Every New Beginning
This is my last day in Germany for a while.
My whole intent on this post was to vent my current monetary frustrations, largely stemming from the German banking system. But I shall try to end the whole thing with some profound and thoughtful summary of my time in Germany. :D
1) Big Bag O' Cash
As I do at home, here in Germany, I was collecting my Euro-cents so that at the end of my semester in Germany I'd have accummulated approximately 20€ in heavy heavy coins. But instead what I've accummulated is a large bag of heavy heavy coins of which bankers are terrified. If coin-counting machines exist in Deutschland, I have yet to find one. What I have seen is horrified looks on teller's faces as I produce the bag of coins to explain how I'd much rather have paper to go home with. And then they shake their heads and say, This Sparkasse or That Sparkasse, which leads me on a wild goose chase of banks and tellers looking stumped at the pure quantity of metal in my possession. This is legal tender. 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 cent coins! There's not THAT much of it, so what's the problem, Germany?!
2) Germany's Unification did not include it's Banks
Though I have been lucky and have not had too many problems with it, it remains incredibly strange to me that the Sparkasse in Berlin cannot help me with my Sparkasse account in Kiel. When my ATM card got locked up (totally my fault) I had to return to Kiel to have it opened again. I was going there anyway. When I had to arrange closing my Sparkasse account, the tellers of Berlin couldn't help me in the least because I am a member of Förde Sparkasse and NOT Berlin Sparkasse and the two are mystifyingly not linked, though they share the same name, marketing strategies, and website.
3) the Dollar
This really has very little to do with Germany, and more to do with life's little ironies. As if to thwart my dreams of having some money, the dollar has decided to be worth something- or at least a little more than it has in the past 6 months. (It sat around $.62-.64 per Euro and is now $.67 per Euro- OUT OF NOWHERE!!!) So the money I so recently earned in the Euro, is now worth LESS in the dollar- just when I will be converting it back. So what to do? This is the game of: how much money will I lose in interest by holding onto my Euros and waiting for the dollar to dive again? Or perhaps more my problem, college student that I am: How much of this money have I already spent and will not have regardless of the exchange rate?
4) Profound and Thoughtful Summary
Germany, as a whole, has been an amazing journey for me. There are so many things that I hope will never ever be forgotten- both the deep rooted friendships, ideas, and internal restructuring and the more tangible stories, memories, and experiences. I cannot really explain how much I've grown or how much this semester will have shaped the rest of my life, but perhaps I needn't explain.
Berlin has been a great experience, although a polar opposite from my time in Kiel. I feel that my German has really solidified during my time here. But please don't test me on it; I am by no means perfect, but I have gotten comfortable with understanding and speaking German. It still amazes me both that I have lived so comfortably in this city (My family visited it in 2000, and I would never have expected hates-big-cities-girl-me to be living there despite having really enjoyed it) and all of the additional things I was able to experience while here.
This past week, Berlin's Konzerthaus (Concert House in E. Berlin) hosted the Young-Euro-Classic orchestral concerts (http://young-euro-classic.de/), a very cool program which brings international youth orchestras to Berlin to perform in 1 per night concerts. I attended two of the events- a Chamber Ensemble with Chinese and German musicians (in cooperation with Shanghai Conservatory of Music and University of Music and Performing Arts Munich) and a Traditions East-West concert featuring classical Chinese instrumental music, performed by the ensemble “Tai” of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in correspondence with vocal music by Orlando di Lasso (16th century), performed by the “Lassus Consort” (former Regensburger Domspatzen). Both concerts were amazing! The second concert, I think, was truly beautiful and represented, for me, the wonders of music.
Throughout the entire concert, it was one piece with the traditional Chinese instruments (one of them being an ERHU!!!) followed by a piece from the (French?) 5-man choir. It was very strange and harshly contrasting. The choir was very rhythmic while I felt the Chinese music, while definitely containing a pattern, did not have a constant beat throughout their pieces (now I want to do some research into traditional Chinese music to see where the variations lie). But everyone loved the music. There was an encore. Followed by a second encore. And, if I remember correctly, there was a THIRD encore. I just remember being completely amazed by this, because it never happens. And for all the encores, it was one song by the China group, one by the choir. But the last song, the very last song, sung by the choir happened to be "Blackbird" by the Beatles. It was so a-typical from the other (unrecognizable) songs they had sung, and it happens to be one of my favorite songs. The irony of that night was that they paused for a short time near the end, as part of the dramatic effect of the song, and the otherwise un-clappy classical concert-goers (who can recognize the end of a MOVEMENT and NOT clap vs. the end of an entire piece) started clapping, and continued to clap despite the hand wavings of the strained choir. But when the audience finally quieted, the choir continued on with Blackbird and were suddenly and surprisingly joined in by the Chinese man on the bamboo flute! It was the moment I had been waiting for throughout the entire concert, for while music is an international language, the two groups had remained stiffly isolated from each other. The audience released a stunned awe while the Chinese girls sitting with instruments on their laps began to clap to the beat of the choir and the whole audience joined in. Music, doing exactly what music should do.
During my time in Berlin, my Mom and Pops have visited, my sister visited twice and together with Daggie we saw beautiful Dresden, I've seen German theater, I explored the Egyptian museum (and saw Nefertiti's head- a sculpture of it anyway, and the striking Berlin Green Head- http://www.museumsinsel-berlin.de/index.php?lang=en&page=3_3_1_5), I spent a weekend celebrating summer in Norway with Mikkel and Victoria, and Long visited me which helped me to really go out and see the city. Together we went to the Alte Nationalgalerie (19th Cent. Art Museum) and saw some really amazing paintings. We also went to the chocolate floor in the designer mall, saw an IMAX (which wasn't so IMAXy) in the Sony Center, and enjoyed both American and Asian cuisine. There are so many amazing memories, which as life goes on, I hope to always hold close to me.
And these are just the extra things I've seen and done during my time in Berlin. My whole purpose in being here was to work in this DLR lab. And I have, but I've learned a few things about the working atmosphere in Germany. Namely, it's relaxed. I am stress- and guilt-free. One should not feel guilty about not being stressed. :P But I've learned quite a bit about Aerospace, but moreso I'd say about lab and experimental-problem-solving protocol. It seems that communication within scientific communities is incredibly important. So while we may all be awkward scientists, we still take time to get to know our fellow scientists. Other qualities valued by scientists in a lab setting are down time. A stressed mind cannot really focus on a problem and find a way (or multiple ways) to test and solve it. Eating is also something not to be missed. I suppose I could summarize it by saying: To be good at what you do, you must be well-rounded and take the best physical care of yourself. A sharp mind requires balanced nutrients and hormones, etc. which comes through regular diet, exercise, and sleep.
This post is getting increasingly lengthier, but while my colleagues have said I can go home if I wish, I really don't know what I'd do. The sky is currently immitating my mood. It is fiercely raining, and at the same time there is a glorious sun striking our window. It's the confusion of leaving behind what is inspiring, comfortable, or happy for what is somewhat unknown. It is exciting, it is scary, it is what makes life the great adventure. In the words of a friend: "Remembering all those good memories makes you sad to think that the old chapter is coming to an end and a new chapter is just couple of days away from you. But life goes on... that´s how life works, you meet nice people and you have to leave them. I know that we will have a better chapter in our life, so don´t you worry about it. We will meet again, and then we will do more crazy and fun things together. I´ll never get old in my mind."
My whole intent on this post was to vent my current monetary frustrations, largely stemming from the German banking system. But I shall try to end the whole thing with some profound and thoughtful summary of my time in Germany. :D
1) Big Bag O' Cash
As I do at home, here in Germany, I was collecting my Euro-cents so that at the end of my semester in Germany I'd have accummulated approximately 20€ in heavy heavy coins. But instead what I've accummulated is a large bag of heavy heavy coins of which bankers are terrified. If coin-counting machines exist in Deutschland, I have yet to find one. What I have seen is horrified looks on teller's faces as I produce the bag of coins to explain how I'd much rather have paper to go home with. And then they shake their heads and say, This Sparkasse or That Sparkasse, which leads me on a wild goose chase of banks and tellers looking stumped at the pure quantity of metal in my possession. This is legal tender. 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 cent coins! There's not THAT much of it, so what's the problem, Germany?!
2) Germany's Unification did not include it's Banks
Though I have been lucky and have not had too many problems with it, it remains incredibly strange to me that the Sparkasse in Berlin cannot help me with my Sparkasse account in Kiel. When my ATM card got locked up (totally my fault) I had to return to Kiel to have it opened again. I was going there anyway. When I had to arrange closing my Sparkasse account, the tellers of Berlin couldn't help me in the least because I am a member of Förde Sparkasse and NOT Berlin Sparkasse and the two are mystifyingly not linked, though they share the same name, marketing strategies, and website.
3) the Dollar
This really has very little to do with Germany, and more to do with life's little ironies. As if to thwart my dreams of having some money, the dollar has decided to be worth something- or at least a little more than it has in the past 6 months. (It sat around $.62-.64 per Euro and is now $.67 per Euro- OUT OF NOWHERE!!!) So the money I so recently earned in the Euro, is now worth LESS in the dollar- just when I will be converting it back. So what to do? This is the game of: how much money will I lose in interest by holding onto my Euros and waiting for the dollar to dive again? Or perhaps more my problem, college student that I am: How much of this money have I already spent and will not have regardless of the exchange rate?
4) Profound and Thoughtful Summary
Germany, as a whole, has been an amazing journey for me. There are so many things that I hope will never ever be forgotten- both the deep rooted friendships, ideas, and internal restructuring and the more tangible stories, memories, and experiences. I cannot really explain how much I've grown or how much this semester will have shaped the rest of my life, but perhaps I needn't explain.
Berlin has been a great experience, although a polar opposite from my time in Kiel. I feel that my German has really solidified during my time here. But please don't test me on it; I am by no means perfect, but I have gotten comfortable with understanding and speaking German. It still amazes me both that I have lived so comfortably in this city (My family visited it in 2000, and I would never have expected hates-big-cities-girl-me to be living there despite having really enjoyed it) and all of the additional things I was able to experience while here.
This past week, Berlin's Konzerthaus (Concert House in E. Berlin) hosted the Young-Euro-Classic orchestral concerts (http://young-euro-classic.de/), a very cool program which brings international youth orchestras to Berlin to perform in 1 per night concerts. I attended two of the events- a Chamber Ensemble with Chinese and German musicians (in cooperation with Shanghai Conservatory of Music and University of Music and Performing Arts Munich) and a Traditions East-West concert featuring classical Chinese instrumental music, performed by the ensemble “Tai” of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in correspondence with vocal music by Orlando di Lasso (16th century), performed by the “Lassus Consort” (former Regensburger Domspatzen). Both concerts were amazing! The second concert, I think, was truly beautiful and represented, for me, the wonders of music.
Throughout the entire concert, it was one piece with the traditional Chinese instruments (one of them being an ERHU!!!) followed by a piece from the (French?) 5-man choir. It was very strange and harshly contrasting. The choir was very rhythmic while I felt the Chinese music, while definitely containing a pattern, did not have a constant beat throughout their pieces (now I want to do some research into traditional Chinese music to see where the variations lie). But everyone loved the music. There was an encore. Followed by a second encore. And, if I remember correctly, there was a THIRD encore. I just remember being completely amazed by this, because it never happens. And for all the encores, it was one song by the China group, one by the choir. But the last song, the very last song, sung by the choir happened to be "Blackbird" by the Beatles. It was so a-typical from the other (unrecognizable) songs they had sung, and it happens to be one of my favorite songs. The irony of that night was that they paused for a short time near the end, as part of the dramatic effect of the song, and the otherwise un-clappy classical concert-goers (who can recognize the end of a MOVEMENT and NOT clap vs. the end of an entire piece) started clapping, and continued to clap despite the hand wavings of the strained choir. But when the audience finally quieted, the choir continued on with Blackbird and were suddenly and surprisingly joined in by the Chinese man on the bamboo flute! It was the moment I had been waiting for throughout the entire concert, for while music is an international language, the two groups had remained stiffly isolated from each other. The audience released a stunned awe while the Chinese girls sitting with instruments on their laps began to clap to the beat of the choir and the whole audience joined in. Music, doing exactly what music should do.
During my time in Berlin, my Mom and Pops have visited, my sister visited twice and together with Daggie we saw beautiful Dresden, I've seen German theater, I explored the Egyptian museum (and saw Nefertiti's head- a sculpture of it anyway, and the striking Berlin Green Head- http://www.museumsinsel-berlin.de/index.php?lang=en&page=3_3_1_5), I spent a weekend celebrating summer in Norway with Mikkel and Victoria, and Long visited me which helped me to really go out and see the city. Together we went to the Alte Nationalgalerie (19th Cent. Art Museum) and saw some really amazing paintings. We also went to the chocolate floor in the designer mall, saw an IMAX (which wasn't so IMAXy) in the Sony Center, and enjoyed both American and Asian cuisine. There are so many amazing memories, which as life goes on, I hope to always hold close to me.
And these are just the extra things I've seen and done during my time in Berlin. My whole purpose in being here was to work in this DLR lab. And I have, but I've learned a few things about the working atmosphere in Germany. Namely, it's relaxed. I am stress- and guilt-free. One should not feel guilty about not being stressed. :P But I've learned quite a bit about Aerospace, but moreso I'd say about lab and experimental-problem-solving protocol. It seems that communication within scientific communities is incredibly important. So while we may all be awkward scientists, we still take time to get to know our fellow scientists. Other qualities valued by scientists in a lab setting are down time. A stressed mind cannot really focus on a problem and find a way (or multiple ways) to test and solve it. Eating is also something not to be missed. I suppose I could summarize it by saying: To be good at what you do, you must be well-rounded and take the best physical care of yourself. A sharp mind requires balanced nutrients and hormones, etc. which comes through regular diet, exercise, and sleep.
This post is getting increasingly lengthier, but while my colleagues have said I can go home if I wish, I really don't know what I'd do. The sky is currently immitating my mood. It is fiercely raining, and at the same time there is a glorious sun striking our window. It's the confusion of leaving behind what is inspiring, comfortable, or happy for what is somewhat unknown. It is exciting, it is scary, it is what makes life the great adventure. In the words of a friend: "Remembering all those good memories makes you sad to think that the old chapter is coming to an end and a new chapter is just couple of days away from you. But life goes on... that´s how life works, you meet nice people and you have to leave them. I know that we will have a better chapter in our life, so don´t you worry about it. We will meet again, and then we will do more crazy and fun things together. I´ll never get old in my mind."