Happy 2013!
It's back to the grind after taking December off. That month was filled with a week long trip to London which I loved, a lot of sleeping in, eating of sweets (well eating in general), and enjoying the holidays.
My first Christmas outside of the States was really good. I spent it with my family in Europe so it was different but at the same time very similar to all my past Christmases. We had friends over and cooked A LOT and ate A LOT and had a really relaxing, fun holiday break.
I started back at my original language school, the Goethe Institut on Monday but yesterday was my first official day of class and I'm SO HAPPY to be back! I don't know why but this school just fits me and I made a lot of friends in my first class, whom it was so good to see. I'm already learning a lot and remembering that this language school ain't no joke. It's the real deal. Homework and everything. But it's good because I've already gotten to meet new people from other countries, which is part of the reason why I love Berlin and this school.
The winter hasn't been too harsh....YET. When I stepped off the plane at the Schönefeld Airport, coming home from London, there was snow and ice everywhere. It was really cold for a couple weeks in December but for the past while it's been really mild. A little chilly but not as cold as everyone says January in Berlin always is. I'm just bracing myself for when the legitimate stuff comes. I wish it would just come already and not hold out any longer!
One of my funniest experiences yet was when I flew out of Gatwick Airport in London back to Berlin. Well, I didn't fly out on the flight that I was supposed to. That is, I missed my flight. I stupidly thought that 2 hours would be enough time to take a bus and train from my sister's place to Gatwick, which was bigger than I thought. So I get off the train platform at the airport and see a digital clock reading "5:55" and guess when my flight was? 6:15! I thought on the way there "Well, they had to defrost the wings on my flight from Berlin and we didn't leave til like an hour after scheduled departure time, so maybe it will be the same here." NOPE.
I run up the escalator with my suitcase and walk up to the Easy Jet check in desk. I give the lady my passport and she types into the computer then a few seconds later says "Sorry, but you're not in our system. Where are you flying to and when is your scheduled departure time?"
I reply, feeling kinda dumb "6:15 to Berlin."
"That gate's closed. You can't get on."
"Seriously? When's the next flight out to Berlin?"
"7:45pm."
"Ok, well what do I need to do to transfer?"
She points to the sales assistance desk and says "You need to go over there and tell them your situation and pay 60 pounds."
"Ok."
So I walk over and tell the lady my story and ask if I can go ahead and transfer.
"Yes you can, but we have to wait 15 minutes until it's passed 6:15. It's all computerized and we need to be passed that time of your scheduled flight so that I can transfer you."
So I go to the bathroom and walk around a bit. Then I come back.
"Can I do it now?"
"No, you still need to wait."
I hang around a bit longer and walk back up.
"What about now?"
She just shakes her head, "no."
I wait by the desk and a couple of guys run up and explain that the train was late so they missed their flight. Come to find out that the next flight to the city they were going to wasn't until the next day at 1:30pm! Man, I was so thankful I only had to wait for like an hour.
The lady finally says "I'm ready."
So I hand her my card and she slides it and looks up at me, as though I'm in a movie and says, "Your card's been declined."
I could have fainted.
So I make other arrangements and end up getting the payment through, (screw you exchange rate!) and get on my flight in the end.
Needless to say, I've never been so happy to get on a plane in my life. Dear Lord.
So yeah, as of now, I'm pretty much doing the same. Helping with the chilluns, learning German, meeting really cool people from the whole world, attending a really neat church, and once in a blue moon, missing my flight.
:)
