(photo: fourth from right)
Biography
Marissa Muller, 26, studied at the University of California, Berkeley and graduated with honors in Mass Communications in 2003. While at UC Berkeley, Marissa not only worked at various local news stations, but also played Division 1 water polo for the Golden Bears. After graduating, she took the opportunity to explore her father’s hometown in Solingen, Germany and her mother’s birthplace in Vienna, Austria. As a first generation American, Marissa wanted to discover her roots and learn the German language. After a year of living in Hamburg and Munich, she got a handle on the language and tested out her fashion/design skills while working for InStyle Magazine and Gucci. While in Germany, she became engrossed with CNN International and decided to move to New York City. There she started working on CNN’s Assignment Desk and then moved to CNN headquarters in Atlanta, GA, where she joined the Northeast Region as an Assignment Editor. Realizing that the 2008 elections are going to be quite remarkable, she landed a position on CNN’s political team. As a Burns fellow, Marissa will work for Reuters TV in Berlin and hopes to spend time and write about refugees at Berlin’s Center for the Treatment of Torture Victims. Her refugee awareness grew after adopting a family of Meskhetian Turks through the International Rescue Committee in Atlanta, GA.
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Final Report
Transatlantic Triathlon
It was a two-month triathlon, and I broke through the finish line with a victorious time. As I sit here in Atlanta, GA on an adrenaline high and a suffering from aches due to the the Schwarzbrot, Kaese, and Berlin Pilsner withdrawals, I cannot help but daydream about the race of a lifetime.
Warm-up
A week before the starting gunshot, I began my warm-up. I found my 18 stretching partners who helped open my mind and pull me in new directions. Together, the 19 of us bounced back ideas on current topics and were inspired by a handful of specialized coaches who stirred communication and fueled discussion. My highlight was hearing from Chris Cilizza, author of the political blog, The Fix. He gave me the inspiration for my own blog (www.marissamuller.com). After three days, it was time for us to escape the city life and discover a rural tranquility – Airlie, VA. Our fearless leaders – Frank and Mario – brought us to the most serene, natural setting to find our peace of mind before race day. For two days the 19 of us felt the freedom as we biked aimlessly through the 3,500 acre grounds, splashed around in the pool, dangled our fishing lines in the pond, and indulged in fine food and drink (and then a little more drink!). Before we detached to hit the ground running, Frank and Mario gave us the final pep talk, which went something like this…You are all accomplished journalists, but be aware. The first two weeks at your assigned media house might be a bit rough, but once you are known and your abilities are established, you will be requested and pulled in every direction. I felt the charge. I was ready!
Achtung, fertig, los!
Monday morning, 9am, I landed in Berlin and – Bam! – the starting gunshot was fired as I withdrew some euros for the taxi ride. Yes, it was an abrupt start as I felt the pains of the week dollar – the exchange was $1.42 to the euro. Ouch! But the games were underway, so I withdrew the maximum and took off. As if that were not a shock enough, I stepped outside and immediately found myself chattering…it was 43 degrees (cheers to summer and all the flip flops and sandals I brought!). It just sent me running faster. The taxi dropped me off in front of a communist bloc and the spray painted letters reading – Ostel. Yes! I had arrived at the Communist Chic youth hostel, Ostel, where I would be shacking up for the first two nights since my lease did not start until the first of the month. I highly recommend the hostel. It is a block away from Berlin Wall remnants, two blocks from the nightclub scene, and covered in hysterical 70’s wallpaper and pictures of former Communist leader, Erich Honecker staring at you in every room. It was great. I had arrived in Germany.
Swim
Tuesday morning, and the first leg of the triathlon was beginning – the swim. I donned my formal suit and jumped the S-Bahn to the Berlin Mitte. After walking along the cobblestone in high heels, I realized then, that flats were a must. I walked the six floors and excitedly jumped into the Reuters TV waters. I was shocked – the temperature was a bit cooler then expected. It was extremely informal – the attire was jeans and a collared shirt and the people were a bit icy as they grilled me in German and then quickly got bored with me. My contact, Martin, had not yet arrived. I sat on the pile of newspapers and attempted to read Die Welt. The hour felt forever, but I kept reiterating Frank and Mario’s words – the first two weeks might be rough. And then I was saved. A jolly, outgoing man stood in front of me, and in perfect English said, “Who are you? And why are you sitting on the papers?” It was Martin, my contact. He scolded everyone for not treating me well and gave me the formal introduction and tour. He also sent out an email to the entire staff giving a heads up of my arrival and two month stint. My choppy swim stroke began to smooth out into a streamline glide.
Transition: Swim to Bike
The bike leg of a triathlon is the longest distance, nearly half of the race. I luckily reached this section my second night in Berlin. Martin invited me to a coworkers birthday bash. In other words, it was a competitive invitation to test my abilities and expose my true brew. Kegs were tapped and our containers were filled to the brim. We quickly cut through the hasty pour after making San Francisco connections and discovering overlapping friends. Conversation was flowing and the layers of fermentation were pealing away. The once icy mugs were warming with a relaxed grip. By 6am, I had passed the test and was welcomed to the Reuters team.
I ripped off my suit and jumped into my cruising gear (jeans, flats, and a jacket) and was offered a spare bike from a colleague. I was in with the team and exhilarated to be cruising the streets of Berlin.
Bike
The majority of the fellowship I was spinning carefree on my trusty bike. Within the first week at Reuters I found my niche and a need for me. My duties:
I went out on shoots and conducted interviews – some in German (leader of the exhibition for the 50th birthday of the Trabant; Holocaust memorial committee who discussed the shocking cracks in the structures) and some in English (celebration and exhibition of Elvis’s anniversary of his death; red carpet interview with Matt Damon).
I was given a two day crash course on Avid editing and became an editing fiend. Editing was the perfect pastime when the news was slow. I also got a bit creative and began writing entertaining scripts and laying down my voice to accompany the edit.
And the highlight for me was writing the shot sheet and script for the World Feeds, which were in English and occurred twice a day. Attached, you will find some of the shot sheets and scripts I wrote, which would accompany the feed.
I also pitched countless stories to the team and they did pick up a few of them. My favorite was the Parkour exhibition night in the unopened U-Bahn station in Berlin. It was fantastic to meet and interview the founder of this wild sport/theory, David Belle.
I was in the groove and feeling productive.
Transition: Bike to Run
It was our interim meeting where all the American fellows met in Dresden that I realized it was time to jump out of cruise control. The city was an inspiration rebirth and the discussion nine of us had over our successes and struggles was an inspiration. I realized then how infatuated I was with solar power and the need to write a story on it. It was time to hop off my bike and strap on my running shoes for the final two-week sprint.
Run
I was in a full-blown sprint against the clock. The first six weeks went by in a flash, now it was time to make up some ground and pull a few all-nighters. Besides desiring to see more of the Berlin sights, I also wanted to work on a story on how Germany is at the forefront of solar development. I clocked some serious miles on the train, crisscrossing through Germany on my solar hunt (Freeburg to Frankfurt down to Darmstadt, back to Berlin, and down to Leipzig). I hope to get my story posted on cnn.com shortly.
The last night in Berlin I tore through the finishing tape as I clinked my glass with work colleagues (who will be lifelong friends), chuckled over the wild times, and reminisced on my barefoot in Berlin night. The fellowship was a success.
Cool Down
Looking back at my time in Germany, I am amazed at what two months can do. By simply stepping out of the daily grind and gaining a fresh perspective, I was inundated with new ideas. I realized my desire to further explore renewable energies (primarily solar and tidal power), to become fluent in German, and to shoot, write and edit mini pieces for cnn.com. Now that I am back in Atlanta, all I can think of is when I will return to Germany. I owe a million thanks to Frank and Mario. Thank you for an experience of a lifetime!!
Training Tips
Here are a few ideas to reach your goal time in the triathlon:
Bring less formal clothes and more casual, comfortable clothes. Also pack warm; we had a rather frigid summer.
If you plan on training through Germany, definitely buy a Bahn Card (I really saved).
Borrow or buy a used bike.
Go out for drinks with coworkers.
While at work, be pushy and offer up countless story ideas.
A great online German/English translation site is : http://dict.leo.org