yikes!

We have been having some of the most hellacious thunder storms I have ever seen. Right now, the rain is so heavy that I can't see the other building's balconies across the courtyards very clearly. The thunder and lightning is incessant and startling. Over the past several days, we have had so many of these. It's especially unusual because the day could start out very warm and sunny... then hours later it's almost as dark as dusk and pouring buckets. It's sort of exciting, although I wouldn't want to be out in it. Last night we stayed so long at this Irish Pub called Killkennys (I think?) because the storm outside seemed to never end.

EEk there was just now a sudden crash of thunder which made me jump. I wonder if it sounded similar when Berlin was being bombed in WWII.

hot & stormy

What an unusual day. It was a million degrees and unpleasantly humid all day long, yet now I am being held captive inside my apartment waiting for this horrific thunderstorm to end before I go out to eat. I hope it ends soon because I am hungry!

fuzzy things

There are fuzzy things everywhere! They are just floating around all over the place, and because I am such a strange person, I find this incredibly amusing. I noticed some of the stores are open today which is unusual because usually everything is closed on Sunday. We sat at Caras today for a long time watching all the people go by. It's very warm today, I hope this kind of weather is finally here to stay.

Sooooo I'm here Hello Berlin

I arrived on Thursday evening and I feel that Berlin has welcomed me with open arms. As sad as I was to leave Seattle, I haven't felt a touch of homesickness since I have been in Berlin. At least not yet anyhow.

Today I went to register with the "police", which I guess isn't really the police, it just seems to be a government place that keeps records of people that live here. I'm still a little weak on the German terminology for this, but as much as I had the impression that this would be a royal pain in the ass, it really wasn't. We didn't have to wait very long and I ended up leaving with a big grin on my face because the lady who entered my info into the computer said "Jetzt sind Sie eine Berlinerin" (now you are a Berliner!).

Monday I meet with the attorney, etc. to start the application process. I've got a 10 lb stack of papers in hopes that I have covered all bases and that anything they want documentation of, I've got on hand right away.

Technical stuff aside, it has been a pleasant surprise at how nice the weather here is. I feel like I'm back in California. (minus the smog etc.)

Tonight we are going to a Depeche Mode party. Wooo!

goodbye

Goodbye Seattle. While I'm excited and very optimistic about my move to Berlin, it is still sad to leave.