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?