Catch my nose - if you can: July 2006

Berlin, Berlin

I got the contract for my flat yesterday, signed it and sent it right back. I hope to move on Monday or Tuesday. I'm so excited about my own place! A completely new episode in life begins. I will start working seriously ;-) and have my own place. I still have troubles deciding which couch I want etc. I love these kind of problems.
I'll start working on August 7th... brrrr. As the date is coming closer I start freaking out about it ;-)
Most important: Please, if you happen to be in Europe, Germany or Berlin, stop by and visit! I have lots of space and would love to see you!

Okay, this was the last post for today :-)

My birthday again

I thought I should celebrate my last birthday with a "2" in front of it... - as some smart person pointed out to me. And Sonya and I went to Göttingen and started a 3-day-party event. It seems to have become a tradition that I can't move on my actual birthday, because I have been partying beforehand like crazy. This year was no exception :-) We had a nice barbeque at the Kiessee and continued drinking in the city at some party. Thanks again to everyone who joined (@Sonya: I do have friends!) and special thanks to Anja, who came all the way from Zorge to join for a while! Best wishes to you; good luck in Switzerland.
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For all those who have never been in Göttingen before: it is a very small city! I drove back to the center while Chen-Yu and other went by bike. I was looking for a parking spot in the center when my phone started ringing. I got a new bag the other day, a big one... so it wasn't exactly easy to find my phone... it was Chen-Yu calling. Driving and talking on the phone is not allowed, so I stopped in the middle of the street between party people. And who turns out to be standing right in front of my car annoyed that my car is in her way? Right, Chen-Yu :-)

That was TWO DAYS before my birthday. The day day BEFORE my birthday I spent quietly doing sightseeing with Sonya. I have lived for about 6 or 7 years in Göttingen, but this Californian girl has to show up so I get to see the most important sights of Göttingen ;-) We climbed up Jakobikirche... a VERY steep climb on ladders. Chen-Yu was playing Marilyn Monroe :-))) and we had great views from the tower ;-)

After so much work we needed to relax and went to the Baggersee - a very nice lake where we went "row, row, row your boat..."

Klausi, Anna and Chen-Yu after swimming

Sonya in a cornfield

Another barbeque party in the evening and drinking again

So my actual birthday was special, because I hadn't been this exhausted for a long time. You know how much I love to sleep!

Sonya and I went back to Braunschweig to have tea and cake with my mom, who set up a stunning coffee table with flowers and presents for me. This birthday was special, because I got really thoughtful gifts and people I really care about called me and sent me messages! Thanks a lot!!! I'm really flattered!!!

Sonya in Braunschweig

Sonya and I said bye to Mel and Robbie and went to Braunschweig on Thursday evening. First time I took people with me who actually paid for the ride :-)
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Sonya and I did some sightseeing,

went swimming,

went out and ate "IT" - a yummy Döner Kebab, and most important: we caught up on everything ;-)

I'm glad she didn't mind the chaos in my mom's and parents' flats... boxes everywhere, nothing in order. I can't wait to MOVE and get my own place!!!

Mel, Robbie and Sonya in Berlin

Have had really busy weeks! Enjoyable weeks :-)
After getting this fabulous job in Berlin - I will be an Operational Marketing Assistent in a software company doing advertisement and other things. Will have to speak Spanish a lot, Russian welcome. Yep, that's a job for me ;-)

The apartment hunt started... Berlin turns out to way less expensive than I thought! And there are loads of apartments on the market. With a little bit of luck I got a great, huge and rather cheap flat not too far away from my future office.

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So, I have been going back and forth between Berlin and Braunschweig. But the most enjoyable reason to go to Berlin was the gathering of my "Russian" friends! You might remember stories I told everyone about "the big noisy American" Mel (Robbies words) and "Robster" Robbie from Ireland with who I spent a lot of time during that cold winter in Siberia.

Anna, Mel and Robbie in front of the Russian Embassy

Robbie happened to be on vacation in Berlin, and Mel in Dublin and stopped by for 2 days. (I just love Ryanair!!!) It was so good to see them. Although we all were a little confused in the beginning: We are used to see each other dressed in huge fur coats, hats and boots. But now we were walking around in skirts/shorts melting in Berlin's 40°C.

Habits are habits and so we sticked to our usual drinking tradition - with the result that Mel and I were DRUNK by 7 pm and had to go to bed at 11 pm.

The next morning Sonya, my dear friend from my St. Petersburg times, arrived by bus from Brussels. She is on her way home to California and decided to stop by for my birthday!!! :-)

A boat trip on the Spree - Sonya

Mel and Anna

It was so great to have the three of them around, my Russian worlds getting mixed up :-) It was absolutely normal, only sometimes I wondered about the

German sounds around me ;-)

I hope to see you guys soon again!!!

Ich bin ein Berliner

I got a job!!! Yay!
Will move to Berlin this month, to my favorite city in Germany :-)
Hope to find a big apartment and I expect loads of visitors!!! Please stop by in Berlin :-)

Daniel and Dong Jin visiting

Soccer still keeps me busy and I started wondering what I'll be doing once the World Cup is over... :-)

However, I had the great pleasure of hosting Daniel and Dong Jin for a few days! Thanks again to the two of them for stopping by and watching soccer and enjoying summer at lakes with me!!!

Before the match Korea - Switzerland. I bought a Spain-shirt and it was a funny experience to be a foreigner in my own country. Everyone seems to like Spain! I got a lot of positive attention because of the shirt :-)
Daniel got even more attention and was THE attraction! And because of the colors on his body we had no problems moving through crowds... everyone backed up :-)
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