To Berlin

Have discovered the ultimate superpower: the ability to sleep in any situation.
I discovered that I have been blessed with this amazing ability when I felt myself dropping off to sleep in the queue of Stansted Airport’s ‘LEON’, before enjoying a full sleep on display to hundreds of other flyers.
This was a serene end to a stressful turn of events; I had landed back from Israel at 7pm in Luton Airport, hit myself in the face with my own lock, missed a bus and got charged a 23 pound penalty charge on the train to St Pancras for having an 18–25 railcard that was 3 days out of date. Things got better with ice cream and Chinese take away, naturally, until the 2:30 am get-up for taxi to Luton.
This trip to Berlin lasts 5 days, and as an early disclaimer, I warn that it may not be as cultural as Israel. That is because the trip sees eight 18 year olds go to a city known for its clubs
So I’ll take this moment now to introduce those 7 friends, with photos that I took shortly before my sleep at the airport. Note our shared, intimate relationship with food.

Cullen (Sophie)
Blue hair isn’t anything out of the ordinary; she’s had it for 2 years now, when it isn’t pink, or brown, or black, or blonde. Beyond amazed that Cullen managed to bring a hand-luggage sized suitcase, as I did not think she would be able to part from her one true love: the shoe collection.

Alice
One would think that Alice spends her whole life in a summer music festival; she’s not dirty, hungover and lying in a field the whole time, but rather, she enjoys everything, is prepared for any situation, and could make a bin bag look good – something I personally could not achieve at a festival….

Diana
One word: Legend.
Other words: Pasta-enthusiast, best friends with all dogs, professional nap-taker. Incredible skill of making anybody’s day a great one.

Ben
Can dance for 3 hours without breaks to techno dance music – I witnessed this last night, at House of Weekend, in Berlin. Also plays the Leaf Flute and performed the infamous Maths Rap. The cap he is wearing is one that he found on the pavement of Sheen High Street – classic Ben.

Charlie
Everyone knows him anyway.
Majestic, like a unicorn and a lion in one.
“WHO HAS TAKEN MY SILVER GLITTER?” – is what he has just said. He has with him several coloured glitters which he showers in. Professional Beyoncé Back Up Dancer waiting for big break in life.

Sarah
Sarah and I share a mutual love of McDonalds, at any time of the day – we had matching Dopple-Cheeseburgers yesterday. Far more admirable than the rest of us because she runs in the morning. Excellent dance-ethic (work ethic, but dancing).

JBB
Pic of Joseph taken on iPhone because he was absent, buying food and probably playing Mario Kart with a stranger on one of his many Nintendos. His multiple Nintendos was the reason he got pulled over at security. Top of the top lads. Wields a lightsaber like no other.

Me
My parents haven’t had the good fortune of seeing this photo from the school leavers ball yet, so hello Mum and Dad!

As a quick overview of our first day: that picture above is of our hostel. We managed to get all of us into one 8-bed room and for that, I apologise to the hostel and it’s guests.
Took a trip to the supermarket; the greatest thing about Berlin is, like Prague last year, wine in cartons. Here is the most middle class photo ever, of Charlie holding a carton of Rosé. It costs 1 euro.

Enjoyed a classic German beer garden in the evening, and the night went on….. – that’s all I’m gonna say about that, but here are some blurry and modest pictures



