BerlinBerlin

I live in an amazing, magical city. 

Everything went more or less okay. I spoke with my boss and my landlord (who have yet to transfer money into my account..hmm...), carried all of my HEAVY stuff across the country and have been enjoying the aforementioned magic. I still feel a bit like a visiting tourist because I've been eating and hanging out with friends from all over the place: James, Beryl, Noa, Mischa, Ben, Robyn, Sarah....yeah.

Tomorrow will be the first day I go to my internship, which will be pretty exciting. I have to provide all of the bureacratic bs like social insurance and go to the finance office and blahblahblahGermanyblah. 

Tuesday is my orientation. I'm looking forward to finally getting some concrete information about what I will be doing in terms of studying. Also to meet the other GSP students. 

My main worry at the moment is finding an apartment. I've sent out approximately 150 emails, received 9 invitations, been to about 5 viewings and have liked all of them but didn't end up getting picked by the roommates. I will be living in my awesome and generous friend's house for the month of April so, that shouldn't be a problem. It would still be nice to have my own semi-permanent place of residence secured. Oh well, it'll happen sooner or later. 

All that aside, I'm really happy to be here :)

Letzte Woche

I have 5 days left in this city. In that time I will need to take care of the following:

Monday through Thursday Intensive English course with sullen teenagers (Four hours a day! Whooo!)

Normal classes that take place after 1pm (all three of them...in Mannheim/Walldorf)

Packing (ugh)

Cleaning (ugh)

Talking to the male authority figures in my life (soon-to-be former Landlord and Boss..back to back)

See people that I would like to see

Work out one last time

Catch the rideshare at 6:15pm on Friday evening

Shouldn't be difficult...or it should, rather, but I can handle it. In other news, I went to Berlin last weekend to interview for a (paid!) internship which I ended up getting. It starts on the 8th of April so, I'll have a bit of a break before going back to that "go get 'em" attitude I've been having as of late. Pretty excited for this part of  my life to transition to the next.

Strong and fit

words from a strong supportive force in my life.

I'm mildly (read. INTENSELY) freaking out about the money and time situation with this whole Master's degree thing. I'm hoping that I don't have to, sometime between Argentina, India or sometime thereafter, call my mom up and ask if I can live with her while I figure out the broken shambles of my academic career.

That wouldn't be very much fun.

Imma have to get hustlin'...'tis the only way. It's okay, though. I'm a hustla baby.

I have three weeks left to go in Heidelberg. Am trying to keep my head above water, not spend too much money, work out while I still have some stability in my life and stay calm before the whirlwind that will be Berlin.

Tying up loose ends

I'll be leaving soon. Basically three and a half weeks....scary to think about all the work that has to be done between now and then.

I'm applying for a paid internship that I can possibly do while going to school in Berlin. My goal is to hit the ground running as soon as I get to Berlin. I know that, if given time, I could run the place. 4 Months isnt exactly the time frame I had to get established in a new city the last time but, I think I can manage. It's all just an exercise in my survival skills, I suppose.

Trying (and briefly failing) to get back into studying Spanish. Voy a ir a Argentina y por eso tengo que practicar...and I also still feel like my German isn't exactly where I'd like it to be. Not to mention my (basically non-existant) Arabic. One day!

My real issue is that I don't even know where to begin. I first have to find that wild horse before I can get back on again....verbs and tenses and grammar and THINGS. What sort of advice would I give myself as a language teacher? Start small again, find weaknesses and work on them. Listen to podcasts. But I'm sooo laaaaazyyyyy hahaha. I know this feeling well from both sides.

Last month in Heidelberg

just began my last month living in this little town.

Started it by getting my hair cut at a german salon. BIG MISTAKE. not only did the girl have no idea what she was doing, I had the sad, sad realization that I am balding....so now I have a fucked up haircut in addition to patches on the back/top.

Also, my semester ticket ran out. And seeing as I have to go all over the place for work, this does not bode well. I could pay the fees (resulting in upwards of 100 euros by the end of the month) or I could 'ride black' as they say. Stress in my stomach and looking for people in official-looking black jackets. Sounds like an enjoyable way to spend about 45 minutes, 8 times a week.

BUT. all this cannot take away from the fact. I will live in Berlin in four weeks. That is going to happen. Dreams coming true, ambitions being realized.

I love stress

It seems as though this mentality will be the only one to get me through the next month. I can do it! I will pack/clean my apartment, tell my boss(es) that I'm quitting, exmatriculate,  finally get my computer and transfer all of my old files onto it, get my hair cut, work, figure out what to do about public transportation, collect all of my paperwork, find a rideshare to go to Berlin sometime during march, register at HU, say goodbye to everyone and then move across the country. Yes. Yes. Yes.

I got in.

to the University of Humboldt zu Berlin. I will start my master's degree in Global Studies starting in April. That is going to happen. Everything is working out.

Breathe.

It's almost like it's not real.As I was telling a friend, I thought I had misread the letter. But, my German isn't that bad...(there's only one way to understand the word 'Zulassungsbescheid') I did a lot of work for it. I spoke with people and they didn't lie to me. It paid off. I'm QUITE satisfied.

Next steps: 

Getting my apartment in order. (finding someone to take my place, packing, etc.)
Moving to Berlin
Getting a well paid job

finding the money to make this work is my next big accomplishment. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.