From there we went to this nice Biergarten I know. It was gorgeous weather and everybody wanted to be outside too, but we managed to find some grass and drank and talked and it was awesome. We actually stayed out there til past midnight, and around that time we met these three (very drunk) French mewly graduated high schoolers. I spoke French with them and they were really nice-2 from Marseille and 1 from Paris. We talked about Berlin and their upcoming trip to Prague and then about love (of course, they're French) and it was all around a good night. Chelsea and I had to catch the last S-Bahn around midnight, but we hoped we would get to see Savino again before he left.
Thursday was work-Frau Tafel went to the doctor and found out her finger was broken. After work she invited me to do something since it's my last week at the internship but I remembered Peter had invited me to his place since he was leaving for Sweden and plus Robert was having a party to show his vacation pictures and eat Russian food. I dunno if anyone remembers me mentioning this, but Robert went on this big trip back in June-he started in China, toured around, and then from Mongolia he took the Trans-Siberian railroad all the way to Moscow. Isn't that crazy?? What an awesome sounding trip.
Anyway, so I headed over to Prenzlauerberg to their flat and found about 14 other people there! I knew a lot of them already but it was still a bit surprising to see so many people in their little apartment. Robert met me at the door and we talked for a little bit (I was totally soaked from the rain, so naturally we had to talk about the awful summer weather Berlin's been having) and then he kind of sheepishly asks me if it'd be alright if they spoke German since it would be easier. I thought it was really sweet he asked me, I mean, of course I had no problem with it, I speak/hear German all day, but it was cute that he worried about me being able to understand. I love how nice Germans are.
I made it through all of his China pictures, but when we got to Mongolia my mom called and we ended up chatting for ages (cause it's what we do and there were important SAV news to relay). I came back in, we wrapped up, and everyone started trickling out the door. I stayed behind and hung out with Susi and Peter, and then Robert gave us some Russian meat dumpling things which were really good. His friend Alex and his gf left, so it was just me, Peter and Robert, so we had another beer in the kitchen and chatted. Robert was asking me if Germany felt foreign anymore since I'd been here so much and I was like...hmm...actually it doesn't anymore, come to think of it. Weird, huh?
I had a really good time talking with them. It's funny how many times I've found myself in that little kitchen with them. I mean, the very first time I came to Germany in 2009, when I was with Peter for Christmas, we stopped there first. I first met Robert in Besançon when he came to visit but we really met properly in Berlin. And now-2 years later, here I am living in Berlin, back in the same place. Funny.
I had to get the last S-Bahn again, so I left around 12:30. It was sad saying goodbye to Peter and Robert though Peter and I laughed that we're getting much better at it, and if my past record shows anything it's that I don't stay away very long. That's a nice feeling though. It sucks making great friends and then you're separated by an ocean, but I feel so lucky I've been able to see those friends pretty regularly. I would've never guessed when I left Besançon that I would've seen Peter as often as I have! Life's good :)
I tried not to be too sad as I went home. I hate saying goodbye and if I dwell on it I get really down. I did feel a bit dumb for not taking any pictures from last night for the blog-I saw Robert twice this summer and both times he escaped my camera. Hmm...next time, Robert!
Today was my last day at work! I was talking to Peter about this last night and he mentioned that it's the custom in Germany to bring something-a cake or a sweet or something when you're leaving or have a promotion or a birthday. That seemed totally wrong to my American upbringing, in which when YOU have something going on, your coworkers should bring something. Right? But Peter (and later Robert) were adamant that that's how it worked in Germany and I ought to buy a few Berliners (jelly donuts).
Even though Matthias and Melanie are on vacation, I decided to do my part as a good German intern. I bought two cherry Berliners, an Apfelschorle (Germans and non Germans alike love this stuff, it's basically apple juice with sparkling water) and headed to work. When Frau Tafel came in and I mentioned it she was like, oh, that's so German! How did you know to do that? So I had to laugh to myself and sent a message to thank my German Fairy Godfathers for saving me from a very Un-German faux pas. Thanks, guys! :)
The Berliners were tasty, we talked a bit about the internship, said goodbye, and I headed home to start packing...tonight's my last real night here, and then I'm heading to Bavaria. I'll be back in good ole Savannah next Friday, the 12th. Hope y'all are ready! :)
Speaking of Georgia, here's a popular drink here...the "Spirit of Georgia". Never seen it in the real GA but it's made by Coke so maybe that explains it...
oh and this was from a place near my flat...Colombian food!
what is the little moon shaped treat?
ReplyDeleteit's an empanada with chicken and potatoes inside
ReplyDelete