Berlin baby

I’ve always loved visiting Germany and this trip was definitely no exception. When I was studying in Freiburg I was counting on making it to Berlin at some stage but alas on a very tight budget I never ended up getting there. This time I didn’t exactly have much of a chance to take in the sights but what I did see I want to see and understand more of and I want Ryan to experience it with me.

The conference was well worth going to with lots of economists from different areas of infrastructure research and regulation. It was difficult for the financial crisis not to feature strongly in discussions of future infrastructure investment; and speculation about the next US president’s role in shaping climate policy abounded. One of the best presentations I went to was by a researcher from the University of Maryland on investments in low-carbon energy research and development in the US; best not only for the content but also for his presentation style. I think a lot of academics really need to learn that less is more with slides. I’ve been getting better at making my presentations more effective (with a little help from my talented husband) but I’d like to learn more and keep putting it in to practice.

My presentation (on smart metering and electricity demand) went pretty well. I was very nervous but I don’t think I let it inhibit me too much. I’m always so much more confident and relaxed during the question and answer session for some reason. You’d think it would be the other way around really. I don’t know what it is but it’s almost as if I’m not even the one talking during the presentation and I suddenly snap out of it and get back to being myself when people start asking me questions. Weird. It was also my first official outing as a Haney, well Brophy Haney to be precise but the Brophy part ended up in small print on my name badge.

Rebecca very kindly let me have the run of her apartment while I was in Berlin. She was off gallivanting in DC until Sunday and I kept myself busy with the conference until then anyway. She lives in a very central part of town, Prenzlauer Berg, and it was so easy to get around by tram, train and bus. What a public transport system; so much to learn from the Germans. I did a good bit of walking around on Friday morning and all day Sunday but have very few photos to show for it. I just wanted to get a feel for the city and how it all fits together really. There’s just so much to think about in every corner of the city and so much recent history to absorb, it’s just incredible.

I fell in love with Ampelmann, the traffic light man found all over East Berlin. They were going to replace him with his boring counterpart from the West after the Wall came down, until a passionate grass roots campaign stood up for him and turned him into quite the little icon (now also featured on our fridge). Rebecca brought me to a Tajikistani tea room on Sunday evening and we indulged ourselves in a Russian tea ceremony for two complete with shots of vodka. It was just great to catch up and relax after such a busy and tiring few days at the conference. I can’t wait to get back over there, next time with Ryan and for fun only not business.