Day four:

Berlin is a wonderful city. Each day I’m learning more about the media and falling more in love with the city. Despite being in the hospital yesterday, I was able to ventured out and go to the first media event at ZDF.

ZDF is the second German channel TV broadcast station. Our group actually got to be on live television for mo:ma-café. We also got to hear live performance by a top German singer, Frida Gold. It was very interesting to be on set with the hosts and crews.

Our group was lead by Wulf Schmiese, who is actually one of the hosts for mo: ma-café. He used to be a print journalist before transitioning into a presenter for TV broadcasting. Schmiese stressed the importance of research and the ability to write. He described the media as a salad, with some meaty parts. Our group discussion was with our host but also a group from Palestine  These women brought a strong viewpoint to the discussion to the group. Both Schmiese and the Palestinian group pointed out how different international things are being reported in the news.

The next media event was with Dutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). Our hosts were Christian Rowekamp and Michael Kappeler.  DPA is a news wire that provides stories and photos for it customers. The interesting thing about DPA is that it customers are its owner. So the DPA is divided and used for the different media outlets in Germany. DPA stressed the importance of being independent, reliability and credible.

Reichstag. Berlin, Germany. My two roomies Marina, Alexa and myself.

After both media events we were given free time for dinner. I went back to the hotel with Aimee to rest my foot and get some food. At 6:45 we all met in the lobby to go to Reichstag. Reichstag is an amazing building.

There is a glass dome at the top. You have to take an elevator to the dome but then walk to the top of the dome. I was ready for the challenge with my trusty crutches, which are now named Hansel and Gretel. I made my way to the top. First it took 20 minutes to walk to the top, but it was worth it. It has such a wonderful view and the dome has an open ceiling. When it rains, there is a huge metal bowl that catches the water and uses it for energy. It was worth the effort to make it to the top and it really makes you appreciate the small stuff.

Today was a good day. I got to learn about two media corporations and I got to see Reichstag. My foot didn’t cause me too many problems either.

Ready for the next day!

Carson

Day three:

I woke to excruciating pain this morning. Apparently my small fall from last night really hurt my ankle and caused swelling. So this morning was a balancing act of not stepping on my right foot and not waking my two roommates, Marina and Alexa.

I woke up at 5:30 a.m. thinking my foot was cramping, but I woke up again at 6:30 a.m. and tried to move my foot. Bad decision. I looked at the foot and realized three things: 1) something is not right with this foot, 2) it’s broken, 3) maybe I’m over reacting and I just twisted my ankle. My next thoughts were along the lines of: “Really?! Why now? Am I’m going to be able to continue this trip? Are they going to send me home? I don’t want to go home! Please let this be a simple sprain!”

Now I have never, up until this moment, broken any bones or sprained anything. So this experience happening in a different country is a bit nerve wracking. I didn’t want to wake my roommates so I shuffle across my room with a combination of hopping and crawling. At 8 a.m. when their alarms when off, I told them the about my foot.

It was decided to contact Helen to see what could be done, since it was apparent walking wasn’t an option. Through a series of phone calls between Jan and Helen it was decided I needed to go to the hospital. I was really beginning to doubt my luck on this trip.

I was given ice and elevated my foot down in the lobby as I waited with Jan and Helen for Lorena to arrive. The rest of the group went off to explore Berlin and I won’t lie that I found it frustrating that I had hurt my ankle. The thing is, I trip and fall all the time and I have been lucky to say I never had damaged myself to this extent.

When Lorena arrived to help us with the translation, the three of us (Lorena, Helen and I) went to Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin. It was then the waiting game. I was eventually called in for my foot to be poked and prodded, which was not fun. The doctor decided I needed x-rays since it was possible to have fractured some bones.  Helen, Lorena and I waited some more before I was called for x-rays.

While we waiting again after the photos of my swollen foot were taken, Helen and I started talking with this man from Scotland. He was curious in how I injured my foot. He than proceeded to share with us a time when he broke both his legs after chasing a thief and accidently falling into a pit where he fell some 20 meters (20 meters = 65 feet). The guy was luckily to be alive. Then later a woman came in hobbling just as I had. A tram had hit her and ironically her right foot was the only damage. The woman then went to teach a class before calling a cab to go the hospital. All I can say is the waiting rooms in Berlin are interesting.

Shortly after the woman who was hit by the tramcar had arrived I was called to get the verdict on my foot. My little trip from the night before had ruptured a ligament in my right foot. I was given a compress and an air-cast. I was also given medication to prevent any blot clots and crutches. All of this happened between 8 a.m. to 1:40 p.m.

On top of the DW building, Berlin, Germany

Helen, Lorena and I then grabbed a cab to get to the media trip for the day: Deutsche Welle with Fabian von der Mark. He told us Deutsche Welle was for the people and for the world to know how Germany was changing. Fabian von der Mark also gave us a tour of the studio and newsrooms. It definitely a calm atmosphere and we even got to see the beginnings of one of the news “presentations.” As a special treat he took us to the roof where we got an absolutely wonderful skyline view.

My foot prevents me from using public transportation and instead I had to take a cab with Helen back to the apartment. The rest of my day went to relaxing and keeping my foot elevated and iced. I also got pizza and ice cream to go with Aimee.

So my day started and ended in ways I couldn’t even imagined, but I made some good memories. This definitely wasn’t how I pictured my days in Germany. This trip has taught me so much about the differences in media between Germany and the U.S. and how to just go with it while traveling. I may hobble a bit now, but I still going to enjoy my time in Berlin and in Munich.

Here’s to tomorrow!

Carson

Day Two:

I must have gotten the best sleep ever. After 48 hours of traveling, the greatest gift anyone could have given me was a bed. The morning started well. Breakfast was down in the lobby with an assortment of food such as eggs, fruits, rolls, yogurt and different meats. It was very delicious.

The plan of the day was to venture to Freie University for two lectures with Dr. Elfriede Fursich. The two presentations she had set up for us were “Current German Media Landscape” and “Influence of the media on the German People during WWII and the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

Taking Berlin’s metro system

Dr. Fursich met us at the hotel with our tour guide, Loraine, who gave us a lesson on German public transportation. In Berlin, there is the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn, they are part of a metro system. It was fairly easy to understand after learning what to look for. The first time on the S-Bahn and U-Bahn was fun. The doors to the bus aren’t automatic and you have to push a button for the door to open. Plus it is very clean and well organized, which is vastly different from Philadelphia.

When we arrive to Freie University, the town was different from the city. The town was more of what I was expecting Berlin to look like. The place was very calm and peaceful with nice homes and apartments tucked in between different bushes and plants. In a word it was beautiful.

Dr. Fursich led the way to the university. She first took us to the cafeteria for lunch. It was like be at an orientation for college, which is basically fish-out-of-water syndrome. Being in the cafeteria was different not only was this the cafeteria filled with a bunch of hungry students, but all of the menus were in German and no one really spoke English. Despite feeling out of place, I managed to find a sandwich and small salad.

After lunch, we were given a tour of the university. The building by itself was mind-blowing. The architecture of the building was incredible. The library is called Phiologische Bilothek. The building’s shape reminded me of a Beehive. It was unique and inside was amazing. My only regret is that I wished they allowed pictures of this unusual building.

The lectures given were very informative and provided information that didn’t even occur to me such as the different theories the German media follows under. Another was what happened to the media after the reunification of Germany. It was such a pleasure to get first hand information.

After Dr. Fursich’s lectures we were given free time. This time was when I learned how to master the art of Berlin’s metro system. I guided our group across Berlin. I really just wanted to know how to use the metro system in case I got separated, but it worked out for our group. The group I was with went to a little pub for dinner called Stadtklause and we order schnitzel and potatoes. This place did not have anyone who spoke English but with the help of Andrea we were able to order. The food was filling and enjoyable.

We then went to Alexanderplatz and Potsdamer Platz through the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn. We really wanted to go to this festival in Hermannplatz, but we couldn’t find it. By this time we decided to check out the nightlife of Berlin by going to one of the clubs Lorena suggested. We chose Tresor.

We planned on taking the U-Bahn there, but it was closed. We had to get two taxis to get there but it was worth it. I have to say I did have “me moment” where I tripped over the curb going to the cab, it was slightly embarrassing, but I trip all the time.

Tresor was a disco club. It was truly the opposite of what I though German Nightlife was like. It was really easy to just join in and have fun.

I can’t wait for tomorrow!

Carson

Remember this: aluminum tape is an aggressive pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive. It is flexible, UV and crack resistant.

Day 1:

I can’t say this trip has started off smoothly. Our group arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport on time for our flight to Paris, France. It was on time, but with one minor problem: it was struck by lighting.

Now I’m not sure how to take this news seeing as my trip from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh  by bus was delayed two hours, which made a six and half hour trip a nine-hour trip. I can be a bit superstitious – especially when the same thing happens twice in two days, and more was to come later.

The pilot for our damaged vessel told us that the damage was fixable. The lighting strike had left a plate-sized hole in the nose and the damage inside remains a mystery. The plan to fix the damage escaped our pilot but said – get this – aluminum tape. The tape would be used to patch the hole.

Just getting out of Pittsburgh took a bit of time. Our flight was schedule to leave at 6:35pm; however, with the repairs and aluminum tape our flight left at 8 p.m. and we were soaring the skies by 9 p.m. The flight from Pittsburgh to Paris was very good. I slept the entire way so I can’t say I had any problems or was aware of any – (best way to travel and prevents jet lag).

We did miss our flight in Paris to Berlin, Germany, but that’s rule number one when traveling: be flexible because these things are never in your control. Besides, I would rather have the engineers take 2 hours to fix the problem properly than a half fast job where a more serious incident could happen.

CDG Airport in Paris, France

Paris via airport was interesting. I was able to see many people going to their allotted terminals and the different shops. It is vastly different from Pittsburgh International. The airport is very modern and it was cool to be hearing other languages besides English.

Thankfully this flight to Berlin had not suffered from any lighting strike damage. There was, however, a 15-minute delay because there was a medical emergency on the flight prior to ours. This flight was a quick jump taking only an hour and a half to get to our first destination for our International Media class and once again I fell asleep.

Our arrival to Berlin was the final leg of our travels for the day – or so I thought. The delayed flight in Pittsburgh discombobulated the itinerary of the day, which skewed the day’s events A.K.A our luggage was lost.

Between missing our flight and the entire hubbub of taking a new flight, nine people in our group did not get their luggage. Cue the panic! After the moment of dread had passed, an easy solution was found. We had to stop at the baggage claim. All in all it has been eventful getting to Berlin.

After we finished with baggage claim we proceed with our very late tour. The important thing to take from this is that Berlin is gorgeous! This city is a wonderful combination of modern and old world feel. There is a deep appreciation for the environment and for the natural landscape.

I confess I’m already half in love with the city and I’ve only seen a few highlights   from the tour bus – but I know that this city is one of a kind.

For dinner our group went to a beer garden called Lindenbräu. The food and beer were amazing. It was just wonderful to sit down and have real food, but the best part about dinner was our luggage was found, which means between now and tomorrow I’ll have my things back.

The past 48 hours have been an adventure already with; one flight missed, two fights delayed, some aluminum tape, and some lost luggage, but in the end we shared a good meal and we got to Berlin…eventually.

It’s been a great first 48 hours and I can’t wait for the rest!

Carson

Wanderlust is a strong desire for or impulse to wander or to travel and explore the world…according to Pinterest. This semester of International Media is taking us to Berlin and Munich. I can’t express how excited I am to be exploring a part of Europe for the first time. And thanks to Google Earth I have been attempting to get a glimpse of the landscape and country we will be going to tomorrow. Since finals have been over, I had to travel back to my hometown some six hours away from Pittsburgh to get my final preparations ready for tomorrow.  I can’t be believe in less than 24 hours I will be at the airport ready to leave the country.

The semester had taught me much about how the media works in Germany. I will now get to see how it happens in real life with the opportunity to ask questions and to learn more. Each country has something unique and interesting to offer and I only hope that I become a better and smarter person for it.

One of the events I’m excited for is the day in Austria.  I’m curious to see the similarities and differences between Germany and Austria and secretly I’m excited to use the train to get there! I think I’m just excited to walk down a street in Berlin or Munich to be honest: to see the streets filled with people and shops.

The past few days have been hectic with shopping, organizing, or just making sure I have everything. I’ve already had three nightmares where I lost my passport, my luggage was to big and couldn’t go, and I missed the flight. Right now I’m assuming that once I get to the airport my worries will be over, but right now I’m double checking everything to make sure nothing goes amiss before tomorrow.

So here’s to wanderlust and the promise of adventure!

Carson