January 8, 2010 by nerdygirlatw
There are certain periods of life that one would prefer to repress to the darkest recesses of memory. Times such as when you thought bell-bottoms were cool, the night you may or may not have had a little bit too much to drink and things got a little too crazy..times such as middle school.
These days with the ever-present Facebook it is very easy to keep in touch with those from your formative years with just a simple “Hey! How are you?!” on their wall or the ever personal “Happy Birthday!” because obviously you had that date imprinted…on your homepage. And let’s be honest, we are all guilty of it – checking up on profiles of people you don’t, in all honesty, have that much interest in keeping up with, but are curious about. Facebook can answer alllll sorts of questions such as where are they at school (did they go ivy? liberal arts?), their crazy halloween weekend costumes, and whether or not they have let themselves go. (Just remember the camera does add five pounds for those of you planning to look me up right after this)
Now, you might be asking, what has brought on this bought of pontification? (yes, I did just use that word to sound smarter…I am preparing to get back to Swarthmore, afterall!) Last night, out and about in the city (at the legal age of 21) I found myself running into people right and left that I hadn’t seen in YEARS. One of my companions on this particular occasion asked the very astute question, “You know I see you running into all of these old acquaintances. How do you catch up after like 7 or 8 years? I mean how do you capture all that time with all of the loud music, drinking and loud people around you?” Good question. You really can’t so my plan of action has to smile and nod and just answer the questions I am asked.
The craziest part is how much comes back to you when you are face to face with a couple of the boys, now “collegiate men”, who were part of the entourage lighting candle #12 on your bat mitzvah cake. And that’s where you crrrrriiinggeeeeee…
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, bell-bottoms, birthday, college, elementary school, facebook, fb, growing up, halloween, ivy league, memories, memory, middle school, nyc | Leave a Comment »
January 4, 2010 by nerdygirlatw
As I got off the plane from Charlotte (the connection on the way back from the beautiful island of Turks and Caicos) I declared (aloud), “I will be happy if I do not see another airport for a LONG time!” And here I am two days later wondering where I am off to next. I think that it is a disease. Well, it’s better than a drug habit.
It’s also a good thing that my last trip down to the caribbean was such a success. I went with my dad and brother down to Turkoise Club Med in the Turks and Caicos and not only did I have time to read about 1500 pages in fiction but I also was able to try out scuba diving (it turns out that I am way too neurotic for such activities – even if I did get perfect scores on my quizzes…too bad a lot of things in life, like scuba, don’t just depend on book learning!) I also made sure to enjoy the sun – maybe a little too much as I am still suffering from some uncomfortable sunburns. I promise that I wore sunscreen!
The worst thing about coming back to reality? Aside from the BITTER cold? No one feels bad for me, even with my painful sunburns. I mean it’s not like I’ve been traveling for the past 6 months and doing all sorts of incredible things… Oh wait, yes, yes it is.
I guess I should quit while I’m ahead and go rub some more aloe vera on my back now…
Happy New Year!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged airplane, airport, aloe, aloe vera, beach, caribbean, club med, club med turkoise, diving, drug habit, island, New Years, NYE, plane, real world, scuba, scuba diving, sun, sunburn, sunscreen, travel, traveling, turks and caicos | Leave a Comment »
December 25, 2009 by nerdygirlatw
Q: What’s the difference between Santa and Tiger Woods?
A: Santa only had 3 Hos.*
Well, it has been a tiring week back in the US! (I mean that is really the only rationalization for the joke above, now isn’t it?) Not only did I have some sleep to catch up on and friends to see but I also just spent the last few days in our country’s capital celebrating Christmas with Barack Obama. Hey, if he can do a seder in the white house… Okay, not really. I was with my dad’s family in D.C. and it was really nice to see family that I hadn’t seen in so long, especially since I missed Thanksgiving this year on account of being in Berlin. (Oh yeah, remember that?)
Like the big kid I am I spent most of the evening playing with my little cousins (once removed? I can never get that right) It’s amazing how much confidence in themselves young children have. My three year old cousin, Teddy, had absolutely no doubt that as soon as he said “let’s march” I would follow him up and down the stairs more times than I would care to admit. It’s not my fault that all it takes is a giggle for my heart to melt and for me to be at his mercy.
His older brother Alex, who is turning 9 in a week or so, has finally become old enough for me to play the older, wiser cousin role, rather than just that of an oversized playmate.
3 very important thing I was able to impress upon his impressionable mind:
1) Never ask a woman her weight
2) Never ask a woman her age (once it becomes a question, that is)
3) Compliments will get you very far…
That last one really came back to haunt me as he would start pulling out the “You’re really pretty,” causing me to blush…and then question his motives. He’s a quick study.
Merry Christmas!
(I hope all my jewish friends are enjoying that movie and chinese food. ha ha.)
*I am embarrassed to admit it but I stole that joke from my dad of all people.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged barack obama, berlin, chinese food, christmas, d.c., december, holidays, jewish, kids, nyc, obama, santa, santa claus, seder, take-out, teddy, tiger, tiger woods, travel, traveling, Washington, washington d.c. | Leave a Comment »
December 18, 2009 by nerdygirlatw
There are only a select few individuals that possess the ability to pass out asleep at 5:30 pm and stay in that state until 9 am the next morning, and I, my dear friends, belong to that set of few individuals. Almost 5 months, 13 plane rides (2 of which were transatlantic), 5 train rides, 2 boat rides, and one long car ride, I am again sitting, updating this blog from my kitchen in New York City!
The flight for the most part was uneventful, however, there was a bit of a stir caused when the stewardess thought that she had lost one of the passengers, after the flight had taken off, mind you. The girl sitting in front of me had disappeared somewhere between the time of our first delicious on flight meal and when I woke up from my 4 hour cat nap. Most importantly, she had rudely left her seat in the reclining position, preventing me, not only from stretching out my long limbs to their full potential, but also obstructing the view of my tiny personal television. I only realized that she was missing when the stewardess came by asking questions. Now that I think about it, I am not sure I remember ever seeing her again. Hm, that is a bit troubling…
The Mystery of the Disappearing Transatlantic Flight Passengers
Coming to a Barnes & Noble near you Spring 2010
(Has a nice ring to it now, doesn’t it?)
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged airplane, B&N, Barnes & Noble, berlin, bn.com, Continental, home, New York, New York City, nyc, plane, train, transatlantic, travel, traveling | Leave a Comment »
December 15, 2009 by nerdygirlatw
Damn that alliteration is good, if I do say so myself.
This morning I have been struggling to wake up and join the living (what else is new…) because it means that I will need to start taking care of some last minute details before I head back home to New York. (Can’t believe it! Berlin has been home for so long now!)
However, nowhere on the title of this post does it say “Good-by Berlin” or “Time to go home” and that’s because:
a) I am not going home for another 48 hrs or so
b) I had an amazing time in London, even after all of the premiere stuff was over, and am going to talk about it.
London is the first city, after Berlin, that I have visited while abroad, in which I can actually imagine living in as a normal person (as opposed to a tourist for a few days) and no it is not just because they speak English there. Or at least a version of a language that can be confused for English. There is a business in the city and an energy in the city that reminds me of New York and though they drive on the wrong side of the road, being there made me happy. Luckily I had a very good tour guide- my friend Pete (yes the same fool pictured in all of the premiere pictures) who is studying at King’s College for his year abroad away from Humboldt Universtät and after a very early 1 pm start on Sunday, we hiked all over the city, starting at Tower bridge, which is NOT London bridge, going to different areas such as Shoreditch and through Hyde Park over to Harrods so as to buy some holiday presents. You can’t go to London and not bring back tea. Customs would probably send you back in. After Harrods we walked back over to Westminster and took very poorly lit pictures with Buckingham Palace and Big Ben in the background. One of my personal favorites was the large memorial to “Animals in War.” Now don’t get me wrong, I love animals but it struck me (and Pete) as a bit strange that there was obviously quite a bit of funding put up for this memorial when in Berlin there is an ongoing debate on who and how to commemorate the lives lost in World War II. The lives of humans, might I add.
Okay time to get a move on – got to make the most of the 2 hrs of daylight!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged animals, big ben, england, great britain, harrods, hyde park, london, tea, travel, traveling, westminster | Leave a Comment »
December 12, 2009 by nerdygirlatw
Okay, so maybe it wasn’t exactly like that. BUT pretty close (There were a few cameras flashing – that is until they realized that perhaps Sigourney Weaver was perhaps a little higher up on the A-list…) I even gave a couple of interviews – one of them for Youtube and the other was ZDF, a German news channel. Youtube even asked me if I was planning to get in front of the camera any time soon! (I demurred and told the reporter that my interests lay more behind the scenes…it just sort of came out.)
The movie itself was incredible – and I am saying this as someone who is rarely interested in movie in the sci-fi genre! The world of Pandora was breathtaking and let’s be honest, it would be really cool to be a N’avi – 9 ft tall, blue, graceful, and with superhuman powers. One of the most amazing things was how Cameron changed Sam Worthington’s legs to look like those of a paraplegic. Where were his real legs?! (I know he has them because I got to meet him! And actually was sitting next to his mom during the movie!)
As for seeing my uncle as the villain? It was weird. Although maybe not quite as weird as hearing the old british ladies behind me going, “oooh whose that? he’s dishy!” It was weird but he also did a great job and I am not just biased. The reviews agree!
“And the best thing about the film, the absolutely engaging and unforgettable gritty epicenter to what makes this thing not only manna for geeks but something everyone will get a kick out of?
Stephen Lang.”
“the excellent Stephen Lang’s Quaritch, a scenery-chewing bad guy so badass that he can breathe the Pandoran air without a mask.”
Here are some pictures from the event (before, during, and after):
Yes, that really is the man behind the movie, James Cameron, himself!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 3D, avatar, Cameron, colonel quaritch, Imax, james cameron, london, Stephan Lang, stephen lang, travel, traveling | Leave a Comment »
December 6, 2009 by nerdygirlatw
(Okay fine there’s no action figure yet. But just, you wait.)
Whoaaaaa, time flies when you’re having fun and/or buried under the mountain that is you “until crunchtime” work. I just realized that it has been over a week since I last posted! So here I am sitting in my pajamas (yes, from this morning) taking a break from my super sweet German presentation posters updating you on really whatever flies into my head as important. Which could be what I had for breakfast (toast and cream cheese) or what my project is on (“Youth and Religion in Berlin”). Lucky for you neither have crossed my mind. However, I will note again just how sweet my posters are. Add some pictures and a little color and I guarantee that it’ll distract the audience from your (my) horrendous German grammar. Or not. Fine, I just like art projects, don’t judge.
So what have I been up to? That is other than slaving away in front of my laptop trying to sound coherent and eloquent for seven pages of German. I have been dress shopping! Because…I am going to LONDON! And this Nerdy Girl has never actually been there. (I hesitate to count the 10 hour layover where my mom dragged my jet-lagged brother and I into the city onto a double-decker bus where we promptly fell asleep. Hey, she was cruelly teasing me.)
However, while London promises to be a fabulous city with tons of things to do and museums to visit, the reason I am excited is far beyond that I, my dear readers (my blog statistics assure me that you DO in fact exist), will be attending the world premiere of James Cameron’s Avatar! Apparently having a super cool uncle who plays the bad guy (Colonel Quaritch) in said film has a few perks. I have to say that never thought I would see a member of my family immortalized in the form of an action figure.
I hope that when they choose to immortalize me in plastic they make me look just as fit and perky. Perhaps not in camaouflage though – How about one of those barbieprincess dresses? Not to worry I refrained myself when dress shopping for the premiere and decided after much stressful deliberation to forgo excessive lace, ruffles, and satin. That being said, Prince Harry better watch out for this Nerdy Girl.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged action figures, avatar, barbie, berlin, colonel quaritch, German, james cameron, london, mattel, nyc, prince harry, princes, princess, school, stephen lang, steven lang | Leave a Comment »
November 27, 2009 by nerdygirlatw
Since my dad has been here for my thanksgiving break and I have been showing him around, I have had the opportunity to make a few observations about father/daughter relationships which I will bring to light.
It’s amazing, that no matter how much older we all get, we still resort to the same old routine and mannerisms that we had with our parents when we were say, 10 years old.
1. Somehow you still hold on to the belief that your pouty, trembling lower lip will have the same devastating effect on him that it had all of those 11 years ago. Now it still works, although only sometimes so I have to use it sparingly. (Oh the joys of being the only female offspring!)
2. He still gets an inordinate amount of pleasure from embarrassing you in public. Why else would he throw up his arms as you cross through Checkpoint Charlie from East to West Berlin and shout, with his arms up, “FREE AT LAST!” The feeling I had at that moment was only slightly less mortified than when he showed up to my sixth grade dance, unmissable with his over 6 foot frame, and proceeded to wade through the little 11 year olds and call my name in order to get me to leave said dance. It was awhile before I was able to sum up the courage to claim him as my relation.
3. It’s obviously his fault that you desperately have to go the bathroom for the 123rd time that day while you are trekking through the wilderness of Potsdam (home of the Potsdam Conference of 1945) looking for some castle. (Hey! Drinking water is healthy!) No doubt the freezing cold and occasional downpour was as well. Subsequently you proceed to list the umpteenth bodypart that is in pain, mind you after at least 2 hrs of hiking, he asks whether or not you still have any that are still in tact you reply with, “Well, my mouth.” (Thank god so as to notify him of any ailments that should still arise.)
BUT, not to worry, all ill-will is forgotten once we’re both toasty warm and digging into a good italian dinner back on Oranienburgerstrasse.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged berlin, dad, daddy, Daughters, family, father/daughter, fathers, italian, oranienburg, parents, Potsdam, potsdam conference, sixth grade | 1 Comment »
November 24, 2009 by nerdygirlatw
Because I take my duties as a blogger seriously, I decided that no semester in Berlin would be complete without an inside look into the German healthcare system. I felt this was especially apt, given all the recent hullabaloo over Obama and Healthcare. As much as I am fully in favor of the idea of socialized health care providing every American with access to healthcare, there are a few things I wonder about – one thing in particular. Sure, there’s that whole question of expense and tax dollars but my concern? Waiting time. With everyone’s busy schedules, stresses, and egos, I can only imagine a waiting room turning into data to support Charles Darwin’s “Survival of the Fittest.” (House style.)
All I needed was a reason for my little experiment- and the forces that be were ready to provide not one but two:
1. my left knee
2. my right knee
Perfect. (It must be noted that my experiences took place in an Orthopedist’s office rather than an ER.)
Despite my earlier fears and cause for great hesitation, my waiting time was pretty negligible! (Although I am pretty sure a few of the older ladies had a few choice words to say to the receptionists) Even better the entire doctor visit costs about a fifth, without insurance coverage, of what it would have cost in the states. You would think at those prices the doctor would have been haggard, rushed, and impersonal but lucky for me that was not the case and when I returned a couple of weeks later for my check up, he had no problem recalling my case! Even the girls at the desk were very helpful when I was trying to fill out a medical question form. If she hadn’t caught my mistakes I would have been on file as “recovering from cancer and chemotherapy” and “pregnant”. (Hey, you try filling out a form in another language and see what you check off!)
My point is, I believe our friends on Capitol Hill could learn a thing or two…or three.
Now, I do have one question? Does the company that provides cast bandages have a desire to embarrass all of us poor injured souls? If not, would it be so hard for them to provide more understated colors, than say, bright red with bright yellow tape? I’d rather not have legs that stop traffic. (For the wrong reasons.) Or look like they belong in the circus.
Exhibit A:
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged America, berlin, Capitol Hill, Darwin, emergency room, ER, germany, healthcare, House, injury, insurance, knees, obama, orthopedist, taxes, Washington | Leave a Comment »
November 22, 2009 by nerdygirlatw
(Except without that whole being executed for treason under the guillotine thing. I bet that kinda sucked.)
Wow. Amazing. That is all I can say to describe this past weekend in Paris. Paris is a city which affects me more than any other city that I have been to and I could never really articulate why… It is just a feeling and each time I come here (this was my 3rd visit) I have a completely new experience, regardless of whether it is my first or my third visit to the sight. This weekend was a very special weekend because I was able to meet up with one of my best friends Alison, currently studying abroad in Barcelona, and introduce her to this wonderful city. Sadly, as I write this post she is already on her way to the airport (I still have an hour wait or so before I jet back off to “reality”). As I sit here I can feel my body giving into the exhaustion of a weekend of non-stop walking, eating, gawking, and just pure glee and excitement. I hope that I can make it on and off the plane… (However, if I don’t I would be happy to eat beans and live in a cardboard box here. I am sure even their beans are doused in butter!)
Yesterday was really our only full day together to sight-see so we decided to make the most of it even if it killed us, our joints, and our shoes. Started our morning at the Louvre, made a bee-line for the Mona Lisa, wandered around a bit but decided that as guilty as we felt the Louvre, with it’s sheer gargantuan size was overwhelming and we would just have to come to Paris to do it justice! St. Chapelle and Notre Dame were just as hauntingly beautiful as I remembered with the stained glass and dark stone that takes me right back to the middle ages. (Yes, of course I remember it.) We even got to sit in on a Mass! Lunch was delectable with pumpkin soup, salmon, and ratatouille in a little café with low ceilings off of the Seine and then we started our biggest trek of the day through the Tuilleries, down the Champs-Elysée and up to the Arc de Triomphe. Apparently driving there is so dangerous that if you get in an accident your insurance is void! Our last stop of the day was the Eiffel tower, which while impressive during the day was a million times more amazing at night all lit up and sparkly.
Today, mindful of our time constraints we headed off to Musée d’Orsay, enjoyed the beautiful architecture of the former train station, the Van Gogh, Rodin, and Impressionists inside (among many others!). Our last stop was the Garnier Opera house, which I had never been inside before and it made me wish that we had had more time to actually go and experience an opera or ballet production there…Oh well! We have already started planning our next visit so it will definitely have to be on the list!
For those of you planning on visiting Paris here is a helpful article written by a traveler looking through the eyes of the 18-19th century:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/travel/22Grimod.html?pagewanted=3&sq=paris%20travel&st=cse&scp=1
I knew there was a reason I’ve studied the French Revolution four times…
p.s. We should all thank Miss Alison for commandeering my camera and providing the pictures to accompany this post!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged arc de triomphe, art, champs-elysée, france, french revolution, gastronomy, impressionism, louvre, mona lisa, monna lissa, musee du louvre, notre dame, nytimes, opera, paris, rodin, st. chapelle, travel, van gogh | Leave a Comment »
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