Sabbath

The days just seem to go by so fast. Last I knew it was Sunday. It's now Thursday. 

Thursdays have become my favorite day of the week because they are my day on the boat. What's funny is that the best day also contains one of the worst/hardest things, getting up early. I have to be out the door by 8.45 in order to grab breakfast before I leave. I am a night owl and these mornings come too early. For whatever reason, this morning seemed like a greater struggle than ever. Nevertheless, I eventually got up and lifelessly made my way to the cafeteria. Once I had food in me and was on my way to the tram, I seemed determined to make it on time and excited about the hour long journey. The struggle of rising already having perished.

Last Thursday I brought Anne Lamott's book "Small Victories" along to read. I read 70 pages. For those of you who know me, you know that I am not an avid leisure reader. More astonishing than the amount of pages I read in one day was how much I enjoyed doing so. 

What I usually hate about reading is how static and unproductive it feels. I become easily restless and distracted in my thoughts. The fact that I am on public transportation heading to a specific destination does two things while reading. 1) makes me productive and in motion 2) focuses my distractions to the brief moments when the tram stops are being called aloud. Number 2 feels like i've made a step in the right direction toward meditation, which before seemed incomprehensible for my seamless thoughts.

I was never able to read in cars as a kid, I would get nauseous. For whatever reason, that is no longer a factor. Timing.

I couldn't get my head out of the book as I walked into the shipyard. I only looked up to smile at the woman who opened and closed the things that let cars in. When I finished the chapter I was content and closed the book.

To my surprise, no one was on the boat. I looked around and thought maybe they were still sleeping. So I decided that I would sit on the boat Kerstin's boat is tied to and read. I was astonished that I was being given the space my heart needed, "Small Victories." 

I read a few chapters and went inside the boat again. No one. I debated whether I should clean up and vacuum and sweep, after all there is usually saw dust everywhere. I scratched my head looking around seeing that the boat was already tidied up. Back to my book I went. 

This time, my disruptions came from the sounds of the men working on the boat behind me. When I started paying attention to my other senses, I was astounded at how beautiful of a day it was. How this moment was.

My skin as overjoyed as my soul with the nourishment it was receiving from the long lost sun.

Everything became one. The drills, the metal clanging, the wind, the distant childhood chatter, I was reading it all in the same manner I took in each letter on the page.

Splashes disrupting the rhythmic waters, a crew team passing by.

I went and checked inside the boat one more time. I debated whether I should paint more of the front deck. Being too hard to determine whether or not the other parts had had a second coat, I opted out not wanting to waste paint. 

After two hours of being present to life, I headed back home.

Only breaking to eat my sandwich, I continued absorbing everything Lamott offered. (Well, I did also have to pause to show the BVG (public transportation) workers my monthly pass. You cannot distinguish these people from anyone else. They have no uniform. The only characteristic feature is their little machine.)

Stepping foot off the tram at my stop, I decided I wanted the banana I had packed. Opening it from the bottom up, because the top was too short, my day became that much better. The perfect ripeness. 

My soul washed over by Lamott's words, my skin basking in the sun, my ears ringing with all the shipyard chatter and now my tastebuds drooling over this PERFECT banana. 

I was really upset though, I went to pick up the last bite out of the peel and it flew out and onto the stone. Sadness. Although, it did make me stop to appreciate the concealer of such deliciousness. I became grateful for it's protection of my perfection.

I wasn't home for long. Another school field trip. This one was for my internship seminar. We went to a co-working space. A building where people can rent desks and work alongside other people who are likely working on something completely different from you. 

On the way there, nostalgia was awoken. The act of reading a story. I remembered that my favorite 6 year old wanted to read me a story over Skype this weekend but couldn't because of dinner time. I remembered the time her and her sister, my favorite 9 year old, asked me to tell them a story from my childhood and became stunted by the memory of my father telling me bedtime stories from his childhood. Such an intimate act of love occurring amongst the hustle and bustle of a city. A world within a world. 

In looking for the co-working space after getting off of the tram, I came across this Ford. I know, what? It looks like something out of Mario Kart, the kind that would slip over my perfect banana peel. It makes me laugh because it is called a KA. Naturally, I read this as the Massachusetts pronunciation of car. "Hey, look at my new kaaa!"

Awaiting our teacher at the co-working space, Agora, Gina was desperately gawking at something behind me, I turned to see. I was immediately drawn to this precious human being. Harold the purple crayon esk, yet completely their own character. Mittens attached by a thread. Parents almost out of sight, leaving their kid behind. They kept looking at us. So hesitant to continue on, stopped, just taking it in. 

This child summed up everything my day had been. Taking in the moment. Tenetively strolling on.

Thursday's have become my sabbath. They are teaching me that we are nothing if not attempting to embrace everything. 

I read 200 pages today, 200 more if you count everything outside the ink.

Abigail

Cloud 9

Today I cannot contain my joy. I am so incredibly happy. I woke up to a snapchat (for those of you who don't know what that is, it's an app on my phone that other people can send me pictures on) from two cherished friends saying they loved me. They live a few hours away from each other and were having a mini reunion. I felt like part of it and felt so loved. 

After that I opened an campus wide email, which was an invitation to play soccer with a staff member, Zoltan, and his two young sons. Not having played in too long, I got myself up and around, got breakfast and headed to the mini field. There was a group of about 10-12 students. Most playing, some watching. I jumped right in. Zoltan's oldest son, who was maybe about 9, was one of the best ones out there. The people playing weren't people I usually surround myself with and it was great to feel part of the community in a new way. 

At one point our goalie was complaining about being hungry and wanting to go to lunch. He said, "food is a necessity!" Zoltan replied seemingly annoyed, "come on, there is no greater necessity right now that the game of football!" In thinking back to that moment now, it couldn't have been more true. 

After soccer, we played this game called Kubb, or Vikings Chess. It is an awesome outdoor game! One to add to the must have list! 

This is what the set up looks like. You have to knock down the the blocks with the rods. The game took almost an hour because it is more complex than just knocking down all of the blocks, but it was a game all could play and was really fun!

After playing the loyal game that's been with me for life and a new game with a new community, I am finding myself on cloud nine. In case you are doubtful...

My life = The life

Hallelujah

<3

Abbey

Alle an Bord Erbsen

Today was my second day on the boat (das Schiff). I'm still as excited as I was before I stepped foot on the boat!

The first time on the boat, I could only stay a couple of hours. They put me to work by having me paint the white wall around the windows (on the picture below). I was sitting on the ground rolling the white paint over the freshly cut wood when I remembered how my grandpa used to be the designated painter in our family. If anyone needed painting done, he was the guy. I can still see him standing on the ladder painting the red wall on 6 bayshore. He was the go to guy for a lot of things. By the time I had done a full brushstroke, I remembered that he was an electrician in the Navy. My confusion of my obsession of this boat finally made sense. 

Today, my job was to reorganize an endless amount of incredibly small objects. I emptied this box onto the floor and picked things out one by one. There were about four different categories. (Flo, if you're reading, I think this would make a great puzzle! :)

I kept thinking about this girl in my internship class who has a hard time being an assistant to an artist, running errands and doing seemingly unimportant tasks. How she struggles in feeling as though she isn't making a difference in the world. Because while sorting through the hundreds of parts, I found myself intrigued by every little part, not having seen most of them before. The purpose was irrelevant to me. I was just doing it and, for whatever reason, enjoying it. 

The separating did not stop at that box, in fact it lasted over 2 hours. I went through about 5, finding homes for all the pieces. I became aware of my patience at its best today. there were a handful of parts that were no bigger than my pinkie toenail. One was a thin metal square with a hole in it. It was like an extremely tiny, square washer. I couldn't and still cannot fathom what it was/is for. 

Sun shining through the classic ship window.

I never knew how these windows worked. They are surprisingly simple. I really like them. And I love this photo.

When I was done separating, my task was to paint part of the front deck. I wish I would've taken a before and after picture. Before I started, I had to vacuum, use a wire brush to get the dirt out of the crevices and then wash the floor with water and a rag. I pictured my mom with the soapy water and toothbrush on 6 bayshore scrubbing the grout in the kitchen. I'd have gone through 5 toothbrushes in order to get this clean. I couldn't get every speck of dirt up, but the purpose is to get it as clean as you can and pick up all the loose dirt so that it doesn't get into the paint. I discovered that I like painting metal better than wood. When I was done, I had to use this industrial blow dryer to blow dry the corners so that everything would dry before the temperature dropped. 

I feel like this picture  really captures the essence of the boat, as is. 

The two guys working on it are living on it. I like these two pictures, I don't know why. Life boat living I guess. 

Who needs buoys, when you've got tires?

Favorite picture ever. No filter. 

After about 6 hours on the boat, I came home to a Valentine's package :)

Pete and Gina were happy about this too! So many goodies and sweet treats! A taste of home <3

What a great day <3

I might have to find time to work on the boat more than one day a week. It's so rewarding

Hope your day was as rewarding as ours!

Pete & Abbey

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Bella

Pete celebrating Bella's birthday all the way in Germany in his party hat! We miss the birthday girl so very much! Can't  believe she is 9!

All our love,

Pete & Abbey

Sony Center

The Sony Center is in what is called Potsdamer Platz. This area of Berlin was bombed in WWII. For awhile afterward, it was a flat wasteland. A void in the city that represented trauma. When the idea for the Sony Center came along, there was a lot of pushback. Making a traumatic area into a commercial area, of course there was controversy. This is one of those places that without knowing any history, one could go to and make it out to be a similar area to any other city. This tent is built over a ruin. Not that the history is supposed to ruin the atmosphere for someone, but in knowing, I feel that I am much more aware and appreciative of the space.

Pea Partying in the Sony Center

This is a buddy bear. Buddy bears started in 2002. They were originally a temporary exhibit in Berlin that have become a very famous traveling exhibit. There are around 140 fiberglass bears aligned in a circle representing different countries. Each designed and painted by an artist from their given country. The idea behind the exhibit is to promote living together in peace and harmony. Although the exhibit is no longer in Berlin, there are random buddy bears all around the city. I thought this one was really funny. It is a plastic buddy bear that is supposed to be a donut. It was in Dunkin Donuts. Fast friends Pea and Buddy.

High on life!

Pete & Abbey

Museuminsel

Berlin is known for their great museums. They have what is called Museum Island. It is exactly what it sounds like, an island of museums. Although, all of the buildings aren't museums. This building below is the Berliner Dom/Cathedral. It is an Evangelical church, which I may have to attend before I leave.

This is the Altes Museum, it displays Greek and Roman artifacts. It is to the left of all the pictures I have of the Dom.

Pea on Museuminsel!

The structure to the right of the Dom is the TV tower. It is located almost central of Berlin and is a great reference point. It lights up at night and you can go up it and see the view.

We were on museum island because we had a class field trip at the Old National Gallery, which is the image after this one. Gina is in my class!

The Old National Gallery. The crane like thing to the left of the building means construction. They are EVERYWHERE. Berlin is building new U-Bahn lines and stops and on museum island they are building a museum designed after an old palace. Lots of cranes.

Lion in front of the Old National Gallery, thought we'd add a little happiness to his stoicism.

The art in the Old National Gallery was great, awesome to have an art historian, our professor, to guide us through!

Cheers!

Pete & Abbey

Die Oper

Last night we went to the Opera! Berlin has 3 Opera houses, which is apparently very rare. I wouldn't know because last night was my first Opera. It was great!

The Opera house we went to was the 2nd best Opera house, the Deutsche Oper. The best one is closed for construction. We saw The Barber of Seville. You will recognize Rossini's music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OloXRhesab0&spfreload=10

Pre-Opera lemonade...because we're too cool for wine.

The lemonade stand

Another lemonade stand

The view from our seats. You can't see them, but there were screens for supertitles (the Opera's version of subtitles...they are just above the screen instead of below.) There were English and German supertitles, which didn't seem strange to me at first but then I realized the German supertitles didn't match the singing. Thinking about it, it makes a lot of sense because why would there be subtitles if it were in German? By intermission we figured out that it was in Italian. 

Poor Pete got checked with our coats, he missed it, but i'm sure he could hear it all!

Passing the time during intermission! They ring a bell to signal its time to go back in, they don't flicker the lights. It sounded similar to a school bell. 

It's really hard to see because the lighting is off, but there is a man sitting on the stage who was there the whole intermission. He is sitting on the edge of a boat casting a fishing line into the orchestra pit. (is that what it's called?) Why, I'm not really sure, but he was a cute elderly man. 

This was taken at the end, I managed to sneak a pic as we were walking out. I LOVED the costumes. They were SOOOO good. This link will take you to the opera house's website and has a lot better pictures from a different cast of the same opera. My favorite character was the guy with the white hair and stiff black beard who wore a red outfit covered by a black robe thing. I think he was my favorite because he was the most unique character. He had extra long fingers and his hat was super fun and I think it helped that I liked his singing in particular. Figaro looked kind of like Fabio, it made his character even more funny that he already was. My favorite costumes were Figaro's cream and turquoise jester looking outfit and the turquoise and red patterned dress of Rosina's. You can see them really well from the website. The one's you can't see on the website I like you can see below. The guy dressed in all white to the right and the little girl dressed as an older woman definitely fit into some favorite category, i'm not sure what. You can actually see the guy in white in the last picture on the website, his costume is SO great! I think the hair is what does it!

http://www.deutscheoperberlin.de/en_EN/calendar/the-barber-of-seville.12120374

On the way home from the Opera, Pete getting on the U-Bahn. 

In the station waiting for the U-Bahn. 

Auf Wiedersehen Deutsche Oper!

<3 Pete and Abbey