Die verheerendere Großflächenbrände

Most everyone has already heard about the raging wildfires all over Southern California. The news is major, even here in Berlin. Every day it is on the front page of all the German papers, and it's even on the Berliner Fenster (the news program that is shown on the subway). Friends from across the U.S. and even my friend in Serbia emailed to see if my house was ok. That makes me realize just how bad the situation is/was, since being so far from home I can't see for myself.

I am brought to tears reading about what is going on in Orange County in particular (check out coverage here), especially because it has been determined that the fires are a result of arson. There are a couple fires blazing within a few miles of my house, threatening my elementary school, my old post office and favorite childhood restaurant, many of the stores at which I used to shop, and the roads on which I often drove. My mother was in Istanbul at the beginning of the week, and as she caught wind of the news, she freaked out about our house, and even told me that my dad might not be able to visit me (they both came and visited me this weekend--more about that and how my dad and I got sick in another post--and I am happy to report that my house is totally fine and my brother, dog, and bird stayed home to be our heroes).

I knew all along that my house would be ok, even though we are completely surrounded by fire-feeding woods. My dad said he had to clean up a ton of ashes in our front and backyards, and the sky is dark with smoke. You can see the fires from the toll road (the 241), as the sides of the road are burning in many areas. Here's a good map of the safe distance my house is from the fire (FYI, I live in Coto de Caza). However, until fourth grade I lived in Robinson Ranch in Trabuco Canyon, and we used to go down into the affected canyons (Santiago, Modjeska, Trabuco) all the time--our orthodontist, the post office, Senor Lico's (only the best restaurant ever), and our 4-H club (don't laugh) were there. The road right past Robinson Ranch was closed, and my high school and presumably my elementary school were closed on Friday.

Despite my house not being in danger, I feel for the victims of the fires, the victims of the arsonist, I should say. I think roughly 14 homes or so have been lost in Modjeska, and a few firefighters have sustained minor injuries.

I realize that pretty much none of my "readers" is from OC, and since I'm not affected by the fires none of you probably cares that much about the situation, but I just needed a place to express my sadness. And oddly enough, I think all of this is making me a little homesick. Not homesick for my family, per se, since my parents were literally with me until a couple of hours ago (although I miss my two "brothers," Beau and James, not necessarily in that order), but homesick for the best place to live in the entire world.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/county-fire-fires-1911377-san-orange

"You are monster."

At least according to a German guy with whom I was forced to have a conversation about abortion . . . in a mixture of German and English, and I don't think either one of us was qualified to talk about the issue in our non-native languages. He admitted that he could not think of any other word connoting someone who is a bad person, so that's why he called me a monster. I was at a party Saturday night at my Yemeni friend's apartment and my American friend just had to tell his German roommate that I was conservative, and his roommate would not stop talking to me about political philosophy, despite my total lack of interest in the topic. And then his other German friend wanted to talk about abortion and how I was personally responsible for all the children living in homes without parents. I just have keine Lust dazu--I don't want to talk about (American) politics with Germans because they just don't get it. I know I should be an ambassador and all, but sometimes I just want to have mindless conversation like everyone else.

Otherwise, I quite enjoyed myself at this party, and I am amazed and happy that my social calendar has really picked up. Friday night I went to a shisha bar with people from my church (yes, church people here regularly go out to bars together, which seems totally odd to my American Christian self). It was fun, except I somehow managed to be stuck talking to a guy from Brazil whose English was almost as terrible as his German (which was totally non-existent), so I spoke to him in Spanish, but at the same time this German guy whose English wasn't the best was also trying to talk to me, and they couldn't understand each other at all. I finally had to excuse myself politely, because I am definitely not meant to be a translator.

Anyway, this past week was time to be a tourist, since it was fall break and I didn't have any money to go anywhere (today was the start of my eighth week of teaching and I still have not been paid a single cent). Monday I took an awesome, free four-hour tour (wow, what proof of the messed-up vowels of the English language! do any of those rhyme for you? actually, four and tour rhyme for me, but for most people they don't) of Berlin. And then because it was so nice my friend and I lay outside amongst all these really ugly statues reading. The return of pictures when I can get my camera cord to work!

Oh, my tour guide was also at the ballet on Friday night, and he said he was sitting right behind
Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise! Man, if only I had known that. Would have loved to get a glimpse of such an adorable baby and an opportunity to knock some sense into a clearly brainwashed woman. And my friend found an article about what happened to the dancer. Poor guy.

Tuesday I went to class and waited around 20 minutes for it to start, since German university classes start c.t., or cum tempore, which means 15 minutes after the scheduled time. But my professor decided there was no real reason to actually show up, and no real reason to tell everyone that. His head TF was kind enough to inform us that he was out of the country and that lecture begins next week. I was pretty peeved.

Tuesday night I went to a Mexican-American bar and had the worst nachos ever. I was so happy to find Mexican food after a weeks-long quest, but it was lousy. But the laser and firework show at Alexanderplatz afterward more than made up for the culinary shortcomings of the evening. The lasers weren't that easy to see because the wind kept blowing all the smoke away, and the fireworks were nothing like what is used in any random American town to celebrate the Fourth of July, but it was still nice to stand in a crowd of a bunch of impatient Germans and pretend I was back in the U.S.

Let's see, I'm sorta forgetting what I did on Wednesday. At night I met up with the HU Christian group for a Bible study that never actually involved studying the Bible. Thursday I had two Linguistics seminars at HU, and they were just introductions, so I can't say what I think. Except that German students have it easy. They get a choice between a presentation or a term paper, and that's all their homework. Although I guess I always found my own seminars to be extremely easy.

I went to the Pergamonmuseum on Thursday night (free entrance!) and was so bored. The whole altar thing was cool, but Greek and Roman art does not really interest me. But the Islamic art was pretty awesome! And on Friday I went to Potsdam to see Sanssouci, except I couldn't go in any buildings because I don't have any money. So we resorted to walking around in the cold and admiring the miles of gardens. Saturday I went on a tour of a big bunker-like tower that the Nazis used during WWII, except unbeknownst to our entirely bilingual group, the tour was in German. Except I can't understand anything about the military, so I basically paid 7 Euro to stand around in a dilapidated old tower.

See, I told you I really was like a tourist this past week!

I was beginning to feel a bit of Heimweh, especially because the whole free time thing
was really getting on my nerves. I think I miss being at college, where I sorta choose what I want to do but at the same time have a nice big security blanket. But I am quickly accumulating a melee of international friends, and none of them is even a fellow Fulbright teacher (ok, except one). Now it's like every night I have something to do, and I'm missing a lot of activities this weekend because my parents are coming (like a Halloween party with the strict mandate of bringing alcohol with you--again, this is Christian people, my little naive self is shocked) . I'm really excited to be seeing my dad, as I only saw him for about four days this summer. They'll only be here for two days, but I'm glad to show him around. Except it's like 35-40 degrees out, and I'm not looking forward to being outside any more than I have to.

Gotta finally finish the law school apps. Oh yeah, I got my LSAT score, and contrary to what my nightmares predicted, I did not get a 160. I got a 180. Haha, totally lying. I'll just say I got somewhere in between.

P.S.

Since when does spreading lies about the environment have anything to do with the preservation of peace?

And personally, I pray for global warming. It's been less than 50 here the past few days, and I don't want to have to break out the long underwear just yet . . .

Gott sei Dank!

I am sitting here at the HUGE, apparently really happening Starbucks right by apartment (as in I was sitting there several hours ago, considering Starbucks wireless costs 8 Euro an hour), lounging in an incredibly comfortable chair, attempting to tackle the law-school essays I still have left (Duke and Berkeley, seriously, do you really need such specific essays?). I couldn't get any work done in my room, as I would just end up watching The Hills on the MTV website. Don't ask me how I got into this show. Maybe it's because MTV is the only channel that lets me watch online videos even though I am out of the country. Thanks a lot, NBC. I've been having to watch bootlegged Office episodes on random websites. Speaking of Starbucks, I always enjoy predicting how my name will be written on my cup. I guess no Meg(h)ans travel to Germany or something because no Germans have ever heard of my name whatsoever! They hear the first syllable and think it must be written with an A, since that is how the English A is pronounced in isolation (this would be the German E). Today I got Meagen, which was then crossed out and Meagan was written. Best effort thus far. The last time I got Magen, which means stomach in German. Magan is the most common attempt. Not like I go to Starbucks a lot or anything. I mean, come on, it's an evil American corporation and I totally don't support globalization. I've learned enough from the textbooks my students read to make informed decisions.

Today at church I met some people who were visiting for the first time, and the guy was from Russia and the girl from China. The guy actually asked me point plank, "So, what's the Bible about?" First time I have ever been asked that question, and it sorta hit me in the face that there are actually people who did not grow up in a country based on Judeo-Christian principles. And I actually had difficulty explaining to him just exactly what the Bible was about because I was really conscious about the very Christian language I am used to using to talk about the Bible, faith, etc. He also is obviously not a native English speaker, and his and my German abilities are not the best. They both kept saying over and over how they have no idea how to pray, and I kept thinking, well sheesh, didn't you just see me get called on the spot to pray for the group and fumble my way through a prayer, obviously there's no method to the madness. The girl was really excited about Christianity, and it was really cool to see how much her eyes kinda widened when talking about how much she likes Christian principles and the Christian people she has recently met. She seems really close to making that leap of faith, but it seems like the guy might be holding her back a little. One of the girls from the church is planning on meeting with her--please keep her in your prayers!

Last night I went to a housewarming party at some guy's apartment in what could have been an average neighborhood in Ankara or Istanbul. On the way to and from the party, I swear, I did not see one single person who did not appear to be Turkish. It's really quite an interesting thing about Berlin, how you're almost in another world some time. Anyway, it was really awkward at first at this party, because the guy who brought me (an American who for some undeterminable reason is getting his degree in Germany) did a really bad job of introducing us to people, because it turns out he didn't really know who a lot of people were either. I also came with a Yemeni guy who did a year of high school in Las Vegas (and stayed with a Mormon family, interestingly) and he and I sorta stuck together because we felt like outcasts. I think the host of the party is probably still wondering who the heck we were. But there were Peanut M&M's, so I'm glad I went.

Friday night I went with friends to see a ballet called Giselle. We got amazing seats for only 12 Euro because of the last-minute student discount. It was a pretty good show, and the dancers were fabulous, but we got almost to the end and then the male dancer fell and ran off stage abruptly. The ensemble cast just stood there and did nothing while the music played and it was clear the guy was supposed to be dancing. So then the female lead came out and did some improvisational dancing, which was obvious because it was a really anti-climactic ending. The guy is supposed to die in the end--the women all kill him by dancing him to death because of his bad actions in the first act--but instead it just ended with the woman prancing around the stage. Too bad, but I think I'll keep going to events at the Opera if I can keep getting such amazing seats for only 12 Euro.

Thursday night my tandem partner and I hung out for about 3.5 hours working on my German, and barely working on her English. She's really nice and I'm looking forward to getting to hang out with her more (and turning the tables on her and speaking English rapidly). Next week we are going to the opening of the Berlin Festival of Lights, which will involve Feuerwerk and a laser show. Hope to be able to post photos later.

Oh, on the subway on the way to church this morning, there was a woman with EIGHT children. They all looked like various-sized cookie cut-outs of the mom. I'm impressed.

And oh, I was Skyping with a friend the other day and he said something along the lines of, I don't like people who keep blogs, they think people actually care what they do. And yeah, I realize this is sorta silly, who cares what I am doing with my life. But this is for those of you who are bored at work, want to procrastinate from doing homework, or maybe actually even care about me. Although since NO ONE ever leaves me comments anymore, how can I possibly know?

Das alles ist Deutschland

If you want a good idea of what Germany is like, watch this video.

And here are the lyrics (translated into English, no worries).

Have been enjoying this week, except I have way too much free time and thus have been wasting my time doing nothing. I really need to get out and do more stuff, but it's getting too cold! Hmm, maybe I'll go to a museum now since it's Thursday evening and they're free. Except I have to meet someone to do a language tandem thing tonight.

Anyway, last night I went to the HU Christian group's Bible study. I had a good time (when I could understand what was going on), but it was funny that out of the seven people there three of us are native English speakers. And a few more who weren't able to make it are also native speakers. So I think technically the native German speakers are outnumbered. Oh well. But yeah, it's a good opportunity for me to make friends, because otherwise it is quite difficult. I haven't kept up with any of the other American or British TAs (except for one), because I did not come to Germany to hang out with Americans. Although I guess sometimes it would be nice to have an English-speaking security blanket. I think most of them are mainly interested in clubbing and staying out until 6 in the morning, which is not really my thing. No, not my thing in the least bit. So now I have a few people from this church I go to and I hope these people from HU, but we'll see how it goes. And perhaps I will make friends in my German class? Oh, I also contacted a pro-life group in Berlin because I think it would be cool to get involved here, and I was surprised to get a response--the website was so outdated-looking that I figured the group was now defunct or something. So I will update you if in fact I do do anything with other pro-lifers.

It turns out I am not going on vacation next week. I had hoped to go to Scandinavia, and then I thought I was going to Switzerland, and then I hoped to go to Bratislava, and then I thought about going to Italy and then on to Slovenia and Croatia, but because I have not gotten paid I do not have the financial means to travel. I am quite PO'ed at Berlin for this, because I could be enjoying my roughly 10-day vacation somewhere exciting, and you all know I love to travel. But I have to pay for law school apps--probably close to $800--and I absolutely had to pay my rent and deposit, in total 730 Euros. My German bank account had 1 Euro in it, and my American one was so low that my parents had to give me some money, unless I wanted to forget about the whole law school apps thing. I *should* get paid next week, roughly six or seven weeks after I started teaching, which in my opinion is really irresponsible on the part of the Berlin government. I wish I were getting paid directly by Fulbright--those people have already gotten paid for September AND October.

Anyway, teaching has been ok. Monday was my first conversation course, and 11 students showed up. I was quite content with the number--so many had told me they were coming, and they didn't, which made it better for allowing everyone to participate. The students seemed to like the course, even forgoing their ten-minute break to keep going. They basically spent the whole time interviewing each other with deeper questions than the standard name, age, family sort of thing, and then they shared with the class. I think more students will come to the next one, since apparently they did not know the class started this week. I'll probably teach about the American school system, as they keep asking me so many questions about it and I want to get it out of the way. The week after that I'll definitely teach them about Halloween. I wish in my other classes they let me do more--right now I'm just answering questions like "Can you say that in English?" and "How do you say such and such?" Not very challenging. I think I might step in and ask for more responsibility, even if they don't know what to do with me.

I had an interesting discussion with one of my classes yesterday about why Americans have to learn American history (one boy seemed to think it was terrible of us), and I had to point out the obvious, that they have to learn German history. Sometimes it seems like people are looking for an excuse to vilify the U.S. (or the U.S.A., as they always say--I tried to convince them that we don't really use the A all that much, but they don't believe me). The teacher fortunately pointed out that they are all biased because the media are biased, they're German, etc., and that they should put themselves in Americans' shoes. But another one of my teachers is so blatantly anti-Bush, and has made me uncomfortable several times. What am I supposed to do, openly call him out? P.S. I pray that no one from my school finds this blog. Not sure how they could?

Oh, on Monday my mom and I went to Ikea, which is a totally awesome place. I don't think I'd ever been there in the U.S. before. Seriously, there was so much cheap but not bad quality stuff. I got a bunch of things for my room, and if it weren't for my two ugly painted walls, my room might actually look nice. I'll have to see about painting over it.

Ok, that's it for now, I must actually do something productive. Tschues!

Bewerbungen

Yes, I am in the midst of applying to law school. I don't know if it's a really bad idea, but I am taking my apps way less seriously than I did my college apps. For example, I just sat down Friday and Saturday nights and wrote my personal statement. I like it the way it is, so I think I'll keep it. Actually, does anyone want to read it and give me feedback? I'd quite appreciate it. Let me know, either per email or comments.

Should I apply to NYU and/or UChicago law school? I can't see myself in NYC--I don't really like the place all that much. Way too huge for my taste. And what about UChicago? It's also quite a good school but I've never really been to Chicago (only been to Northwestern as a senior in high school and I actually liked it quite a bit). Don't know if I'd like the place. I'm already applying to 10 law schools, which means over $700 in apps. My mom says what's another $70, but I don't know what to do! I'd say the 10 law schools, but I don't want to jinx it. But I will say that I am not applying to UCLA or USC, a decision I just made that actually surprised me. I just wouldn't be able to stand being in LA. San Francisco/Berkeley, sure, and even OC, but not LA. Man, I hate the idea of having to drive a lot too. But I can never ever support USC or UCLA football. Speaking of, when my mom and I Skyped my father earlier today, the first thing he said was that UCLA and USC lost (not to mention Mission Viejo, a local high school my family hates because of their football team). Funny story--Mission Viejo stole my high school's really good quarterback, who is now playing for the Trojans (he'll be the next big thing, after Palmer, Leinart, and Booty, to come from my area). My dad was in line behind this woman at Starbucks the other day and she was wearing an SC sweatshirt. Of course my dad had to open his mouth and tell the woman he hopes USC loses every game (why, Dad, why?), and it just so happens that this woman is the kid's mother. Insert foot in mouth. You can see where I get it, eh?

So yes, that is my life right now. That, and watching videos on YouTube. I don't have a TV and can't access any shows since the networks limit viewing to Americans, so YouTube it is. I am quite mad at The Office writers--I want to see some more Pam and Jim interaction!

Tomorrow I teach my first two-hour after-school class and I am racking my brain trying to come up with something to teach them. I fear that 50 kids will show up and I won't be able to control them and also manage to teach to so many different ability levels. But I am quite excited! I finally feel challenged and that I am doing what I expected to be doing. And I'm sure the kids will behave themselves since they seem to want to impress me. I had administer a vocab test the other day--well, it's really just three kids a day who get tested in front of the class, and now that I'm helping I take three and the teacher takes three--and one kid was so nervous about embarrassing himself in front of me that he begged the teacher to go with her instead. But it turned out he got a perfect score, and I'm the one who embarrassed myself! He couldn't understand me when I gave him the German word to translate into English. Gotta work on that pronunciation!

Friday we had our orientation at Humboldt. It's an awesome university, so big, so many opportunities. Of course, nothing like an American university (it's been difficult constantly explaining the differences between American colleges/universities and the various European systems). My tuition is only 192 Euros, and with that comes a Semesterticket for all public transportation for six months. I also get Begruessungsgeld from Berlin--110 Euro back since I am registering for the first time at a Berlin university. I just cannot understand it! Berlin is so poor, so in debt, yet they decide to give me a majority of my money back! I do not understand the economics of this procedure--does it have something to do with good will bringing in more people? It's not like Berlin needs to offer anyone an incentive to come there. But hey, I'm not complaining. A one-month transportation pass alone costs around 70 Euro. This is a sweet deal. More later on what classes I am taking at Humboldt, but I am now officially registered as a student in Sozialwissenschaften (social sciences) instead of Germanische Linguistik (oh, how I miss linguistics, but it was time to move on).

Oh, yesterday I went to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. It was quite informative--everywhere you turn, there is even more information to read. But I think I have had my share of concentration camps, after Auschwitz and all. There is only so much human brutality I can take. So unfathomable.

Today I spent another three hours with my church group. Will have to explain that later. Really awesome, bilingual community. So good to see active Christians in Berlin! And to be able to participate!

And to emphasize another positive thing (trying not to be so negative, and considering my life is going better now, that's not so hard to do): every time I leave my apartment I am just beaming at how wonderfully located it is. I like the place, and my roommate is so nice! Such a blessing. You all are certainly welcome to come and see the place for yourself, and after I go to Ikea tomorrow, maybe there will even be a place for you to sleep! Not promising anything though. ;-)

Neue Nachrichten

Wow, I am like totally a real blogger now, posting twice in one day! Maybe because I know there is at least some audience out there reading it. Thanks for your feedback, guys. Peter, sorry it's so sad. I promise I am just being a drama queen since I have no one to be one to in person. I haven't yet learned how to be a drama queen in German. :-p

All I have to say is that I had a fabulous evening at a little going-away party for the woman who is moving out of my apartment--I really like the people who live in my building. And my mom called and said my external hard drive works now--she had taken it back to the U.S. with her (since she was here yesterday and today, in case I failed to mention it). So yeah, despite my computer being kaputt and losing all of my most recent photos, everything's back in Ordnung! At least I pray.

I really need to pray more, speaking of. And, of lesser importance, I need to write that personal statement and apply to law schools . . .

Shoot me now.

My computer crashed, deleting all my photos, work (THESIS), everything from the past year.

And so I thought, well good, at least I've saved most of my stuff on my external hard drive (which I got after my computer crashed for the second time and I lost everything I had ever done for the second time). BUT NO! My external hard drive refuses to turn on, and I don't know if it's because of the conversion issue or if it's broken or what.

I have never been depressed before, but if my external hard drive is forever broken, I will have to start taking Prozac or something. My hard drive has thousands and thousands of photos, from trips all over the world and of friends and graduation and parties and on and on.

And oh yeah, I never saved my photos from the past month onto my external hard drive anyway, so you will never get to see how much I enjoyed Munich or how I climbed to the top of the Dom in Cologne or the quirky things I've seen around Berlin. And now all I have is my stupid memory to remember them.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to take photos, and how this is really devastating to me.

And oh yeah, registering at Humboldt was a pain in the butt and I still have to go back because I did something wrong. For the third time. After standing in four lines for three hours yesterday!

The LSAT was also way more difficult than I anticipated. Maybe I should have filled in those little bubbles when I did practice tests, because that actually took a lot of time! I will have to write more about my trip to Munich another time, because I did have some funny--and of course stressful for someone about to take the LSAT--experiences re: the apartment I was staying in.

But oh well, I still have two arms and two legs and a brain and a heart and so I guess I should be happy. Which reminds me, on the train from Berlin to Munich the woman sitting across from me had no arms. It was pretty awesome. She could do everything with her feet and toes--unzip her wallet and take out her ticket, put on her jacket, and, the most amazing feat of them all, but her two bags over her shoulder. So impressive!

Yes, I am really happy that I still have my two arms. And with that, I am going to go celebrate German Reunification Day, which apparently no one cares about, at least in comparison to the Fourth of July in the U.S., but we've got the day off school!

Ouch!

I've moved into my new apartment! I'm so happy now--to have a place to call home, to have Internet, to be a short U-Bahn ride away from my school . . .

But right now my computer is giving me painful electrical shocks and I don't know if I can bear to use it anymore!

Various pictures forthcoming . . .