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%!