Settling In

As I started settling in, my guess is that my blog posts will become less frequent as I no longer have group excursions, family dinners, or crazy side trips in my plans for the next few weeks. If something exciting does happen, I will post, of course.

Today, my roommate, Swen, drove me to the nearby department store to exchange the lamp I bought two days ago. Annoyingly, the one I had bought was actually broken, so I had to take it back for a new one. While at the store, I also picked up the right light bulbs. I failed on that end on Wednesday too.

Swen offered me his printer since he won't be needing it anymore (he just finished his master's degree yesterday and will be starting work soon). I just needed to buy ink, so we went to another department store to get it. When I tested it though, it turns out we had bought the wrong one. So I had to run back to the store and exchange it for the right one.

We cleaned up my room today, since Swen had all his stuff in here from working on his master's thesis. His thesis project was to design a new train station and plant a huge park in the middle of a big Polish city (he's an architect). It was pretty awesome. His final project proposal and model looked incredible. I am always envious of people with such artistic talents.

Anyway, the room looks much cleaner and spacious now. I didn't take a before and after picture, but I took pictures from both sides of the room, so you can also see the loft in my room. Check it out.

For dinner tonight, I had two falafals from the shop across the street. I am becoming addicted to these falafals, especially when they taste so good and cost only 1€ each. Most of the time though I just eat bread with cheese and slices of meat. Very German indeed. Haha.

Tomorrow, I'm going to meet up with Brandon, since we haven't hung out since we arrived in Berlin from Marburg together. Should be fun. Then at night, I'm making his now-famous Italian pasta dish for dinner. Since I missed Swen's graduation party (it went late into the night...after Oktoberfest, I'm in no mood to party), I told him I'd make dinner. So pasta it will be.

I know UW has started its school year now, and I keep seeing all these Facebook updates about what everyone is doing. Makes me miss Seattle, but I also see updates on Facebook from friends around Europe who either doing Fulbright, teaching English, or some exchange program. I really have the travel bug again now! 

Speaking of travel bugs, if you know anyone who might be interested in cheap, student travel plans, have them check out www.wsaeurope.com or www.andysteves.com. They were created by Andy Steves, son of travel guru Rick Steves. A few years back, I helped write the Berlin itinerary for Andy's first website. 
I am also thinking about getting a job here in Berlin as a tour guide, but we shall see what happens. If you happen to be in Berlin though and want a tour, just let me know. I've shared some walking tours of Berlin with friends before, and I think I've studied enough German history to give enough context. :)

Anyway, time for bed. Toodles!

Sam