We caught our bus to Rijeka from Trieste early the next morning. We were headed on into unknown territory, using the advice of the VirtualWayfarer as our guide to Croatia we thought we’d try a few places on our own and then make our way down into Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik. We crossed into Slovenia and then down intro Croatia, visiting the Croatian countryside we had the pleasure of stopping in every little town along the route, taking time to drive through the city and explore by way of our bus driver. A perk of taking a longer bus route. Surprised by the green and open beauty of Croatia and reminded of Greece in its nuances we pulled into Rijeka and hiked to the Information center.

The information center helped us find a great little private apartment on the edge of the port. Our host was a newer mother dealing with a hyper energetic young boy. Adorable and frayed she helped us in and offered us café and Grappa. We settled in for three nights and began to explore Croatian culture. Rijeka has some of the most attractive people I’ve ever seen. An industrial center and third largest city in Croatia Rijeka isn’t a tourist destination it’s a reserved city focused on its industry. Even so its night life and the activity in the central square could only be described as chaotic. People wandering from every which way, intersecting and interacting… the city was a hub of activity. We wandered through the main square and meandered around seeking internet (which we didn’t find).

After our wandering we continued to explore the city and get a feel for our options. We decided that the next day we would head out into the island of Krk and then go from there south to Baska (Bashka) a small city on the Adriatic at the very southern tip of the Island of Krk. Our decision made we wandered to a small fishing restaurant down the street right on the port. They brought forth a plate containing the day’s catch and asked us to make our plates from the selection.

The fish (caught that day) was some of the best food I’ve ever had. It was deep fried Adriatic squid, salmon, risotto with scampi and boiled shrimp. The food was amazing, with polenta fried in clarified butter and garlic with onion. The flavors came together in a cacophony of taste and experience flooding our palates. After the meal we were exhausted and stumbled out to take a passigata a small walk through town. The central square was still hopping and we headed back to our apartment to spent the night in bliss.

Next up – Bashka and Rijeka Pt. 2

Saturday
Saturday morning I awoke and decided to take advantage of a quiet day in a quiet apartment. My roommates have all abandoned Milan for the warmth and comfort of family and friends to celebrate the Easter holiday. The house quiet and clean, I settled into the couch and started on the second of C. Descry’s Triology: The Brothers Shikoku. The first book, The Daughters of Onoto, flew by and I couldn’t wait to get into the second. Descry’s got a great writing style, descriptive yet quick-witted and a corny sense of humor. I’d recommend the series. (You can find the books and more on the author at www.Cdescry.com).

As the day came to a close I showered, went for a quick walk and headed to the McDonalds in Piazza 24 di Maggio to meet up with Annamaria, Valeria and Fabrizia. After dinner we went our separate ways and I meandered home excited for Sunday and Monday. On Sunday I made my way to Monza and had Pasqua pranzo with Gabriella’s family. What a treat! We had fish inside deviled eggs, pasta with funghi (mushrooms) and peas and lamb. Excellent lunch and marvelous company. It was a real pleasure to be invited into her home and to meet her family and watch an Easter lunch Italian style.

We returned to Milan (she drove me home) and I made dinner…A mixture of breaded eggplant, steamed broccoli and cucumber, sautéed onions garlic and cucumber and finished with fresh slices of pineapple.
I gave a basic salsa lesson and then it was off to bed for me.

Monday I met up with Gabri again and we headed to Monza to meet her friends. We stopped at her house and Gabri picked up some salmon and grilled veggies. Then off we went into Monza. We arrived at the park a little after 12:50 and spent 40 minutes looking for parking. Every square inch of parkable space was taken and there was hardly any green visible in the stretch of bodies and grills choking the park. The mass of humanity was nearly unbelievable. We finally lucked out and grabbed a space ten minutes walk from Gabri’s friends. We grabbed the food and headed over. There were about 30 of Gabri’s Italian friends at the park. We enjoyed the afternoon (until 7) lazily eating in the sun. We had a mixture of steaks, pork chops, bacon, wine, beer, fresh salsa (tomatoes and basil) breads and hookah. A beautiful day with a beautiful girl. Piccola amore.

Piú Dopo!

Journal 2009 – March 20th

Today is the equinox. And in 4 days my brother will turn 24. 22 years we’ve spent exploring this world together, 24 years of life, experience, joy, and innovation. 24 years of a path no other person could dream of having. A brilliant young man full of promise and strength, dedication and vitality. My brother is an individual, a true originality among a crowd. I’d like to dedicate this blog to him. As a signal of our family bond.

Family… Blood ties, relation through DNA, spirit, anima… life. But not only through blood, not only by birth. Family is inclusive, it is all those with whom you share a deep seated common goal. It is a bond which transcends petty argument and instead calls forth alliance and camaraderie. Family is a driving force which is united for the betterment of our world, the strengthening of our children’s future, personal development and a desire to leave the world better than we’ve found it. These things are impossible alone. They cannot be accomplished without the support structure that is family. The unquestioning support and the cutting criticism which helps us to understand our choices and stand resolute in our choices. It is family that fuels one’s ability to stand before judgment and understand that you’ll never be alone.

My family is unique; we have never had major quarrels or internal strife. My parents fostered a home of love and mutual respect and encouraged us to be as different as possible. Alex and I share many values and goals but in-so-much as we are the same, we are also instinctively different. We have experienced two sides of the same guiding blade. Split down our individual paths – trials, and quests which have shaped us – we have our values, our family and most importantly the support that they bring. Infused since childhood by our family bond we have a core desire to leave the world a strong better place for those that follow has remained strong and burns passionately.

My brother’s work with FusionVirtual is only a single example of the steps he’s taken to accomplish these goals. Education is paramount in the creation of a class of humanity which cares and seeks to deliver the world from the darkness which threatens to eliminate our species. He recognizes that, and seeks to revolutionize the accessibility of education to millions of people around the world… no easy feat.

Growing up together Alex and I fought as all brothers do. We worked together and learned from our experiences and conflicts. Without that give and take, that constant struggle for individuality and attention, neither of us would be the men we are today. We are both so strong in our core ideals that it is often difficult to understand where one man ends and another begins. Yet this is not due to our being the same. Instead it is our differences which allow us to understand and compliment the weaknesses of the other, generating a united front which fights for a common goal. Our parent’s are also a unifying factor in this maturation. Without them, their personal strength, passion, and guidance we would be hopeless, lost in the dark.

Parents are fully responsible for their children throughout their lives. The decision to have a child means that your life is no longer solely yours. Your life becomes that of your children as well, their education, their behavior and the person they grow to be is a reflection as well as a monument – whether good or disturbed – to you… the parent. Children learn because at home their parents stress the importance of education, children act out because at home they are taught it is the way they should act. They see parents at all times, in every moment and learn what is acceptable from them. No other influence is as influential to a child as their parents/guardians. I hope that those planning on families take this to heart and understand that when the decision to bear children comes to pass, it signals a transcendence from a single person into an entity combined and unified in the world… a family. We can only love our parents for the example they set. Their fortitude and fervor created in every way the men that my brother and I are.

Edward Alexander Berger. In these few days before you celebrate the passage of another year, Know that your brother is with you, understands the man you are and welcomes your influence in his life at all times.

Searching. Waiting. Looking. Aspetta! Basta basta! Enough! I am done. Finished! This is over. I have found a safe, warm, place. A place with warm Italian vibes, good food, wine, and other students… best of all a place that barely speaks English.

I don’t know how to express the stress and aggravation that comes from not having a definite place to stay while in a foreign country where you barely speak the language and don’t always understand the cultural references that occur around you. I am just now beginning to cleanse that stress from my mind. Today (2:33 in la mattina) I will move in to my apartment. I share a room with another guy, and all together there are four of us. But the guys are warm, interesting and have been very welcoming of me. I will head over there later in the evening around 8pm. All I need to do is buy a blanket and some personal items for showering (shampoo, soap, razors). Other than that I packed perfectly and will be ready to start work early Monday morning.

Facebook has proven to be an interesting tool. Today I did a search for the group pages of the universities here in Milano and found a few different groups. The largest is for Bocconi. I posted a message asking if anyone would like to go out to Tropicana the Latin club on the same street as my apartment for next week and am waiting for a response.

The gentlemen I am moving in with invited me for dinner tomorrow night and I insisted that I bring a bottle of wine for the meal. I am excited for my first cooked meal in Italy. More so I am excited to have a kitchen! As well as a refrigerator. I can start cooking for myself… something I miss very much.

I am a little nervous about work, but not nearly as nervous as I was about finding an apartment. I know I will put in the hours necessary to succeed at the consulate…that at least is in my hands. Searching and finding an apartment was not fully in my control. I could ask and search but inevitably the result lay in the hands of a stranger. That I think was the hardest part.

I did more work for my Italian class today. I need to write a tema… I will do so in the morning after I get a full night’s rest for the first time since I landed. I am so pleased and excited to have an apartment, a bed, and keys so I can come and go as I please.

I am tired and we got back from the pub only half an hour ago. I think I’m headed to sleep!

Ciao,

Baci

How are you? It’s been so long since I’ve gotten a chance to correspond with you and my apologies for that. I’m sure life has been quite busy on your end as well. I want to extend my thanks once again for the kindness and hospitality you so graciously offered me, your assistance and support along the trip was an amazing boon.

In regards to keeping up I wanted to share with you what’s going on since I’ve come back to the US and gotten back into the flow of school at ASU. The rest of my summer was wonderful, Calm and relaxing I spent my days with Mum and Dad recuperating and preparing for another wonderful year at ASU. As the summer began to come to a close the preparations for school and my move into a new apartment really brought my experiences over the summer and the impending work of another school year to bear.

I moved into my apartment and found that it had not been prepared for us. The baseboards were peeling from the walls, the vent grates had been not been cleaned and the dryer and washer both had problems which had not been addressed. In addition the house had not been thoroughly cleaned, we were not provided with a pool key nor was there a mail box key. To top it off the paint repairs they had carried out were shoddy at best. After two weeks of arguing and fighting with my broker and the resident handy man about getting the apartment to a livable state. I managed to get all my immediate complaints dealt with and the place has begun to look a bit more like a home instead of just some apartment. I settled in and have begun to make it my own. As I am sitting in a computer lab at school right now I’m afraid I can’t attach pictures however I’ll send some your way as soon as I’m able. I think with a little more decoration and a few more paintings here and there it will really come to life. The more work I’ve put into it the nicer it’s become. Right now it’s looking pretty darn good, it’s a wonderful little spot about a 1.2 miles off campus. Since its so close to ASU I can just hop on the bus and ride over so that’s pretty darn neat. At the end of the third week school started up.

My first day of school was spent (as usual) running around figuring out what books I need and where the closest bus stop was to my classrooms. I decided to take 17 credits this semester instead of the planned 20 because the course content is more difficult than I would have first expected. I am taking: Italian 101, SGS 394 Global Markets (econ), SGS 394 Research Methods (social sciences researching/ survey/ demographics) Hon 394 Life and the Universe with a Mr. Paul Davies, PLB 108, Concepts of Plant biology Lab science, and finally Dan 394 Latin Ballroom Swing III. These courses have proven to be quite time intensive, especially Italian and PLB 108. I love my Italian class and hope to soon converse with you both in Italian instead of English. I think that it would be both fun and education for me as well as continue a wonderful friendship. I’m not sure if you’ve left London yet and headed for Umbria but I’d love to hear about how the rest of your summer went and what has been happening in your lives.

I’ve been so engrossed in attempting to stay abreast of my school work that the social world has seemed to slip further and further away. I am still managing at least two nights out however, Fridays and Sundays I go out and dance from around 7:30-1:00am that is an amazing stress reliever. It really allows me to get my head in the right place for the upcoming week and relax enough to get everything done in the day.

I’ve now finished both my required papers for my Hon classes which I was taking while overseas and have officially closed that class, I’m rather sad about it. I miss being there already and wish I was back and had more time to explore the wonders of Europe. All in good time I suppose. If you haven’t heard Alex (my older brother) is over in Edinburgh now, he left last Tuesday and has been exploring Scotland all week. I believe he’s headed to Leeds at the moment I do hope you’ll get a chance to see him.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

David N. Berger

Having a blast in London, absolutely enjoyed today to its fullest, went shopping and found a GREAT dress shirt for £8 and a shirt for Alex as a gift for £6. Bought some other little odds and ends ate out and saw WICKED! The play was FANTASTIC! I love it.

Song number 18 (should be labeled For Good on the CD case) gets me every time. Just wanted you to know that through the entire song I was thinking of you two and Alex. Miss you guys but having such a blast. Going to spend a bit and head to a fancy club this weekend. It’s a bit adventurous and I’m not sure I want to swing the cover but I’m tempted (one of the top nightclubs/dance spots of London) so we will see what happens there. Headed to Dover on Monday, Oxford sat and who knows Sunday. Exploring like mad, having a blast and trying to keep it pretty cheap.

I loved the riverside and my adventures with Su and can’t wait to meet up with Nigel and her again. I hope Carla, Roger; Alex, the Wolf Pack etc. are all on the mailing list. I know what I’m sending is pretty rough but hopefully it gives a decent idea of life here.

Much love Hope you enjoy the song and know that I’m thinking about and thanking you for the opportunity to be here everyday
The Play Spamalot was wonderful, I can’t remember the theater but it wasn’t in the same one as Alex loved. Phantom is still playing in that theatre and I’m trying to get tickets (dreadfully difficult at the moment) I am taking pictures by the ton but uploading the bloody things is a nightmare. I’m hoping for a better connection somewhere to upload a whole bunch. It will be nice to be back so you can read my written journals as well as the typed and get a whole picture of the experience but at the moment I believe they are staying separated.

Little tired. Invited by Su for dinner and some washing before I leave for Ireland. Everything seems to be flying by today trying to keep up. Need to do a bit of reading and work on getting everything in order. This is our last week in town (we fly to Dublin next wed) Going to Canterbury and Dover tomorrow at 8:30am. Went to Oxford on Sat. lots of pictures, very fun. Went to the Ministry of Sound Nightclub. Amazing House Techno and a leader of the techno industry was there as a guest DJ so that was a blast. I need to figure out how to call Su… but I can do that, first time I’m using a phone in this country hehe. I’m pretty sure I told you about WICKED and AVE Q. but just to reiterate they were AMAZING! Friday night was spent at the Student union, dancing to techno and a live funk band upstairs. Reading “A Man for All Seasons” by Bolt a play about Henry the 8Th. Doing a few response papers for Bath and Stonehenge.

In 2007 I embarked on a journey to the United Kingdom and Ireland in order to further my education. I spent six and a half weeks traveling, attending university and learning from the people and locations I encountered.

Continuing on in Fall 2008 I applied and was accepted to work for the U.S. State Department Abroad in Italy! I will be traveling to Milan, Italy in January 2009 and will be working/studying there until May 2009.
A More detailed account of my adventures is coming soon!

Devil Dancesport Invitational – March 2009:

The DDSI is a regional collegiate competition which will be held at Arizona State University in March 2009. It is hosted by Devil Dancesport and will serve as a fundraiser to provide services to our members.

Instructor: ASU SRC Devil Dancesport Social:

This is a twelve week seminar offered to any student at Arizona State University. In the course we teach Six Core dances and 2 minor dances. Each dance is taught on Friday and Saturday. Each dance is reviewed once. I have taught: Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Salsa, Hustle, and Bachata.

Co-Creator: Latin/Ballroom/Salsa Night Out

I fell in love with Latin, Ballroom, and Salsa dancing when I first took Ballroom/Latin/Swing level I at Arizona State University in 2006. In fall 2007 my brother Alex Berger and I decided to create a social networking group to help inform students and community members about dancing in Phoenix. The Night-Out group is a coalition of students, community members and instructors that utilize social networking sites to provide safe means of entertainment through dancing to college students in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Administrated by David Berger and Alex Berger, the site lists important information about going out dancing (Dance Basics), as well creates events to inform about venues and opportunities to dance.

For more information please visit the group at:

Latin/Ballroom/Swing/ Night out