Kyle’s European Adventure

So, I started my German class today, and I’m glad I did. I’ll admit that it’s kinda nice to have something on the agenda, something scheduled, that I need to do. Plus, having someone speak clearly and slowly in German for 3 hours a day is going to do wonders for me.

Most of the other students are from Italy, and I’m feeling like the class is a little beginner for me – I guess I could go for a bit more of a challenge. My instructor says to stick out tomorrow, and if I still feel that way, she’ll recommend that I move up a level. Bah, languages are NOT my thing – it feels like I’m using a muscle in my brain that has completely atrophied. I just have to fight down the panic when I draw a total blank. For whatever reason, a lack of comprehension makes me seize up and have a total fight or flight reaction.

After class, to celebrate, I went to the Sony Center to see a movie. The only thing on the schedule that seemed interesting was Prince Caspian, so I saw that. I really enjoyed it, heavy-handed christian messages and all. The effects work was solid, and the pacing was great. Plus, the kids they have playing the leads are really fantastic together.

After that, I rode my bike home in the dark. I have this funky little contraption on my bike that clamps onto the back wheel to run a tiny generator, which powers the lights on my bike. Pretty swell stuff. It was late enough on a monday, that the streets were empty, and I loved riding through them – I felt like I had the place to myself. My ride home goes along the Unter den Linden, which has the Brandenburg Gate on one end, and the Palace, Operahouse and Berlin Dome on the other. They were all lit up, and beautiful – I felt like I was riding through a movie set.