En Berlín no existe la rutina
I can't believe we are halfway through the program already. I have done so many things in the past few weeks that I don't even know where to start!
I know it is not usually like this for people on study abroad, but I have never been more engaged with my classes as I am here. My professors are incredibly interesting people, all very passionate about teaching. The program is organized quite well, there is always something going on, be it a field trip or a talk by some guest speaker, or a screening of a good movie--popcorn included.
A few days ago there was a trip to Potsdam with a guided tour by Professor Sliwinski, a.k.a. Sigi, who showed us the beautiful gardens and buildings, among them the Sanssouci Palace and my personal favorite, the Belvedere atop the Pfingsberg Hill. After climbing some narrow spiral staircases we were able to stand on one of the towers and see the view of all of Potsdam. As my friend Erin said, it was a sight that filled your heart.
Given that I am taking Architecture and Urban Design courses, every week I have had the opportunity to visit amazing sites with different professors. Thanks to these tours I have seen parts of the city I do not think I would have ever found on my own. There is so much to Berlin, I have never been to a city as multifaceted as this one.
The tours have ranged from seeing some of the most recognized buildings to projects such as the ufaFabrik, a nearly self-sustained community living on the principles of autonomy, communal working and living. Another interesting project we have seen and which I have chosen to analyze as my final research topic for my Greening Berlin class (which focuses on urban ecology) is the housing project Spreefeld. Here, a group of architects and people from all walks of life have come together to build an economically and ecologically sustainable building complex also based on the principles of communal working, building, and living. this project is quite new--I am excited to investigate the success it's had so far.
On a different note, my friend Ori visited over the weekend and I was very happy to show her around the city--stealing some ideas as to places to go from my school tours. She arrived on Thursday and left Sunday morning. We had a great time and made the most of the little time she was here, sleeping about five hours a night, going out and waking up to sightsee. I was very glad to see her, she loved my friends here and they loved her, one of them told me she had never met anyone as Spanish as her.
I've been busier than ever, and the coming weeks will be packed with more tours, more exploring on my own, lots of german learning, and meeting new and interesting people. I will be going to Hamburg for an overnight trip in a few days and to Istanbul with my parents in April. Time is flying and there are still so many things I want to do! If everything goes as planned, I will be able to stay the summer in Berlin and work for Sigi on a research project.
I miss everyone so very much and wish I could share my experiences with the people I love. It's hard to stay on top of things when there is so much going on here. There's been a few demonstrations for Venezuela and there will be more in the coming days. I think about my family every single day and I become exhausted reading updates online. I have met other people here who are going or have gone through similar situations, from Turkey, Ukraine and now Taiwan. It is incredible to see all these movements going on around the world and the little attention they seem to be receiving. I don't know much about politics, but I can't help the necessity to inform those around me of what is going on in the country I do know about.
I am still hopeful, because one of my sisters from childhood is out there marching, as well as my cousin and millions of others. I've said this before, but I wish I could be out there with them.
El que se cansa, pierde! So please, don't give up.
