Big Update

Dear Readership,

I am sorry that I suck so hard at posting updates. Unfortunately, technology has not been cooperating at all. I've been having all sort of power supply problems with my MacBook, and on the last day in London my charger finally gave out. The charger I need would cost about $150 here, and my parents didn't want to send me one from the US where it would cost about $70. I took the charger apart and have now managed, somewhat, to get it back together, but I'm pretty sure it's a fire hazard and should not be left unattended. Here's a picture:

So about London:

I was there with my mother's brother, his wife, and their 3 daughters. We stayed in their friend's house in Notting Hill. We didn't hit too many sites because the family had already seen them all, so we only drove by them and I held my camera out the window. Mostly we went to museums, the Tate Britain was great. I saw the JMW Turner exhibit and was blown away (even though I often heard myself saying, "Puh, Leslie can do that.") The British Museum was incredible, as well, but it was upsetting in many ways because you see how the orientalist West just pillaged Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece under the guise of historical preservation. The best part was that I got to see the Rosetta Stone. Pictures here:

My last night in London was by far the best. First my family went to dinner at Harrods where I got to see a Princess Diana memorial, then we went to see the ABBA musical Mamma Mia. I want to be cool and pretend I don't like musicals but this was so much fun:

After that I was supposed to go out clubbing with Mukai and my cousins but there were a bunch of problems so I ended up at Mukai's apartment with her and her roommate making stop motion videos all night with moustache's drawn on our face with eye liner. There are many more but I can't post them due to my blogs decency standards:

Mukai

I stole this picture from her blog. It's from my first night here. Sadly, I didn't get to spend much time with her in London, but she's coming to Berlin!!! I have sightseeing tours and bar crawls planned.

More London pictures Wednesday.

London

I'm in London.

My trip was sort awful and took much longer than it should have, due to Murphy's Law, but I made it OK. I spent the first night at my friend Mukai's. She had a delicious feast of Dorritos, pizza, fries, popcorn chicken, and broccoli waiting for me. Then we went to a strange club that had a 70s style disco light up dance floor, the music was really good though- lots of international standards I've heard in New York and Berlin.

I'll post pictures when I'm back in Berlin. I brought a camera, but forgot the card reader.

Obviously

CNN stating the obvious (click for details)

Non Updates

I have seen every episode of "Buffy:The Vampire Slayer" there is and have nothign left to look forward to in life.
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I have learned all about religion, the Illuminati, and the New World Order from the internet sensation conspiracy theory movie Zeitgeist (click here to watch it.)
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I have learned how to ride a bicycle to class through street traffic without major injury.
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I have widened my horizons by beginning to listen to jazz.
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I have discovered a hip bar that is typical Berlin. Wonderful pseudo-intellectuals with thick-rimmed glasses talking about geo-politics. I still prefer Roses, the kitschy local gay bar with furry pink walls and ceiling. No lie, it's like neon pink shag rugs as far as the eye can see, interrupted only by the disco balls.
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I went to an NYU field trip to gay bingo where I won a bottle of wine.
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I helped a Japanese friend with a project where he wanted friends around the world to take a picture of the sky at the exact same moment. Here's mine, taken from my balcony:

To prepare for the public transport strike

... I bought a helmet so I can ride my bike with less fear.

What I've been up to

Sunday:

Went to a German friend's apartment for a movie night. It was really nicely decorated and she had made carrot-ginger soup, fresh waffles, and cookies.

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Monday:

Went to an NYU movie night where we watched a German art-film that didn't make any sense.

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Tuesday:

I went to a professional handball game because on the train we met a girl whose boyfriend plays for the "Füchse Berlin" so she hooked us up with nice tickets. It's an exciting sport that can best be described as indoor soccer where you throw the ball instead of kick it. It's Germany's second highest grossing sport after soccer.

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Wednesday:

I went to a Mexican restaurant with friends where they have incredible burritos. I will be back every day of my stay.

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On another note:

German unions have too much power so basically all public transport in the country (trains, buses, subways, planes) will be on halt starting Monday, possibly lasting for 2 weeks. They're demanding a 8% pay raise. Luckily Berlin airports should be ok, I plan on going to London for spring break to visit Mukai and chill with my relatives there.

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Finally:

HILLARY!!

Leipzig

I spent all day on a field trip to Leipzig, an East German city known for having a strong bourgeoisie. 

We took a city tour, saw old buildings, learned about WWII memorials. I discovered a Breuninger, a Stuttgarter department store where I bought the incredible hoody you see in the pictures (sorry mom and dad, but that hoody went on the card).

I also went to a Lutheran church where they had a Saturday service with organ concert. It's where Bach used to be musical director. Anyway, Lutheran services are weird, they don't strike fear the way Catholic ones do, but they don't have the same love/community/caring vibe that Unitarians do. Strangely, when the congregation said the "Vater Unser" (our Father in Heaven) prayer I knew it all and felt compelled to say it all in unison.

Some old building built by a mayor.

Old city council building.

A picture of Lauren, me, and my new hoody. Weather sucked.