Diane’s World

Hey world: Yes, I’ve been listening to Marlene Dietrich a bit recently. It sounds like Berlin. Sorry it has been so long since I’ve written. It’s nice to know that you are all being patient with me and still checking for updates. I am doing better and better every day in Berlin. There is definitely something about Berlin that I really enjoy… but I can’t really say in words what it is. A week ago, my good friend from Washington (who studies in England) came to visit me during her Spring break. I finally got some pictures of Berlin in general – but Michaele took them, not me Here is the entrance to my school: Some fake little bavarian town set- up in Alexander Platz during easter weekend The Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial Church -Bombed by the allies in WWII and left destroyed as a warning to future generations. \ MICHAELE! And… oh the Reichstag as well. (Note, the next three pictures were taken the same afternoon. Crazy Berlin weather) Brandenburg Tor The Halocaust Memorial- it always seems to start snowing at the most creepy times possible. hm. (You will see more of this later when I talk about Weimar and the Buchenwald Concentration Camp!) Fernseher Turm in Alexander Platz Berliner Dom – Built just as Germany became a country, and rebuilt after the allies bombed it in WWII Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels! I kicked Mr. Marx – it was fun! (He’s the one that is sitting!) For the weekend, we took a small trip to a the little city of Weimar. I knew that Michaele was a Holocaust history enthusiast, so I wanted her to see the Buchenwald concentration camp. The weather the whole time there was foggy and creepy, and at the very end (just as we were arriving on the ash grave where the SS dumped all the jewish ashes) it started to snow. It was quite the sobering experience. The railroad tracks that brought in so many jews, political people, homosexuals, gypsies, sinti, and anyone else the nazis didn’t like: The darker rocks indicate where a barrack used to stand, that held the “prisoners”. They were destroyed after the war because of health concerns. Entrance into the camp. I have the last few pictures (with the snowy grave) in my camera yet… I’ll save them for the next post. But it was the most haunting part of the trip. Back in Berlin, there are little gold cobblestones that tell you where the Jews used to live, and where they died. On the short walk to my school there are 7 victims of Auswitz. Let’s just say, history is very very real here. But that is all depressing: I shall end with something we all that be happy about: APPLE STRUDEL! AT MY FAVORITE RESTRAUNT! I hope you enjoyed my post that was long in coming! Huge thanks to all of you who are staying in contact with me, it means a lot. Until Later, Dee Dee

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Hey there world:First of all a huge hug and good thoughts to everybody who showed concern for me after my last post. It means the world to me that there are people out there who care for me and love me, and I mean that from the very depths of my heart.
And to answer a very popular question, for the next two months, my mailing address is:Diane Feucht
Goethe Institut Berlin
Neue Schönhauser Str. 20
10178 Berlin
Germany
Second of all, the song that is playing is from Arcade Fire’s latest CD “Neon Bible” … that I haven’t really bothered listening to this CD until I came to Germany. I was slightly disappointed – currently there are really only two songs I connect with (I am amazed by every song in their CD “Funeral”.) However, I was blown away by “intervention”, hence it is the song of the week. Got to love the random use of an organ. Kudos to you, Arcade Fire. Big kudos.

Since the last time I posted, I haven’t done too much. I have met a couple people, but I am still very glad to have Andrea.
Howevever, what is really exciting for me is that my Senior Art show is up in Sioux Center, Iowa, and Professor Van Wyk was kind enough to send us some photos! My sister, Rachel, attended the reception for me, and I’ll have some stuff to show from her later.

Here is the show! (artwork by me, aaron huisman, dave schierbeek, mary van essen, mallory mcconnell, and matthew berkenpas)

I am glad that a lot of my stuff managed to make it in the show, and I even received a couple of emails of people interesting in buying some things. It is a good feeling to have my work in public! Not only that, but I am proud of my fellow students – it looks like a very good combined show.

Anyways, I don’t have much else to say, I am very hungry, and I have become very addicted to a certain restaurant in Berlin. I think the waiters are starting to recognize me… shoot!

Well, bis später, Diane

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Hello world.

Sorry I haven’t written sooner.

I’m kind of going through a downer of a time right now.

I have moved to Berlin. Everything is in order. Still wondering if I made the right choice to move.

Big cities intimidate me. Berlin is big. I am scared.
I have no internet in my room… that pretty much means I have to cut out all communication with my home friends and family thanks to the time difference. Sorry guys… I wish there was something I could do about it, but as far as I can see there isn’t. Any ideas, smart people out there?

It also makes it more difficult for me to have time to write new posts. So don’t expect to hear too much from me for the next few months.

I am aching with sadness… I sorely miss my friends that are in Düsseldorf. It’s upsetting to finally become close with people but then have to almost immediately afterwards abandon them.

I am extremely sad that I cannot be around for my art show that is currently in Sioux Center. I have no idea what is in it, or what will be said about me, or what my fellow students have to say about their own work. My group doesn’t seem very interested in letting the abroad people know it what’s going on and it’s a sad deal.

There is someone in America who I sorely want to attack with a big hug and a long talk – more than ever, but unfortunately it’s impossible while I don’t have the time or money for a long-distance hug attack. I only hope emailing can substitute a good Diane hug.

I have a new host family – it’s a single South American woman. She runs a daycare in her house. She is very energetic, and frankly I am scared of her as well… probably because she is not what I expect from a German person. She has quite a few rules, and being an unruly young lady, I am scared I am going to upset her.

I have my new class… it is mainly young people about my age. I think a couple of them would be cool to be friends with, but for the most part my first impressions of a lot of them are negative. Maybe it’s just that I am having a hard time being positive right now.

But then again… there are always things I can try to be happy about.

My good friend, Andrea, lives merely 2 u-bahn stations away from me… meaning she is very easily accessible. I might be needing that. She is also in my class. Yay!

I actually have a refrigerator in my bedroom.. and easy access to a kitchen. I kind of had a kitchen before, but I was scared of getting in my host-family’s way. This time it’s much easier and comfortable. Now I can eat more like I used to in the USA… which will help me not feel so foreign.
I found an art supply store… and I went crazy with happiness. I got a few supplies, and think that I will be making some good canvas paintings in Berlin… provided I find a place to paint. I’m scared my host woman will freak out if I painted in the room. If these paintings turn out good, they will become gifts for the people I love the most.

I have successfully been using more German than ever. I’m pretty sure that the bulk of my conversations are completely in German since I’ve come to Berlin. Today I talked to a store person – we started in English, but after a while we realized it would be better if we just both talked German… and I did a great job! My host woman also mentioned that my German was good. Encouragement is a good thing.

However, I feel alone… again. It’s like I came to Germany again. I miss being in a place that I am familiar with. It will get better with time, but right now I feel like I can easily disappear off this planet and it wouldn’t make much of a difference.

But really, don’t worry about me. There will be better days… I am living… I am healthy… I am breathing… and I have my friend Michaele visiting me in Berlin in two weeks, which I am very excited about.

Till then, I could really use good thoughts.

Love, Dee Dee

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