chapter three: the tipping point

Its those moments you live for; the til your head back, breathe deeply, and raise your hands up in exaltation kind of instances. Its moments of pause and retrospective understanding; happiness, contentment, excitement, completion; feeling full and hopeful and distinctly, nearly indescribably, alive.  

I will be the first to admit that I thought I was over my head when I stepped off the plane in Germany over a month ago. I couldn't read or communicate or understand or pick up the phone to call anyone. Its a unique kind of loneliness to squirm at the thought of ordering coffee or asking for directions. Of course I employed my favorite and most resiliently tested trick taught lovingly to me by my high school mock trial coach: "confidence hides all sins," or less eloquently, fake it until you make it. And it has yet to fail me, even in Berlin. 

Its impossible not to love this view.

Last weekend I was sitting on the train watching the last brisk days of September hustle past when my friend turned to me and said, with some relief, "I actually love this city." Huh. After weeks of overwhelming adjustments, fearsome exploration, and the busiest of busy days, I had only previously been thinking about how the babbling of the city was enough to knock you off your feet. I exchanged glances with her and said, "you know, yesterday I don't think I loved Berlin, but today, I love this city too."

It is a paradigm shift when you hang a piece of your heart somewhere. 

On Friday night, contrary to my usual snuggling up in wool socks and tea, I went out with Camille and Stephanie to a little mexican restaurant (where I was carded twice..who gets carded in Berlin??), then to an Oktoberfest celebration in downtown Berlin, and then to an Irish Pub. If you've never tried a Bailey's-colada, I highly recommend it both for the humor of ordering such a funny drink and for the quirky taste. We met up with some friends at fake Oktoberfest, and then before we knew it were on a walk to The Oscar Wilde Irish Pub. Camille and I almost immediately signed up for the karaoke that was happening and ended the night with a beautiful rendition of Wannabe by the Spice Girls. The striking level of globalization is notable here: to be singing a British song, in an Irish Pub, in the middle of Berlin, with a group of American students. In a word: fabulous. 

Fake Oktoberfest, Berlin

Camille and our classmate, Dan, at the Irish Pub
in Berlin (how do you like that cameo Dan?!)

  And although it was not a particularly crazy or outlandish evening, it was the first time, really since landing here, that I felt completely content.

The feeling has continued into this week, which happens to be midterm week. Thankfully for the sake of my painful senioritis, the tests have been easy. I have one more in a few hours (totally not blogging to procrastinate) and then the week is practically over! Tomorrow (Oktober 3rd) is the anniversary of German Reunification and is thus a national holiday and then Thursday I have German class until noon. After that I am hopping on a bus to Munich for Oktoberfest and then jumping on a plane to Belgium and then London for our midterm break. I can't believe the semester is already halfway over!!

In other news, I had the chance to see the finish and bits and pieces of the Berlin Marathon of Sunday. It was spectacular! I am so inspired to revisit Germany someday and run it! Any of the fab five races; New York, Chicago, London, Boston, and Berlin would be fantastic. Talk about motivation. Camille and I searched for these wonderful lakes we had heard about and they are gorgeous! I can't wait to run here more (to offset the pastry and chocolate intake afforded by German food). 

Krumme Lanke Lake--my new favorite running spot!

Finish line of the Berlin Marathon through Brandenburger Tor

And finally I would like to end this post with two things: 1. a picture of the jacket that literally every female in the entire city is wearing right now. Its insane how popular this same jacket with this cut and color and synch waist is. And 2. a meme that my younger cousin, Joseph, sent me recently and I thought it was great! Thanks for the smile cuz!

The most popular jacket ever.

The beautiful German language.

 I'm sure I will have a million pictures to share after this upcoming week of travel! Until then, stay beautiful my friends.