Every time I pack up a room -- and how many times have I done this in the last 2 years? -- I get the same feeling of desperation. Two weeks ago I had had enough of Berlin. But now I just want to stay, stay with those I've fallen in love with here. "I am absolutely platonically in love with you" was the catchphrase last night, and it was full of ( Read more... )

East Berlin's bitterness is shrouded in color.


( Read more... )

I must say, the weather hasn't been particularly inspiring in Berlin. I haven't seen the sun since I left France ten days ago. But I live on the third floor of an old apartment building with high ceilings and ancient doorknobs with a Dutch fashion photographer and her philosopher boyfriend, and I can't complain. I have 700 recently-acquired ( Read more... )

Part of what I find most disturbing about the shooting victims at Virginia Tech is that nearly half died while in their 9 AM language class. Students learning German, learning French. While at Berkeley, my 9 AM language classes have always been my favorite. I can only imagine their horror.

I'm spending the summer in Berlin and Berkeley is paying for it. The feeling of euphoria hasn't passed yet. Gu det gör så ont att nåt så nära kan vara så långt bort. -- It's not so far away now. Ja, nun schläft's sich besser.

So I won't hear back from SURF until tomorrow. I suppose, then, that I have neither disappointment nor joy to distract me from my essay at hand. Though I can't get the horror at Virginia Tech today out of my mind.

Dear Linda Nyberg:

Your petition to declare a triple major in German, History, &
Scandinavian has been approved and posted to your record. Please
note that your registration has been blocked for Fall 2008.They can never resist reminding you that you're really not welcome here ( Read more... )

( Read more... )

Many people say that learning Swedish is silly, simply due to the fact that hardly anyone speaks it. But it's not Swedish, it's Scandinavian -- and knowing Scandinavian opens you up not just to Swedes, but to Norwegians and Danes, though admittedly the Danish just swallow half the syllables when they speak. I experienced my second Norwegian- ( Read more... )

My room smells like crushed ants. Saccharine.