So Long, Farewell

Sorry its been awhile since I've updated! My roommate and I were having some internet/router box snafus and had to end up buying an entirely new box so that we could get internet again. All is well now, though!

As for the Labyrinth Kindermuseum, I had a really great last week. I was in the summer program two days, working both in the water garden as well as at the work table, and the kids who came in seemed especially curious and excited to learn AND were talkative (which always makes the time go by faster), and the rest of the week I was in the office, working on a poster of old-fashioned German alphabet letters. Here is a photo of some in-progress shots and one of the final product:

In September the Labyrinth Kindermuseum is implementing a series of mini exhibitions upstairs to get the kids to interact more with the exhibitions currently up there. Where my poster will be displayed, kids will be able to write their names in the style of old-fashioned German script and make a sort of button/brooch to wear.

Some other "stations" will include a place where kids can play dominos and arrange things found in nature from oldest to youngest; a place where kids identify types of individuals (represented by these green silhouettes--see picture to follow) and then receive figure outlines of their own bodies, which they can then color/decorate to express their own individuality.

These new implementations have been thought up by Mirca (seen in this photo, far right), who was also responsible for bringing the museum's summer program to life. I worked with her a lot this summer--probably more than I did with Britt, the woman in charge of the interns!--because she had so many great art assignments.

As a thank-you for my work at the Labyrinth Kindermuseum, my colleagues arranged a wonderful spread for me and bought me some little reminders of Berlin! The food consisted of three types of pasta, three types of sauces (spicy, chunky tomato and creamy pesto) and three types of cheese, served with arugula, cucumbers and fresh black! bread. They bought me a little cookie cutter of the Fernsehturm, which is the television tower located in Alexanderplatz and a little bread board, which has a map of the city of Berlin on it. They also wrote me a very nice thank you note on the back of this cute little postcard with two mice witches flying a broom on it!

The event was really nice. It seems that just when I was getting to know everyone, feel comfortable talking with people and even starting to make friends, my time is up. Lina--another intern--was sick on my last day but came to the museum anyway to say goodbye as well as give me a book of Berlin pictures, a bookmark and a candy bar! I just thought that was so nice! We did, however, exchange e-mails (as I did with other interns/workers as well) and will try and stay in touch that way.

My roommate, Marianne, I am going to miss most of all. We became really good friends. I'm not worried about losing touch with her, though. In fact, she is coming to Chicago with her husband around Thanksgiving (her husband is American) and we are going to try and meet up then! Additionally, she might be moving to Hawaii for nine months next year (for her husband's work) and I have a standing invitation. Wouldn't THAT be nice?!?

I really, really loved Berlin and could not have imagined a more enjoyable and fulfilling summer. I had such a great experience and feel really fortunate to have had this opportunity. Let's just hope I can transition back into speaking English!!

The Bodemuseum, located on Museumsinsel. I went to this museum on one of the many "Free Museum-Thursdays," and it was fantastic.