Thursday, May 03, 2007

I am a jelly doughnut

I was just sitting on the couch, sipping tea, watching the late afternoon sun filter through the window, and thinking about how much I love this city:






I was also trying to figure out how it was that I became a Berlin specialist. While I remember the moment when I decided to become a Germanist, I don't even remember deciding to focus on the Weimar Republic; I really don't remember making Berlin my main focus. It just happened. When I first visited Berlin (four years ago!) I was much more taken with Paris. But somehow Berlin is the one that has taken over my brain. I feel possessive of the city. I felt glad when the Sartorialist declared his love for the city, and got my hackles up when a few commenters expressed a dislike for Berlin.

You know, I still find it all a little odd. (Of course, I also think it's odd that I have an MA. Also, sometimes it strikes me as surprising that I'm married.)

9 comments:

Teacher Lady said...

Sweet JFK reference.

LynnieC said...

I miss Berlin. And Ky and I were just looking at my pictures yesterday night! Crazy! I had forgotten about the picture of me and HHG under the umbrella. When I get an apartment of my own, I'm making a poster-sized copy of that. Sigh.

Bella Sultane said...

I really like the pictures! :-)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Teacher Lady: Thank you kindly. Would you believe that Wikipedia claims that it's an urban legend that anyone would have believed that "Ich bin ein Berliner" meant "I'm a jelly doughnut"? (They also claim that it's totally not a big deal in Germany.) First of all, of course everyone knew what he was actually saying. But it was funny. Secondly, do you know how many magnets and silly souveniers I found in Berlin, in the shape of a jelly doughnut, that read "Ich bin ein Berliner"? Lots. /end rant.

Lynniec: Which picture of you and HHG under the umbrella? The one that I took in front of la Panthéon?

Bella: Thanks kindly. Somehow, I took way cooler pictures there than I'm ever able to do here.

LynnieC said...

Of course Mrs Mary!

susan said...

This is an auspcious post to find on my first visit to your blog: we're going to Berlin for a week this summer! So I'm feeling vacation-y as I read this post. Beautiful photos.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh, welcome Susan! I'm glad that you'll get to visit my city. It's lovely. I especially recommend East Berlin, actually, especially around the Alexanderplatz.

susan said...

That's the area where we'll be staying! Happy.

Anonymous said...

Ich bin ein Pfannkuchen