The Flight

The Flight

By the time I got to the airport, things started to get real.  I ended up having a total of 1 large suitcase, a carry-on, and 1 personal item (my new backpacking bag for easy travel).

 My parents stayed with me until I was completely through security!

As you could imagine, it was about a twelve hour flight from San Francisco to Munich,

and then I needed to take a second flight from Munich to Berlin.  In order to pass the time,I watch a few movies on my own personal TV, and played the game 2048 on my iPhone (of course while in airplane mode).  I managed to make my new high-score during this free time. I imagine I'll be passing it again on my way home in four months! 

I'm convinced that I was the only one on my Munich to Berlin flight not wearing a suit.  This was on the bus ride from the Munich airport to the entrance of my plane!

Packing

Packing

 

It is just two days before I embark on my journey to Germany.  All week I have been gathering everything I want to bring with me for the four months abroad.  As it turns out (not too surprisingly), I'll probably have to cut the amount of things I wish to bring along with me in half. 

The fact that I will be living in a foreign country on the other side of the world doesn't seem real.  Hopefully it will hit me soon!  I cannot wait for the new adventures!

UPDATE: I ended up only being able to take about a third with me... 

Beginning to Plan

Beginning to Plan

I will be heading off to Germany at the end of August for all of Fall Semester.  In order to maximize my experience, I want to begin planning the many things I should see and do in my host country.  So far, my list for places in or around Berlin includes...

Things to Do

• Museum Island (I recommend the Neues Museum)
• The Berlin Wall
• The East Side Gallery (awesome wall art) in Friedrichshain
• The Spy Station
• Flea markets
• The Underground Tour
• Schlachtensee near Potsdam (a lake)
• Pergamon Museum
• Brandenburg Gate
• Checkpoint Charlie
• In downtown see remnants of the Church Steeple that was bombed

Parks and Places

• Tiergarten
• Potsdamer Platz
• Alexander Platz
• Mauerpark
• Badeschiff, it's a beach on the Spree with a pool jutting into the river
• Tempelhoff Airport

Bars and International Food

• Schoenhauser Allee
• Eberswalder Strasse
• Mustafa's for the best doner kebab
• The Ritter Chocolate Factory

Clubs

• Kulturbrauerei
• Katerholzig
• Magdalena
• Fritz Club
• Berghain
• Kit Kat Club
• Watergate
• Gretchen, a nice club with killer acts
• Stattbadd

Please comment below if you have suggestions of anything I should add to the list or if you agree that something is absolutely necessary!  Thanks!