A cruel aspect of the life of a college student who goes to school too far away to drive there

BOOKS. These college people entice you to come to their institution to learn all these great things, and what do you accumulate? Books! Lots and lots of books. Books you want to keep. But what the heck are you supposed to do with them? There is only so much room on my shelves at home, and only so much weight I can carry in a checked suitcase. Some days I would give anything to get to live in ONE place for more than one year. But there are most likely many years of being a nomad yet to come. Sigh...

In other news: I had fun shadowing "Frau" Sherman at the high school. She has some really good German students! Her classes are really fun. That was encouraging to see.

I spent the afternoon and evening yesterday (as in Sunday) with Amy Thomas. It's so cool how we can go months without seeing each other and then when we see each other again, nothing's changed between us. We still ramble all night long and never run out of things to talk about. I'm excited to see where God takes her next year.

Now all that's leftis packing, packing and more packing. Thursday morning we're off to Philly... I'm ready. I'm starting to feel Brentwood-ed out. I love the people but I can't stay in this place too long.

Random coolness

So I got this email the other day from a guy at Penn - I think he is/was a graduate/PhD student - saying that he founded a new chamber choir in Philadelphia and wanted to invite me to be in it. He said he remembered hearing me at a Baroque ensemble concert two years ago and wanted to invite me to join the choir last year but was told I was in Germany. He said they're having auditions this weekend, but he'd waive that for me since he's already heard me sing. So... I'm in. Cool, eh? And I was struggling to decide what sort of ensemble to join back at Penn this year... looks like the decision was made for me! I like when things work out that way.

In other news, I have been shadowing the German teacher at Brentwood High last week and this week, and it's pretty fun. I've been learning some cool stuff, and it's helpful to go back and put myself in the shoes of kids just starting to learn German. I might have an internship at Penn this year assistant teaching at a small German school just outside of Philly, so I figured it'd be good (and just plain interesting) to do a little observing first.

And of course the biggest news is that my brother is now off to college! He left yesterday, and move-in was today. I can't believe it, my little baby brother... all grown up... heh well sorta... :)

Welcome to my new blog!

Hello blog-readers! Now that I'm back from Berlin, I decided to make a new blog. I will continue to write random updates, stories, thoughts, etc. just like before, only they won't just be about Berlin all the time. :)

In a few weeks I will be heading back to the University of Pennsylvania to start my senior year and finish up my BA so I can go back to Germany. :) I'm excited about it though. It will be fun to be back on campus, living with my favorite roomie Shannon, making late-night Wawa runs and doing other fun Penn things. (For those who don't know, Wawa is a sort of convenience store/deli chain throughout Pennsylvania, Jersey, Delaware, etc. and it rocks my world.)

Until then, I have a few more weeks in hot, humid but lovely Brentwood, Tennessee. Somewhere in there I also have to unpack and repack, which I am not looking forward to...

Add this blog address to your favorites in place of my Berlin one: www.stinalo.blogspot.com.

Love to all,
Christina