As the melting snow drip-drops from the roofs outside and the geese start to arrive in flying-V-formations I suddenly feel the impulse to write my first blog post here.

The inactivity of this blog so far is due to the fact that I have been working on the Changing Room Toolkit lately (changingroom.teh.net) and the aim is to start writing in the Youth Exchange blog together with other volunteers within the Trans Europe Halles network. As I have frequently experienced during my first month (and a bit) in Berlin, it's always better with company!

I am currently doing a 4-month internship at ufaFabrik - International Centre for Ecology and Culture - in Tempelhof, south Berlin. I have experienced a lot during my first month, apart from the slow but persistant change of seasons, and the results of my stay and my work will hopfeully be published in the Youth Exchange blog before too long.

Today is Thursday, and this weekend I will be working at the premieres for two shows at the ufaFabrik; Kollegium Kalksburg are playing here on Friday and Die Wiener Tschuschenkapelle on Saturday. I'm looking forward to some good live music to brighten the still rather dark Berlin nights. I spend most days in the press office with my two lovely intern-colleagues, mostly working with posters and flyering, EVS applictions, website editing, article writing, report writing and the occasional film screening. Mondays are spent in the ufaFabrik's Kinderbauernhof, Children's Farm, which is a fantastic way to start the week.

Weekends in Berlin are filled with music, dancing, friends, bars, museums, Turkish markets, and - if I'm lucky - some well-deserved rest. So far, so good. I'm looking forward to the next two and a half months in this colourful place, this City of Choice.

Check out the ufaFabrik at:

ufaFabrik's LabForCulture profile

and

ufaFabrik's website

And read the Youth Exchange blog at:

Changing Room

So long!

Marian