Dear Berlin,

A friend of mine once said "deje un trocito de mi corazon alli" (I left a little piece of my heart there) when describing a place that affected her a lot, but I must say the opposite for you. I'm going to take it all, everything you've given me: the beautiful, the unexpected, the disgusting, the disappointments and the elations. I'm leaving no part of me behind. I will take this experience and everything I've learned and carry it with me-- everything I've learned about the people, the science, the places.

With that said, I will, of course, fondly recall the day when I first landed and easily slid into your embrace. Never have I woken up in Berlin asking where am I? The answer was always natural: I'm in Berlin doing research. When I went to France and Italy, Berlin was home base. When people asked me where I was from, Berlin was always my instinctive answer. Although 3 months is no where long enough to know what it is truly like to live here, I have felt more comfortable here in such a short time period than in any other place.

I'd like to think that it's because you are so eclectic. You have something to offer everyone. You provide a mirror for your visitors. If they fail to find anything interesting, then it says something about who they are because when someone uncovers the city, they will find your vibrance and how you pulsate to the hip beats of modernity and futuristic visions.

A week ago, I was ready to go home. I felt that you were letting go of me and Tucson was welcoming me with my friends and family all waiting. Two days ago, when I looked down at you from the TV tower, I was moved by your diversity-- sprawling forests to tall skyscrapers and all the little crevices in between just waiting for people to claim as their place of peace. Yesterday, when I sailed down the Spree, I saw those quiet spots where people were picnicking with the family out on a nice piece of the river bank by the green waters reflecting the wind-whipped branches of the willow trees; I saw the impressive modern structures of the city center; I saw the graffiti smeared walls with small piles of trash strewn across the paths.



I saw. And I will miss it. All. And take it. All with me.

LILY