Das Alles ist Deutschland

It has been requested that I update my blog again with my goings on. So here goes.

It's been a random time here in Brandenburg, but mostly happier than before Christmas. The 8th graders are learning about American high schools, so I have now been to every 8th grade class at the school trying to explain just what exactly a yearbook is and that students do volunteer work (a TOTALLY foreign concept in Germany). It's fairly interesting to hear what they ask, when they actually come up with questions. I also have Disney to thank for all of my German students thinking that High School Musical is real American life. Oh well, at least it gives them some basis to start with even if the students are shown as never actually going to class and dancing their emotions in the cafeteria. They are super excited to look at a yearbook and for those of you I knew in high school and who may have signed my yearbook, sorry, but I'm fairly certain German middle schoolers have been reading your messages.

I'm also working on "The Extremists" at a theatre in Berlin. I'm officially the ASM, but last weekend I was just kind of the stage manager while the real one took care of her 6 month old. There's not a ton to do in terms of stage managing this show--I've mostly just been on book (following along in the lines and correcting the actors) for 5 hours at a time. It's a very tiring job actually cause you can't let your attention wander at all. If an actor calls "line" you have to immediately give it without pause. Walter Asmus, one of Beckett's friends, is directing the show, which is kinda cool. However, since I'm only there on the weekends and this is a bit of a weird show, I'm not getting the full picture I think. Maybe it'll change in the next few weeks once the actors are completely on top of their lines.

Some friends and I went to Gruene Woche, or Green Week, in Berlin last weekend. It's a big expo with natural food and/or traditional food from all over the world and animals, plants, flowers, garden stuff, and all sorts of other weird things. It was really crowded, but pretty interesting. The sad part was that "Typical American Food" was represented by soft serve ice cream, muffins, and Barack Obama mustard. Aren't you glad though that our new president is represented by organic German mustard? I certainly am!

Speaking of the election. Hooray for President Obama! Along with Erica and Rachel, I went to a big inauguration party in Berlin on Jan 20th. It was held in this huge fancy club and we got to watch the speech on a big screen and important people from Democrats Abroad and Republicans Abroad spoke. It was really interesting to see the German reactions to American political figures and also that there were quite a few Americans there. Note: The crowd clapped when Jimmy Carter appeared and booed when Bush did. Once the band started playing and we had been standing for a long long time, it was time to go home. We were standing in a rather convenient photo place though and ended up in a photo... Check it out but get out your magnifying glass...I'm in pictures 5 and 9, dead center above the Obama banner on the balcony. I'm wearing a white shirt.

I'm heading to Italy next week for my break. Hooray for a new country with lots of cool places to see!

I'm working on applying for jobs for next year. I hope Obama comes through and gives the arts some funding. All of these theatre closings have me terrified. I'm also trying to do some of my own stuff--write a play, listen to more music, bake cookies, anything for my own development as a person. Oh, and weather update as usual: gray, rainy, cold. Anyone surprised?