new years less suck than last year

So I don't know if you all remember complaining about how my new years sucked last year - to be honest all I can currently remember is the title.

This year I was in berlin and it was certainly not like anything I have ever experienced. So we decided like probably a million people to go to the brandenburger tor. We were told by our tour guide earlier today that it would be good to head there for about 8 so that's what we did, and like usual we walked there, and sure enough arrived on time. It was the strangest walk and as expected police were there trying to control the crowd. It was unfortunate because our hotel was located on the wrong side of the Tor. This meant that we had to walk probably an extra half hour around the entire crowd just to walk back to where we wanted to be.

We eventually went downstream to a spot that we thought we be adequate. Then we realized we'd have to wait for 3 hours and fifteen minutes for midnight. My mother who's body has suffered from the miles of walking we have done has suffered a little and she was feeling the strain. After some grumbles from all parties involved it was decided we would attempt to walk down to a place we originally came from to try and gain better vision into where the fireworks would come from. The walk back was certainly interesting and it's a really good thing I can control my anger because there were a few that needed a good shoulder check. It's our fault for going to wrong way. Oh - also I must say...I don't know who the music was but I only really enjoyed one band. I was hoping for to see the scorpians but they never came on.

As we were coming out of the gates we were made aware that there would be no re-entering and they meant business. There were lots of people around that were getting rejected at the gate. We made our way back to one of the main streets on the way to potsdamer platz and it just went crazy.

I should now inform you that on new years day fireworks are in fact legal. This is something that germans clearly took advantage of. On the small street just randomly in one of the squares so many people were setting them off. Then a flare here and there, one of those that just sprays sparkles or one that just bangs. It was a little un-nearving because I was worried about getting hit by something.

That fear was elevated greater once we hit the main street. Not only was I barely able to move, the amount of fireworks being set off was increased ten-fold. There was one point where someone decided it would be a fantastic idea to set of a flare within the crowd. All I could think was how easily this could go astray.

We kept on walking however and along the journey back to the hotel saw so much garbage everywhere, both bottles and exploded fireworks.

It was clear at this point that leaving early was not a poor choice. It was just so chaotic and I was worried about being hit by something. Give me a break it's my first time there.

When we got back to around a block in front of our hotel we encountered this group of people setting off fireworks so we decided to watch. This escalated to everywhere around us on this main road was setting off fireworks. My estimation is that there were 30 different groups within eyesight.

Then at midnight the Tor lights started to go off. We were lucky that we were able to see them from where we were (just barely) because it was laughable that one group had been going on longer than them and ended after as well.

It's also funny how at home they take so many safety precautions and here EVERYONE especially children are getting in on the action. To be honest the first thing I thought about was riots in the middle east where everyone is just running but no one really has any idea what's going on and there's just noise everywhere.

It was also just so strange because for me I think about the destruction and damage that was done in Berlin during the second world war and the fact that 90% of the city was destroyed and they have these fireworks that sound similar to bombs going off all over the city. It is a steady stream of sound and to think during the war it was anything like that was nuts because that's not you enjoying something pretty - that's you fighting for your life.

I wish that I could have actually recorded everything because this entry really doesn't give enough justice to the insanity of silvester.

european adventures (part I)

So I'm posting now so that I can get this update off my shoulders, but I know that it's going to be published in two days. But here are something tidbits from the first part of my trip...

So on the way there I was getting onto the train in Köln with my bitchpack and I guess I seemed a little bit frazzled and I had my seat all picked out and I realize the bitchpack won't fit on the shelf above me so I go a little further down to get more room and as I'm about to lift it I realize one of the straps is stuck in the seat so I pull and pull - in fact I pull so much that I am sweating and have to take off my scarf and jacket because I'm sweating so badly. Eventually after everyone tries I give up and the guy sitting in one of the seats who has been watching this whole thing go down for about 8 minutes hands me a pocket knife so I can cut the strap. Thanks...that would have been great about 8 minutes ago when I asked people if they had a knife!

Amsterdam we went to the Ajax experience. It seems that the europeans love to shove marketing down your throat so that fans can get really excited about it and everyone else can gain the mentality that the product is supreme. It was kind of fun though. We got to go a some virtual drill simulations which actually worked out better than I expected.

We walked through the red light district on christmas day.

It didn't seem very christmassy there though. Like in north america everything seems very over saturated, but here you would not have been able to tell otherwise.

I'm very happy because in Amsterdam my mother noticed how everyone stares at me!! My dad thinks I must look like a european celebrity - clearly that's not true

I climbed the dom cathedral in Köln - the worst part was being in the bell tower when it rung - I was scared more from the anticipation of being scared! We went out for Kölsch after which is the local specialty - I may even go as far as saying it's one of the best beers I've ever had. Then accompanied with dinner I had schweinerhaxen, or pig's knuckle. It was SOO big, and really fatty, and extra tasty!

bitch-pack

So I don't know why or how this bright idea came along but it just is that way. I guess it's from discussions with friends and other things. But anyways, I got a backpack for my time in Germany. It's pretty sweet because it has a daypack that I can take off which has been convenient thrice.

But if I have to wear my backpack to long I get soo sour. Because I don't know what my living situation is going to be like after 3 weeks from now I need to have enough clothes so that they are available once I start work. I also had to keep my bags that I left at school from being to heavy or over packed. My point being, my backpack is so heavy and such a struggle to put on.

So when I travel with my parents my patience level drops below zero, especially because I'm generally pretty smart when it comes to travelling, and my dad seems to have this need to constantly butt heads with me. I guess it's just part of the relationship. My mom just likes to stay out of it. But I just want to bite everyone's head off when I am wearing that backpack. It just puts my in the worst mood ever. I feel bad for people that need to be around me because I'm just such an awful person. It's even worse because I realize how terrible I am and I don't want to be that mean, but it just comes out so naturally.

I think that judging by how much I do try to repress my anger, I am going to explode one day!

weird update

so in regards to the post that just happened.

One part of the story I forgot to mention is that I left the interview with the other girl that was looking for a house as well and we walked nearly the whole way downtown and then she caught the tram.

She spoke german to me the whole time - and talk she did. It makes me fear how poor my german speaking abilities are. I sound so primitive.

But that didn't stop her and I liked her a lot - she was very nice!

And after she left I was thinking man, I should have got her number so I would have another contact once I got here but I thought of it to late.

No

fate brought us back together, because she is totally sitting in starbucks right now!!!

So I got her name and he shall become facebook friends.

homeless?

So I'm going to put off again telling you what I'm actually doing in Germany. Well a little bit

So last week I complained about the fact that I got invited to someone's place to check it out and right before I got there he told me it was rented - that is after I had already travelled an hour....

So I found another place and I was so excited because they sent me a message saying that we could meet today. So I arrived at the house, about 3 minutes early which according to my cool schedule that's alright with me. So I get in and they are all just laughing away and they all introduce themselves, and the conversation is all in german and they progress to english so I can understand. There's this other girl that I don't really get introduced to and it takes me about half this 'interview' to realize that this is a group interview and she is looking at living at the house as well...damn.

I hate being in competitions against other people because I'm very concerned with my first impression because it seems to be a bit of a hit or miss situation. Some people like me and others are not so excited. I'm ok if people don't like me, but I am aware that I'm a little bit strange as well.

It's just frustrating trying to find a house right now - luckily I have a place to crash that isn't underneath a bridge. I'm trying out couch surfing...so that should be interesting.

I'm now at starbucks because our hotel doesn't have internet...what kind of nice hotel in the 21st century doesn't have internet...not even with a cabel!

So I need to now find a place to live...and then change my ticket...

I just need  to remember that it's all worth it!

By the way just got to encounter a fun little situation in which this family came upstairs in the starbucks and clearly couldn't find a place to sit and naturally I'm going to sit anywhere there's a place free and so I'm at a table for three...I don't care. There is just enough room for my computer and maybe another mug, they were not impressed that I didn't move.

Just let me write my blog!

what up with that

So I'm going to share another of my 3 million pet peeves....

why is it soo exciting when something has the same name as someone you know. Like there is something called Schmidt lebkuchen in Germany - no big deal. Do I want to take a picture...no not really.

Like there are at least a million people in the world called danielle, if I see something with my name on it I'm not going to go crazy. Maybe if my name was a little bit more rare I might..

I think it's just something that everyone needs to chill out about.

It's not some weird lucky coincidence.

I thought I was a nice person.... part 2

So in the previous post I discussed how things didn't work out for me on monday.

Yesterday I write my final exam and finally I got a response from the tens of broken german emails I've been sending in regards to finding a place to live. He says to text him and it is concluded that I want to take the place because it's within my price range and a reasonable location. It is decided I will come wednesday to visit the place and get things arranged I guess. I also said clearly, or so I thought, in my texts that as long as it was furnished I would take the room.

So yesterday after writing just a horrible exam I made the hour long train ride up to Darmstadt to check out this place. As I make my final transfer and am sitting on the train about ten minutes from my destination I get a text from this guy saying the room has just been rented.

Are you serious?!

I wasted soo much time and energy to come here, said that I wanted the room and you give me no warning.

I totally understand things from his point of view though. He doesn't care about other people, he just wants to get his room rented. Realistically he doesn't owe me anything.

Of course I immediatly email my parents and I got this response from my dad

" So sorry to hear that.

Unfortunate that he is without honour."

What a fantastic response - and it's true.

But it just seems like that's the German way of life, judging from these last two interactions.

And I've learned that people just don't want me to ever celebrate being finished exams.