Berlin + Stockholm

For my November break, I headed off to Berlin, and then to Stockholm.

Here are the pics from Berlin.


Here are the pics from Stockholm.


Further description:

When I went to Berlin I stayed with Krista, who is an other SFU student on exchange. She was extremely accomodating and provided me with maps and guidebooks to get me started. I went to a number of museums while there: Pergamon, Altes, Check Point Charlie, Jewish,Eastside Gallery and the Holocaust Memorial. I also met up with Heike, who I know through Ulrika, and Sandra, who I know from my trip to the Dominican Republic last year. I was amazed at the history in the city, and love how laid back it is. It was very refreshing after being in Paris, since while people in Paris all dress nicely, there is very little diversity.

While in Berlin I met a group of girls from Stockholm, four of whom were on my flight. I ended up staying with one of the girls, Sara for my 2 nights there which was really great. It saved me from paying for an expensive hostel there (about 25 euros a night) and, gave me a friend to recommend cool places. I met up with Cecilia and Nick in Stockholm, and we went to the Vasa Museum, and then the National Gallery. After some shopping, my day in Stockholm ended with dinner at a very interesting Thai restaurant where we dinned in a Rickshaw.

F*&% SFR

My quest for internet has, as pointed out by a friend, turned itself into an epic novel that just won't end. Last Thursday, Laure, the lady in Paris who has been helping me integrate into life here (one of Ulrika's friends), helped me call the customer service number to find out what was happening with my account. It turns out that it reached maturity a while back and was never re-activated which is why they did not call. I feel very lucky to have her help me, since when I went to the store, and called the number myself I was unable to get any information or help.

She got them to move their asses though, and since it has taken over 3 weeks to get it installed, I get my first month free. (woot, but I was willing to pay for it in order to have it a month earlier). Anyways, France Telecom FINALLY called me today, to make an appointment to install my line. Their earliest appointment being Thursday December 4th between 9-11am. I have taken this appointment, but since I ordered it on October 21st, which will make the delay 6.5 weeks long. Since I get one month free for it being more then 3 weeks to install, I think I should get 2 months for free since it will take over 6 weeks to install!!!

Being a student in Paris, I really do not have time to waste going back to the phone company, and getting on their ass so I can PAY them to have their internet service. I have essays to write, and having a landline is also vital. I can't continue having to go to friend's houses everytime i want to check my email, since the schools internet is only available for a total of 6 hours on weekends. I am not the only one in France to have to deal with BS on this matter; one of my professors is also sans internet at the moment. The French really do not know how to provide good customer service, in my opinion.

Premiere Neige

I knew it was getting cold this week when I found myself sitting on my couch wearing a sweater, and a touque, so I finally heated my apartment yesterday for the first time. For anyone who has visited my house in the winter, you will know that my family loves to freeze themself, meaning, it was actually cold yesterday.

Anyhow, it snowed this morning for the first! :) It was a pathetic snow fall, but I am still glad the sky tried. After being told it does not snow in Paris, I will take what I can get.

General updates

I cannot believe it is only Thursday. This week has been long, for no particular reason.

I had an exposé Monday for my Nobel prize of litterature course. I had to present on Thomas MANN, a German author who won the prize in 1929 for his epic novel the Buddenbrooks which he wrote in 1901 at the age of 25. The presentation went well, and I found that the research on teh author was quite interesting. After the presentation we were immediatly given our critiques, which were not that bad. The professor then went on to comment how he loves when international students speak French, and that he liked my pronounciation and thought I had a fairly high but pleasant voice...he then announced the marks for that days presentations at the end of class in front of everyone.

Tuesday, I went to the Young Adults group at the church I am attending. Young adults here include anyone from 18-35 years, but some people who are older than that come too. There were about 40 people that went. A nice evening. However, the day was not great. I went to SFR to complain about my lack of internet again. It has been over a month, and I am still waiting for a technician to call me to make an appointment to come install it. When the dude informed me he could do nothing, and that I just have to keep waiting, I burst into tears. This brings the count to 5, 5 being the number of times the internet has made me cry while in Paris.

Wednesay was also a fun day. In my Asian Cinema class, after having a short debat on religion, the professor asked me if I attended church. I replied yes, he then asked if I went everyweek. I said usually. Unable to prove his point that only old people attend church he simply said, "Bless you". On my way home, I stopped at SFR again, this time more composed, and the guy, who knows me by my first name now says he called his manager yesterday since my emotional display the day before made him uncomfortable. He tells me his manager has taken it into his own hands to resolve my situation. I tell him that while I appreciate that, I just want to know when someone shall call me. Wednesday evening entailed meeting up with friends at the student restaurant, going to a salsa bar, and walking down the Seine.

Today, Thursday, I am going to see "The President's Last Bang" at the Korean Film Festival. It is by IM Sang Soo, the director I will study for my upcoming Asian Cinama research. The film is about the assassination of former Korean President Park Chung Hee. he special thing about the screening tonight is that the film will be shown in its original format, and not its censored theatrical release one. The film finishes at 11:45pm, and then I have 2 classes at 8am tommorow! Any suggestions for cities to go to for a day trip Saturday? I am thinking somewhere in Normandy.

New Neighbour

I, as you may know by now, live on the 7th floor of a building that is sans assenceur. My little rooms comes fully equiped sans toilette. My toilet is located in the hallway. For the past 2 months, I have been the only one using it since the other rooms on this floor are used as storage or are unoccupied; or, WERE unoccupied. When I came back from my petite voyage, I noticed my toilet paper was gone... dun dun dun... and on another occasion, when I went to the toilet, and it was occupied! How shocking it was for me to discover I am no longer the only person on my floor. I heard the person trying to get into their room... so I ran over to my peephole. The walls are paper thin though and HE turned to look at my door. I think the person is a 60ish year old man, but I cannot be sure since that one glimpse through the peephole is the only time I saw him. I am sad now... since I feel I should put on clothes to use the toilet, and not go in my PJs anymore. I am also afraid it will be occupied again and that is weird. I hope I get to meet this neighbour soon since I hear him come and go all the time, and the longer it takes to say HI the stranger (pun!) it becomes.

Pretty

Hair salons in Berlin are DIRT CHEAP. You can cut and dye your hair for 20 Euros, no joke. Due to this amazing deal, I was very tempted to get my hair done. However, after long contemplation I decided not to for a few reasons:

1. I like how my hair falls at the back right now, which is hard to acheive.
2. My last haircut was only 2 months ago, so it is still in decent shape
3. I want to grow out my hair, as per usual.
4. I have died my hair EVERY fall for the past 3 years, so why not be au natural for once?
5. A ton of Berliner women have ugly bright red hair, which seems to be "in" right now, and I didn't know if I trusted the hair dressers sense of pretty.
6. A lady on the U-Bahn randomly told me I shouldn't dye my hair. She commented that it looks like gold :P. She said if I want to change it, I should use Hazelnut leaves...I tried to buy some from the Apothoteke, but they would have had to order them in, and I didnt have time. Plus, how does one use hazelnut leaves on their hair?

I spent my last day in Berlin walking around Sans Souci, a beautiful series of palaces which Frederick the Great built in the spirit of wanting his own Versaille. Anyhow, I'll post pictures of that later. I was amazed by the automn colours during my walk that day, and decided my hair is a good colour for fall. Observe:

And for those who wanted to see the boots....

They aren't THAT great, they were just a steal and keep rain off my feet. A definite step up from wearing my canvas Etnies slip-ons with holes in their soles around town.

Speaking French

Last beef of the day...

A few weeks ago, my friends the Twins, were complaining about how they felt used for their English. I did not feel this way at the time, but today I definatly did. I understand when people hear my accent that they may reply in English, fair enough, but when I speak back in French they should get the idea that I can actually speak the language.

Today, on two occasions I had people explicity speak to me in English and be like, this is great, I can practice my English. I let them know that this is not the case, and that if they would like to speak English, that they can go to Canada... but that while I am in France, I will not speak to native French speakers in English.

The guy continued to speak in English, so I discontinued the conversation. I refuse to have people exploit my English. I will correct their English in their essays if they ask, but only under the pretext that they then correct my French ones in the future.