Frohe Weihnachten & Adventszeit from Berlin!
Hard to believe it's been 2 months since I landed! Berlin already feels so familiar I feel like I've been here longer. Everyday I feel more and more comfortable in this magical, captivating, and mesmerizing city.
I started language school back on 10/31 and am now about halfway done with my second class. Each class is an intensive 4-week class. My classes have been fairly small with about 10 people total. My classmates come from all over the world! I can already tell a huge improvement in my German.
I've also been going to what's called "Sprachcafes". They are not always actual cafes but just a place for German language learners to come practice speaking with other people around the same level as them. That's been a very helpful way for me to practice and meet new people. I really enjoy speaking, so it's been fun to be able to now have actual conversations that last more than an hour that are all auf Deutsch!
By the end of the year, I hope to know about my church placement, anti-trafficking/anti-forced prostitution ministry placement and housing placement.
In November I attended a conference where they presented a research study done in 6 different countries on men who bought sex where prostitution is legal (one country being Germany) and where it is not. Turns out I had actually helped with data entry for this study back in 2019 when I interned at the National Center Against Sexual Exploitation in DC!
Praise God I was approved for a 2-year residence permit!!! It was even a miracle I was able to get in for an appointment in November as they are very busy.
Liebe Grüse,
Avery :)