Can I get a minute of not being nervous

I love this. One lady put up a wall where folks can write down what they want to accomplish before they die. It started in New Orleans and has been continuing in other cities and countries. I need to find the one in Chicago!

"It was an experiment and I didn’t know what to expect. By the next day, the wall was bursting with handwritten responses and it kept growing: Before I die I want to… sing for millions, hold her one more time, eat a salad with an alien, see my daughter graduate, abandon all insecurities, plant a tree, straddle the International Date Line, get clean, live off the grid, build a school, be someone’s cavalry, be completely myself…  People’s responses made me laugh out loud and they made me tear up. They consoled me during my toughest times. I understood my neighbors in new and enlightening ways, and the wall reminded me that I’m not alone as I try to make sense of my life."

Berlin

Chicago

Johannesburg

Brooklyn

Post title from Slow Show by The National.

Tell me what's so easy about coming to say goodbye

I survived a trip to Berlin and Prague! My friend and I had a several panic attacks throughout the trip including one before we even left Paris. Sometimes traveling by yourself is hard.

I loved Berlin. Really loved it. We were only there for a day and a half, and we did a four hour walking tour and learned more than I ever did in history class. I loved how there were modern coffeeshops everywhere. Like legit coffeeshops. None of this old fashioned café nonsense like Paris (just kidding, those are great too). Apparently Berlin is known as "poor but sexy." I was not there long enough to really experience the city, but what I observed rings true.

Prague was beautiful. We were there for four days and did another four hour walking tour which covered several historical and touristy sites. Who knew they had a mini eiffel tower? It was endearing... The only problem I had with Prague was the sheer number of tourists. Oh and the lovers. Like seriously? And this is coming from a girl who is used to seeing people in Paris making out on the metro or at various historical sites. But Prague was worse. And to make it even more annoying, these lovers were not half as attractive or as well-dressed as Parisians, so I couldn't even be jealous. But this speaks only for the tourists in Prague, because I'm not really sure I saw a legit person from Prague between the hostel and the touristy historical sites. But I don't blame all those lovers for coming to Prague, because the Charles Bridge and the river pretty much kills you. 

Some highlights:

- Withdrawing a 1000 Czech bill. I felt rich for five seconds.

- Getting caught by the German police for not having metro tickets. Too much money was lost paying for that ticket.

- Meeting someone from my college town at a bar crawl. So so random!

- Avoiding various creepy men. By the end of the trip, I was paranoid of everyone. Talk to me, and I will cut you.

- Plotting ways to kill pretty much most of the people in our hostel room... if you see someone sleeping at oh say 3 in the morning, its best not to talk loudly, just sayin.

- Going to the sketchiest club ever in Prague. It was pretty much a four story frat house with old creepy men. Yeah, we didn't stay too long.

- Losing my camera in Berlin :( I bought a disposable camera in Prague. Someone asked me if I was a hipster. Nope, just really needed a camera...

Last week was great, but one thing I realized is that it is so much scarier traveling to new cities with one other person rather than a group. And I also realized, I really want to return to Berlin someday, longer than 36 hours I hope. The photo is from this really cute coffeeshop near our hostel in Berlin. Unfortunately I never went in, because I had given all my extra money to the German police.

Post title from Three White Horses by Andrew Bird.

All the things that make you lighter

This week, I am so lucky to be visiting Berlin and Prague with my friend from Northwestern. I cannot wait! This is my first time leaving Paris since arriving. This is kinda odd, but I am actually really looking forward to feeling no pressure to speak the language. Because I know no German or Czech. In Paris, I try to speak French, and I just get frustrated. For example, my host dad went on an hour long rant during dinner last week about the differences between the US and France. Clearly he liked one country better than the other. I had so many things to say; it reminded me of dinners at home, when my parents and I would talk for a long time after dinner. The only problem is that in this case, I couldn't form any sentences. By the time I had a thought and simplified my thought so I could find words to say it in French, my host dad had moved on to a new topic. So many struggles. All over the place.

Something I have officially realized. I can never fit in here. Not only for the above scenario  but also because there is no direct translation for the phrases, "I am confused," and "This is awkward." These two phrases define pretty much every moment of my life.  The closest French phrases literally translate to "I am embarrassed," and "I am not comfortable," which just doesn't cut it for me. I guess Parisians never really feel confused or awkward. Ugh of course they don't.

Anywho, please enjoy this pretty picture of Prague I found off of pinterest. I'm excited to take my own soon. My best friend from high school studied abroad in Prague this summer, so I've been reading up on all her notes! 

Post title from Girls Like You by The Naked and Famous. I love this song.