Blog 3: Less of a tourist, more of a Berliner

This bus driver's trip onto the sidewalk was a little adventurous.

I’ve begun to lose track of where I am.

I don’t mean that I’ve developed a habit of getting lost in Berlin. Quite the opposite, in fact. I think everybody on our trip, including myself, has gotten rather adept at navigating this chaotic city.

I mean that I’ve started to lose track of where I am on a global scale. After almost two weeks here, Berlin is starting to feel like home.

"Where did this Soviet disco ball come from?"

I forget that my friends and family are six hours behind me. The University of Florida seems like some distant place to me. Really, I’ve just gotten lost in the magic of this city.

Of course, I miss my friends and family (Hi Mom! Hi Dad! Sorry I haven’t been calling as much as I should be). At the same time, as a college student, I’m used to not seeing them for long periods of time. Just as my friends at UF make me feel at home during the school year, the people on this trip have made me feel at home in Berlin. We’ve become one big family here. I’ve gotten used to the routine:

Wake up. Go down to the lobby and say hello to everyone. Find out what everyone’s doing that day. Go out and explore the city with people. Repeat.

Bubbles? Why not?

We still do some sightseeing, but for the most part we've been doing things that are more off the radar. For example, on Saturday night I went with two friends, Sam and Victoria, to a tiny concert venue that was off the beaten path. We saw a Spanish surf rock band that none of us had ever heard of. The next day, a bunch of us went to “Mauerpark” for the weekly festival and flea market. Eating street food and watching random bands and street performers was an incredible experience. It was quintessential Berlin.

It’s important to see all the tourist attractions in Berlin. All of that was incredible. But it’s equally important to immerse yourself in the “real” Berlin. I think I’ll remember that stuff the most.

Also adventurous: this kid climbing the ropes on the banks of the Greater Wannsee.