Dinner with friends

For some reason I've been on a real mood-swing bender this week, so today's dinner with old family friends (actually, my dad's best friend for the last fifty-odd years) was really a blessing in disguise. We talked in a mixture of German and English, telling them about my activities in Berlin, my brother's activities in Berlin, my former job in Belgium and all that jazz. We were stuffed full of chicken, couscous, roasted vegetables, ice cream, fruit, and coffee, for over three hours. In the course of the conversation it became clear that I don't have a tv, and since that Will Not Do, one was dug out of their storage and presented to me as a house-warming gift. So I now have a tv. :)

And this fabulous couple, whom I love and adore, had this to say to me: "If you're stressed out and homesick and sad, just go to a concert. You can afford it. No sense in staying home and grumping if you can go out to a concert in Berlin." They're absolutely right. I'm getting unemployment right now, and I always stress out about money, but surely I can budget in a concert or three a month. Right?

Tomorrow I start my integration course, which should be funny. From here on out, my German should improve by leaps and bounds. Fingers crossed, anyway!