German singer, turned Christian. We weren't quite sure what to expect, but it was a nice evening. From what I've heard online and from friends here, her voice used to be quite amazing. I was a bit disappointed at the concert...she sounded like the female version of Tom Waits. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Tom, but just wasn't expecting her voice to be so scratchy. Oh well.

Let's see...what else has happened since the last post.

We've had another exam, with results (that we still haven't received) that will likely turn out just like the first exam. Our third exam is quickly sneaking up on us, and the final oral exam only a week after that one. Thesis outlines to write, advanced modules to settle on, which will carry me to Bergen, Norway and London, England for a few months beginning in January and lasting through early April. Exact dates yet to be determined.

I can't believe how quickly time has gone here. It seems like just yesterday that we were all sitting around the circle playing our silly "get to know you" games, or dating games according to the course coordinators. Strange. It's crazy to think that we have less than a month left together!

Oh, I also purchased the album "Zaz". I heard about her from a couple of classmates that went to see her last weekend. I'd recommend checking it out. Umm - her music is in French, so I really don't know what she's singing about, but it's nice music!

Now, time for bed.

Be careful all of you that will be taking part in the Black Friday shopping. Try not to be stampeded. I will be sitting in class, learning about essential drugs, intellectual property, and techniques on how to do literature reviews. Can't wait! And snow is in the forecast! So at least maybe there will be large, pretty snowflakes to watch again out the window?

Peace.