Weird Times

Friday Blues
Everyone came to the conclusion this weekend that we were sad. Not really sad, but the kind of sad where it's probably because you've been eating only carbs for two weeks now and you miss your mom's cooking and you've been going out to drink too much and not sleeping enough. It didn't hit me as hard as some of my friends, since I haven't been--as the kids would call it--raging. But Monday morning I was more tired than I have been in a while. Anyways, weekend stuff first.

BORING
Saturday was a full day of fun. I woke up early, went to the German Historical Museum, and took some photos for a report I'm doing in my Art and Dictatorship class. We've been assigned a question on Nazi art being represented in German museums, but I got so distracted in the Bismarck era I only had a few minutes to look at post-Weimar. Basically, I have to go back. It was also air conditioned, which was fantastic since Saturday reached a record high temperature since I've been in Berlin. After that, I had a little date with a guy from New York in Alexanderplatz. We found a huge (air conditioned) mall, and an English bookstore! Then, the grand finale of the night, the Rocky Horror Picture Show! A few friends and I made our way to an outdoor theater in a park close to the apartments, where we found a crowded audience (who would later throw rice, flour, confetti, and water at us). The German audience only knew one call-back line, which isn't one we use in California: BORING. During Mr. No-Neck's scenes, they completely silenced him by screaming "BOOOORING" over and over. It was very strange. They also sang and danced more than American audiences I've been a part of, so things evened out. Overall, a great time.

1, 2, 3
Three weird things that occurred on Monday:
1. I had my first encounter with formal racism! On the U-Bahn in the morning a younger girl wearing a headscarf was verbally accosted by a large German woman. I wasn't sure what she was saying, just that it was loud and rude and caused another man standing nearby to get in between the two women.

2. I had my first "What do you think about Trump?" moment. Ordering a döner after class, my friend and I were called out on our bad German accents.
--"Where are you from? Not German?"
--"America. California"
--"America? What do you think of Trump guy?"
--"He's bad." "Very bad guy."
--"Ah."

3. I saw a furry in a passenger seat of a car parked outside of Lidl. I thought it was a real dog so I was staring, until I realized it was not. And then I jumped about a mile into the air, and fast-walked home.

A Roaming Traveller
I was supposed to have my apartment back today, but unfortunately I was notified it won't be ready until Thursday afternoon. And I won't be allowed inside until then. Meaning I have no fridge to keep food in, no clothes besides the ones I've been wearing, and no kitchen. I am more than excited to have my crappy apartment back Thursday afternoon. Until then, I will continue to be Wifi-less, and these posts will continue to be sparse.