Today is Sunday

Today is sunday.

I left my house early to get some practicing done at the hall.

Guess what?

My bus wasn't working because of this. 

This random bike race was going on..

So I had to come back home :( 

BUT! 

Yesterday I discovered this Asian Markt in my neighborhood and they had kimchi!

This is my first 'korean' meal in Berlin.

Finally ....  :) 

NEXT!

Within 3 days, I had another audition in Leipzig! 

After the HFM Berlin audition, the next day, I did not even go outside. 

Nor I practiced! 

I just had to live through it, was painful....

but through all the mistakes I made, I had the best practicing day ever the next day! 

Oh, what a day. 

Flaws were all over the place today. 

FLAW#1. I got ready to leave my apt and went on the S Bahn to get to Hauptbahnhof.

As I was getting ready to get off at the station..I realized I forgot my ticket!!!!!

I previously bought a German Pass again for doing multiple trips for auditions.

I thought for a sec, if I should just buy a ticket on the spot..but it would be too expensive!

So, as soon as I got off at Hbf, I got on the train that goes back to my place again. 

THANK GOD I left early, if I hurried, I could still make it back to the platform on time.

When I got off at the station in my neighborhood, I RAN. with my cello, backpack, I RAN.

Normally it takes 10mins to talk, I made it in 5. 

FLAW #2. I was waiting for my train to get here...and I was a mess. 

Out of breath, sweating, and so tired already from running with the cello.

This old man comes up to me, and says &%%^*(#$$E%%!$(?

I look down, my ticket was on the floor...OMG

What if he hadn't told me that?? 

Got the ticket, went back, got on the S Bahn again, and....

By 2 mins, the train has left. 

DAMN German Trains that leaves on time!!! haha but other things...not so much.

Anyways, I got on the next train, and I still had some time before the audition.

Well, FLAW #3. I was late for my rehearsal with the pianist..

After f**king up so badly in Berlin, I really REALLY wanted to do well.

Not even well, just do my 'Normal'.

If I could play exactly how much I prepared for, I'd be so happy.

Somethings went great, some didn't go as well.

But overall, I had a good feeling and I enjoyed my audition :) 

I made two friends this time! :) yay 

and we all went back on the same train to Berlin together.

3 Korean gals, 3 white cello cases..haha

I don't even know what buildings are what, but they were so beautiful!

On the way back, at Leipzig hbf, there was Bach! :) 

Overall, this day started off CRAZY, ended up pretty good! 

Tough Day

SO. 

I've been practicing here for a while :) 

It's hard to get up early sometimes, but it's totally worth it!

Basically I'm allowed to practice here before the Phil people start showing up. 

I finally had my 2nd audition. At Hanns Eisler.  (first in Köln)

I felt good, I warmed up well, came home, ate, then went to the school with a plenty of time to spare.

Well, an hour - I didn't want to get there too early, hearing other people play..

I show up. They are running late. SUPER LATE.

There were SO MANY cellists, and only 2 warm up rooms.

We were all waiting them to start the audition..

I supposed to play at 3:30pm, ended up playing around 7:30pm..

By the time I went, I was hungry, exhausted, and mentally very tired.

Aaaand let's not forget,

 playing in an audition with a pianist that you've never rehearsed with before - is NOT fun! 

It was a disaster. 

True, if I have prepared completely perfectly, I'd have been fine. Maybe.

I don't get nervous most of the time. 

I don't know what it was - maybe the wait, no food, just standing by for too long?!

Everything threw me out the window.

Oh, and Frans Helmerson was there. wow!

After the worst audition I've ever played in, I was traumatized.

I waited with others for the comments and whatnot, until almost 10pm.

IT WAS SUCH A LONG DAY!

Oh, I almost forgot, I chugged a beer right after I played at this bar next to the school.

It was completely necessary. 

BUT!

I made a friend :)

And we had dinner together near by the school after this looooong endless bad day.

The food took also forever to come out.

BUT IT WAS GOOD. SO GOOD.

It was literally the "German Grandma's roast pork in the 100 years old clay pot" or something.

At least I got a good meal out of the day.

When I was heading home, it started to rain. 

I was still in my fancy clothes with high heels on, with this especially heavy cello that day.

I still couldn't get over how badly it went. 

I kept thinking, "Did I come all the way here to play like that?!"

Walking home from the station was so long..

With the rain, it was almost midnight by then, completely dark, very quiet. 

It felt like forever.

So many things have happened to me so far, but this day, by far was the toughest day. 

But....I must go on! ...

This afternoon

I live for these.

Amazingly old buildings. 

Even when I'm down, frustrated: if I see one of these, I can smile!

This evening, I finally met Emily! 

She was so lovely and she showed me around the Hanns Eisler.

 We had a nice quick dinner at this Italian restaurant near by.

This city just amazes me. 

Every corner, there's something more. 

Something new, something old, something beautiful.

Philharmonie

Today, I finally got to practice at Berliner Philharmonie :)

Thanks to random awesome connections, I get to practice here in the mornings!

Goodbye to commuting everyday for 2 hours!

Only 20 mins with public transportation from my location. 

Ah, it was wonderful. 

And scary at the same time - I was worried that someone's gonna kick me out at every silences..

BUT I didn't get kicked out in the end :D

Tomorrow, I go back. 

Maybe 8am this time... ;)

Sriracha

Gotta love that sauce!

I also found this item in Hannover. 

They had this sketchy Asian grocery store.

(this country surprises me)

Well, good enough for me.

My spicy chicken wrap with Sriracha for dinner! Yum :) 

Did I mention..?

that I got these 5 scores for only 7 euros???!?!?!! 

I got them randomly in Hannover.

I was following SoJin around one afternoon and this music store had a random sale.

They are all Henle's as well!

Another reason to like this country ;)
#4. Randomly super awesome cheap score sales.