Live reindeer, a burrito, and a huge hand

I've been in Berlin for about a week now, and this city is rocking this former Erfurt resident's world. I think I'm sometimes in denial about how much I love huge cities - so many interesting and diverse people, so much great food, so many things to do - but this city doesn't even need to grow on me the way Los Angeles did. For the next six months I know I will be happy to be overwhelmed with all that Berlin has to offer.

Some observations about my new home:

- The tap water here is wayy worse than that of Erfurt. I'm a bit of a tap water snob because Baton Rouge has apparently the second best tap water in the country? The water here reminds me of Los Angeles water, and that's not a good thing. Now I understand better why Germans judge the heck out of people who order tap water. I guzzle water so I'ma need to invest in a Brita.

- It's really cold. Berlin is always one of the coldest cities in Germany at any given time, and especially so on the outskirts where I'm working. I've given way too many "oh my gosh it's cold" gasps in the past week and a half. Tomorrow's Groundhog Day, though, so maybe Punxsutawney Phil will prophecy us an early spring.


- It's so nice to finally be able to see movies in English again. Berlin has a huge movie theater that mostly shows movies in their original form - aka all in American English. Black Swan, anyone?


- I really need to start liking electro music. ASAP.


- So far in the past week I've had many-a-serving of falafel, delicious Vietnamese food, a burrito that seriously may as well have come from Chipotle, and what is claimed to be Berlin's best curry wurst. This city has everything, and I'm so excited to attempt to try it all...and then start training for another half marathon haha. 


- The people here are just...interesting. I love even seeing what people are doing on the metro: drawing intricate sketches, playing the accordion, rapping auf Deutsch. And I came home the other day to find my roommate (a theater student) making a HUGE hand just to have for herself.  I'm definitely embracing  the randomness.


- And, lastly, this is an example of some art in Berlin:

Last week I went to see this exhibit at the Hamburger Bahnhof, featuring twelve reindeer, twenty-four canaries, eight mice and two flies. Check out the concept at the link. Very, very interesting...and hey, I got to see some live reindeer!


I started my internship today, and while I'm really excited about it I'm going to attempt to be professional and keep the blogging to a minimum. I think I'm in for a very interesting five months, with lots of opportunities to get my brain working and to meet some very intelligent people. Yay for employment! It's been awhile.


P.S. This was also on display at the Hamburger Bahnhof: