Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Wie amerikanisch bin ich? Questions...

So this has been a tough sort of time for me, intellectually speaking that is. I have given a lot of thought and energy to discussions about my experiences thus far, but I am having real trouble articulating this to everyone back home. Part of me is ready to come home and see all the things I've missed, but another equally valid and entrenched part of me would love nothing more than to stay here in Germany and continue my studies and explorations.

My questions for the readers out there: How do I reconcile the two of these ideas? Is there some sort of middle ground, particularly when there is no geographic middle ground? Another thing I have been ruminating on is the idea of a "reverse culture shock", an idea my roommate and close associates have discussed. Can I successfully reintegrate into an academic milieu so much more defined and regimented than Germany? Will I be able to sort of assume the "Berkeley Will" outfit that I left behind?

As my time here in Germany draws to a close, I am faced with ever more questions, and me being me (I love knowing the answer), have encountered frustration in that there seems to be no satisfying answer. On another note, I turned 22 this last weekend, and I feel loads smarter and more worldly. :D

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Just Call Me the Lazarus Man...

Hey there sports fans! After a technology-inspired leave of absence (my internet went down, and the last two months were on vacation and trying to fix the damn thing), Postcards from Germany is back. I know all 7 of you are very pleased to see me back on the web.

Anyway, there is simply so much to talk about since my last post, thus I will bullet point my experiences and expand as you, the reader see fit.
-finished Winter Semester (and got some good marks to boot)
-saw Ireland for St. Patty's
-lounged in beautiful Croatia
-saw Berlin again!
-perused every new release in theaters
-started new semester at school! (tons of work this semester, though last one certainly wasn't a cake walk)
-fixed internet
-loads more

I look forward to posting more often these days, letting all of you back home in on the wonderful world of Berlin, as well as some of the musings that are presented from the downhill slope of my year abroad. I will say that now spring has sprung, Berlin is a beautiful, vibrant city with loads to see and do. The cafes alone seem to outnumber the people...

On another (and entirely selfish) note, should anyone wish to send me letters, post, or birthday greetings, my address here in Berlin is as follows:

William Jacobson
Wrangelstrasse 71
Berlin, DE [Germany] (note: the brackets and this sidenote are not in fact part of my address)
10997