Settling in

It's been almost two months since we arrived in Berlin. Slowly we are learning how to navigate the city and we are finally starting to feel a little more settled. Last weekend we decided to add some color to our otherwise white wohnzimmer (living room)! We picked a nice earthy orangy-brown to compensate for our lack of pictures and wall hangings. The place is beginning to shape up and is feeling more and more like home. Besides our home decorating ventures, we have been busy with work and play. Matt is enjoying his position at Max Planck and I have recently become employed at the Berlin Metropolitan School! It is an international school right in Mitte, Berlin's historic and exciting center. I am currently a long-term substitute but I have been offered a full-time contract for next year! So thankful for the opportunity to gain international teaching experience as well as some new teacher friends!

Almost finished!

Matt showing off his painting skills

Finished!

Local Market-goers

This morning, after sleeping in until 11am (long week!), we walked about 2 blocks to Boxhagener Platz....a large park with ample sidewalk space for fabulous weekend markets. On Saturdays, many shoppers with their reusable bags in tow arrive for a large open-air food market. All sorts of vendors return weekly with their delicious cheeses, breads, fruits, veggies, eggs, fish, jams, meats, oh and did I mention cheese?? I am in heaven. This morning we stocked up on egges, bread and veggies for the week. Tomorrow the same neighborhood platz hosts a flea market. Last week we scored 2 comfy leather chairs and a sweet dining room table set. I wonder what we'll stumble upon tomorrow?

Mmmm...fresh brot!

We couldn't resist buying some spuds named "Laura"!

A view of our new neighborhood

Home Sweet Home

How fun it is to set up a new home! Sure, the lugging of the heavy furniture and hours of IKEA-building are not necessarily activities of choice, but once it's all said and done, it is just so NICE! We are in love with our new place. It couldn't have worked out better. Initially, the daunting task of setting up viewings and securing a desirable place to live seemed close to impossible. This was actually the first (and only!) place we saw! It is in a lively, hip location in east Berlin with lots of cafes, pubs and shops all within walking distance. The one downside is Matt's commute - one hour each way. He has stocked up on some good novels at a local English bookstore to help pass his daily train ride. Here are some pics from the last few weeks. As of today, we are online here at our new place, so expect some more updates soon! Once we get the place set up a little more, we'll pass along some of those photos as well!

Matt built our new bed with his handy swiss army knife!

Reading up on our new fridge

The view from our new balcony...I think we'll have to wait for spring to really enjoy it!

Halloween at "Hairy Mary's" - an English pub

Matt and Jong on Halloween with our friendly waiter

A biking adventure in Golm/Postdam

This week tested our patience. Our apartment in Berlin was not available for another week, which meant we were in Golm for one...more...week. Don't get me wrong, I know there are MANY worse places in the world to live than Golm. It's just that once people leave here to go home (mostly in Berlin), this place becomes deserted....plain empty. Well, the other day while Matt was working, I felt the need to get out and explore, yet didn't have a train pass at the moment and didn't really feel like making the hour commute into Berlin. So....I borrowed a bike! I rode through Golm (which took all of 3 minutes) and into Potsdam. I reached Sanssouci Park and explored the massive park using the various trails that wind throughout. What a beautiful park! Although the bike was a little rusty and the brakes were on their way out, it felt so nice to be out. The weather is turning cooler (50's this week) and pretty soon it will become more of a challenge to get out enjoy the great outdoors. So....I was thankful for this day of biking and exploring. Here are some pics from my outing:

The Japanese Tea House
at Park Sanssouci

A view of Sanssouci

Riding along the path

Many of the homes in Postdam/Golm resemble this one:

On the way through Golm...with some groceries!

Last but not least...this is the guesthouse where we've
been living for the last 2 1/2 weeks!

KaDeWe: A shopper's haven!

Yesterday I journeyed into Berlin to drop off our signed rental contract (we move in early next week and could not be more excited!) Afterward, since I was by myself and had yet to do some shopping in Berlin, I decided to venture over to KaDeWe, Berlin's largest and most extravagant department store. This enormous store is bursting with everything you could ever need (or think you need!). My favorite is the top "Gourmet Floor", which sits high above the surrounding city buildings, and boasts delectable treats from around the world, including (my downfall!) over 1,300 types of CHEESE! There is even an American section where you can find otherwise difficult items to spot in Germany such as peanut butter, chocolate chips, and Hunt's BBQ sauce. I guess I haven't be away long enough to miss my favorite American staples, but I'm sure we'll be back there in the coming months to satisfy our cravings for some home cookin'.

Well, my true mission at the KaDeWe this time was to locate their craft store that I had read about on the internet. Lesley and I recently decided to start a new blog called Sister Knitters (check it out!), where we pick the same project and knit the item for each other. The first project : Mittens!! I was dying to get my hands on some of Germany's best yarns, and I was not let down. I spotted idee from a distance (who could miss it??):


The store was like a gourmet Michaels/AC Moore. Everything was arranged in neat little rows in cute little packages.....without restraint (and with some money in the bank account--where is our money?!), I could have bought it all! I found the knitting section and was in heaven. I had to touch it all. I found some delicious yarn to knit my first project for my favorite sister :) Visit our new site again to see the finished products (not to be revealed, of course, until they make it across the Atlantic Ocean and in the hands of the other sister!) I will certainly be returning to IDEE, and am also planning on visiting Berlin's smaller yarn shops. This is fun!

I almost needed to be restrained!

A street artist on my way back to the train:

Sunday Brunch...and other people's junk

Today we experienced our first true Berlin brunch. Berliners take Sunday brunch very seriously. Typically a Sunday brunch lasts from 11am to 4pm, and many people do end up staying the entire time. A delicious all-you-can-eat feast costs a measly 8 Euros, and you leave feeling like you've eaten enough goodness to last you until next Sunday. Each restaurant boasts their own individual brunch flair. We happened to attend brunch at an Italian restaurant this morning, so ours was equipped with mouth-watering tiramasu as well as assorted meats, cheeses and fruits. I have recently discovered "apfelschorle", which is a slightly fizzy applejuice, and surprisingly thirst-quenching. Ooh this brunch thing could definitely become a habit!



After eating to our heart's content, we decided burn off some calories by walking to Mauer Park in Prenzlaur Berg. This park is the old site of the Berlin wall ("mauer" means "wall" for those beginner German students!) and each Sunday there is a HUGE flea market here. The market draws many Berliners alike in search of various items - anything from clothing to bike parts to....you name it, you'll probably find it! Mostly it was heaps and heaps of junk.....but one person's junk is another person's treasure, right? We had our eye on some used furniture that we could use in our new apartment, as well as some light fixtures, kitchen supplies, and home decor. We also found another flea market one block away from our new apartment (which we'll be moving to in a week!) so we're excited to get back there once we're in the neighborhood. Here's a video of us at the market checking out the goods....including a wig that Matt wouldn't let me buy :)

First Impressions

Sanssouci = Without Worries

Is it really possible only one week has passed since our arrival? From the moment our plane landed and we stepped foot on the streets of this vibrant city, we've been going....nonstop. With all of the anticipation of this big move abroad, we were willing and ready to jump right in and tackle all looming threats of jetlag, culture shock, etc. And I'd say we've done OK so far!

In the last 7 days, we've learned to navigate the trains (which involved missing a few, of course!) and at the same time realized that our legs were in for a huge shock! Like in most cities, you walk, and walk and walk to get anywhere and everywhere. Well, without a car (and no plans to have one), we've been adjusting to this new and necessesary form of daily exercise.

Over the weekend we were lucky enough to get 2 private insider tours of the city. Jong, an American who works with Matt, walked us around the city for hours and hours on Saturday, showing us all the hotspots in the up-and-coming Berlin neighborhoods. We instantly were attracted to these funky neigborhoods nestled in what used to be East Berlin. Rent here is still relatively inexpenisve, and the area is packed with cafes, pubs, parks and theaters. On Sunday, we attended brunch at the home of another of Matt's colleagues, Paul. He and his family live in West Berlin, a nice area that tends to be a bit more pricy and quiet. So much to take in, but our explorations have been very helpful in helping us narrow down the neighborhoods that are right for us.

Other accomplishments include getting cell phones, opening a bank account, and registering our (temporary) address. All of these steps are necessary for securing a flat, so we are on our way to finding our first home here in Berlin! All in all, we are adjusting well and are enjoying each day. We are super motivated at this point to LEARN German, so we will definitely look into classes in the near future. Until next time....aufwiedersehen!

Walking towards Sansouci in Postdam

Our "welcome" basket

The coffee here is the BEST!

Matt's a little suspicious of what's coming behind him-

Touring Potsdam in the fall = gorgeous!

On the shores of Long Lake......

The fresh scent of pine, the lapping waves along the shore, the crying loons at night......all of the incredible memories came quickly rushing back to me as we drove down the steep hill to our beloved Camp Newfound. The crisp fall breeze filled my lungs as I took in a few deep breaths of the cleansing Maine air. Ahh....there's really no place like home. As I walked down towards the lake, I thought back to when I was 11 years old, locked arm in arm with my camp friends as we walked to the dining hall or to our sailing class. How is it possible for one little camp in the sleepy town of Harrison, ME to hold so many wonderful memories for years to come? My sister, brother and I came to camp here for many summers growing up. It was here that we learned to waterski, canoe, sail, hike, bike.....the list goes on. It was here also where I learned how to overcome obstacles, challenge myself, and be pushed out of my comfort zone.

Lucky me.....last week I got to return to camp with my 2 favorite women - Lesley (my sister) and Judy (my mom) - for the adults' creative arts program. We signed up for a writing class, not really knowing what to expect, but just glad to be in the presence of camp. We were all a little apprehensive at the idea of 4 long days of doing nothing but writing, writing, writing. Thanks to our amazing teacher Heather Vogel Frederick (a very talented published author!) and our fellow writers in the group, the class exceeded all expectations. We were given exercises that inspired and helped us to generate creative ideas for stories, poems and essays that took us to new places as writers. I left feeling uplifted and, well, greatly inspired to keep writing and journaling throughout my life. Thanks to everyone who made this a fabulous week spent at my favorite place on earth!!

The 3 of us standing by the grove:

Long Lake in the distance:

No trip to Maine would be complete without a juicy Maine lobster!!

Jamie & Tara's Wedding

A few weeks ago, we headed back to Cape Cod to celebrate the marriage of Jamie and Tara. Jamie is one of Matt's close friends from high school, so it was fun for everyone to get together (a rare event these days!) The wedding was a blast, and the gorgeous Cape Cod landscape made it picture-perfect in every way. Congrats to Jamie and Tara!!

The boys!

Me, Tara and Katie at the reception

GO PHILLIES!!!!

I think my obsession with the Philadelphia Phillies started back when I was twelve and I would watch the games along side of my Grandpa - a HUGE sports fan. After moving out to CA, I started following the Phillies more closely....it was a little slice of home. Well, last night I was in heaven. Thanks to my uncle Tracy, we scored some awesome seats right behind the Phillies dugout!! I could almost reach out and give a high-five to Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and my all time favorite Chase Utley. The Phillies did not disappoint last night, as they won the crucial game against the Florida Marlins. I loved the intense energy and the sea of red as everyone rooted for the Fightin' Phils. It was a blast having Matt and my parents cheering along side of me. What a fun night!!






P.S. Don't worry Red Sox Fans........Matt still thinks you're #1 !!!!

Kelly & Jim

On Saturday we went to Kelly and Jim Pio's wedding in Philadelphia. Kelly is a good friend of mine from high school. Hurricane Hanna was moving through the Philadelphia area as the wedding began, but the rain and winds did not put a damper on the celebrations. They were married at the beautiful Christ Church in Center City - the exact church where Ben Franklin himself is buried! It was a fun evening to catch up with some old friends and celebrate Kelly and Jim's marriage!

Good times with the Harringtons!

I think we are becoming professional east coast travelers...we have been making the drive back and forth between PA and MA for the last 3 weeks. Last week we were with the Harringtons in Holliston, MA! For Matt's birthday (which conveniently happened over Labor Day weekend!) we all headed to Cape Cod to celebrate. I love the New England charm that oozes all over the Cape. We had tons of fun at the beach, kayaking, swimming and enjoying some quality time with the Harringtons. In a few days we will head up to the Cape again to attend Jamie and Tara's wedding. We are thoroughly enjoying our much needed family time on the east coast!!

Matt and Rob hanging out by the firepit in Holliston

Out to lunch for Matt's birthday

Enjoying the Harrington brothers in concert!