Sunday September 28th 2025

When I arrived in Berlin in late August, it was warmer than I expected it to be. Sunny days in the upper 70s, some reaching past 80. I was not prepared, but was and still am grateful. Usually, this is my favorite time of the year to be in Ithaca, New York. It holds all of my favorite activities and festivities, swimming in the lakes, exploring and hiking the gorges. I am thankful for the time I was able to spend in Ithaca this summer, but Porchfest, apple harvest, and Ithaca Falls will be missing me this season. Wishing I could be there right now for my usual fall weekend routine, I have found equally as much comfort here in Berlin. For me, the past few weeks have included swimming in the Schlachtensee Lake (multiple times), flea markets every Saturday, and a cool 20-minute bike ride every morning to my German course. My daily habits include collecting fallen acorns, avoiding the spikes of the Horse Chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum), and taking photos of the beautiful sunrise in my room window, reminding me so much of my room last year at Cornell. Where the sun and the garbage truck would wake me up before 6 am.

Little things like these remind me so much of the places and things that I call home. It is so important to me to feel a sense of home and belonging in every place I live. It feels great to say that I am eingelebt here in Berlin.