much to do, much to do

One of the things I am trying to preach to myself is calm. Bit by bit I am making headway in my papers - one is almost finished, and I met with my professor today about the second one. I wrote a Klausur (final exam), or rather I took the exam if you want to be grammatically correct about it (i've been having trouble with my english these days), on Thursday, which I believe went pretty well. Only one more to write/take on Monday. And then there are the goodbyes, which are happening relatively spread out-ly (spradically? what would be the right word there?).

On Tuesday we had a final dinner at Warren's apartment in Schöneberg, where we discussed the extremes of the Weimar Republik and then topped the evening off with gnocci, lots of wine, and rote Grütze, a Berliner specialty otherwise known as berry mush with vanilla sauce. Yesterday a few of us met at the Prater Biergarten for a last Hefeweizen (okay, maybe not the last) and some chatting, although a bit too often the conversation came back to the loads of work we all have to do at the moment. Kate and I sent an email to the BCGS troops to see who would come, and it ended up being a small but nice turnout: the "most important came", as Carmen said. But tonight it'll be a different scene present as Diego celebrates his 26th (!!) birthday at his apartment in Wedding. I am happy to take a break from my papers, and glad to take advantage of this warm (too warm?) weather... before the temperatures drop ten degrees C by tomorrow afternoon.

Here's a short list of what I need to get done before my departure, more for my benefit than for yours:

- finish/correct/pass in two papers

- one more final exam (STUDY!)

- buy a suitcase, begin packing clothes and books

- bring red nightstand, bike to Nancy's

- figure out what to do with my posters

- return books to the FU library, the StaBi, the Humboldt

- de-register from the town of Schöneberg, print form, have Nancy sign

- once I get my confirmation, cancel my health insurance

- fill out the BCGS evaluation, bring to Carmen

- get my grades for the first exam, bring to Carmen

- clean out my kitchen supplies of the things that Anna doesn't eat (i.e. peanut butter)

- cancel my bank account

- help Anna find a new roommate, sell my furniture somehow

- cancel my cell phone

- cancel my train-discount card

- hair cut? (ok, be realistic here, you only have a week)

- find a present for Judith's going-away party tomorrow night

- some sort of going away party for myself...??

- last blog(s) of the year!!! (perhaps a good project for Karlsruhe)

AND tonight Robert is performing as Nestor Patou in their second showing of Irma La Douce. It takes place in Paris but in reality they are in the tiny town of Spöck, near Karlsruhe. I wish I could watch, but I think Robert would be less nervous knowing I'm not in the audience... Hals und Bein Broch!