February 2019 – Berlin Lubells: Stories of Life in Berlin from an American Expat Mom's First Experience Living Abroad

Gärten der Welt

Last Saturday, Dave and I split up and each took one son on separate outings. Dave took Isaac to our neighborhood mall, Schönhauser Allee Arkaden, where Isaac got a stuffed animal polar bear and had lunch at Burger King (a new favorite of the boys). {Boy, Bear and Burger King} They then took the trainContinueContinue reading “Gärten der Welt”

Canary Islands

Last fall, when we started looking for a winter break destination, we discovered that the Canary Islands (Spanish Islands off the Western coast of Northern Africa) were “only” a five hours flight from Berlin. And would provide a respite from the dark, cold Berlin winter. What sealed the deal was that their government was inContinueContinue reading “Canary Islands”

Vacation Laughs

We just arrived in Tenerife, the Canary Islands, Spain yesterday afternoon. It’s our attempt to escape the Berlin winter and to get some sun and warmth. (A separate travel wrap up to follow.) This morning, Ben and I ventured out looking for kites to fly on the beach. We found the kites, which proved noContinueContinue reading “Vacation Laughs”

First Grade

In January, I took Isaac to the Gesundheithaus, public health center, in Pankow for his first grade health check up. All kids getting ready to start the first grade must go to the doctor in order to test their readiness. {Gesundheithaus in Pankow} We entered the Altbau, old building, which looked like it’d been thereContinueContinue reading “First Grade”

Play date

Isaac has several buddies at kita. But he hasn’t played with them outside of school since the weather got cold and we stopped meeting up at the playground after school. So one Friday in January, his friend Johann came home with us. I treat our boys to a candy, ice cream or Coca-Cola every FridayContinueContinue reading “Play date”

Eight Years Old

Ben turned 8 last month and to celebrate, we had an epic weekend of activities. Being a lover of bagels, books and Coca-Cola, we took the boys to brunch at Fine Bagels located in Shakespeare and Sons book store in the Friedrichshain neighborhood. http://www.finebagels.com/# The Bagels were great, but so were the rugelach and cinnamonContinueContinue reading “Eight Years Old”

From Soup to Nuts

Ben’s school handed out report cards today. For him, it was nothing but an excuse get out early, as they don’t start receiving grades (1 for highest achievement, 4 for lowest – most kids strive for ones and twos) until next year in third grade. (We recently discovered during a meeting with his German teacherContinueContinue reading “From Soup to Nuts”