Es läuft weiter.....

Life in Berlin is settling down now, but still very very exciting!!

On Saturday we went to Potsdam and had a look around, which was very nice....

Then on Sunday I went to church at the Berlin International Church and met lots of friendly American people. It's an Evangelical church (ish), but without seeming fake like most of the other evangelists I've met in the past. The pastor freely acknowledges that he's not "the perfect Christian" and that he doesn't have the best relationship with God, but they're very very welcoming and so genuine. The atmosphere is a little bit like my home Church in Cotteridge, in that within moments of walking through the front door I was greeted with a smile, a handshake and a look of "ooooh look, here's someone new we can get to know, how exciting!" The pastor is very clear that you don't have to be Christian to be there, you are completely entitled to be curious and doubtful, he's not going to try too hard to convert anyone, and there's definitely nothing about everyone going to hell. I'm actually very impressed. The service is quite unlike any I've been to before - the hymns are more like pop songs, there's no communion and about half of the service is a lecture in bible study - but this year is all about change, and about doing things differently, and this church is another part of that. I've promised myself I'm going to say a big "YES" to every opportunity that presents itself, and really make the most of my time here. Therefore I'm actively seeking experiences I've never had before. It's great fun!!
Along the same theme, I've decided to enroll at the Volkshochschule here in Berlin. For those of you who, like me, are not completely au fait with German culture, a VHS is somewhere that adults can go to get more education, whether they want to learn basics like reading, writing, computer work or whatever, or more adventurous courses such as pottery, tai chi, massage or even the basics of herbal medicine and healthy eating. You can study history or politics or whatever you want. The brochure for this place is about the same size as a small telephone directory, so you can see why I'm having problems deciding which course to take!!
So far the hopefuls are: painting or drawing or pottery; some kind of german language course (cos I still need more!) and some kind of dancing/active sport. I'm almost certainly going to take an all day saturday course in Massage, particularly as it'll make me very popular with the aussies!! (and with Mum, and with Craig, and with pretty much everyone else I know.....)

I've made myself a bit more at home at work now, we baked pizza in the wood-fired oven on monday, and the rosta for cleaning duties went up this morning, so I'm a Fixture. All the kids have their own mug which they decorate and then paint their names on. I am no different, so today I painted mine. It's got a bit of gold in the bottom of the inside, so that there's something good remaining when I've finished drinking, I've written my name round the top in copper, and there's a copper band around the bottom too. Then I've painted flowers: poppies for the English summer I've left behind, Sunflowers for the German summer I've come to; a blue solanum-like flower for the past and a red-flowered bush of my own creation for the future. It's gorgeous, even if I do say so myself. It's amazing how therapeutic I'm finding the work. Rudolf Steiner is a genius, methinks. I'd love to know more about him, and more about his methods of Paedagogy.

Anyway. enough blathering for now. More news in a few days hopefully!

lots and lots of love to all of you. Let me know what you think I should study!