What we'll miss, what we won't, what we can't wait to get back to

Kirsten Christensen We had a raucous, happy final group dinner tonight at the venerable Schwarzes Café, an overheated, shabby but always bursting-at-the seams West Berlin institution, open 24-7. Over a dinner of quiche, pasta, veggie burgers, Spätzle (a kind of German noodle) and other delights and chased by a parade of desserts, we talked about this crazy month: the fears we had, the things that have surprised and charmed us, the people who have influenced us, the sights, sounds and smells we've absorbed and that have become a part of our rhythm.

The students compiled three lists that I share with you here for your amusement and reflection. I love knowing what they'll miss most (and won't). And you'll all likely be happy to know what they're looking forward to back home.

Thanks to you all for reading our blog, for allowing me the pleasure of spending this month with your daughter, son, girlfriend, boyfriend, sister or brother. I will miss this group. We have had a wonderful esprit de corps, not to mention a good sense of humor, which has proven useful on many occasions.

The students have a free day today (Wed.) before we fly home Thursday. See you soon!

LIST 1: What I will miss most about Germany

• Public transportation (this got lot of votes!)
• independence
• lower drinking age
• living the city life
• hearing many different languages on the street
• the salami
• the city atmosphere
• beer cheaper than cola
• marzipan croissants
• my host mom
• all the pretty buildings
• night life
• bakeries
• Käsebrötchen (rolls with cheese baked on top)
• the kindness of strangers
• boundless opportunities to practice German
• not having a cell phone (=more time for me!)
• the group (esp. our dynamic and inside jokes)
• Laugenstangen (long, soft pretzel rolls)
• reading so much (on the subway and commuter rail)

List 2: What I won't miss at all about Germany

• the push-pull doors—even after a month they still confuse me!
• Julian (a very cranky, rude young man in one of the classes)
• looking and feeling like a dumb American tourist with a map in my hand all the time
• exchange rate
• bubble water -- eeeww!
• water costing more than soda or alcohol
• no ice in drinks (are we seeing a drinks theme here?)
• soooo many carbs (good and bad)
• random sewage smells in various places in the city
• the perpetual slowness of the S1 rail line (but I still love, love, love it!)
• the dative case and reflexive verbs
• lack of public restrooms
• smell of Berlin
• not being able to eavesdrop on conversations around me because they are in another language
• how people openly stare on the subway, even when you've noticed
• my host family :(

List 3: What I'm most looking forward to once I get home

• not having to pay for public restrooms
• hearing my family's voices and hanging out with them and eating good Mexican food
• going to any sink and filling up a glass of delicious tap water
• teriyaki
• easy (and free!) access to public restrooms
• free water
• soft toilet paper
• being able to order tap water at a restaurant without getting an odd look
• being able to pay with my credit card (or at least get cash without an epic hunt through the city for an ATM)
• MOUNTAIN DEW!
• all my friends
• normal water
• ice cubes
• 2 words: free refills!
• being alone more -- I am sick of being around people all the time (but I love you guys :))
• my family and my dog
• my cell phone with internet -- something to do while riding public transportation

Auf Wiedersehen!