It's fall today

It's the first day of fall and I'm just now beginning to feel that I've got a handle on the new road that has become my life lately.  Days have been a whirlwind for David and me since I last posted.  A wonderful whirlwind.  Full of visitors from home, trips of our own, and new experiences (read: the school year has begun!).

Celebrating Midsummer in Sweden

A quick trip to Munich with my sister and brother

Best of Berlin

Ich bin ein Berliner!  I mentioned before that the city of Paris captured my heart many years ago, but after my first visit to Berlin, I must admit that a bit of what belonged to Paris has now captured Berlin.  What a vibrant, pulsating city!  Granted, we spent most of our time in the former East Berlin, so I can't be certain that it is all of Berlin that I am fascinated with.  Though, the east is where it is at! 

Watching the first games of the Europameistershaft 2012 with some locals in Prenzlaur Berg

My favorite person in the world

That must be nice

Reichstag and the Spree River

Holocaust Memorial

Currywurst!

Replica of the famous sign at the former East-West Berlin border

Germany football fans

Little photographer

Friedrichswerdersche Kirche

Bernauer Straße

Hinterlandmauer at Mauerpark

Mauerpark

Flomarkt am Mauerpark

East Side Gallery - longest Berlin Wall remnant

East Side Gallery

Our favorite cafe in Prenzlauer Berg

Potsdam, Deutschland

David recently had a meeting in Potsdam, Germany and I took advantage of the opportunity to join him on the last day and then take a mini-holiday in Berlin, only 24 km northeast of Potsdam.  I only spent a late evening and an early morning in Potsdam, but what little of it I saw, I adored.  And I didn't even see what makes this city one of Germany's most beautiful, with its twelve Prussian palaces and historic gardens.  These sites are certainly on my list to visit next time, including the Cecilienhof Palace, venue of the Postdam Conferene in 1945.  What I did see during my short visit was quite special though.  The historic downtown and the Dutch Quarter were both indescribably charming and oh-so peaceful.  The Germans here were notably friendly too.  I had a memorable conversation with an elderly man who was selling the hand-made pottery pictured above.  I bought two bright orange mugs from him and I am reminded daily, with each use, of his kind smile and generous compliments on my German(!).  Potsdam and its people warm my heart.

Stay tuned for more photos of Berlin!

Let's Catch Up

 

Let's catch up, shall we?  Over the past few weeks we've had a few surprises and adventures.  David had three super busy work trips to California, Delhi, and Venice.  Meanwhile, I stayed in Vienna and enjoyed a surprise care package from my sister and ran in the city's 25th annual Frauenlauf (women's run) with my new colleagues, students, and parents from my new school.  

So, I guess this is a good time to share that I got a job!  I'll be teaching 3rd grade next year at an English-speaking school here in Vienna.  Excited doesn't even come close to describing how I feel about this opportunity.  September can't come soon enough!  I can't wait to meet my little munchkins and start a magical year of discovering, learning, and growing with them.  The count down is on!