Oh Berlin. How you have overwhelmed me. This is the first thing i saw when I came out of the train station. Not exactly what I was expecting to see. But truly beautiful in its own way.
Today was a mixture of excitement and nerves that had me both laughing and crying. And instead of trying to explain it all I'll tell you this. Today was an unbelievably stressful day trying to get to Berlin, to the center, and then marching around Berlin trying to get this form and that form taken care of. By the end of it all I just wanted to get to my family because the people I was with at the center were not my favorite. But when it came time for families to arrive I was informed that someone elses host parent was going to take me to my apartment because my host mom was still on vacation.
After being greeted by mom host sister (who doesn't live with us) I went down for dinner with Diana and her host mom who is "exchange-student-sitting" me while my host mom is away.
My fake exchange mom took me and Diana on a walk around Kreuzberg where we met up with Hilly for a beer. We sat on this incredibly historic bridge no more than a mile from the wall and took in the expereince. A street band and a bridge full of relaxed people help take the edge off of a stressful day and gave me some perspective. I am no here to run around Berlin checking off my list of things to do. I'm here to do life and to do it just like the Germans.
Which leads me to the wonderful old man who i met on this bridge who took an hour out of his evening to sit with me and tell me all about the history of the bridge, life with the wall, and the current social problems that have yet to be restored. For example, every synagogue has major security because they fear the neo-nazis and the constant struggle of the Turkish people to immigrate with the Berliners. I'll spare you all the details but just know that my heart was starting to race as he explained the incredibly rich history that was underneath my feet. And to think, it was only a handful of years ago.
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