Finally. Berlin, in 5 days.
Now, before I write anything in this blog, I feel that some background info would be helpful for those readers who do not personally know me.
I grew up in Lithuania, in a Russian-speaking household. Then I went to the US for the last two years of my high school career, and decided to prolong my stay by attending a small liberal arts college in Maine. Those who know me well will say that I am a restless soul, always seeking enriching adventures. This mindset is what compelled me to study abroad in Amman, Jordan last semester, and it is exactly what has driven me to choose Berlin as my spring semester destination. I can’t think of a better place to practice different languages, attend cultural events, and encounter diverse people and ideas.
Although I expect to learn a lot from my classes, I am most excited about experiences and lessons that can arise only from living in a metropolis. I’ve been obsessively studying Berlin’s transportation network map lately (here), and trying to figure out the best way to get to places. This is always the first step for me in order to feel comfortable in a new place – the need to feel that I know where I’m going.
I am incredibly excited (and lucky) that my commute to school will only be 15 minutes (!). I will be living in Schöneberg, which is not one of the trendy “it” neighborhoods of Berlin, but is rather a beautiful, residential area with charming Altbau architecture.
Since I’ve been ice skating almost every day during my extended two month winter break, one of the first goals in Berlin will be to find an ice skating rink near my place. I am also hoping to continue my vegetarianism, and I will attempt to describe how that is going from time to time.
5 days.
Ich komme!
Marta Misiulaityte
<p><span style="color: rgb(29, 29, 29); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; background-color: rgb(237, 237, 237);">Marta is a Sociology and German double major at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, but has a hard time staying within the boundaries of these two disciplines just the way she cannot stay in any one place for a long time. The thirst for knowledge and adventures is her biggest drive; over the course of her college career she has taken classes ranging from film studies to psychology, and she just spent a semester studying Arabic in Jordan. Originally from Lithuania, Marta has been fortunate enough to call many places her home. When she is not devouring books, she coordinates and leads campus tours, serves as a proctor in a first-year student dorm, works at the Admissions office as well as helping out at the Registrar’s office at Bowdoin. In her free time, she can be found either taking photographs or swing dancing. She can’t wait to check out the Berlin lindy hop scene!</span></p>
