Hello All. I've finally uploaded the pics from my birthday celebrations.
I went to the monthly Stammtisch for the International Club on Thursday night, but didn't take any photos, so you join us at the Ice Hockey on the Friday night.
Seated here is Derek, he comes from California. During the break in play we all took the opportunity to sit down on the steps while most of the crowd went to buy beer.





These Lovely Ladies are (L-R) Tyson, Me, and Loren. Loren was visiting Derek and Richard (who ive somehow managed not to get a picture of) from Cambridge where she's currently also doing the study abroad thing. Bit of a flirt, kept on doing this russian accent thig to get the guys off guard. Tyson and I agree that in normal circumstances we wouldn't have chosen her as a friend. But enough bitching, the game!






Here we see the mighty Berlin Eisbaeren (polar bears) in action.












The victorious Berlin Eisbaeren after the final siren. They defeated the Hamburg Freezers 4-1.













The team mascots came out onto the ice. They have really funny names, but i can't remember what they are...
(Bully Bär and Bully Bambino)










We met these 3 German guys on the tramride back into the city. They took us out for a bit, we played pool and drank for a bit. Tyson got a date with Rene. The people in this picture are (L-R) Peter, Derek, Me, René, Tyson, and Michael. Peter is a carpenter, and the other two germans are studying electronics with the Deutsche Bahn (german railway). (in addendum; I was slightly confused but have now learnt that Michael previously worked as an electrician with the Deutsche Bahn, he and René are now studying communication technologies at a TAFE type of institution here)






On the way home from my real Birthday celebrations. Here you see (L-R) Derek, Loren, Thorsten (friend of Dereks) Tyson, and Dana. We went to a really cool little joint near Warschauerstrasse (warsaw street) in the eastern side of town. Zur Gluhlampe (basically translates to the lightbulb) is in an old DDR apartment, so its really tiny. The dancefloor consists of the old living room, and the bar is the old kitchen. Boiling hot inside, we were covered in sweat from all of the dancing. A really great night. We got home around 5ish, Dana came back to my place cos she joined us later and had played catch up on drinks, so she wasnt feeling very well and didnt want to be on a train to Kreuzberg on her own. I didn"t take very many pictures that night, I was otherwise engaged in dancing the night away.
So there you have it, my birthday in a nutshell. Plus a chance to see who i'm hanging out with.