Springzeit! (Springtime!)

Spring has sprung here in Berlin, and I have to admit that I can't seem to rid my brain of the notoriously melodic "Producers" number, "Spriiingtime for Hitler aaaand Germany..." Hahaha oh boy. But honestly, it's gorgeous here in the spring, and the city seems to come out of its gray slumber and its people hit the streets and parks. Our neighborhood, in Prenzlauer Berg, is especially batty am Wochenenden (on the weekends) since we're in a pretty hip hood and we're in close proximity to Mauerpark, a huge public green area that the Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall) used to cut through. I suppose it's not dissimilar to Chicagoans coming out of their winter hibernation and getting back on bikes, into their running shoes, and dining al fresco. But honestly, the amount of people out in Berlin during nice weather is like Chicago on steroids. Sometimes it's difficult to walk down the street unscathed.

At the urging of my GLS friends (more on that in a minute), I've come to know the experience of Karaoke im Mauerpark during the last two Sundays. Did I tell you about this? Mmm, don't think so. In Mauerpark, there is a huge stone amphitheater where TONS of people gather, waiting anxiously for these two guys to haul their karaoke contraptions into the middle of the stone stage. Calling themselves "Bearpit Karaoke," (the bear is the official mascot of Berlin), these two English-speaking guys have been running a public karaoke show in the park for the last two years. I can only imagine that this phenomenon has spread via word of mouth, but the crowd boasts nearly 1,000 people each and every Sunday. Seriously, it's the best show in town. If a person wants to sing, they can approach the stage and ask the sound guy to have their name put down, and the announcer guy will call their name and talk with them, introduce them, banter, etc. Perhaps what makes this public gathering so special is the collective attitude of the audience. For those of you with no prior karaoke experience, it is not uncommon for a karaoke singer in a bar or club to be booed if the audience deems their performance unsatisfactory. But at Karaoke im Mauerpark, no singer is hassled, no matter the quality of their performance. The audience remains enthusiastic and encouraging despite a horrific singer who might not know the words well enough or can't sing a single line of the song in tune. Those singers, if enthusiastic themselves, might be the most well-received. I mean, really, it's awesome and not scary and I have committed myself to sing next week. Ohhh dear...=)


So as I was saying, my GLS friends--they are my school friends (German Language School). I began my German classes the last week of March, and so far I've been doing alright. I started out in a level that I perceived to be too easy, and now I'm in one that I'm hoping to move out of in a couple weeks. Unfortunately, although improved since being here, my vocabulary is still lacking, and my second block teacher (the morning is divided into 1.5 hour blocks) is nearly incomprehensible. To me, that is. Other students seem to follow her explanations better than I do...which is sort of strange considering I understand nearly everything my first block teacher says. But that also might have something to do with the fact that I am outright convinced he is Willem Dafoe's doppelgänger. Haha. Duly noted. Anyway, it's kind of a struggle, but I'll be in class until the end of June, so I have time to improve. It's nice having something to do besides stare out the window into the surrounding gray...but hey! Springzeit, errinert ihr euch? (It's springtime, remember?)

As for Jack, he's moving right along. I can tell you that there are still some aspects of the program he is not pleased with, i.e., the lack of hands-on experience, but what one of his professors said was this: that when you find yourself in a brewery performing a specific function, a light bulb will go off in your head about a theory previously discussed. Jack certainly has that to look forward to. 

Well, my dears, I'll update soon. How's everyone doing? Is it looking like Springzeit yet in Chicago? Much love to you all.