Observations

After a wonderful night of sleep, I woke up promptly at 5:30 a.m. Wanted to make sure I slept in! Ha! After finding lots of fun messages, emails, and Facebook posts to read, I decided to quit trying to go back to sleep and start unpacking.  At 7:30 my land lady came in to announce that American Airlines had called and they would be delivering my bag between 9 and 12. She also assured me that she would be home, so I would not have to worry about skipping out on Potsdam to wait for the bag! Yay! Best part is that I realized that all my scarfs are in there... So I REALLY need that bag!

Moving on... after a night of rest and a morning of contemplation, I think I am ready to make some observation.

1: As I mentioned in my last post, this neighborhood is incredible.  While I looked for rooms in Berlin, I often questioned my obsession with finding an apartment in my grandmother's neighborhood, but now I am sure I made the right decision! On my walks yesterday I  saw all different kinds of Berliners coming out from hibernation to sit outside at the countless cafes! It is sooo charming! At every corner I face a part of my grandmother's history and a part of this city's history.  On every corner I imagine what it would have been like to hear my Oma telling me about these streets... It is incredible.

2: I am so ready to get to work! I have found it very hard to focus on my thesis for the past couple of months, but now I am soooo ready! I cannot wait to get done with all the little details (setting up the bank account, picking up my key to my apartment in Potsdam, mailing/faxing all the forms for my DAAD grant, etc) so I can start working! Tomorrow I hope to reread what I had written for my first chapter and start looking at my grandmother's stories/letters and re-reading the dissertation I found on the neighborhood.  I can't wait!

3: People here are so stylish! I love walking the streets and crossing only well dressed people.  Everyone has great coats and great boots, and there is nothing I like more.  It's like I'm living in the movie P.S. I love you,  and everyone has as many coats and boots as Hilary Swank. On top of it all, the dogs look cleaner and according to Colby behave better. Also... the kids are precious and speak German, which is clearly not a big deal since they are German, but to me it is soooo cute!

4: FOOD! Lets be honest, if you know me, you were waiting for me to bring it up.  After almost 2 months of solely eating organic and a veganish diet (plus cheese and honey), because of a documentary I watched on what companies put in food,  I was excited to come here and be able to eat more.  My thought was... Germans can't possibly hide the awful things that the American food industry allows in  food, right? I hope so.  Since I arrived, I am overwhelmed with the amount of A. food options in this neighborhood, and B. healthy options.    The lady here does not cook and says it is not worth it to do it for one, but we have a supermarket downstairs with sooo many lovely looking fruits and vegetables! I am pumped to eat! (that's not news ever, but still!)

Anyway, it is officially 9:00 and I'm off to meet Colby so we can find our way to Potsdam!!