I’m writing my farewell post to readers of Die Bärliner not from Berlin, but from a country road in upstate New York. Already situated in a new environment, I’ve spent the last few weeks wondering how to wish the blog farewell. I’d almost psyched myself out of the whole thing until I curiously drove past
CategoryStudent Life
BCB Goes Green
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about climate change, is the proleptic picture of a frightening future. A future full of doom. The Berlin sky feels infected: still, stagnant, and stale, like an overhead sewer. The air smells of gasoline, tar, and dirty dust. When it rains, the rain is
Student Artist Showcase: Lots About Luthiere with Jacob Horack (Part 2)
A continuation of my discussion with Jacob appears here- but first, a little bit about his background: “I was born in Huntsville, AL., and quickly took to the great traditions of bluegrass and soul food that surrounded my upbringing. I fell in love with the music of the Appalachian foothills and found myself exploring genre
Student Artist Showcase: Lots About Luthiere with Jacob Horack (Part 1)
“It’s not the fault of the wood if it wakes up as a violin.” Arthur Rimbaud If it wakes up instead as a guitar, it might be the fault of Jacob Horack. I met with Jacob on a December afternoon shortly before the winter break. We sat down in the library amid the busyness of
Dogs and Cats of Bard Berlin
Walking down Pankow parks at dawn, you’ll see cats, dogs and squirrels playing and running and walking. Some of the dogs and cats you’ll see, also walk, run and play around the green grass next to W15 and K24 and T25; the student residence halls. They belong to some members of the BCB community. They
The Acoustic Commons
Every Sunday, and every day between 22:00 and 6:00, Berlin is peacefully quiet, or is at least supposed to be, yet sounds remain. Some recklessly, and some with permission. Construction halts, but the birds step in to fill the empty sonic space. Trams hum. Outside my window voices carry on. I wake up many a
What can I do you for: A Guide to Berlin’s English Book Spots
Berlin is fondly known for its thriving international culture amid traditional German establishments. Moving here two years ago, I knew I would be able to find books in English, but it took me a while to feel out Berlin’s literary scene well enough to know where to wander for a book that would interest me.
On Conversations with the Community
“When I was your age, when I was a student in the GDR, I got to travel to Yugoslavia to learn the language, and that’s how I began working as a translator. I translated children’s books, from German to Serbo-Croatian, and the other way round. It’s important that you see the world. It is good