America is for the Free and for the Brave

(Street art, Mitte, Berlin)

I like to believe that America is for the free and for the brave. People say it when they sing their national anthem and it moves me every time. I know that there are some things that you are allowed to dislike about my new country, but since the American people replaced President Bush, I think it's all right to like the United States again. Of course, there are weird things like cheerleaders, the hugging of strangers, one gallon milk jars and customized wedding cakes. But despite the oddities, I fell in love with this new country.

(The Wall)

Last week, I flew to Berlin for a couple of days and got really confused. I have been so enamored with the United States of America lately that I didn't know anymore where the American border had stopped. After a day of serious meetings, my colleagues and I walked under the Brandenburger Tor and on Unter den Linden through Mitte. We saw the new Porsche Panamera and though it is totally out of my league, I asked my co-worker whether she liked the car - I know she likes fast cars. When she answered "I wonder whether we already have those in the US," I thought for a few seconds "Hmm, why is she asking? Hello! Doesn't she see that the car is right here?"


And then came the thought "Help, where am I?!" when I suddenly realized that I had crossed a border. The world had become very blurry and I blame it all to the jet-lag.