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12 comments ↓

#1 Michael Lindsay on 05.29.06 at 3:07 pm

Jim,

Great to read about your work from Berlin. I’ll look forward to seeing your progress. Is Berlin still a city where the building cranes tower over the skyscrapers, or has the building boom slowed down? We had dinner one night in the glass dome atop the German Parliament building when we were there last–great views and not very expensive. I believe the addition was designed by a British architect; it’s worth seeing if you’re taking in touristy spots while over there.

Could you make it in your neighborhood if you only spoke Turkish, or is German really needed, even in the immigrant community?

#2 esztr on 05.29.06 at 5:52 pm

Congrats, Jim, welcome to the club! It’s fitting that students from 129 Wallace start blogs!

#3 jgibbon on 05.30.06 at 5:24 am

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the recommendation! I walked past the Parliament building the other day but the line to visit the dome was really long-it was the weekend, so maybe that was part of the problem. I’ll try to check it out another time, perhaps when Pinar comes to visit.

I haven’t seen too many cranes around, but there are quite a few shiny new buildings. Looks like a lot of the major projects are complete.

As for language in my neighborhood, I’d say I can get all the basics taken care of with just Turkish. I think everyone expects me to speak German because of how I look, but once we get through those first puzzling moments, I’m usually set. Move outside Kreuzberg, though, and it’s a different story.

Thanks for adding the first comment!

Jim

#4 jgibbon on 05.30.06 at 5:27 am

Hi Eszter,

Thanks! I just wanted to keep the tradition alive. Hope I can do us proud!

Jim

#5 Sara on 05.30.06 at 5:02 pm

Hey Jim —

Great vignette about the old man and his groceries! I look forward to keeping up with your adventures during my writing breaks. Speaking of breaks, I’m eager to read your posts on beating procrastination. You call yourself a “former procrastinator” so you must have some pretty nifty tricks up your sleeve!

Sending you all the best from 129 Wallace,

Sara

#6 jgibbon on 05.30.06 at 7:42 pm

Hey Sara,

Glad you liked the first installment. As for calling myself a former procrastinator, I suppose I’m practicing a little “intention-manifestation.” Out with the old, in with the new!

Jim

#7 Laura on 05.31.06 at 1:54 am

Hmmm….my second attempt at a comment (or are sisters not allowed???) Glad to see that you arrived safely. Keep us posted!

#8 jgibbon on 05.31.06 at 12:35 pm

Gee, I thought I turned off the sister filter. Your comment did go through on the “Turkish Day Festival” post–was that your first attempt?

#9 Chris on 05.31.06 at 1:51 pm

hi jim,

so i am breaking down and making a comment on the blog, which im sure makes you feel triumphant for one reason or another. nothing of much interest to say at the moment, but do i ever have much of interest to say. the jersey shore misses you and pinar–and i suppose i do as well.

chris

#10 jgibbon on 05.31.06 at 8:40 pm

Hi Chris,

You made my day. Let’s say that from now on, each comment you make (no spam, please) entitles you to one game of slackgammon when I get back to Princeton. Deal, or no deal?

Jim

#11 Michael on 06.01.06 at 11:16 pm

Jim,

So I slogged through Taylor’s Sources of the Self–a painful exercise, to say the least. If he drops any brilliant insignts on identity (which is what I’m hoping to learn from him), please post what you learn.

On the long line at the Parliament. The best deal is that if you make reservations for lunch or dinner there, you get to skip the lines and take the fast elevator up. Access to the top is included with your reservation (and the meal is not too expensive). Gabi Marx helped me call to make a reservation a couple of weeks in advance (my German being nonexistent), so it might be a nice thing to do when Pinar comes to Berlin. Oh, and I can recommend the Schlotsky’s deli near Checkpoint Charlie as well. Not everyday that a Texas deli finds its way to the former East Berlin!

Michael

#12 jgibbon on 06.02.06 at 1:41 pm

Michael,

Thanks for the tip–that’s good to know!

I’ll let you know if Taylor delivers. His talk sounds up my alley but likely over my head (philosophy has never been my forte).

I just walked past that Schlotzsky’s today and thought of you. Next time I’m near Checkpoint Charlie I might pop in for a bite.

Speaking of Texas-German exchanges, did you see the NYTimes article on Blue Bell ice cream? I never knew so many Germans had migrated to Texas.

Jim

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