SAFT und Pommes

I just spent the weekend by a lake in Eastern Berlin - in fact we'd been there before, but in autumn not in spring/summer - a weekend houseparty getaway type thingy with the SMD. I had helped to organise it, although I had done most of the organisation before the SAFT (semesteranfangs freizeit) and so I wasn't really one of the main people on show during it, but it went reasonably well. The topic we chose back in the day was something to do with "mission". An interesting theme. The end title we came up with was "Doppelherz: Vaterherz für uns und die andere" (the Father's heart for us and others) ... on the cheesy side but that was indeed what it was about. I was disappointed we didn't make it more practical but it was good to hear again why we as the SMD (Studenten Mission Deutschland) are 'mission-orientated' - thinking about what it means to be loved by God and the only adequate response to such indescribable love is to pass on that news.

Three things will defs stand out for me apart from the theological content (aherm) which are the MILLIONS of mosquitoes we encountered. I am itching all over now, between me and Tine I think we have over 25 bites all over, they even managed to get through t-shirts, I have bites on my back and right on the side of my foot for example. Jucken and kratzen (itch and scratch respectively) are verbs I have been using a lot in the last 24 hours. Second the person who farted really loudly in the film evening. Thirdly going swimming by night in the lake. Refreshing and made me sleep like a baby on the first night which is unusual, normally it takes me a bit longer to get used to a new place.

And then tonight, because I ended up not going to see Tatort with Olivia, Tine and I went to see some SMDlers who live 10 mins away from us to see a film and eat chips and ice cream ... the film was the Jane Austen Book Club which was a lot better than I expected. Incidentally this weekend I have also seen the Blues Brothers which I didn't find that great until near the end and the Untouchables which I loved.

And this weekend my German has been rubbish. I am making so many more mistakes than normal and just have no idea how to paraphrase as deftly as I used to. It's so frustrating because I can't just think and get that thought across in a way I was beginning to get used to. I know there will be ups and downs but this is a low down and has been going on since last Wednesday at least. Irritating. For example today on the phone the girls said they would cook "pommes" (chips) and I told that to Tine, which she understood, obviously, but I somehow thought they meant apples and got really confused when I told them I'd brought ice cream to go with the apples. They all looked at me as if I'd just walked in from Mars. Idiot. Hopefully if I get a bit more sleep and really apply myself it will get better.

Last week I went to my first instalment of a French course at a Volkshochschule just down the road. It was a great thing to do but super frustrating and worry-making for my degree...

And tomorrow I'm having goodness knows how many girlies round for pizza and film(s) ... I have a projector/beamer which I hope will lead to more of a cinema-y experience, although as I write this I realise I don't have proper speakers. Bother. I'm sure sowieso it will be fun.

Finally on the SAFT our staffworker showed us a clip of this before we went to bed. Loved it. Reminded me a bit of my dad, or at least the exaggerated stories me and my sister used to make up about his snoring. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bye0NZEFXmA&feature=related