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in germany just life

fertig!

i started studying german a few months after arriving in berlin, in november 2011 – and last week, i finally finished school. it’s been an intensive year of learning, with classes 3 hours per day, every single day… but i’ve made it! my german isn’t that great yet, but i understand what people say, and i can make myself understood in most situations. it feels… fantastic! :D

last week i did the testdaf (the german toefl), for which i had been preparing for a month now. i didn’t “need” to do it, but i think deep inside (like with chinese) i wanted some sort of closure, a way of proving that i’d actually done it. the test is long but after all the intensive training we got at school, it felt almost… easy! the results will be out in six weeks, so i guess we’ll see then! :)

oh, by the way, if you’re thinking of coming to berlin and learning german, i can recommend my school, die deutSCHule.de! i found it rather by accident, but it turned out to be a great school, not too expensive and with friendly teachers. thumbs up!

so, that makes it 5 languages now – or more like 4.5, since my chinese isn’t doing so great these days. i wonder if i’ll be able to squeeze in a few more… i’d love to learn proper spanish! oh, and korean too! and arabic! hum… this might be a problem… how many languages can one aspire to properly learn, i wonder?

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in germany just life one second everyday video

one second every day – june 2013

june was pretty neat! some highlights:

– lots of early morning study sessions
– tons of letters written
– my birthday :D
– baking for my classmates
– new (very geeky) threadless tshirts
– open air cinema sessions (with blankets)
– iron & wine concert

june was also the month i wrote on the blog everyday! :D i’m pretty impressed that i managed to keep up with it – even if it required some serious juggling skills. that’s another thing off the list, which i’m pretty obsessed with lately… one month to go!

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just life

13 books left… help!


it’s a month till the deadline of my 101 things in 1001 days list expires. some things (volcanos? autocaravans?) are beyond hope… but there might still be just enough time for others – like the books i wanted to read.

i know… 50 books in 3 years is a pretty laughable goal… and yet i struggle. the reason i have trouble reaching it? fan fiction. why must the internet be filled with talented writers, who put my favourite characters in tons of fascinating situations?!

so i’m reaching out to you and asking for suggestions. which books should i read this month? i need quick, entertaining reads to drag me away from this fan fiction’s addiction… bonus points if they feature food or stationery-related themes! :D

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in germany just life

ice-cream at vanille marille

we have a rule: if you’re going to cheat, make it worth it! none of that 1 euro kebab stuff or cheap ice-cream nonsense that leaves nothing but a bitter taste of regret in your mouth. go for the best and make it count!

for ice-cream, this means frequent trips to vanille & marille, our favourite ice-cream shop in berlin. so far, the caramel beurre salé is both mine and paulo’s all-time favourite, but we’re slowly making our way through their amazing selection, one flavour at a time. may the summer be long and warm! :D

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in germany just life

these lingering summer days

with test daf scheduled to a month from now, my days are spent describing graphics and improvising 2-minute speeches about random events in my country. (how does one celebrate a silver wedding anniversary? or what happens at a funeral? errrm… )
learning german has been a fun ride, but i’m happy that i can almost see the end of school in sight now. i look forward to regaining control of my mornings!

on other news, it’s finally summer! i love these long and (mostly) sunny days. we wake up early to study or read and enjoy the weak sunlight of the early hours from the café around the corner. berlin’s esplanades are now perpetually full, as if everyone was soaking on every last bit of available vitamin d. it’s pretty much perfect… until the mosquitos come abuzz at sunset! :)