Today I MÜST find an apartment. I've probably contacted at least 20 agents and have lined up some 13 viewings. My standards are high and my budget low... let's see how it goes!

Posted by Matthias at 12:51 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Howdy ho!

So! Traveling to Berlin from Los Angeles is not as fun as it sounds. After a 12 hour red-eye from LA to Paris, I exited the plane looking "scruffy", or "shabby" as my Italian roommate in Berlin, Luigi, would say. As luck would have it, Paris was overcast and rainy, showering me promptly with its famed parisian eau natural. This was unpleasant. Fortunately, I had 6 hours to dry before my flight to Berlin.

Long story short, I arrived in Berlin to find some of my best friends waiting to go out for a night on the town. A quick shower, shave and cologne rendered me presentable... and off we went for a good meal, bottles and bottles of champagne and some live big band jazz. Check out my photo album for some pictures of the madness.

Posted by Matthias at 12:36 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Hey guys,

First off, please allow me to introduce myself formally, or as formally as I can over the internet. My name is Matthias and I was born in Bonn, Germany. My dad is German and my mom American. I grew up a lil bit of everywhere... literally. I moved some 7 times in my life and have lived in such places as Russia, Mongolia, Germany, the US, and France. I grew up speaking English and French and learned German later, when I was sent to boarding school in Germany for two years. It's a long story I won't burden you with now.

I currently study at UCLA and recently changed my major from Opera and Vocal Performance to Political Science and International Relations. Perhaps that sums up my personality more than anything else I've said thus far. Nuff said bout me though. If one of you finds that sleeping without the details of my background just isn't possible, please feel free to shoot me a question, though! On that note, I'd very much like to receive feedback, comments, questions and/or advice concerning anything over the course of my time abroad! Not only will your feedback motivate me to do whatever it is I should be doing, but it will also help create for me a home away from home. Know what I mean? Oh, before I continue, I should mention that if you see these letters - ö, ä, ü, ß - scattered through some of my postings, don't wörry, just German letters that will render my postings all the more exciting.

I'm really excited about moving to Berlin and I'm especially excited about sharing my experiences with you! Some of my plans are to get really involved in the culture and have a good time. It's all a little overwhelming though. Fortunately I have a few friends that will allow me to navigate some of the more intimate Berlin social circles.
Anyway, I'll post immediately after arriving in Berlin. I promise.

Until then! Bacci tutti!

Posted by Matthias at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)