So I think it's time to briefly write about *real life* in Berlin for this post.
*yawn*
Boring, right? I'll try to make it interesting. ;)
Well, I've recently finished my 4th level German, yet I still feel like a 7 year old when speaking/listening to Deutsch. I have to skillz to survive, just not the conversational to chat with German friends in their language, as I would of course with friends in Vancouver. Makes me sad, but my Deutsch friends are wonderful and understanding. Sometimes they quiz me and I actually understand, and sometimes I've had enough gin/wine/beer to have the courage to actually attempt to use it. Ask me to write something? No problem!!! :D Unfortunately I have now run out of money to continue my education so that's it for this year. Hopefully upon my return to Berlin in July I can continue my studies.
Oh yes, I have booked my return flight home. I leave Berlin March 15th for Londontown to visit with my darling friend Jennifer, Jack & Lyle and also hopefully Larissa & William too! With a quick trip over to Dublin for St. Patty's Day and then I'm home on March 22nd. (more on this later)
I've also recently finished working on a short film titled "Aufzug" ("Elevator"). We shot it in 6 days with about 2 months of prep/post production. It's a wonderful 15 minute piece about people's emotions and coping mechanisms to deal with the apocalyptic, dystopian-esque state of the world as it crumbles around them... all of these stories are told in an elevator. The company was under a deadline for submission to the Berlin Film Fest... they made it. :)
In December I have a trip to Vienna planned with a few friends. Always wanted to go there and what better time than for all the Weihnachten Märkte!!!? (Christmas Markets) Plus I will get to visit with a DJ/Promoter friend Michael who puts on a great monthly Minimal Synth Wave event called Future Echo. I am also lucky enough to have been invited to DJ this time around so I've been busy the past few days re-organizing my music for the event.
I'm really looking forward to it!
I have also moved out of Neukölln and into Mitte with my friend Anne. It's really wonderful to be here. She's a good friend and I am lucky she's offered up not only her flat to share, but *given* me her bedroom for the next 5 months. It's great to be in the city center for the tail end of my year here. Different sights, new habits to form and further understanding of how the city is laid out and connected. I'm now very close to the Neue Synagoge, Museum Insel, Fernseheturm and my favorite falafel spot, Dada Falafel!!! Thanks Hilda and Mr. Sly for an awesome 7 months!!!
I'm going to stop here for today as I have to eat and get ready for a gig at the King Kong Klub featuring Xeno & Oaklander and Martial Canterel.
Schönen Abend!
Showing posts with label Deutsch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deutsch. Show all posts
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Now that Schule hat beendet... (school has ended)
... it's time for another post to sum up the month of August.
First I should quickly summarize my time in Köln for the Amphi Festival in July. After a 6 hour train ride to Köln with 3 really special friends, lots of silly games to pass the time, some teasing and lots of laughter, we finally arrived. Köln is best known for it's magnificent Kölner Dom in the city centre:
Construction began in 1248 and took, with interruptions, until 1880 to complete. It is 144.5 metres long, 86.5 m wide and its towers are approximately 157 m tall. The cathedral is one of the world's largest churches and the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe.
Here are some other sights we took in on our leisurely day wandering the narrow streets of medieval Köln:
The Hohenzollern Bridge was one of the most important bridges in Germany during World War II; even under consistent daily airstrikes the bridge was not damaged badly. On 6 March 1945, German military engineers blew up the bridge when Allied troops started to conquer Cologne. Since 2008 people have placed "love padlocks" on the fence between the sidewalk and the tracks.
Antique shop we passed by, noticing a doll with an iron cross draped around it's neck... odd, to say the least.
Rather than bore you with a bunch more concert photos, I'll just share with you some of the people and friend I was with and a view of the Dom from the "beach" at Amphi:
Day at the "beach"...
The whole gang!!! What fun we had sheltering ourselves from the rain with a canopy of umbrellas!
Beautiful Anne and I on day two at Amphi.
In July I also met a very loverly and wonderful costume designer (and her crew of delightful ladies!) who was kind enough to take a chance on an ex-pat and bring me onto her costume team, despite my lack of fluent German. I am forever in debt to her for her advice and help and patience with me learning to do my job... in Deutsch! I learned a lot, met a terrific group of people who appreciated my being there, and expressed their sadness when I was not. I felt really accepted and loved on "Wechselspiel". I now have an official German film credit for my CV!!! Woohoo! (Thanks to B for the introduction).
August saw the start of another German course... which I passed... I've now completed 3 levels of German leaving another 9 more to go! (eep!) With any luck my budget will allow me to take at least another 2 levels before year's end. *daumen drücken* (fingers (well thumbs really) crossed). Meine Lehrerin (teacher) says I'm the strongest in my class, but I have a hard time believing it. I know I have *definitely* improved since I landed in Berlin, but still struggle with listening sometimes. It helps to have wicked friends who are here to help and not laugh at me too. :)
Now for some eye candy and history:
Reich Eagle on side of Columbiahaus Concentration Camp from 1933. Up to 1936 the Tempelhofer Feld was situated here. Used by the SS and the Gestapo for 8,000 political prisoners. Also was used to train commandrs and personnel how to torture. This building stands across from Tempelhof Airfield and is about 3 blocks from my flat in Neukölln. You can also see the eagles on the Tempelhof Airfield building.
Steel sculpture commemorating the Columbiahaus prison.
Berlin Airlift Monument on Platz der Luftbrücke in front of the airport, displaying the names of the 39 British and 31 American pilots who lost their lives during the operation, and symbolising the three air corridors.
Tempelhof Airfield - 1935-41. Would have been at the end of the North-South Axis of the Third Reich's new "Germania". Tempelhof was designated as an airport by the Ministry of Transport on 8 October 1923. The old terminal was originally constructed in 1927. In anticipation of increasing air traffic, the Nazi Government began a massive reconstruction in the mid-1930s. Today the airfield is closed for it's original use, but was opened in May 2010 as a city park for the people of Berlin. We have grilled there a few times now and also gone for bike rides.
Tempelhof Airfield - Reich Eagle in "Eagle Square" in front of the reception building. Originally it sat 45 meters high on the roof of the reception area. It was presented to the Americans for West Point Academy, but they returned the head back to Berlin. (where is the body?)
This wraps up July and August.
Things I am currently looking forward to in September:
1. My parents, Rachel, Kely, Bruce & Maddy arriving in Berlin.
2. Seeing OMD for the first time with fellow OMD fans Bruce & Maddy.
3. E-tropolis.
4. Drop Dead Festival.
5. Seeing !Bang Elektronika
6. DJing with DJs BGleiter, Ben Bloodygrave and Ansi @ Blue Wednesday.
It's going to be a wonderfully busy month!!!
<3
Devi
First I should quickly summarize my time in Köln for the Amphi Festival in July. After a 6 hour train ride to Köln with 3 really special friends, lots of silly games to pass the time, some teasing and lots of laughter, we finally arrived. Köln is best known for it's magnificent Kölner Dom in the city centre:
Construction began in 1248 and took, with interruptions, until 1880 to complete. It is 144.5 metres long, 86.5 m wide and its towers are approximately 157 m tall. The cathedral is one of the world's largest churches and the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe.
Here are some other sights we took in on our leisurely day wandering the narrow streets of medieval Köln:
The Hohenzollern Bridge was one of the most important bridges in Germany during World War II; even under consistent daily airstrikes the bridge was not damaged badly. On 6 March 1945, German military engineers blew up the bridge when Allied troops started to conquer Cologne. Since 2008 people have placed "love padlocks" on the fence between the sidewalk and the tracks.
Antique shop we passed by, noticing a doll with an iron cross draped around it's neck... odd, to say the least.
Rather than bore you with a bunch more concert photos, I'll just share with you some of the people and friend I was with and a view of the Dom from the "beach" at Amphi:
Day at the "beach"...
The whole gang!!! What fun we had sheltering ourselves from the rain with a canopy of umbrellas!
Beautiful Anne and I on day two at Amphi.
In July I also met a very loverly and wonderful costume designer (and her crew of delightful ladies!) who was kind enough to take a chance on an ex-pat and bring me onto her costume team, despite my lack of fluent German. I am forever in debt to her for her advice and help and patience with me learning to do my job... in Deutsch! I learned a lot, met a terrific group of people who appreciated my being there, and expressed their sadness when I was not. I felt really accepted and loved on "Wechselspiel". I now have an official German film credit for my CV!!! Woohoo! (Thanks to B for the introduction).
August saw the start of another German course... which I passed... I've now completed 3 levels of German leaving another 9 more to go! (eep!) With any luck my budget will allow me to take at least another 2 levels before year's end. *daumen drücken* (fingers (well thumbs really) crossed). Meine Lehrerin (teacher) says I'm the strongest in my class, but I have a hard time believing it. I know I have *definitely* improved since I landed in Berlin, but still struggle with listening sometimes. It helps to have wicked friends who are here to help and not laugh at me too. :)
Now for some eye candy and history:
Reich Eagle on side of Columbiahaus Concentration Camp from 1933. Up to 1936 the Tempelhofer Feld was situated here. Used by the SS and the Gestapo for 8,000 political prisoners. Also was used to train commandrs and personnel how to torture. This building stands across from Tempelhof Airfield and is about 3 blocks from my flat in Neukölln. You can also see the eagles on the Tempelhof Airfield building.
Steel sculpture commemorating the Columbiahaus prison.
Berlin Airlift Monument on Platz der Luftbrücke in front of the airport, displaying the names of the 39 British and 31 American pilots who lost their lives during the operation, and symbolising the three air corridors.
Tempelhof Airfield - 1935-41. Would have been at the end of the North-South Axis of the Third Reich's new "Germania". Tempelhof was designated as an airport by the Ministry of Transport on 8 October 1923. The old terminal was originally constructed in 1927. In anticipation of increasing air traffic, the Nazi Government began a massive reconstruction in the mid-1930s. Today the airfield is closed for it's original use, but was opened in May 2010 as a city park for the people of Berlin. We have grilled there a few times now and also gone for bike rides.
Tempelhof Airfield - Reich Eagle in "Eagle Square" in front of the reception building. Originally it sat 45 meters high on the roof of the reception area. It was presented to the Americans for West Point Academy, but they returned the head back to Berlin. (where is the body?)
This wraps up July and August.
Things I am currently looking forward to in September:
1. My parents, Rachel, Kely, Bruce & Maddy arriving in Berlin.
2. Seeing OMD for the first time with fellow OMD fans Bruce & Maddy.
3. E-tropolis.
4. Drop Dead Festival.
5. Seeing !Bang Elektronika
6. DJing with DJs BGleiter, Ben Bloodygrave and Ansi @ Blue Wednesday.
It's going to be a wonderfully busy month!!!
<3
Devi
Friday, July 22, 2011
Entschuldigung, bitte. (excuse me, please)
Wow, I'm so embarrassed to realize that I have not posted since my adventures in Bayern. :O I must correct this situation henceforth!!!
Where to begin?
Once I returned to Berlin, I anticipated the visit of my loverly friend Jen from London as we were going to travel to Leipzig for WGT (Wave Gotik Treffen), a 30,000+ person music event that has been happening for 20 years. This was my fourth time going. But first we exposed ourselves to a little Berlin culture...
The Bodemuseum. Built between 1897 and 1904. Houses beautiful Byzantine art.
The Holocaust Denkmal. Constructed in 2003. Memorial for Jews killed by Nazis between 1933 and 1945. You can see Jenn in the last one, weaving her way through the undulating field of concrete slabs.
A section of the Berlin Mauer (Wall) I hadn't noticed the previous *3* times I'd been there!!!
The Fernsehturm (tv tower)
The Alte Bibliothek built 1775. Next to Bebelplatz, the site where the book burning on May 10th, 1933 took place.
Bebelplatz. Designed in the 18C was renamed in 1947 after the social activist August Bebel. Also the location where the Nazi burned around 25,000 books written by "enemies" on the Third Reich. This window exposes a room with empty bookshelves to recognize this horrible event. There is also a plaque on the ground that reads:
"Where books are burned, in the end people will burn." ~ Heinrich Heine
The Berliner Dom. Neo-Baroque architecture dating from 1894 to 1905. Notice the bullet marks in the last photograph.
Caught on surveillance monitors at Potsdamplatz U-Bahn!!!
And now, WGT 2011... 20th Anniversary. Jenn and I awaiting some good live music, then Covenant, then me in front of a clothing store window display welcoming the people of the festival to Leipzig and finally Homo Futura.
After Jenn returned to London, I continued to do a little exploring on my own.
Olympiastadion built for the 1936 World Games in Berlin. Designed by Werner March, in the Nazi architectural style inspired by ancient Rome.
The Nothing eats Neukölln... a huge storm that ransacked Berlin... came and went in probably 10 minutes. Pretty common here.
Street art in Hackescher Hof.
The Siegessäule - Triumphal Column 1864. As well, the Goldelse on top. The trees in the BG are the Tiergarten.
Cute cat and mouse door handle I wandered past by chance.
Wild flowers back lit by the setting sun in Mauer Park.
A sweet present from Momma!!! Ginger molasses cookies! Sehr lecker!!! Vielen Dank!!!
My Klappfahrad... collapsing bike. It's black with red splatter. And wee just like me!!!
This sums up my July Berlin photographic entry. However I do have a few other things to add that can't be captured on film.
Firstly, I started Deutsch Schule in the beginning July. It is an intensive course for 4 weeks, 4 days/wk and 3hr/day. I have one week left to go... think I'm learning pretty well, but still having a hard time *hearing* the words. It's getting better, but I shouldn't be too hard on myself considering I've only been studying for 2 months. :) In August I will commence the next level.
Secondly, I got a job! Although don't get too excited... it's not paid because it's a student film. However, it's a start, some connections and experience on a German film set so I can get my feet wet. The costume crew all seem really loverly and are grateful to have me and are willing to teach me the way... in GERMAN!!! And of course in English too, but it's a great opportunity I simply would be stupid to pass up. It will be challenging especially since I am also still going to school. From one to the other, when they need me, which might not be all the time. I've even started a small book to make notes of all the German film terms. :D
Thirdly, I got to DJ at Dark Markt. A daytime market catering to the gothically inclined, for lack of better words. ;) It was great, and I was DJing along side a Berlin friend and we will both get the opportunity to do it again in August!
Okay, now I'm done. Coming up next:
~ Köln
~ Amphi Festival
*heart*
Devi
Where to begin?
Once I returned to Berlin, I anticipated the visit of my loverly friend Jen from London as we were going to travel to Leipzig for WGT (Wave Gotik Treffen), a 30,000+ person music event that has been happening for 20 years. This was my fourth time going. But first we exposed ourselves to a little Berlin culture...
The Bodemuseum. Built between 1897 and 1904. Houses beautiful Byzantine art.
The Holocaust Denkmal. Constructed in 2003. Memorial for Jews killed by Nazis between 1933 and 1945. You can see Jenn in the last one, weaving her way through the undulating field of concrete slabs.
A section of the Berlin Mauer (Wall) I hadn't noticed the previous *3* times I'd been there!!!
The Fernsehturm (tv tower)
The Alte Bibliothek built 1775. Next to Bebelplatz, the site where the book burning on May 10th, 1933 took place.
Bebelplatz. Designed in the 18C was renamed in 1947 after the social activist August Bebel. Also the location where the Nazi burned around 25,000 books written by "enemies" on the Third Reich. This window exposes a room with empty bookshelves to recognize this horrible event. There is also a plaque on the ground that reads:
"Where books are burned, in the end people will burn." ~ Heinrich Heine
The Berliner Dom. Neo-Baroque architecture dating from 1894 to 1905. Notice the bullet marks in the last photograph.
Caught on surveillance monitors at Potsdamplatz U-Bahn!!!
And now, WGT 2011... 20th Anniversary. Jenn and I awaiting some good live music, then Covenant, then me in front of a clothing store window display welcoming the people of the festival to Leipzig and finally Homo Futura.
After Jenn returned to London, I continued to do a little exploring on my own.
Olympiastadion built for the 1936 World Games in Berlin. Designed by Werner March, in the Nazi architectural style inspired by ancient Rome.
The Nothing eats Neukölln... a huge storm that ransacked Berlin... came and went in probably 10 minutes. Pretty common here.
Street art in Hackescher Hof.
The Siegessäule - Triumphal Column 1864. As well, the Goldelse on top. The trees in the BG are the Tiergarten.
Cute cat and mouse door handle I wandered past by chance.
Wild flowers back lit by the setting sun in Mauer Park.
A sweet present from Momma!!! Ginger molasses cookies! Sehr lecker!!! Vielen Dank!!!
My Klappfahrad... collapsing bike. It's black with red splatter. And wee just like me!!!
This sums up my July Berlin photographic entry. However I do have a few other things to add that can't be captured on film.
Firstly, I started Deutsch Schule in the beginning July. It is an intensive course for 4 weeks, 4 days/wk and 3hr/day. I have one week left to go... think I'm learning pretty well, but still having a hard time *hearing* the words. It's getting better, but I shouldn't be too hard on myself considering I've only been studying for 2 months. :) In August I will commence the next level.
Secondly, I got a job! Although don't get too excited... it's not paid because it's a student film. However, it's a start, some connections and experience on a German film set so I can get my feet wet. The costume crew all seem really loverly and are grateful to have me and are willing to teach me the way... in GERMAN!!! And of course in English too, but it's a great opportunity I simply would be stupid to pass up. It will be challenging especially since I am also still going to school. From one to the other, when they need me, which might not be all the time. I've even started a small book to make notes of all the German film terms. :D
Thirdly, I got to DJ at Dark Markt. A daytime market catering to the gothically inclined, for lack of better words. ;) It was great, and I was DJing along side a Berlin friend and we will both get the opportunity to do it again in August!
Okay, now I'm done. Coming up next:
~ Köln
~ Amphi Festival
*heart*
Devi
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