This and That

above: It's official! me getting registered with the city.

I will warn you do not read further if you are looking for interesting tidbits.(smile) It has been a little while since I posted. And if I waited until I had something interesting to say it might be even longer. I say this because I have settled into a routine and overall normalcy here. It longer feels so strange and foreign here. Odd that happened so quickly. In some ways, I think I needed it to happen because otherwise I would be overwhelmed. And also say this because, I am really struggling here. Not the sort of interesting thing to read about. The main challenge is finding work. I am studying German now but my skill level is very beginning and that pretty much rules out getting a job in anything but babysitting and cleaning houses. I have a few babysitting jobs but all are just the occasional night. Many people are in the same position here - especially artists, because there are a lot of artists coming to live in Berlin. As many of you know, I had come to work at a gallery job here but that fell through. I have now been offered a job there once a week but it is again not enough to live on. If I get the money situation worked out, everything else is fine. I do have my visa now which is a difficult thing to get here. I was lucky that I was with the right man on the right day for my appointment. I was granted an artist freelance visa which is extremely flexible and means I can basically do whatever work I would like here.

I am really enjoying my new place. A nice-sized office/work space and bedroom. I have a roommate but he is out of town a lot and so it feels like my own apartment. which is really, really what I needed. I started painting and after a 6 month break it is feeling good but also kind of awkward. I am going to keep going of course! I have to put the money issues out of my head because it can be hard to be creative with that on your mind.

For Thanksgiving I am going to my friend Mira's house. She is a recent expat from California. Her Dad is visiting and evidently is a very good chef. I am going to bring a side but I am not sure what yet. maybe green bean casserole! (that's right Ann!) if I can find cream of mushroom soup. I haven't looked for that yet...I also met a new friend Marisa (also from CA) and we really clicked. She reminds me of the kind of friends I have in Chicago. At last, that is also what I really needed.

So that is it for now I suppose. Please send me luck, wishes, prayers whatever you believe in to me that I can find a solution here! thank you!! And if you know of a computer job I can do remotely that would be great too! Next post will have some good news in it. This I am sure.

best to you,
Sarah