I Took an Accidental Break From Updating

Hello, Again
I haven't updated since before London! My sincerest apologies, it's been a busy and exciting time around here. London was fantastic. We went to a few museums (the Tate Modern and the Clink Prison), did some dancing, bought some vintage denim, had some delicious Italian food (and bagels, a delicacy not found in Berlin), and relaxed in a home for the weekend. It's surprising how much having a living room that isn't also your kitchen and bedroom changes how you spend a day! It was exactly what I needed, and with my good friends too! The days following London involved turning in massive piles of terribly written papers and stressing about German tests--the usual.

Since Halloween, it's been Christmas in Berlin. Lights hung up everywhere, candles and pines laid out at markets, and Gluwein being sold all over. I love it. It makes the cold weather more tolerable, and makes gray days a little cozier.

I Don't Like Clubs?
After a few weekends out at small Berlin clubs, I had determined that I am not a fan of clubbing. In Berlin particularly. Which is weird, because it's known as the clubbing capital of the world. The thing is, techno music doesn't exactly lend itself to dancing, just swaying aggressively. You wait until 12 or 1AM to get into an empty club filled with smoke and swaying Germans (wearing only black and making you feel odd for wearing dark blue). If you don't have cash to check your coat (which I happened to not have one night), you just hold your winter coat and continue to sway aggressively. I am excited to go back to Santa Cruz where people know how to dance.

We Got Paid Off
As I mentioned at the beginning of this journey, I had bedbugs in my apartment for two weeks in August. The program housed me in hotels, and switched my room eventually. However, it's come out that someone in the program has scabies (EW EW EW), which prompted a panicked reaction from the program director--200 Euro for each student in an apartment. So I am 200 Euro richer, and excited about it.

Impossible to Avoid
At this point, the end of the program is looming over everyone's heads almost all the time. My three months here have seemed like years, but also like three days. I'm becoming more confident in the city and the language everyday, and just as I'm finding my feet here it's time to go back. I've gained knowledge about what I want to do with my life after school (and during school), and what is important to me in my day-to-day. In Berlin, there's constant adjustment. We're always solving new problems, coming up with solutions to Germany issues with America minds. I feel myself making conscious decisions to challenge myself, especially in social situations, which I didn't expect from time abroad. At home, school has always come first. But after being out of commission last Spring quarter, I realized that my formal education will always be waiting for me. Here I've learned how to prioritize self-care, and how to include others in that process. I genuinely believe the people here have made me a better Maya, and I'll miss them a lot come December.

I'm endlessly grateful to have been here, even if for a short time, but still excited to come home. It's bittersweet, as a good ending should be.