yesterday, i experimented a bit: i decided to see if i could be mistaken for a german, rather than a clunky american. you see, i keep thinking that my gigantic coat somehow SCREAMS usa bumpkin (although this is horrendously paranoid of me because, as i said before, many people here do wear huge coats/boots and they can't ALL be americans... right?)

anyways, my experiment was successful! i actually wore nice shoes and a dress (with a jacket, albeit a thin one, on top of course) and three--THREE--people asked me for directions. well, ok, two of those three were in a couple, but it still counts.

• sidenote: there are a lot of couples here. i've had this theory forever that germans/europeans from colder regions are more monogamous than we americans seem to be. when it's this cold outside, it definitely makes sense to have someone to cuddle with.

you may be wondering: "why is jenny not in school? why does she has so much time to eat so much amazing food and wander this really cold city without a care in the world?"

i will tell you: i have a study-scholarship from the DAAD (the German Academic Exchange Program) that goes from february through the end of july. and the semester in here in berlin doesn't start until April 9th! i do start a language course on march 1st, which i'm actually quite excited for because that means i will meet lots of people. but for right now, i am entertaining myself by taking leisurely time learning this city--days of long walks and much exploring. tomorrow i may visit a museum. i think i'll go to paris the last week of february. as you can see, life is good.