On Friday 18th Peta, Peta and Paja came to visit me for the weekend!
Finally they manage to arrange everything so that they could come with a car, that was much more comfortable for all I think.
They arrived on Friday (before we had the Dutch yummi yummi dinner at Marieke's place and went then together to Eichkamp to the party here). I was a bit scared when I saw their car full of bags and stuff, but somehow we fitted to the room, although our living space was very very limited then. A big challenge and a training of logistic skills :)
On Saturday we went to the centre, did a classic sightseeing, from Nikolaiviertel to Potsdamer Platz, via all the important buildings along Unter den Linden. We had luck with the weather as it was finally not raining (though the girls kept complaining about the low temperature). After the lunch we went shopping and then we were so tired (did not sleep that well during the night..) that we just opened the wine and drank and ate in my room.
On Sunday we went to Charlottenburg and then around Tiergarten, went up the Siegessäule (nearly 300 stairs) to experience some adrenalin, then we went to Reichstag to compare the view from there (it was also a very strong cultural experience, mainly the cleaning lady on the toilettes, cleanig the toilet seat after every single customer..). Paja got a bit frustrated being investigated by the security because of the metal/weapons check but besides that we enjoyed our trip a lot :)
On Monday we only went shopping a bit (chocolate and cheese etc.), cooked the lunch and then they turned on their GPS and went home, hoping not to get stopped by the police again :)
28. 4. 2008
Jüdisches Museum
To continue in our Thursdays tradition we decided to go to the Jewish Museum on 17th April.
We met at 8 pm, went towards the museum, talking, having fun, meeting a little rabbit on the way.. And when we came there, we found out that it's opened only till 8pm. Ups.. No culture for this week?!
Well , next time we check everything before going somewhere :)
To keep at least a part of our tradition we went to a restaurant (a bit strange Indian one at Oranienburgerstr.) for some cocktails :) Soon we forgot about the unsuccess, the only one who stayed a bit dissapointed was Chris, as he had hoped to finally experience some culture different from the drinking one :) Well, next time..
We met at 8 pm, went towards the museum, talking, having fun, meeting a little rabbit on the way.. And when we came there, we found out that it's opened only till 8pm. Ups.. No culture for this week?!
Well , next time we check everything before going somewhere :)
To keep at least a part of our tradition we went to a restaurant (a bit strange Indian one at Oranienburgerstr.) for some cocktails :) Soon we forgot about the unsuccess, the only one who stayed a bit dissapointed was Chris, as he had hoped to finally experience some culture different from the drinking one :) Well, next time..
YV Weekend
The second weekend of April there was a UG / YV Germany weekend near the Müggelsee, which is exactly the same place where the this year's festival will take place in a few weeks. I thought it would be a good possibility to spy, to find out "how do your western neighbours do it" :)
Although it was not easy to wake up after the party the night before, I managed, packed my things and went to Friedrichshagen, about 1 hour from my place, where I was picked by Sabrina and Gregy. They took me to the camp and shew me the place a bit. I have to say that it is a very nice area there, with little houses (2 rooms with WC, shower and kitchen, all together for 7 ppl each), very close to the lake... nice. If the weather is good, the participants will be very lucky to stay at such a place.
The result of my 2 days spy observations are these:
German UG weekends are pretty similar to Czech ones :) Only a bit too much hard working and with less games (just evenings). But anyway very good. I have to admit that I was impressed by the group, it's atmosphere and spirit. I think the YV group has a big potencial and can manage a lot of things. I felt very well there, even if it was sometimes very challenging (mainly durig the "Psychiater" game :))
During the weekend the festival was planned in details, (including the never-ending discussion about the T-shirts :)), it seems very interesting. I am already looking forward to it, hope I'll be able to participate as much as possible.
Although it was not easy to wake up after the party the night before, I managed, packed my things and went to Friedrichshagen, about 1 hour from my place, where I was picked by Sabrina and Gregy. They took me to the camp and shew me the place a bit. I have to say that it is a very nice area there, with little houses (2 rooms with WC, shower and kitchen, all together for 7 ppl each), very close to the lake... nice. If the weather is good, the participants will be very lucky to stay at such a place.
The result of my 2 days spy observations are these:
German UG weekends are pretty similar to Czech ones :) Only a bit too much hard working and with less games (just evenings). But anyway very good. I have to admit that I was impressed by the group, it's atmosphere and spirit. I think the YV group has a big potencial and can manage a lot of things. I felt very well there, even if it was sometimes very challenging (mainly durig the "Psychiater" game :))
During the weekend the festival was planned in details, (including the never-ending discussion about the T-shirts :)), it seems very interesting. I am already looking forward to it, hope I'll be able to participate as much as possible.
14. 4. 2008
Friday - Kino Babylon etc.
On Friday the International Office prepared another welcome party for all the exchange students, it should have started at 10 pm.
Heidi proposed it would be nice to meet before and get ready for the party :) So we met at her place (I had a bit difficulties to find it but finally I managed :). We had a few drinks, Marie brought a delicious cake, we talked.. and then Heidi proposed to play some card games, that finally turned to drinking games. And now I know why in Czech people say: "You drink like a Danish!" :)
The games were very funny and the drinks disappeared quite quickly, somehow we decided to skip the movie and go only to the party later. We had a bit of slivovice also, especially Marie liked it a lot :) And then she disappeared.. home.. with my camera :)
Around midnight we took a cab to the party, poor driver must have been really happy to get rid of us, after our kind of singing during the way..
The party was quite nice, a lot of people dancing together.. and they had Staropramen there (CZ beer) so I was satisfied. But later on somehow all the people decided to leave to another place, which was kind'a difficult with 50 people.. half of them quite drunk.. so finally some of us decided rather to go home. And it was raining so heavily that my coat and my boots were still wet the next noon!
Heidi proposed it would be nice to meet before and get ready for the party :) So we met at her place (I had a bit difficulties to find it but finally I managed :). We had a few drinks, Marie brought a delicious cake, we talked.. and then Heidi proposed to play some card games, that finally turned to drinking games. And now I know why in Czech people say: "You drink like a Danish!" :)
The games were very funny and the drinks disappeared quite quickly, somehow we decided to skip the movie and go only to the party later. We had a bit of slivovice also, especially Marie liked it a lot :) And then she disappeared.. home.. with my camera :)
Around midnight we took a cab to the party, poor driver must have been really happy to get rid of us, after our kind of singing during the way..
The party was quite nice, a lot of people dancing together.. and they had Staropramen there (CZ beer) so I was satisfied. But later on somehow all the people decided to leave to another place, which was kind'a difficult with 50 people.. half of them quite drunk.. so finally some of us decided rather to go home. And it was raining so heavily that my coat and my boots were still wet the next noon!
11. 4. 2008
Altes Museum
One of the most interesting things that our cute quide told us during the guided tour last weekend was the information that every Thursday from 6 pm you can visit each of the state museums for free! That's pretty good..
That's why during the week some of us decided to try if it is really true. Meeting point: 8pm at Friedrichstrasse, under the bridge (well, later we found out that probably there is more than just one bridge but we managed;). While waiting for the rest, we went to explore the secrets of Rossmann's with Marie and Yuki (actually the main reason was not to freeze outside).
Then our cultural manager Marie together with her assistant Maxim told us about the target of our journey: Altes Museum, right next to the Berliner Dome.
So we went to explore the part of Egyptian collection and some of the Greek as well. Fortunatelly the museum was not so big so everybody survived ;) We found out many intersting things, like, for example, that not only Japanese people take a lot of pictures, that without face lifting Nefertiti would be a very ugly woman and also that "they" have really been here for a long long time.. (see TXF season 1 episode 2)
Afterwards we decided to go to a nice cocktail bar not far from there, to explore some current arts (e.g. how to shake the best cocktail:) So our cultural mission was very succesfull :)
That's why during the week some of us decided to try if it is really true. Meeting point: 8pm at Friedrichstrasse, under the bridge (well, later we found out that probably there is more than just one bridge but we managed;). While waiting for the rest, we went to explore the secrets of Rossmann's with Marie and Yuki (actually the main reason was not to freeze outside).
Then our cultural manager Marie together with her assistant Maxim told us about the target of our journey: Altes Museum, right next to the Berliner Dome.
So we went to explore the part of Egyptian collection and some of the Greek as well. Fortunatelly the museum was not so big so everybody survived ;) We found out many intersting things, like, for example, that not only Japanese people take a lot of pictures, that without face lifting Nefertiti would be a very ugly woman and also that "they" have really been here for a long long time.. (see TXF season 1 episode 2)
Afterwards we decided to go to a nice cocktail bar not far from there, to explore some current arts (e.g. how to shake the best cocktail:) So our cultural mission was very succesfull :)
7. 4. 2008
Buddy meeting and sightseeing
On Friday all the exchange students were invited to one Cafe to meet their buddies. Of course I dod not want to miss such an event so I went there. It should have started at 9 pm, I came a bit later and found out that my assumptions were right - there were only Germans, me and Yuki, the Japanese guy by that time. 'Cause if you say it's gonna start at 9, the exchange students appear at 10 soonest ;)
Anyway. The cafe was a nice place but a bit too small for more than a hundred people so around 10.30 it was nearly imposible to move there or even to order a drink. And to succeed find your buddy (according to stickers with names on it) was highly improbable. I managed only thanks to some German girls sitting next to me (the advantage of comming so soon - I had a place to sit :)) who knew my buddy. So they told me when he was going around. But we only said "hi" to each other and then he disappeared. I only know his name is Nico.
Due to the conditions we decided to go into a club with a group of exchange students. First we wanted to go to some called "Bang Bang" but when we heard the music while standing in the cqueue we decided to go elswhere. There was another club just a few meters from there, so we queued again. But when we finally came to the security guy (or whoever he was), he told us that some people from our group were not allowed to enter. It was a bit strange. I don't really know where the problem was. Some people said then that they were not dressed adequately or something. Anyway it was weird and we agreed not to go to this club any more in the future.
So finally we ended up in the Matrix club where we met quite a lot of other exchange students by chance. Seems like that one is going to be our meeting point as we all like it there.
It was quite hard to get up on Saturday then but at 12 we had a meeting at the ZOO station and we went to a boat trip on the Spree. That was very nice, worth it. Our guide was very cute, telling us lots of interesting stories, also afterwards when we walked with him through a part of the center. Finally we made a group picture on Gendarmenmarkt where our tour finished. Then a friend of ours showed us a very nice shop full of chocolate and stuff made out of it like sculptures, building miniatures etc.. wow, it really looked yummy ;)
Anyway. The cafe was a nice place but a bit too small for more than a hundred people so around 10.30 it was nearly imposible to move there or even to order a drink. And to succeed find your buddy (according to stickers with names on it) was highly improbable. I managed only thanks to some German girls sitting next to me (the advantage of comming so soon - I had a place to sit :)) who knew my buddy. So they told me when he was going around. But we only said "hi" to each other and then he disappeared. I only know his name is Nico.
Due to the conditions we decided to go into a club with a group of exchange students. First we wanted to go to some called "Bang Bang" but when we heard the music while standing in the cqueue we decided to go elswhere. There was another club just a few meters from there, so we queued again. But when we finally came to the security guy (or whoever he was), he told us that some people from our group were not allowed to enter. It was a bit strange. I don't really know where the problem was. Some people said then that they were not dressed adequately or something. Anyway it was weird and we agreed not to go to this club any more in the future.
So finally we ended up in the Matrix club where we met quite a lot of other exchange students by chance. Seems like that one is going to be our meeting point as we all like it there.
It was quite hard to get up on Saturday then but at 12 we had a meeting at the ZOO station and we went to a boat trip on the Spree. That was very nice, worth it. Our guide was very cute, telling us lots of interesting stories, also afterwards when we walked with him through a part of the center. Finally we made a group picture on Gendarmenmarkt where our tour finished. Then a friend of ours showed us a very nice shop full of chocolate and stuff made out of it like sculptures, building miniatures etc.. wow, it really looked yummy ;)
4. 4. 2008
German course
As I promised I'll write a bit more about the course I took part in, called "intensive language course".
It was offer to all the exchange students (not only from FHW, but also from FHTW, TU a TFH), for free, even 5 credits should be gained by paricipation. So I took the offer and participated. First we had to write a placement test and according to its results we were divided into 10 groups/levels.
I got to the last group, the higheste level. But I guess that if there was an oral part of the placement test also, I would definetely not be at that group. Cause I don't have many problems with understanding (though the Berliner Akzent is very strange), the biggest problems I have with speaking.. So I hoped I would get chance (or maybe would be pushed to) talk.
Well, our teacher somehow liked to talk as well. So mostly it was her who was talking. Maybe if we would more active, we could have talked much more. But we got used to listen to her and not react that much, somehow. Probably we were all too lazy or sometimes just to sleepy.
(The course took place at FHTW, near Karlshorst, which, for example for me, meant nearly 1,5 hour spent in public transport.. and as the course started at 9 am every day...)
But generally it was a nice experience. There was a lot of interesting people in our group, from all over Europe, and not only (Poland, France, Denmark, the Neatherlands, Finnland, Russia, Hungary, Georia, ...). And there was also another girl from the Czech Republic :) so I could speak Czech with her, that was nice... ;)
Our teacher, Frau Stolpe, is a wonderful woman, although she is too talkative to be a language teacher I'd say. But for the rest she's really great. Not only because she used to bring us some cookies or chocolate nearly every day. But for all the things she did in her life, for the big heart she certainly has. She's that kind of a person that would share her last food with you, no doubt. Although sometimes we were silently complaining about her speaches (that I called "psychological intejection"), she told us many interesting things and made us think about them. And that was good.
During the 2 weeks we talked about various topics. From the meaning of happiness to environmental issues, cultural differences, gender issues, rising of population, Iraq war or Chinas economical boom.. and much more. I really quite miss that. I guess rest of the studies here won't be that relaxing...
It was offer to all the exchange students (not only from FHW, but also from FHTW, TU a TFH), for free, even 5 credits should be gained by paricipation. So I took the offer and participated. First we had to write a placement test and according to its results we were divided into 10 groups/levels.
I got to the last group, the higheste level. But I guess that if there was an oral part of the placement test also, I would definetely not be at that group. Cause I don't have many problems with understanding (though the Berliner Akzent is very strange), the biggest problems I have with speaking.. So I hoped I would get chance (or maybe would be pushed to) talk.
Well, our teacher somehow liked to talk as well. So mostly it was her who was talking. Maybe if we would more active, we could have talked much more. But we got used to listen to her and not react that much, somehow. Probably we were all too lazy or sometimes just to sleepy.
(The course took place at FHTW, near Karlshorst, which, for example for me, meant nearly 1,5 hour spent in public transport.. and as the course started at 9 am every day...)
But generally it was a nice experience. There was a lot of interesting people in our group, from all over Europe, and not only (Poland, France, Denmark, the Neatherlands, Finnland, Russia, Hungary, Georia, ...). And there was also another girl from the Czech Republic :) so I could speak Czech with her, that was nice... ;)
Our teacher, Frau Stolpe, is a wonderful woman, although she is too talkative to be a language teacher I'd say. But for the rest she's really great. Not only because she used to bring us some cookies or chocolate nearly every day. But for all the things she did in her life, for the big heart she certainly has. She's that kind of a person that would share her last food with you, no doubt. Although sometimes we were silently complaining about her speaches (that I called "psychological intejection"), she told us many interesting things and made us think about them. And that was good.
During the 2 weeks we talked about various topics. From the meaning of happiness to environmental issues, cultural differences, gender issues, rising of population, Iraq war or Chinas economical boom.. and much more. I really quite miss that. I guess rest of the studies here won't be that relaxing...
2. 4. 2008
First classes
On April 1st the semester officially started her at the FHW. And (unfortunately) it is not a joke..
I alredy went to some classes yesterday, one starting at 8 am which was a bit hard for me.. anyway. Instead of 4 hours it was just some 25 minutes, a brief intro and then we were free.
From 10 till 3 we had kind of orientation, with breakfast ;), some speaches, info, tour around the FHW facilities etc.
Then I went to another course but that one was a bit strange so I escaped afeter half an hour, went rather to Young Voices Germany (YV) meeting in FEZ :)..
Today I attended some more classes, e.g. the Mittlestufe 2 in German. Well, it's not as easy as I thought. I forgot so much of my German! And the economic words, well, I don't know much of them, never had Wirtschaftsdeutsch before. We'll see...
Today I had the most expensive Menza food I've ever had so far. Never order a bio-meal. It tastes pretty much the same (menza taste) as the normal one, it is just three times more expensive. Now I know..
Kind of miss Frau Stolpe, I have to say (our German intensive course teacher). I definetely have to write more about the course and her especially. But not today, cause another class is starting in a couple of minutes in another building...
I alredy went to some classes yesterday, one starting at 8 am which was a bit hard for me.. anyway. Instead of 4 hours it was just some 25 minutes, a brief intro and then we were free.
From 10 till 3 we had kind of orientation, with breakfast ;), some speaches, info, tour around the FHW facilities etc.
Then I went to another course but that one was a bit strange so I escaped afeter half an hour, went rather to Young Voices Germany (YV) meeting in FEZ :)..
Today I attended some more classes, e.g. the Mittlestufe 2 in German. Well, it's not as easy as I thought. I forgot so much of my German! And the economic words, well, I don't know much of them, never had Wirtschaftsdeutsch before. We'll see...
Today I had the most expensive Menza food I've ever had so far. Never order a bio-meal. It tastes pretty much the same (menza taste) as the normal one, it is just three times more expensive. Now I know..
Kind of miss Frau Stolpe, I have to say (our German intensive course teacher). I definetely have to write more about the course and her especially. But not today, cause another class is starting in a couple of minutes in another building...
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