The Letter Writers

After watching The Letter Writer (a very sappy but perfectly touching movie about a guy that writes super sweet letters to random people) the girls immediately starting writing their own piles of sweet letters in German for innocent bystanders they might encounter. Some read, "Even if your life seems tough don't forget all the great things," or "I hope you have a wonderful day" and others just said, "Save the Earth." They stuffed them in their pockets and excitedly headed out the door the next day.

They successfully passed out several each to and from school and the reactions they got were GREAT. Especially the older people in Germany have no idea what to think of someone unknown handing them a nice note, let alone saying "hi." I love these girls. They just wanted to make the world a bit brighter, especially when there is still no sunshine.

Film Studies in Berlin

Researching and writing has been so great here in Berlin. The film archives have been a really fantastic experience and help. Watching the actual rolls of film stock by yourself in a screening room you realize how clear these silent films from the 1920s used to be and how they are meant to look.

The federal archive, Kinemathek, and Film Museum Potsdam have been awesome. It feels so good to see exhibits and archives where so much care, attention, and passion has gone into German cinema's preservation and exhibition. I actually almost got choked up in the museum once. C'mon I heart film.

It was also recently the big Berlinale Film Festival. It was super crowded everywhere and most shows totally sold out. I went to the red carpet for the award ceremony and saw Wong Kar Wai (one of my favorite directors) and Tim Robbins among many other German stars but unfortunately the American actors at the festival (Emma Stone, Ethan Hawke, Nic Cage, etc.) didn't attend the finals. It was still cool and I froze standing there with all the screaming people. 

Then last week Miya said her favorite movies were 1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 

and 

2. Sunrise: a Song of Two Humans (1927) and that just warms a father's heart.

Happy Fasching!

I haven't blogged in a while, mostly because we've been sick, the weather has been too cold to do anything exciting.  We are now all feeling well and today was Fasching for the girls at school today.  It's pretty much Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday.  All the kids dressed up like it was Halloween and they all brought stuff for a fun party!  

Ruka with his bear "Happy"

Just watching TV with Happy

Miya all done up for Fasching

Miya and Emi were both Pop Stars…any excuse to wear makeup.

Ruka wanted his photo taken too.

Miya with her friend Anasatia

Miya with Tram Ahn

Another one of Miya's friends…they all wanted me to take a photo of them with Miya

Ruka took a balloon from one of the classrooms

Miya with her clown friend

Emi with her buddies Luna and Talia

 

Still plenty of snow on the playground, but it didn't stop us from playing for a little bit.

Christmas and more fun

"Christmas Eve"

Making and decorating cookies 

   

Our humble Christmas Tree

"Christmas Morning"

Steiff stuffed animals!!!

The kids were pretty stoked to get Ninja Turtles for Christmas.  It was definitely Ruka's favorite gift.  

 "Spandau"

We went to a cute town called Spandau and bought some Bärenland gummy bears…and coke;)

Exploring an old church.

"East Side Gallery, Berlin Wall"

We walked along the famous East Side Gallery Berlin Wall.  Amazing!

In front of "Some Heads" by Thierry Noir

Shout out to my Japanese heritage!

Sharing a kiss in front of the famous "brotherly kiss" painting

Oberbaumbrücke bridge

Under the Oberbaumbrücke bridge

Christmas with the Huffman's in Berlin

Ken and Lindsay and lil' Liv came and spent Christmas with us here in Berlin.  It was so much fun having them here!  We were so sad when they had to leave.

Lindsay, Ken, and Liv at the City Christmas Market.

The girls couldn't get enough of Livi.

At the Sony Center by Alexander Platz

They girls with Lego Santa

Exploring at Christmas markets

I wanted to buy all the cute decorations

Livi also celebrated her 1st birthday with us!  We love you bug!

The best parents with the cutest baby!

I love this face!!!!!

Almost all the train stations had huge Apple ads…made a good backdrop.

Going around seeing the sights

In front of the Reichstag