Leben ist noch awesome

Another hodgepodge of an entry that accidentally became all about music.

German weather is bi-polar! One minute it's so sunny you're sweating, the next it's downpouring, then two weeks of dark clouds, then 80 degrees for one minute... but whatever. Germany, you've got one more month to give me some nice summer weather!

Crazy that I'm in the final leg of this thing. Only four more weeks of classes! I keep forgetting people back home are on summer vacation since we still have class every day. But it's okay, I'm still enjoying everything here. I don't want to start thinking about coming home- it's forbidden to talk about here! ;] So I won't. Not yet.

I've been a little bummed about not having a source of new music while being here, but my music life has totally piqued up lately. I've been listening to Fiona Apple's new CD, The Idler Wheel, non-stop since it's been streaming free on npr.org a week ago. Prepare to be jealous, but last Saturday I saw Watch the Throne at the Lanxess Arena in Köln with Becca. You wouldn't expect it, but I've listened to that album probably 30 times. I like rap! I'll probably always hate Kanye West as a person, but you cannot deny that his music is genre bendingly amazing. And bow to Jay-Z, immer. We got there when doors opened, and immediately headed to the front stage part of the floor. I try to be front row at every show that I go to. I'm pretty good at the sneak, edging my way there. By the third song, it was like magic, I just popped into the front row, an entire segment of railing to myself. Oh, it's the best! You get your own room to jump and dance and breathe and you get to be right in the front so JAY-Z AND SMILE AT YOU WHEN YOU'RE RAPPING ALONG TO MONSTER :D They played non-stop for two hours and twenty minutes, 37 songs, no opener, no intermission! They played Niggas in Paris 6 times in a row as the finale, complete with clouds and lightning. An amazing concert. My favorite songs were Monster (obvi), Stronger, Otis, Power, Big Pimpin, Dirt off your Shoulder, Jesus Walks, everything! We bought scarves and posters. Then in two weeks, I'm going to the Open Source Music Festival in Düsseldorf with Rachel to see Beirut, Mouse on Mars, and Konono No. 1! I'm SO SO excited for all three, and they give you a good sense of how eclectic my music senses are :3

Tonight, my friend told me about an outdoor jazz competition. It's called Jazz Tube Bonn and they're performing in an U-Bahn train station! Way cool, excited to check it out. Going to hit that up before heading to watch the soccer game.

Watch the Throne

The main part of the stage was in front of me, but it jutted out in the middle and bit and there was a rising platform in the middle. 'Ye's on this one right thurr

Bow. New poster.

As soon as we got back to Bonn after Berlin, a bunch of us just dropped our luggage in my room, painted out faces with the German flag, and immediately left to go cheer on Deutschland in the Europa Meisterschaft! We ended up winning in our division and tonight's the first game in Round 2 of the EM: Germany vs. Greece. I hope we kick Griechenland BUTT tonight.

Girls' Soccer Team

YEAH SOCCER! SUPER DEUTSCHLAND!

 Oh, some Berlin overflow-

Outside of Checkpoint Charlie were sporadic chunks of Berlin Wall on which artists were allowed to be let loose, painting war-related art. These guys were my favorite.

 Here's from a party at our German friend's house before Berlin. I miss being tan already! Gah!

There was a Hot Wheel parked in front of my dorm.