Hello!
It's been a busy couple of weeks here in el Berlino. Work has been busy and interesting. I've been doing a lot of SEO stuff, and had a puzzling time attempting to explain the basics of keyword research in German, to a Romanian. I also read an interesting CV the other day, in which the man had written his date of birth and in brackets next to it 'under Nixon's presidency'. That's really interesting and everything but how is that relevant? Am I missing something? Who cares that I was born when John Major was in charge?
I can't believe how fast time is going. It's my birthday tomorrow though I must say I'm not that excited. I'm turning 23 and honestly, what is there really to celebrate? It's a bit of a non-age, and I still feel like I'm 19 at heart. Physically more like 80, but there you go.
Anyway.
The Saturday before last was Tag der deutschen Einheit, so I went and checked out the festivities at the Brandenburg Gate, and also went to the Deutsches Historisches Museum. It was free thanks to the festivities.
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| "What things do you associate with the East?" Just thought this person's drawing was great. |
I went out with S and her flatmate Esmeralda that night. We went to Matrix on Warschauer Strasse. It was pretty good, mainly because I spent most of the night observing people. There were 3 types of dancers there that night - the ones bopping their heads and taking leisurely swigs from their beer (aka, me), the tourists trying to dance in the cage and deciding that they never want to go home, and the people waving their arms madly like coked-up Mr Tickles.
I had the worst hangover ever, a headache ALL day, throwing up, could barely eat and just sat sweaty and oozing toxins in bed all day watching Supernatural.... I'd only had 4 beers!!!! What a sick joke this old age thing is. Gone are the days when I could do 15 shots of vodka in a row. (That is not an exaggeration. I wish it was)
I met a new tandem partner on Wednesday, because let's face it, Stephan creeps me out, and my the other one was a bust. It was successful and we spoke for like 4 hours straight without realising! Turns out he is a massive bookworm like me, and so we decided to meet at Dussman's at Friedrichstrasse on Friday. It is an absolutely enormous book shop and we were in there until 10pm, talking about books and poring through the shelves. He can speak brilliant English for someone who is self-taught, but I had to explain to him what pubes were... he thought they were something to do with children?! (Like pupils, he said hahaha). We then went for coffee at a Viennese coffee house (suddenly I really want to go back to Cafe Demel!) and ended up walking around Berlin until, like, 3am. I've honestly not had such a good time with someone in a long time. We have so much in common! He insisted on walking me home, which I was absolutely astonished by. I mean, I am so used to doing everything alone and taking care of myself that I was flummoxed by such a suggestion. But it was very nice of him, albeit a bit silly because it was out of his way and he was waiting for a train home at 4.30 am! However, I do believe I made a good friend.
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| Surprise underneath my cup "Life is fast enough" |
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| Berliner Dom and the Festival of Lights |
Lionel also got in touch, and as I expected and fervently hoped, he suggested Italo for dinner in a couple of weeks. Really looking forward to catching up with him and dusting off my French hat. Kat and Spencer sent me a thank you card from their wedding and told me they would be back in April so I'm looking forward to having a beer with them too!
I went to the cinema with S and J on Tuesday after work. We saw 'Inside Out' and I have to say it was absolutely brilliant. Addressing mental health in such a way that children can understand is commendable and I was honestly so touched by it. All three of us cried at the end. It was also hilarious at times though!
This destroyed me. Still weeping.
J and I met today for a coffee at Potsdamer Platz, and then walked to the Hauptbahnhof. The autumn weather really is here. The air is so crisp and fresh, and there's that dead-leaf smell everywhere.
Aside from all that, I have also spent a lot of time wondering what I should do with my life. Go back to England and do a Masters in Translation? Stay here in Berlin and either stay at this job or find another one? Distance Certificate in Egyptology? Masters here in Germany in Marketing? I DON'T KNOW. I thought I had this post-Graduation life sorted, but apparently I too have been swallowed up into the graduate void.
Who knows?
Until next time my friends
xxxx
