Cologne Reflections: Should Governments Pay for Synagogue Fixing?? NO!

There was this woman that NYU Berlin had hired to give us a tour of Jewish Berlin. I mention her in my last blog too if you want a more completely story, but she had mentioned how the stained glass in the major Cologne synagogue was vandalized recently and how the city of Cologne would not pay for it. I was especially surprised to see how mad she had gotten when saying that the city government and tax payers money should not pay for it. Granted governments all over Europe have funded a lot of reconstruction of their city, but as far as I can see, it was never really favoritism of religion, though it may seem that way in retrospect. Also, it was often after sometime disastrous...like war...The grand Dom (cathedral) of Cologne stood as a major symbol of the city--after all, it towered over everything in its beauty. To many, it was just something they saw on the way to work, not necessarily where they pray. To others, it is a major tourist attraction that draws people into the city, to stimulate its economy. Yes, you could argue that all the way back even when the cathedral was built, the "Evil" Christians were still persecuting the Jews, but really...this just goes back to whether or not people can try to move on, or if they still need to keep repenting. What the cathedral is NOW is a symbol of the city, and that is why it deserves funding. The synagogue of Cologne is completely isolated from the community. It is not something easily accessed by the public. Its architecture is not completely remarkable. Its beauty, if you ask me at least, is extremely limited compared to important buildings of the rest of the world. At this point, this woman just really confused me.

Memorials=Tourist Attractions

While my parents were here in Berlin we (me and Dave) took a walk to the Holocaust Memorial with them. In the past week before they got here, in a class discussion my class talked about how it really was just a tourist attraction rather than a memorial. I never really thought about memorials in this way before, but its definitely true.

Many people are upset at the creation of the memorial because of its former potential and

current status as a tourist attraction, but for those of whom it does mean something, I think it was worth it. When I visited the Holocaust Memorial the first time I honestly had no idea what it was. I'm sorry to say that I actually used it as an ordinary park the first time I saw it. I sat on the big concrete blocks and just hung out. I really had no idea.

The second time I visited, I have to say I didn't have much of a different experience because we learned about the history of the monumental, rather than having a discussion or

reflection of the actual Holocaust, or what it symbolized. Apparently the anti-graffitti spray used on the monument was supplied by a company that used to supply gas to many of the gas chambers during the Holocaust (but that's just a side note).

The third time, however, was the time with my parents, when we gave them a tour of what the memorial symbolized after learning about it in another class. Apparently you are supposed to feel more and more disoriented the further and further you get to the center. The ground is uneven as you wander through, and what appears to be very uniform from the outside is very overwhelming/confusing/strange on the inside.

But back to the idea of a memorial as a tourist attraction--Yes. Very true. Each time I went to the memorial I hadn't even walked through it...So I couldn't even tell you if I fell disoriented or

confused o overwhelmed on the inside, that is only how I imagine it. Each time I visited it seemed we were in a rush, or it was just a stop on the way, which is an awful thing, but just further proof that memorials are a tourist attraction. Yes, you heard me...Memorials are often transformed into a tourist attraction, just like our monuments in the states. What IS the Washington Memorial? WHY do we need one for Lincoln AND Jefferson?

Surely, I think the ones for the wars deserve much more credit, as people actually go to them and they are quiet and respectful, but the atmosphere just isn't there in the Berlin Holocaust Memorial. I haven't seen one person say a prayer or leave flowers on it. Apparently, no one actually uses it to remember their loved ones...but whose fault is that! Maybe if people actually used it in the beginning for its function instead of being bitter...it wouldn't have such an awful atmosphere.

What I think of German anti-Semitism

While in Berlin, I have become more and more “aware” as some people call it, or more “cynical” as my former self would call it, of what is happening in Germany. My romanticized idea that all of Europe was like a super-sized amusement park with beautiful sites, delicious food and few problems, has since died.

I've found a great variety of people here representing just about any political party you could imagine. I'm not sure if I'm a big fan though, but that is why I am excited to go and live amongst the friendly coexisting disagreeing non-hostile people of America (this is something I have to come back to...keep posted).

In my German Politics class we discuss a lot about remorse and how much of Germany still feels the need to repent for what it did to the Jews. While, yes, this is the focus of the discussion in that one class, I was also introduced to this one Jewish woman who lives in Cologne. She felt that any sort of symbolic tributes or ceremonies in honor of the Jews who died in the Holocaust was a waste. Well, she didn't say it was a waste, but she mine as well have. NYU Berlin was in Cologne the weekend before the 20th anniversary of Mauerfall, but that day--November 9th, was also a day many Jews had died by the hands of the Nazis. So firstly, she not only criticized the people of Berlin for celebrating their wall falling and forgetting what happened to the Jews, but she also criticized the fact that the mayor was going to visit her synagogue (which is the main one in Cologne) in remembrance of what happened that day. Did I forget to mention that this woman also spoke in a tone against the German youth and implied through her talk that the majority of the German public was incompetent and lacking a moral understanding of the Holocaust? I feel badly for what has happened to the Jews, and of course I will never really understand what these people who have lost so many family members do, but I don't think I am incompetent by any means to understand what happened during the Holocaust. I also don't feel that I am incompetent because I think memorials and public remembrance is a good thing, despite its obvious flaws. And as a distant American student, I think I can say safely that many German students also are not incompetent in understanding their history. Of course there are a few radicals, but they are in all countries.

As a relatively free and open minded American I can sort of understand where this woman is coming from, but at the same time I must ask, as some of my German peers from Cologne did...What is enough? And if you don't like it, then what do you want? Others had asked if she would rather appreciate NOTHING be done! I must admit, I chuckled a bit because it was like a slap in the face. She couldn't seem to formulate a good response, besides turning red and raising her voice.

Another thing I was a bit skeptical to believe was all of the hatred that this woman had both experienced

or described, but I soon realized how serious the nature of what was happening to her really is. This is really a response to what I had written in my paper in my last post in case you are wondering... After hearing it over and over from more and more people I started to get (at least what I consider to be) a good understanding of what is still occurring in Germany. Anti-Semitism is still a very real thing. Yes, in the US I can watch my South Park make Jew jokes against Kyle, but here (in Berlin)...I think it would be entirely looked down upon, and I think people would

think you are completely insensitive or completely agree in a very serious way (I don't say this in a mocking way, just stating how I see it). The reason why people are very sensitive is because they know just how many people still harbor those dark thoughts against Jews. The very reason why Hitler's swastikas are illegal on the posters of Inglorious Bastards here.

There are apparently still many students who are taunted for being Jewish, and many young and old adults who are completely anti-Jewish. There are still violent crimes against Jewish people, and harassment occurring on the subway. The only image I can conjure is from the past, when Jews had to wear a yellow star on their jackets and get taunted in their own streets prior to WWII.

Perhaps in the future, as the young people of today are growing up and see all of these things they will realize the terror that occurred, but in Germany, I still am unsatisfied of the amount of anti-Semitism there is, and wish that the rest of the world would realize this about Germany as well. I wish there was more external pressure in this globalized world on Germany to fix the situation.

Excerpt from my last paper for 20th Century German Politics

Before coming to Berlin, I had mixed ideas of what I thought Germany was. The first time I came to Germany, I passed through in a car from France to Italy, stopping only in Cologne to see a “Dom” that was heavily under construction, and beer with sauerkraut and pork knuckles. I was thoroughly unimpressed as a 13 year old. The second time I visited Germany I had only seen the sites around Dresden and Munich, and even then my sole purpose for coming to Germany was to see the “Sistine Madonna” in Dresden, while my father wanted to see the beer halls, or the many “Bierpalast” in Munich. So essentially, when I pictured Germany, what did I see? Neuschwanstein Castle, beer, rundown cathedrals, and Sistine Madonna.

Initially my plans to study abroad were in Florence, as the NYU curriculum there included many of my required business courses, only to have my visa application rejected because of a missing form and horrible Italian bureaucracy. Two weeks before the start of the program—I switched in, and so, I did not prepare for Germany like the other students did; I did not brush up on my German history, nor did I start learning German. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, until on September 1, 2009 I arrived to a dark rainy Berlin not knowing what to expect. I had high hopes for some delicious salty pretzels and perhaps some goulash like they had in Munich, but to my dismay, I eventually learned that Berlin was in the state of Brandenburg—not Bavaria.

As for my political thoughts of Germany, I had always severely isolated what I had learned in History classes from what I had thought of the people today. Perhaps I was simply just ignorant of what culture and humanity is—a development of what was given to us by our ancestors, into something we will pass down to future generations. Yes, I had learned about the Holocaust and read many books like Anne Frank’s Diary and Night, but as a youth I never really put anything together. I had knowledge of the concentration camps and Hitler, but I always naturally gave the world the benefit of the doubt that things had changed, and that the Germany of today is unrelated to the Germany of the past.

Skip Mandatory Field Trips, and go to the Zoo (and get rammed by a goat) Instead!!!

So last weekend there was a mandatory NYU Berlin fieldtrip to Hamburg...about that...

I woke up around 6:30 to make sure I made it to the 7:15 call time outside, and yes, I did. We all moved in great anticipation to the main Berlin train station, HBF aka Hauptbahnhof...only to miss our train.

Apparently we were supposed to meet at 8:15 ON the train (or maybe they all met and forgot about me and dave, im not sure which is worse), and not on the platform (which still makes no sense to me). Basically me and Dave went to grab some coffee because everyone went shopping...then we waited on the platform to see our advisor...only we never did. We probably sat for a good 5 minutes looking at our train waiting. Then it disappeared.

After we got the go ahead to enjoy our day in Berlin, what happens? We decide to go to the zoo. Sounds friendly, right? NO.

I get RAMMED by a goat. Gosh, I don't know how to convey it with the real pain I felt. Not to mention the fact that Dave dragged me into the petting zoo...and I did not go willingly.

This is the bitch who got me.

And this is me now, four days later. In case this photo doesn't do justice, the bruise is about the size of my palm.

And this is the boy who let it happen to me (oh yeah, and he watched!)

Making New Friends or NOT

So I realize that not everyone will agree, but I'm just reporting what I think is true for me.

When you go into something strange and unordinary, its easier if everyone is all in the same boat. It's easier to make friends. Easier to be bold. Easier to relate to others. Unfortunately, this "boat" can be defined too many different ways, so you never really know until you look at it in retrospect.

I found this out yesterday for sure when my new friend Kathleen and I went with a random boy to a random club. In almost an instant he ditched us to talk to the others rather than us.

Not to mention that the two other kids we were with were too into themselves and seemed terribly and falsely intellectual. I could bet a lot of money I'm a lot smarter, and I'm not say it in a IM SO FULL OF IT way, but rather, THEY WERE TOO FULL OF THEMSELVES!

You can't judge a book by its cover. You can't judge someone's knowledge based on how they talk. You can't judge people based on how they act just be seeing, but rather by understanding why.

Anyhow, we should have known better and just stuck with our pals over in NYU Berlin. Gosh. Lesson learned!!! Of course this won't stop us from being adventurous, but perhaps we should do it together next time since we are in this together :-).

After all, the fact that we practically GREW UP in different programs in Berlin made a difference...they had their clique and weren't open to newcomers, and we had ours. Yeah we tried to break the boundaries, but oh well, right?

Deustche Bank the devil that ate my ATM card...aka former employer. lol. jk i love you db.

So Deustche Bank is affiliated with Bank of America. Only one problem—their ATM ate my ATM card today. Can you imagine what it feels like to be in a new country for only three days, only to have your ATM card just be TAKEN AWAY?

Yeah—well that’s me.

I’m not really sure why it was taken away. I’ve heard different thoughts that perhaps there was fraud with a whole bunch of accounts or perhaps I put in the wrong pin. Either way it was miserable. And apparently, since it isn’t a Deustche Bank card, it is likely that it has been shredded.

Then I had to be transferred 4 times before begging a BofA representative to help me .

OMG. But yeah, I think I’m taking it with much grace :-P. GAHHH!

Mitte Tour!!!

So if its not obvious to you, because you don’t necessarily think about these things (like me), Berlin was severely destroyed by lots of BOMBS! KABOOOOM.

And so, they had to rebuild some (all) buildings, so keep in mind they are all relatively new!Which is certainly good enough for me. Sure lots of history is gone with the actual buildings, but oh well, it looks nice right? Better to look at the brighter side of life J. But that’s enough of that, just look at the pictures!!!

In NYU Berlin shop with patience

I was in a rush to find shampoo and conditioner so of course I paid quite a premium, but I was convinced everywhere was expensive! So we went to the expensive shop called Kaisers for some Garnier and Pantene—only to realize it was 50 euro cents more expensive, that’s 75 US cents, and 1.50 total potential savings!

WHERE IS WALMART WHEN YOU NEED ONE? AND YES, THIS WAS BEFORE I HIT THE LADY IN THE FACE (READ ON)!!!

Credit Cards or NOT

No credit cards, sure they warned us. But the electronics store? Are you kidding? Cash? Supermarket too? What a nightmare. I guess it’s a good habit at least. We then realize how much exactly we are spending day to day!

The day I hit a woman in the face…

So the story begins with my rush to buy electronics. What is only natural, yet banned in my former HS (shout out to MWHS!) is to high five or wave our arms in the air and point at people in the hallways because of the congestion.

Have I learned anything from this?

Of course not.

I hit a lady in the face.

And my new facebook status is currently…”hit a lady in the face today with full force, oops. thanks jenny for reminding me, lol. SO THAT'S WHY NEXT TIME YOU COME TO GERMANY, THEY WILL HATE YOU!!! LOL."

She was an old lady—a sad mean angry old lady. Its also horrible that my first response was, its not my fault you are so short, but I didn’t really say it ;-). I asked her if she was okay, but of course she had no idea what I was saying.

Yeah she didn’t say anything. Nothing funny or entertaining in German, but I made a dash for it, hahahah how embarrassing but terribly entertaining for everyone except the poor lady.

The good news was that when I was pointing, it was to the electronics store, where I found my 15 euro hairdryer with three speeds and temperatures. Also a light for my super dim room (its very dark at night)!!!

What’s cooler though was the soda maker. Me and my new friend Dave were absolutely fascinated by it. Or at least I was :-P. If they had that at home I would most definitely buy it!!! Actually, only if its reasonably priced. It was 35 euros here, so maybe so long as it is around 40 USD or cheaper. Knowing us though, it’ll be outrageous, like that thinkgeek.com website with all those Asian things they mark up 900%!

Yummy Street Sausage and Fancy Food that wasn't Yummy!

So today I had something which is apparently a classic Berlin dish as per a NYU staff member, it was called the "cross gebratener havelzander auf sautiertem gurkengemuse" AKA roasted pike with cucumbers in creamy dill sauce with basmati rice. I have to honestly say, it was not very pleasing.

Call me American, call me spoiled, call me what you like, but I do not, do not, do not like fish with bones (whether edible or not, in fact with most Chinese fish with edible bones I still pick the bones at). Besides the bones, the texture was like pike, and wasn’t crispy as I expected a breaded piece of fried fish to be. The sauce wasn’t exactly spectacular either. If I had paid it would have cost 10.50 Euro, or about 15 USD. Not terrible, but anything that doesn’t taste good in Europe is expensive. (On the other hand, anything that doesn’t taste good in places like Xian, China, IS CHEAP! Oh how I miss the days of 3 dollars for pounds and pounds of delicious Chinese breakfast food.)

For dessert there was some strange “Red and Green Mousse” as they called it. It was DELICIOUS. The texture of it was really more marshmellowey rather than like a mousse. One was berry flavored and the other was lime! Mmmm. The hearts on the plate were an added bonus and extremely cute.

Apparently we ate in the special Humboldt faculty club called Cum Laude, but it really wasn’t so great besides the dessert!

After all of the proper food of course for an afternoon snack, or as we called it in Hong Kong,

afternoon tea, was rostbratwurst just from a guy on the street! AKA Roasted/Grilled bratwurst. In my opinion its the only real way to eat a bratwurst, because when I last visited Munich at all the restaurants they just served boiled ones, so the skin isn't crunchy and it is really just a strange texture. WEIRD!

We all got one besides Jenny (because she newly went over to being vegetarian-HAHAH in Germany mind you, but its okay Jenny we love you, and thanks for taking our picture!!!).

Kreuzberg and Turkish Encounters

So today was pretty random, and while I won't say overwhelming, I can promise I didn't retain too much of where I was or how I got there.

I am convinced that I have to be somewhere alone in order to really appreciate where I am, or to even be alert...My new friend Jenny mentioned that to me today--we both agree that in order

to get our bearings we have to just wander alone, not follow people around!

Anyway, because of my lack of retention, not much to say about what I did today, besides how delicious the food for dinner was. Basically the best Turkish food I've ever had in my life...It was called Hasir usulu ile, which is mixed lamb barbecued on skewer seasons with slices of radish. It came with rice they called basmati, but it was more like barley!!!

I'll skip the lengthy descriptions and you can just have a look :-).

Oh, and my camera decided to FAIL and delete all my former photos...ew. So, some pictures from the tour I went on today of Kreuzberg (the area within Mitte that I live) were lost. I'm sure I'll be walking by them again though!

The Former Berlin Wall

So I had no idea until I saw for myself what happened to Berlin physically after taking down the wall. Turns out that before the wall went up once apon a time there was in place a canal that connected the more local areas into the big canal. Then they put up the wall...but now? There are lowered gardens! It was pretty neat.

Also saw an interesting small tiny garden. It was technically considered Eastern Berlin but they were so frugal they wanted the wall to be curved rather than have a corner. Thus resulting in a rectangular plot of land basically in West Berlin in everything but official law jurisdiction.

The man was Turkish and created a weird unkempt garden, but it was a pretty cool idea. He lived an "alternative lifestyle" as our RA Cornelius described it. Thus, he was used as propaganda for the east to the west. HAHA!

I didn't think to take any pictures because this was my local area...I figured I'd see it everyday and not think much of it, but I forgot I was blogging!

Currywurst and Konigsberger Klopse

First day in Berlin...what should I eat?

Nothing but popular Berlin food!

So I tried the currywurst which is said to be a sausage covered with ketchup with a dash of curry powder. Right, doesn't sound too appetizing but it was DELICIOUS. Basically the ketchup wasn't really strong in seasoning like ketchup, but rather a more mild tomato saucey ketchup.

The pasta is my friend Sarah's lunch!

The Konigsberger Klopse is a meatball dish. I'm not sure how to describe it exactly based on how it tasted. There was a very plain and simple white gravy with three big light colored meatballs as the main idea of the dish. Each meatball was the same ordinary meatball texture, and no real original taste, but had some capers inside. The dish came with yet again boring potatoes. It was satisfying, but when I think about it now, it wasn't terribly delicious or special, but practical and real sustenance. I read somewhere that's how the Germans are, so maybe I'll start to believe what I read...

Mind you this was all yesterday, but today I ate a veggie burger and fries. Tried to be a little more healthy, but this veggie burger was pure carbs...definitely not healthy. The fries here are just too delicious though...

NYU Berlin Rooms

So I must say that when I first moved in I was in pure shock. I was having a pretty miserable day, with unfriendly American encounters and big luggage worries because they were sitting in the rain for quite some time (some of my clothes were damp from when they took it off the plane)

. Oh yeah- and that fact that one piece of my luggage was 50 pounds with the other around 35. Turned out that other people had even more luggage than me.

But then things turned around. When I first arrived I coincidentally saw someone who was also with NYU, a girl I had friended on facebook randomly! She helped me with my luggage, etc etc…and I then I saw my room with pure amazement. It is gorgeous. I have two beds just for myself.

I unpacked everything in the first shot so I could find something to change into. Pretty exciting to see the huge closet of

sorts. Its probably 3 times the size of my one in my NYC apartment.

With an awesome living room and kitchen.

YEY!

Day I – My flight from New York (JFK) to Berlin (TXL) connecting through Brussels.

So far I’ve been disappointed in who other—my fellow Americans.

It all started early this morning where I stepped literally one step out of the line (which happened to be 2-3 persons wide anyway) to fix my bags. Thus letting one family pass me. But then what happens? The rotten brat behind me accused me of cutting the line once it actually started to move and I returned to my position. She made a small scene, then shoved me when her boarding group was called. Absolutely ridiculous. I was seriously and literally one step out of the line but I blended right into it anyway.

Then what happens? I get off the plane, wait in a line at the border protection into the EU. It turned out that my line was extremely short so I hopped into another. One guy had accused me of cutting him there too, even though it was obvious he and his wife/gf/lover/friend was in the other line. How preposterous. At least this one didn’t make a scene! Maybe its because I let him cut me, grrr.

Why am I the victim? Yeah, sure this really isn’t a big deal, but I hate when people think they can just get away with small nonsensical things. Maybe it’s the fact that I just accept and predict the fact that people are rude and awful in NY so I don’t notice (I’m the same way when in NYC). OR its just that Americans are rotten, disgusting, obnoxious people when they are in other countries. Of course I responded in the utmost grace, only to be absolutely mad on the inside.

Normally I am very proud to be American. But of the polite and sweet sort—not the obnoxious, self-serving people I encountered today. Definitely by making me look bad they looked worse. But what is awful is that they were not rightfully accusing me. I hate when that happens, let alone TWICE.

The flight was great otherwise. Normally American Airlines manages to mess up any international to Europe flights I’ve been on except this one (remember, I spent 5 years of my life as AA Platnium because I used to fly a lot)! I was seated next to fellow study abroad students (small world) who were connecting from Brussels to Antwerp. They were uber friendly and just wanted to chit chat…I felt bad because eventually I put on my bose headphones. It is just much more relaxing than listening to the airplane engines!

My feelings towards study abroad? I feel a bit lost already and I haven’t even gotten there. I realize I have no idea where anything is, and by using my DK tour book so far I have yet to become more acquainted. Not like Paris or London where you could just give me a map and I would be fine. I’ve just never been to Berlin…and it’s really hard to memorize the street names when you have no idea how to pronounce them!

I also feel a bit out of place, like I’m not really sure what to expect, but I’m not anxious. Maybe its an OUT OF BODY experience ;). I really just feel nothing! Not really excited because the weather is so dreary in Brussels (and when there is no sun—nothing can be beautiful!!!!!). Not really scared because there will be other students with me. Not really happy because my family and friends are not here (including my cat).

Okay maybe all of that emo stuff is half a lie—I’m very excited to meet new friends and go out to explore nightlife, something that I haven’t really done except when I visited Priya last spring break and we went to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day! Oh, and in Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong, but mind you this has only been 5 weeks total of my life!

Anyhow, I need to find a way to backdate this because I wrote this while sitting in the Brussels airport. What good is it to get here early when they haven’t even posted the gate number? And yes—I was in a panic because I thought I was in the wrong terminal. I was looking for 8:45 instead of 9:45 as my departure time (8:45 is the boarding time!). Dummy me—lesson learned? Never let airports frazzle you and never let being in a different place make you lose your cool! Things always work out in the end.

First Post from Hong Kong

So yeah, I've been slacking lately on the posts. I figure it may be good for me to write down my thoughts now, so that maybe one day when I'm old I can look back on how foolish I once was :-).

I'm in Hong Kong with an internship M-F, 9:30-6:45/6:30/7:00. It is simply amazing. I can't give too many details, but it is simply amazing.

This past week, I even got to see the trading floor for db, one of the most amazing things ever to be seen. The technology is so amazing, and the PEOPLE are so amazing.

I'm avoiding the fact that there are many very good looking men on the trading floor as well, which is something...you don't exactly see on Wall St.

Besides work, I've been trying to go on my own explorations for good food. I actually went into Mak's three times this past week. For all who don't know, Mak's is infamous for their wonton mein. The standard passer-by wouldn't realize that this ordinary "dive" in Hong Kong without much of a line during prime lunch time is actually the best, arguably in the world.

I'm familiar with this restaurant because on my last trip to HK, my Dad's had brought me, but even before that, they have a "branch" of sorts in Vancouver which I have went to since I was just a little girl.

So I tried bringing my boss there one of three of those times, but he didn't seem too impressed. Funny thing is, the next day I told my Dad that, and since I had posted those photos on facebook, he had said, "anyone who knows food is envious and wants those bowls of noodles".

One of those trips involved me going into Lyndhurst Terrace in search of the best daan tats (egg custard tarts). Yes, indeed I found it after a bit of a struggle with Canto-only speaking people giving me directions and a miserably crinkled hotel map. It wasn't the issue of them giving the directions, it was the issue of me trying to convey to them where exactly I needed to go (in English, mind you).

And lastly, today I went to get a haircut. The only words I said to the stylist was, trim, thicker bangs, and more layers. He then proceeded to "lighten" my hair in this weird inconsistent way.

It basically was his genius that still allows it to look similar to my old hair, but with more than 50% of it missing. It is the same length too.

Better yet though--guess the price? The equivalent of 32USD. But wait, did you know that the head massage/shampoo was phenomenal?! It probably took 15 minutes just for that bit. An hour for the haircut (it didn't seem that long). Apparently I waaaay over spent compared to other places in HK, hahah, but I felt I had to, to ensure it was an English speaking salon :-).

That's all for now.

Colitis, the GROSS and bad details.

SOOO, lately I've been having my intestines slowly dying. Don't read unless you are prepared for the gruesomeness.

Last Wednesday I went to the NYU nurse triage hoping to see a doctor. My symptoms were: soreness of the body, neck/head pain, slight diarrhea, isolated stomach pains, and dizziness.

APPARENTLY THATS NOT AN EMERGENCY...So she said if I got worse, just to make an appointment, or that she could make an appointment at that moment for the next day, but that my case wasn't as severe as say, someone with a cold. The next day was nonsense. I literally didn't eat anything because I didn't want to have to miss work. I actually felt BETTER when I didn't eat, so I figured the NYU nurse had to be wrong.

I woke up in the middle of the night with severe stomach pains at multiple times and i knew that much more that I should have been considered an "emergent case" from the beginning. Had I know...

On Friday I skipped out work because my diarrhea started to become bloody. I drove all the way home, and got a speeding ticket on the Palisades Parkway. I couldn't help but cry when the officer gave me the ticket, because of my immense pain and lack of ability to talk. I was going 77 in a 50. My problems with that bottle speed 50 has ALWAYS been a pain, but if someone has diarrhea I think there should be leeway, especially because I was actually getting out of the way of someone in the left lane, already moved to the right, when the guy on the left was about to pass me. At that very moment the cop decided I was the lucky winner to be pulled over, GREAT. He didn't say much, he didn't even tell me what he was asking my license and registration for until he gave it back.

What nonsense is this?

So I kept driving home to make my appointment on time, despite the pain in my tummy (i don't say stomach, because its really just an intestine-ache isnt it?)

I got there, the doctor feels my stomach..."Oh...you have a bacterial infection,"

"...a what?"

"bacterial infection..."

"a WHAT?"

"Yes, it's in your intestines"

"all this time???"

"Yes, I guess its been getting worse all week, I'm glad you came home to see us"

OH GREAT. So then the doctor takes a RECTAL SWAB (a very AWKWARDLY painful thing) and can't find anything the first time, nor the second time. And by the third time she tried to move it around and eeehh, NOTHING. My butt is CLEAN.

Then she asks me if I can produce a sample on the spot, and I definitely couldn't because I hadn't eaten all day in the anticipation of driving home by myself for the first time...

"Okay, so I'm going to have to ask you to eat something and produce a sample. The labs are closed already today because its late Friday already! But what you can do is try to go within the next 5 minutes and deliver it to the Monroe facility."

"I don't think I can do that...."

**goes home**

So I ate one bit of a saltine cracker and BAM I go running to the bathroom. How perfect. But After I went into a cup I had to spoon it into three tubes...PERFECT...

DONE and DONE. Then I have my Grandma telling me not to eat certain things and trying to give me all sorts of Chinese goodness, and I'm thinking...if something goes furtherly wrong...I won't be able to identify what Chinese goodness I've taken...so No.

My Grandma, though, is a VERY insistent woman. Nonstop all weekend --DONT EAT THAT GARBAGE! hahahha. I kind of listen, but at the same time I try to tell her every time no matter what I eat, I will be in pain shortly after, and then it will come out.

Anyway...the story gets worse.

Today I expected my cultures in the lab to be analyzed, but no no no, why would they do it when they ACTUALLY receive it? Oh no, why would they do it within three days of when they actually receive it? NOPE.

Wouldn't it make sense to PLATE the cultures when you get them? Its really not that difficult. REALLY, ITS NOT. So Saturday when I dropped them off, why weren't they taken care of?

It gets worse, why couldn't it be taken care of YESTERDAY, when the lab was open? Oh, they only plate on Tuesday-Thursday. How silly is that.

So now, I'm at home suffering, remembering that maybe one day I'll want to read about the nonsense I've gone through, essentially a censored diary.

My doctor prescribed me antibiotics, but there's a reason why she didn't do it last week...its hard to say which bacteria is inside you hurting you. So soon enough I'll be on antibiotics and prescribed pain medication.

YEY!

West Side Story

Happy Birthday Allen!!!

West Side Story was AMAZING.  It was a preview, and was SO affordable thanks to the people at SAGE!

Now about the show.  The scenes of just one sex were FANTASTIC, like "America" and "Officer Krupke" (sp?).  "There's a place for us" is sung by a sweet boy soprano who was a bit off his game though.  I was expecting Maria and Tony to sing it because its my favorite song, but I guess things don't work out the way I want them to!!!  It was a nice way to make the show more worldly, to show a greater cause/problem/solution, but does EVERY show need that?

I probably would have cried if Tony and Maria sang it, so its fine. :P.

The dancing was amazing to see on stage rather than the movie, just again, AMAZING.  The fighting choreography was a bit strange, but it always is.  The mambo scene was very very well executed.

Maria was played by a classically training singer, PERFECT, no EEEEEE sounds on her notes.

Tony sounded very very feminine, but had a lovely voice.  I didn't believe his acting much because of the femininity, but he got over it midway, and started to sound just right--maybe someone told him, haha.

All in all, a good experience.  I hope everyone can see it, even if its in forever to get cheap tickets. :-).

Tonight's Lost, West Side Story, and Craigslist

COULD IT GET ANY MORE BORING? I feel like every episode is becoming more and more repetitive, and its almost a burden to be so addicted.

Gah maybe I should have thought twice about watching all of the episodes last year during the TV strike. again, GAH.

You know, craigslist is really awesome, ESPECIALLY if you are a bored student looking for cheap stuff on sale. I recently found some center orchestra seats for West Side Story tickets for $60. Granted, I had to wander through Chelsea to pick them up, $60 for a NEW SHOW in broadway (like at most two weeks?) is amazing. The people who sold them to me had a whole bunch of spare tickets because they had bought 220 with the intention of selling them to their own members, so GOOD DEAL!


It definitely takes patience though because some are just links to other ticket websites, which basically means its NOT a steal.

Normally, I check out broadway box for my coupons for shows, but since WSS is so new, there isn't a promo code yet.

Ash Wednesday in St. Patrick's Cathedral

Believe it or not, this was the fastest I've ever been in and out of a church for Ash Wednesday. It was SO efficient. I've never celebrated anything there until today.

I took the 6 train from 23rd St to the 51st street stop and just walked uphill to Madison Ave! I used to think that it would be very complex to head over to the big cathedral for mass, but really? People shouldn't be intimidated, especially if its for a religious obligation! Remember - its YOUR church no matter where you are! People in Paris can't say its OUR Notre Dame, because its not. Its something we all share.

Now to the painful reality - FASTING! I tried doing the two snacks and one major meal but I couldn't last. I know its all about giving up our comfort for a purpose, a greater purpose, but I actually started to feel SICK and nauseous

I HATE people who don't care enough to do their jobs well. It's not society's fault that you are stuck in the mud, just cheer up and maybe you'll get somewhere with life! I am a firm believer in equal opportunity, and social darwinism. Yes of course there are the select few who suffer from bad luck, but is most of the world REALLY in that situation? Losing your job during the recession is reasonable, but if its a longterm thing, there's just no excuses.

Ex. The security guards at K-MEC and Tisch Hall sometimes ACTUALLY care. But mostly? Not really. So normally I can walk by without them even noticing me, or just by waving something that looks like an ID card. Now, in my mind I'm at a tossup, is it that these people should be doing their jobs correctly more often, continue not to care. But really, this isn't the point. If they choose to do the job they take, they should at least make the best of it. The other day walking into Tisch a security guard actually yelled at me for IGNORING him, and when I confronted him he shriveled like a baby. THEN, today one has the nerve to be like...Uhm, EXCUSE ME, ACTUALLY LET ME LOOK AT IT. psht. i should have shouted RACIST. :P. jk im not so bad, plus everyone's asian anyway! It's probably just the rudeness that gets to me, I mean whats so bad about pretending to be happy and cheerful, OR AT LEAST NEUTRAL!

grrrr.

Kid Robot

After every major exam, I love to just let loose and relax by walking around the city. So yesterday, I picked my location, the Patagonia SoHo Store, and started my wild wild journey. Low and behold, I walked by a store called Kid Robot. At first, I thought it was a store that sold gadgets and fun things like that, which is always very entertaining, but NO. It is a collection of "vinyl limited edition" mini statue toys, and they are VERY addicting to people who love to collect stuff, AKA ME! The store is pretty comprehensive in stock, and includes most of the things sold online at www.kidrobot.com

So I buy my first Kid Robot, what I call the crack rabbit, or the "smorkin" smoking bunny, thinking how funny and vulgar it is, but wait. When you open these things its severely wrapped firstly in a foily sealed pouched and then boxed so that its "blind" and you don't know what you are opening. Okay so anyway, I open it, and what is it!? THE ONLY BUNNY THAT DOESN'T SMOKE. What a harsh reality. A terrible reality. WHY me?

So today I was stupid enough to continue on my journey back into SoHo and right into Kid Robot, with my previous disappointment, things were looking bright, because WHAT are the odds that I will get my LAST possible choice AGAIN? Apparently, I thought the odds were low...so I was stupid enough to buy some more Kid Robot, one Ole English Dunny for my boyfriend, one Cannibal for me, and the funny S&M (Sadist and Masachist) REINDEER leftover from Christmas.

One was definitely a sure bet, but the others? Eh. I got the worse Cannibal, it was a sillllly upside-down white cone with two black eyes and black feet. SO boring. Definitely the WORST possibility.

Lesson learned? Don't get into this new pokemon-like phase. I'm hooked on how each one is designed by different artists, but HATE the fact that I can't get what I want. Oh and they are EXPENSIVE. Not like the 50 cents vending machines at the supermarket, more like $5-$10 for the small ones!