What I've been learning:

--Melissa and Judith after seeing (and NOT falling asleep!) Beethoven's Fidelio at the Staatsoper--


These passed few weeks since I arrived in Berlin have been, to be quite honest, difficult and fairly stressful. And it is from those times that we learn the most, about ourselves, those around us, and the places we live in (as the wonderful Maya would remind me). Here are a few things I have learned since arriving by train in the Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Perhaps in the following one can find a few tidbits of valuable advice. Note that when I say "you", I generally mean "This has happened to me" - for instance, "you" probably have a better sense of direction than I do so feel free to ride the U-Bahn mapless :-)

- If you feel that you have been made the landing-pad for pigeon-droppings, don't look up.

- More on the pigeon-droppings: If you get pooped on, then you better not stay put. Move to a different bench or else it will happen again.

- Do not trust your sense of direction underground. The subway has overall too many stairways and there is no sun to help you orient yourself. Perhaps it's best to always check the map so that you don't end up, say, going in the opposite direction you just came from when you had intended to switch Lines.

- The German bureaucratic system is awful. It is awful, but unfortunately unavoidable. So to put a positive spin on things, we shall call it..... efficient.

- Always keep spare passport pictures on you. For some reason they are unbelievably handy.

- Photo-booths in the subways like to distort things.

- You cannot escape American tourists. If they have a southern-accent, they will want to stop and chat.

- Sometimes if you're lucky you can see some people walking around in Lederhoesen outside of Munich. You won't be able to understand them, but they will be incredibly friendly regardless.

- Blogs are incredibly fun and rather addictive! I copied you, Anna Rae, and put a link to your blog here too! Thanks, and I can't wait to read more!!

- PC's are not immortal. KEEP YOUR INSTALLATION DISCS WHEN YOU BUY A COMPUTER!

- Macs are also not immortal, but they do have cameras built in and really fun widgets. My new computer and I have a fast-growing friendship.

- Searching for an apartment is a painful process. One should not forget to read the fine print on the web-ads before calling. Hopefully it'll all work out in the end. AND, there are other places to live in Berlin OTHER than in Prenzlauer Berg or Friedrichshein.

- No matter what happens at the University, Erasmus students have it worse.

- Germans are incredibly direct, upfront, and honest people. Until it comes to the "Formal Letter", of course. The Formal Letter is how customer-service in Germany works. Instead of calling, you send all complaints via letter-form in completely sugar-coated and flowery language. Particularly when something annoying happens... like, say, when Deutsche Bank spells a GERMAN last name like WEIHMAYER wrong on your bankcard...

- Taking the risk to move to (better) empty seats in an opera is ALWAYS a worthwhile endeavor.

- I have never seen prisons depicted more beautifully than in Fidelio. I have also never heard of Sevillians speaking such good German, but Beethoven is allowed to pretend that they did, right? Fidelio is the first installment of Melissa's Operatic Experience in Berlin, and I must say it was the perfect way to start. Beautifully done. Imposing. Timeless.

- Having to choose a political party in Germany would be like picking favorites in an incestual love story in a day-time soap opera.

- All a fridge needs for survival is Roete Gruetze and Vanilla-sauce. Roete Gruetze is like a thicker and fruitier version of marmalade and when it's topped with vanilla sauce you can eat tons of it for dessert or breakfast and still feel like you're being healthy!

- Did you know that Englanders call lady bugs lady birds?

- Germany may soon run out of energy resources and thus grow to be completely dependent on Russia, but they will never run out of beautiful stationary supplies. It's just not possible.

- For the sake of packing light, a person should have ONLY ONE guide book for a city... so choose well!

- Maps that fit in side-pockets were a wonderful invention.

- The EU actually does have a very important theoretical and diplomatic function in Europe. What they don't have enough of, is people to work on their public relations.

- Poland is NOT VERY FAR AWAY! There's a direct train from Breslau to Berlin once a day, and it only costs 20-euros!!

- Vocab EVERY NIGHT is the only way to prevent mental breakdowns when it comes to learning German.

- A year abroad is not like it used to be. Even though snail mail will always remain my favorite, Skype is a very close second. Cell phone calls are cheap and it does wonders to make home feel closer than ever at times of need.

- Familial love is unconditional love.

--Boston: Erika teaching Mom how to mow and the good old Logan Airport--