Travel: November 2008 Archives
It’s now my fourth day in Berlin, and things are starting to drag on a bit. Sure, I’m getting into a routine and all, but it’s been tough making this trip alone. I’ve been starting every morning with the gym, and to my surprise it seems that some (possibly highroller) hotel guests actually travel with their personal trainers. It’s pretty funny to be jogging along on the treadmill, only to find an older gentlemen being coached in German on the same activity mere meters away. “Schnell, schnell!”
Going to the research facility every day has afforded me the opportunity of a 4 kilometer walk, round trip. After the first day, I’ve found some shortcuts that don’t actually take me through Berlin’s red light district (didn’t know I could still run that fast).
I wish I that I had a way to fully articulate what it’s like to be the only American in an all German research facility. I hear maybe 2 sentences of English total within the 10 hours or so that I’m here each day. At the same time, they’ve continued to bring in what seems to be an endless supply of sandwiches that I can’t eat (darn pesto is in everything). Lately they’ve been sneaking in with some fruit that’s already been cut up, but it then has become a race against the clock before it all turns brown. But it’s alright. It’s a cultural experience. And between the brown fruit and constant stream of fizzy water, I may just spend that entire flight home in the washroom.
Last night I took a walk around the village, and found more charming holiday festivities going on. Street vendors have popped up everywhere, and I enjoyed what I think might have been my eleventh bratwurst this week. Ok, I exaggerate. Tenth. I also got to witness youth culture at its finest- an outdoor ice rink was put up just outside my hotel door. What better way to spend a Wednesday night than by grabbing your best fraulein and dance skating the night away?
As part of my continued predilection with visiting the same 5 cities in Western Europe over and over again, I’m spending this week in Berlin. We’ve definitely gotten into the bitter cold portion of the year, but it sort of adds to the experience.
This is, however, the first time I’ve been in Germany around Christmastime. From what I can see, the Germans have single handedly been the source for all the commercialized aspects of Christmas that we enjoy in the States today. Huge monuments of St. Nicholas are being erected all throughout town, and, as you’d assume, many of them depict him drinking from a half liter of Berliner Pilsner. Ah yes, national pride, you’ve managed to surface through every orifice possible.
For those who subscribe to my out of office email messages, you may know by now that I’m in town for a research study. Imagine my dismay when it came time to order lunch at the facility, and they handed me a menu for an Italian restaurant. “Umm, I’ll have the spaghetti and bratwurst, ja?"
I made up for it last night with a big plate of goulash (a traditional Hungarian dish). And believe me, this is not your Labrador Mountain goulash. This goulash put at least 200 more hairs on my chest before making over half of them stand on end. Ready to eat your feelings, Berlin? Well, me too!
Alright, I think it’s about time I call it a night. Just got done downloading the Oprah… and Jesus podcast from church this past weekend; seems like a surefire way to get some nightmares, guaranteed.
