It's been almost two whole months that I have been in Germany, and it feels almost more boring than this summer. It kind of bothers me, since I was expecting to get this HUGE amount of work when I got here, and I have next to NO homework, so this is pretty much a three-month vacation. I think the reason they give us almost no homework is because they want to allow us to travel on weekends, but I mean, we can still do that with homework. Maybe I'm an overachiever,...

Eeeearly Friday morning we left for Cologne (Köln), a big city with GOBS of tourists (more than Strasbourg, believe it or not!) covering the streets, and VERY expensive, well, everything. We were on a 5-star bus, and it was the best bus i have EVER been on. It was red and black and had black leather seats and TONS of leg room as well as a VERY good recliner. ;) 3 hours later, we arrive at Kloster Maulbronn, a Cistercian Monastery from the 13th century. It was on...

I have quickly come to realize my great appreciation for modern art. There is a really awesome art-nouveau furniture store that I pass between the theater and the center of the city sometimes (not necessarily every day, but a lot), and it has SUCH amazing looking furniture-- while i really like going for that classic, inviting look, I feel like if I ever had the choice to decorate my place (or at least one room) the way I want to, I would make it super futuristic...

Today was a rather wonderful day. :) I have finally landed.... BASSOON LESSONS!!! THIS makes me happy over all because I NEED them, and instead of doing a 5 or 6 week intensive thing when i get back, i get to actually have lessons! and possibly a connection to the Freiburg Phil, and possibly a connection to chamber music or an orchestra i can play with! AH! so good! :) I am so happy! I am taking lessons with Angela Bergmann (you can google her), a young bassooni...

Berlin! Who knew there could be SO much history in one city-state of Germany??? In 5 days, I have seen more about the last century of German history than I EVER thought I would. I saw: Fernsehturm (TV Tower at Alexanderplatz)Potsdamer PlatzBerliner Mauer (Berlin Wall)Checkpoint CharlieJudisches Museum (Jewish Museum)Museumsinsel (Museum Island)Berliner Philharmoniker Potsdam, including: Schloss Sanssouci, Haus der Wansee Konferenz)DDR MuseumBundeskanzleramt (Ge...