I-bahn! U-bahn! We all bahn for U-bahn!

One-Sentence Summary: On Sunday, I met new friends when I attended International Baptist Church for the first time and, later in the evening, I went to a small water show with haus mates.

Saturday was an exciting day, indeed, with seeing all the sites of Hamburg, but nothing can beat the Lord’s Day, Sunday! This Sunday, I visited International Baptist Church-Hamburg (IBC), an English-speaking church in the city. However, I decided to give my legs a rest after their hard work on Saturday and I took German public transportation for the first time. It was exciting but a little intimidating at the same time. I generally like public transportation because it is convenient and good for the environment, but I’m always nervous the first time I use it. I am afraid I will go the wrong way and end up in the middle of nowhere, waiting 30 min for the next train. Fortunately, that did not happen, and I made it to my destination in good time using the Untergrundbahn (U-bahn, “Underground").

When I got off the U-bahn, I was a little turned around. Of course, I didn’t have a map with me, but I thought I had remembered which direction the church was. So I set off on my course for IBC. After 150 m, I realized that the street names did not sound familiar. I headed back to the U-bahn station, and took a different direction. About 250 m later, I decided this wasn’t right either. I returned to the U-bahn station and chose a third direction. I was so relieved to find out that this was the right way to church. I would have been pretty upset with myself if I had gone through all four directions before finding the church. So much for honing my keen sense of direction.

As I approached the church, I was relieved to see other young adults walking through the doors. The woman greeting and passing out the bulletins warmly welcomed me (in English!) and asked where I was from. I responded, “America.” Then the next expected question, “And your parents?” “China” “Great! I thought maybe you were Filipina like me. Anyway, welcome!” And she gave me a big hug. This hug set the tone for the rest of a warm and friendly service. I was really blessed to experience songs of worship with such a multiracial group. When they say International Baptist Church, they truly mean International. I saw so many different ethnic and cultural groups in a congregation of about 200 or so people. Later I learned that about 40 nations are represented in the church. The congregation spanned all ages as well. I didn’t realize how much I missed singing praise songs that I knew until I was actually singing. At that point, I was just belting it out. “It” being music to God’s ears, of course. Being in the service reminded me of InterVarsity on a larger-scale and got me very excited Urbana 2009, which will be on an even larger scale.

After the service, I attended the open members meeting and learned how other churches take care of business matters. I think it was good for me to see, especially since I didn’t have anything to compare PVBC’s Congregational Meetings to before this. Similar to PVBC, the young adult group went out to grab some food afterwards. I enjoyed talking with and hearing stories from fellow Christians with backgrounds from Ghana, Namibia, and UK to name a few. It was so much fun and I look forward to getting to know the group even better as the summer progresses.

Later in the evening, some of my haus mates and I went to Planten un Blomen for a water works show. Right before the sun sets on summer evenings, there is a water show in one of the pools in the park, similar to the Bellagio water show but much smaller and with colorful lights. This Sunday evening, they played music from two Russian composers, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. Instead of trying to describe the show, I’ll try to let you experience through the wonders of technology. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!




So as you can tell, this weekend was very exciting for me. I explored an historical city, met a friendly group of people, and watched a beautiful water show. Please pray that I would be productive in the lab this week and form good relationships with people at church. I really appreciate your prayers thus far. God has definitely answered them in ways I did not expect.

At IBC, the church just finished up a series through Titus that was titled, “Transformers.” I enjoyed reading the following passage:

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus 3:4-8

The City of Hamburg!

One Sentence Summary: I explored the inner city of Hamburg, including 7 churches, 2 houses, and 1 park.

Wow, there are so many exciting things that have happened in the past few days that I’m not sure where to begin. I might save some text/pictures for a later post, but I’ll write about a few things while they’re still fresh in my mind.

Yesterday I went to the inner city of Hamburg to explore and see all the tourist sites. I set off from my room at 9 AM equipped with my camera filled with a 2 GB card, a good pair of walking shoes, and a desire for an adventure. I returned at 6:30 PM with a filled memory card, probably 10 miles added to my shoe mileage, and a good feeling of contentment. The day was full; at times, frustrating; and at the end, tiring; but I’m thankful for safety and a rainless day when I could do everything I wanted.

The day was full with the final count being: 7 Kirches (churches), 2 Hauses, and 1 (big) park. Even though walking was tiring and took a long time, it gave me the opportunity to be flexible in my adventure. I did a little bit of research on the city of Hamburg, but only enough to know that St. Micaheliskirche is the most famous church and I should stay way from the Reeperbahn at night. When I arrived in the city, I found a strategy that worked pretty well: look for anything that stands above the buildings and walk towards it. If you find anything interesting along the way, take a detour to explore. This plan worked out pretty well for me, since at the end of the day, I did most of the major sites in Hamburg. Signs like these helped out a lot too because then I knew what the major sites were around the city.

The first church I saw was St. Johannis, which is actually in Eppendorf. Sorry I don’t have a great picture, but I will return to this church for more pictures since it is very close.







Next was St. Petri. I think this might have been my favorite church for its high arching ceiling and beautiful lighting at the front of the room. I spent some time in the chapel room and found this beautiful illustrated Bible. It looked ancient, but I liked some of the pictures.






Then I went to the Rathaus, which is Hamburg’s beautiful town hall. This is the fountain that is in back of the Rathaus.



St. Jacobi was a church only about 500 m from St. Petri. They were very similar in structure, as you can see from the stained glass behind the candle. This is one of my more “artistic” shots.


Then I stopped by the Chilehaus, which is a group of buildings built in an older German architectural style. I’m not exactly sure what the historical significance of it is, but I know it is on some of the tourist lists of things to do. I can probably do some more reading on historical sites of Hamburg in the future.


St. Katharinen was not as well lit as the other churches. I’m not sure if that’s usual because I saw that they were doing some renovation on the outside of the steeple. When I entered, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the organ playing. I believe the organist was practicing, but it sounded beautifully. I enjoyed sitting on the pew and just listening to the organ playing in this beautiful old church.

St. Nikolai is a memorial for the victims of war and persecution. It was built on the site of a former 14th century church that was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1842. The new building was built from 1845-1874, but was destroyed, like much of Hamburg, in World War 2 leaving the tower and outer walls. The ruin has been maintained as a monument against war. I liked seeing that the statue on the left has its title and caption in 8 different languages around the pedestal.

St. Michaelis took me awhile to find, considering it is supposed to be Hamburg’s most famous church. I was so determined to find it though, and was really disappointed to find out that it is under renovation. Here is the little part that was open to viewing. The rest of the church was blocked off with scaffolding. I guess this means I’ll have to visit Hamburg again when the church is open.

My next stop was the Reeperbahn. I was not planning on going to this street because it is known as the red light district in Hamburg, but it is also a tourist attraction. I was a little nervous, but I figured it was broad daylight and I would try to stay with large groups of people. When I got there, I saw that they were having a Harley Davidson showcase. That would explain the many motorcycles I had been seeing and hearing all around the city that day. Needless to say, I didn’t like the Reeperbahn or the showcase, so I got out of there as soon as I could. I still snapped a picture for proof that I was there and experienced all of Hamburg that I should have.

The last church was St. Ansgar. This was the smallest church and the sanctuary wasn’t fully open to visitors. I did go in as far as I could though and this was what the sanctuary looked like. It is very well lit but not as well known.

My favorite place for the day was Planten un Blomen. I thought the parks near my room were nice, but this park blew me away. It’s right on the edge of the inner city of Hamburg. A Hamburg fun fact: There was a moat surrounding the city before, but then it was destroyed. In an effort to conserve some of the water that remained, the city formed parks with water running through. So if you look at a map of Hamburg, you’ll notice that the green areas of the map kind of form a ring around the city. Planten un Blomen is beautiful. It’s like a large botanical garden that includes a rose garden, a Japanese tea garden, and a musikpavilion for performances. I hope that I can have a future post dedicated solely to Planten un Blomen.

At times, the day was frustrating, especially because I did not have a map. I found myself walking in large circles sometimes, but I got a lot of exercise and saw sites that I would not have been able to see if I was just following a map. In the end, I kind of enjoyed traveling without a map. I don’t know if I’ll make it a regular habit, but when I have the time and energy, I can take the risk.

At the end of the day, I was very tired. I just came back to my room and lay on my bed for a few minutes because my feet were so sore. I had basically been on my feet for 8 hours, only sitting when I reached a church or found a scenic outlook bench. But it was a good-tired feeling and I’m glad I got to see so much of the city of Hamburg. I hope you are inspired to come visit me after you see all these pictures. I would love to share the city with you.

As you know, I’ve made it safely back after my adventure. Thank you for your prayers. Please pray for sufficient rest this week and budding friendships. I hope to have another post up shortly.


In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Walk in the Park

One-Sentence Summary: I like spending time in the beautiful parks around Eppendorf.

The weather in Eppendorf has been beautiful this past week. I’m told that it’s not always like this and I’m bringing some of the California sunshine with me. I’m happy to bring it for the enjoyment of others and myself! This weekend, it looks like we’re going to have some clouds and a bit of rain though. Summertime in Hamburg includes quickly changing weather. On one day, it can go from being overcast in the morning, to blue skies in the afternoon, then heavy rain the next moment, which turns into clear blue skies again after ten minutes. Note to self: Always carry an umbrella.

On one of the nice days this week, I walked around Eppendorf a bit. I came upon two parks, one being Kellinghusens Park, a relaxing area that I know I’ll be spending more time in this summer:


I even found an old basketball hoop there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a basketball to play with, but I was still excited to see it:


Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost


Picking flowers!


A strawberry stand (in two senses)!


What a cute little cottage! I don’t think anyone actually lives here, but I’m not sure what it’s for:


On my way home, I took a picture of the church:

If you are still wondering from my last post, the numbers in the picture are indeed the hymn numbers and verses that we sang. I think it's such a clever way to announce the hymns.


Everyone in the lab has been very friendly. This past week, we celebrated a lab member’s birthday, and even though I was here less than a week, I already felt a part of the “lab family.” One of the lab members and I are doing daily German-English lessons. It’s very fun but also very hard. Yesterday’s lesson was counting: eins zwei drei vier fünf sechs sieben acht neun zehn. I’m still trying to meet people with whom I can explore the city and go on escapades, so you can be praying for that. Hopefully I’ll be able to post pictures from adventures in the near future.


May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Glücklicher Sonntag!

One-Sentence Summary: I went to a German church service this morning and am excited to start my research this week.

Happy Sunday! This morning I woke up early, opened my window, and heard the church bells ringing. It was a delightful way to start the day. Since I’ve been here, I haven’t needed my alarm clock, which is not typical for me. The sun rises around 5 AM, so regardless of the hours I sleep, I feel very awake at 8 AM. Then the sun sets around 10 PM, giving me more hours of daylight than I’m used to. I can’t imagine living here in the winter when there’s only 8 or so hours of daylight. Good thing I’m here in the summer! The bells I heard this morning were playing from St. Martinus, an Evangelical-Lutheran Kirche (church) only 100 m down the block from where I live. I walked there for the 10 AM service not really knowing what to expect. The entire service was in German and felt very traditional. As I sat on the wooden pew, I felt like the pastor was Martin Luther who would post his 95 Theses on the door after his message. The service did remind me how much I miss hearing the organ. Surprisingly, the only part of the service I understood was the Latin “Sanctus Dominus” in one of the hymns. Now I know why 4 years of Latin was so important.

This is my one good picture from church because I didn’t want to be an obnoxious tourist during the service. I think it’s pretty representative of the rest of the church and maybe the service too. At first I didn’t know what these numbers were, but I figured it out pretty quickly. Anyone think they know? I’ll post the answer in my next blog. This will be some traditional German church trivia for you. =D


My first day at work on Friday went very well. I am researching at the Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf). The edge of campus is 100 m in the opposite direction of the church, so everything important is easily within walking distance. My “work” on Friday consisted of getting acquainted with the other lab members and going through official paperwork and such. When I was getting my medical clearance, the doctor asked me a series of questions, such as “Do you smoke? Do you drink? Do you have HIV?” When she asked me, “Do you take anti-baby pills?” I had to pause to think about what anti-baby pills are. The question caught me a little off-guard, so I had to ask “Like birth control pills?” And she said “Ah, yes, birth control pills.” Haha anti-baby pills. I’ve never heard it called that before, but now I know. No, I’m not on anti-baby pills.

This is one of the entrances for an older UKE building. It is built in the style of many other Hamburg-Eppendorf buildings. Some people compare the red brick buildings to those in Boston. UKE is growing quickly though. Just like at Stanford, there are construction sites around campus for buildings that will house new programs or centers. But I would have to say that Stanford definitely has more cranes and more noise from construction than UKE. When I get a chance to walk over, I’ll post a picture of the entrance to the newer medical center. For now, we can enjoy the “classic” UKE look.

I have been getting enough rest and staying healthy. Thank you for praying. I forgot to mention this in my last post, but I did not have my checked-in suitcase my first night because Lufthansa did not put it onto my LA to Frankfurt flight. However, it was delivered safely on Friday morning, so now I have clothes. Praise God! My first day in the lab went very smoothly, and I’m excited to start my first full week tomorrow. Please pray that I would be making friends, learning enough German to survive, and safety as I explore more of the city. Also, I would appreciate prayer for a family friend who I found out is in the hospital and my future Stanford roommate (noomie!) whose summer plans fell through. Phew, this was a long post. Thanks for reading!

I recited Psalm 36:6-10 in German at church today:

Deine Gerechtigkeit steht wie die Berge Gottes und dein Recht wie eine große Tiefe. HERR, du hilfst Menschen und Vieh. (Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.)

Wie teuer ist deine Güte, Gott, daß Menschenkinder unter dem Schatten deiner Flügel Zuflucht haben! (How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.)

Sie werden trunken von den reichen Gütern deines Hauses, und du tränkest sie mit Wonne als mit einem Strom. (They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.)

Denn bei dir ist die Quelle des Lebens, und in deinem Licht sehen wir das Licht. (For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.)

Breite deine Güte über die, die dich kennen, und deine Gerechtigkeit über die Frommen. (Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.)

I'm in Hamburg!

One-Sentence Summary: I arrived safely in Hamburg on Thursday, June 18!


I’m finally on my way to Germany! Although I won’t be able to publish this until I have internet access in Germany, I am typing this en route to Hamburg. My international traveling experience has started off with quite an adventure. I was originally scheduled to depart from LA to London at 5 PM, but my British Airways flight was delayed to 10 PM. Since I didn’t want to arrive in Germany too late, I tried getting an earlier flight. After leaving the house 2 hours earlier than planned and waiting around at the airport for awhile, I finally got a stand-by ticket for a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt at 7 PM. This gave me a lot of time to hang out with my fam before going through security. I arrived at the gate as soon as stand-by opened up and got myself a business class seat! Needless to say, flying business class is amazing. I’m adding some pictures of the food that was served. This was the longest flight I’ve ever been on, but probably the most fun. I didn’t even want to sleep there was so much to do, but I gave in to my fatigue when I saw that the seats reclined to an almost horizontal position. Sleep was so much more restful.

















Lufthansa Business Class! That's me!

















Spinach-filled gnocchi + James Bond!

















Tres leche cake and berries. Yum!


I’m writing another entry as I wait in the Frankfurt airport for my connecting flight to Hamburg. I’m almost there! I can’t wait. The excitement continues to build. However, I don’t know how I feel about going back to economy class. Business class is an addicting experience. I’ll survive though. When I was boarding my first flight, I almost walked through the wrong doors when boarding the plane. The walkways were labeled First/Business Class and Economy. I was so used to flying Economy that I took a few steps into the walkway, and then remembered that I was going the wrong way. Note for traveling: Read the signs and make sure you’re going in the right direction.

The time difference between California and Germany is 9 hours. Even though it’s 7 AM at home, I am feeling pretty awake since it’s 4 PM here. I hope I don’t get jetlag too much since I will be going to my first day of work in the lab tomorrow. I figure by the time I arrive in Hamburg and get settled into my apartment, my initial adrenaline will fade and I will crash for the night. Traveling fatigue from staying up and watching movies in business class should help me adjust to the time zone relatively quickly.

I’m in Hamburg, Germany! Thank you for your prayers of a convenient flight time, a good seat (specifically business class!), and, most importantly, a safe flight. Please pray that I get enough rest as I adjust to the new time zone, good health in a new environment, and a great first day in the lab tomorrow. And let me know how I can be praying for you!


I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2

Summer 2009

One-Sentence Summary: I will be in Hamburg, Germany from June 17 to September 9 to work on a biology research project.

I just realized that I did not do an introductory post before I left America. I should take the time now (since I have a lot of time now as I sit in the airport) to write one because I probably will not want to in the future. So here is the information on my summer:

Who? Karis! Yup, just me!
What? I am conducting immunobiology research at the University Heart Center, Hamburg. Also, since this is my first time in Europe, I will be doing some traveling as well.
Where? Hamburg, Germany. It’s a port city on the northern side of Germany. I hope to travel to other parts of Europe as well, but I have not decided exactly what cities yet. Paris is definitely on the list. Any other suggestions?
When? June 17 to September 9, 2009 (plus or minus 1 day depending on the time zone, travel duration, and such)
Why? Because I love research and traveling, so why not put the two together in one summer?!
How do I contact you? The best way to contact me when you want a response is probably through e-mail: karistq[at]gmail[dot]com. I have Skype, so if you also have Skype, we can chat message, talk, and/or video conference. You can always leave a comment on any blog post. Please leave a comment or e-mail me if you would like the mailing address for my room. Wow! So many ways you can reach me. Technology these days. =D