Everyone here in Berlin, is completely different. Germnay in general has several different cultures, and it amazes me. I thought Arkansas had several different minorities, but Germany has way more. throughout my two weeks staying here, ive learned so much here. going to the different tours was very informative, and it felt like i was in history class, but we werent sitting in chairs. it was like hands on learning. all of the tour guides were amazing. I felt bad because I couldn't give out a tip, only because I didn't have any money at the time. :( Schade. but all of the Germans, (some americans) always say 'ja genau' like its an inside joke, and thats whats hilarious. which it only means, 'ya exactly'. seeing the different minorities here, from blacks to syrians to hispanics, its a huge difference than Arkansas. we have to many different people and they have more that we do! i love learning about how each individual lives, and you could almost tell it while walking down on the streets. i love the people that come up to me, and a group of our people and ask if they can have our beer bottles ( tut mir leid frau ), just so that they can turn them in to get money. I dont think we have nothing like that back at home except for cans and not plastic or glass bottles. its enjoyable to me that people make their own way of getting around, either its searching every recycling bin, or playing music out on the streets. speaking of streets, one day in these past 2 weeks we all explored and passed by a bridge that had nothing but homeless people.. there were so many. more than back at home. and coming back from the mall there was a homeless guy begging for food.. you can tell he was starving, you could see the pain in his eyes, and all of his bones.. if it wasnt for me, Laura, and memo about to miss our bus i would have stopped to give him the sandwiches i still had left.. Back in Arkansas people are so generous to homeless, but here they look and laugh and just move on with their lives. Getting use to Berlin was definitely tragic. i never got use to the times even though i do sleep at night, my body is always tired when its night time back at home.
these 2 weeks has been a blast and i cant wait to come back again in about 2 years!!
i thank Frau Brazle for giving me this amazing chance to explore where my family comes from.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Last week in germany :(
Monday 06.13.16 - We went on zwei (2) tours! the fallout shelter was personally my favorite so far, other than the concentration camp. it was interesting to see how a real fallout shelter was instead of seeing it on the games all the time. ( reference for u Kody ;) ) there was so much walking. These germans walk so fast and its hard for my little legs to keep up with them. I understand why my german mum packs so much food for me, cause with all of the walking and the hear it makes you super duper hungry. also on this day we went to the Brandenburg Tor (gate) and there was a HUGE memorial for Orlando. everyone was putting flowers up, and got a picture of it. The memorial was so schön (beautiful).
UPDATE : Tuesday 06.14.16 - We took a LONG walk to this castle. but of course it was all worth it in the end, except my tired feet. :P it was a castle for some king, that had several, several dogs, and he loved them so much that he was buried next to his favorite dogs.. ( pretty weird.. ) then there were several naked men/women statues that were completely weird too. I was going to take photos but the 3 Euros wasn't worth it to me. It was a pretty castle but i wasn't going to pay for photos. ;) then afterwards we went to the lake and decided to chill while playing cards, with like 4 other people. we sat right next to a building that was used for naked people, and you could stand in there naked and not have a care in the world, the whole building was made of glass! Then, finally went home after i had to pee really bad and wouldn't go in a bush, lol.
UPDATE : Wednesday 06.15.16 - Today was a thrill riding day. we got to explore a prison, and see how the people were treated in the new and old prisons. there were 3 prisons in total. touring the prison made me realize that i never want to ever go to prison, or do something that will make me go there. i mean, prisons might be better now then they were back then, but it still tragic to see how they lived if they never confessed on what they did wrong. our tour guide was fantastic, and the best part was that he had a man bun. yes, a MAN BUN! and wicked beard too, but the man bun was way better in my opinion. We went into this one room and thank goodness we left the room when we did cause i would have freaked out due to being claustrophobic. that room was so tiny, and about 25 people didn't go very well. I take back what i said in one of my earlier blogs, the prison was definitely my favorite.
UPDATE : Thursday 06.16.16 - Completely missed homeroom. but i guess it was okay :) school day was amazing.. i took a nap in physics and the teacher didnt even care. i woke up to him staring at me but then he just walked off. after school we went to the mall, but of course Laura wouldnt wait around until i was able to receive my money, and apparently we wont be able to go shopping tomorrow so ill just order everything offline.. how fun :) and i ended the day buy just chilling at her house and listen to the game.
UPDATE : Friday 06.17.16 - such a rainy day, but it was just like every other day here in the past week.. but today we went to a refugee museum, and we didnt get a tour, we made the tour! it was weird at first, but it went really smoothly. Afterwards, we went to a small mall, and i got to gather things on my very last day here. i had to spend all of my coin euros and thats almost exactly what i did.. im keeping some for souviners. :) finally packing to go home right after my hair cut! im excited, havent had my hair touched by anyone in i dont know how long. its very sad knowing i have to leave, but i think my actual home is calling my name. after these two weeks i met my second family and i know i am always welcomed back.
CHOW! ;)
UPDATE : Tuesday 06.14.16 - We took a LONG walk to this castle. but of course it was all worth it in the end, except my tired feet. :P it was a castle for some king, that had several, several dogs, and he loved them so much that he was buried next to his favorite dogs.. ( pretty weird.. ) then there were several naked men/women statues that were completely weird too. I was going to take photos but the 3 Euros wasn't worth it to me. It was a pretty castle but i wasn't going to pay for photos. ;) then afterwards we went to the lake and decided to chill while playing cards, with like 4 other people. we sat right next to a building that was used for naked people, and you could stand in there naked and not have a care in the world, the whole building was made of glass! Then, finally went home after i had to pee really bad and wouldn't go in a bush, lol.
UPDATE : Wednesday 06.15.16 - Today was a thrill riding day. we got to explore a prison, and see how the people were treated in the new and old prisons. there were 3 prisons in total. touring the prison made me realize that i never want to ever go to prison, or do something that will make me go there. i mean, prisons might be better now then they were back then, but it still tragic to see how they lived if they never confessed on what they did wrong. our tour guide was fantastic, and the best part was that he had a man bun. yes, a MAN BUN! and wicked beard too, but the man bun was way better in my opinion. We went into this one room and thank goodness we left the room when we did cause i would have freaked out due to being claustrophobic. that room was so tiny, and about 25 people didn't go very well. I take back what i said in one of my earlier blogs, the prison was definitely my favorite.
UPDATE : Thursday 06.16.16 - Completely missed homeroom. but i guess it was okay :) school day was amazing.. i took a nap in physics and the teacher didnt even care. i woke up to him staring at me but then he just walked off. after school we went to the mall, but of course Laura wouldnt wait around until i was able to receive my money, and apparently we wont be able to go shopping tomorrow so ill just order everything offline.. how fun :) and i ended the day buy just chilling at her house and listen to the game.
UPDATE : Friday 06.17.16 - such a rainy day, but it was just like every other day here in the past week.. but today we went to a refugee museum, and we didnt get a tour, we made the tour! it was weird at first, but it went really smoothly. Afterwards, we went to a small mall, and i got to gather things on my very last day here. i had to spend all of my coin euros and thats almost exactly what i did.. im keeping some for souviners. :) finally packing to go home right after my hair cut! im excited, havent had my hair touched by anyone in i dont know how long. its very sad knowing i have to leave, but i think my actual home is calling my name. after these two weeks i met my second family and i know i am always welcomed back.
CHOW! ;)
Last Days in Germany
Today is my last full day in Germany. We've eaten so much good food, been to so many fun places, and seen so much cool stuff. It has been a great experience, getting to meet new people and growing close to a new family.
I'm going to try to eat currywurst one more time, it was so good. I'm going to miss it though, the currywurst. And the döner too. My trip to Germany has been amazing. I never thought I would be here, experiencing what I have. This was my first trip outside of the United States, and it was a good one. I didn't expect to see the Berlin Wall because I thought it had all been torn down. It was pretty cool to see that they kept some of the wall so that others like us can see.
Our weekend excursion to the Baltic Sea was really cool too. It was a little chilly when we walked out of the parking garage, and I just wondered how I was going to swim in this degree of weather. When we met up with the others on the beach, I was going to go change into my swimsuit, but I learned they just change right there on the beach! It was kinda weird, because they just hold a towel around them and change. It is really awkward to hold a towel with one hand and change with the other. When we walked down to the water it got even colder. It took a little bit for us to run out there, but once we did, it wasn't TOO bad. but when I got out I was shivering for at least 30 minutes it was so cold. We played volleyball and soccer on the beach, also. Robin's brother, Julian, was the MVP of our volleyball games. He would always dive for the ball and he'd do whatever he could to keep the ball up. It was fun to play soccer with him, and what he was able to teach me was pretty cool.
The coolest tour in my opinion was the tour of the GDR prison. It was really interesting to learn about the interrogation techniques, what the GDR still did to people after the war, and how long they continued to do it. Apart from this tour we got a tours of a couple underground bunkers prepared for World War 2 bombings, a Story of Berlin, Sanssouci (a palace for Friedrichs II), and the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.
I am definitely going to come back to Germany, now it's just a matter of when. I'm going to miss Robin and his family, and I know I will alway have a friend here.
I'm going to try to eat currywurst one more time, it was so good. I'm going to miss it though, the currywurst. And the döner too. My trip to Germany has been amazing. I never thought I would be here, experiencing what I have. This was my first trip outside of the United States, and it was a good one. I didn't expect to see the Berlin Wall because I thought it had all been torn down. It was pretty cool to see that they kept some of the wall so that others like us can see.
Our weekend excursion to the Baltic Sea was really cool too. It was a little chilly when we walked out of the parking garage, and I just wondered how I was going to swim in this degree of weather. When we met up with the others on the beach, I was going to go change into my swimsuit, but I learned they just change right there on the beach! It was kinda weird, because they just hold a towel around them and change. It is really awkward to hold a towel with one hand and change with the other. When we walked down to the water it got even colder. It took a little bit for us to run out there, but once we did, it wasn't TOO bad. but when I got out I was shivering for at least 30 minutes it was so cold. We played volleyball and soccer on the beach, also. Robin's brother, Julian, was the MVP of our volleyball games. He would always dive for the ball and he'd do whatever he could to keep the ball up. It was fun to play soccer with him, and what he was able to teach me was pretty cool.
The coolest tour in my opinion was the tour of the GDR prison. It was really interesting to learn about the interrogation techniques, what the GDR still did to people after the war, and how long they continued to do it. Apart from this tour we got a tours of a couple underground bunkers prepared for World War 2 bombings, a Story of Berlin, Sanssouci (a palace for Friedrichs II), and the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.
I am definitely going to come back to Germany, now it's just a matter of when. I'm going to miss Robin and his family, and I know I will alway have a friend here.
Last Impressions
So it was, and so it is, our last couple of days in Berlin, Germany. It was quite the time, very different cultures where you could bring alcohol on public transportation but I was pushed out of a souvenir shop for having an ice cream cone. One where seeing a drunken person, or a helpless beggar in broad daylight is the norm, but the prospect of someone having a firearm in their house is completely preposterous. It comes down to the culture, which is probably the hardest thing to adjust to, that and the sun setting at 10PM and rising at 4AM, you may not think it's a huge problem, but it just craps on any sleep schedule you thought you had, especially with the jet lag.
I can see and hear the tears already, however I am very excited to be back in the states, first thing I'm going to do is nap wrapped in an American Flag with my AR-15 in one hand and a copy of the Declaration of Independence in the other, for real though, gonna sleep a lot and maybe take a nice slow ride through the country side because city life makes you miss the small things like that. All the quaint things about Arkansas are completely lost upon the Germans, and possibly the cool things about the city might be lost on us for all I know. I did enjoy our time though, food was great, the sights were beautiful, and the food was great.
I don't know if I'll ever return, I anticipate I will but you never know.
See ya Deutschland.
I can see and hear the tears already, however I am very excited to be back in the states, first thing I'm going to do is nap wrapped in an American Flag with my AR-15 in one hand and a copy of the Declaration of Independence in the other, for real though, gonna sleep a lot and maybe take a nice slow ride through the country side because city life makes you miss the small things like that. All the quaint things about Arkansas are completely lost upon the Germans, and possibly the cool things about the city might be lost on us for all I know. I did enjoy our time though, food was great, the sights were beautiful, and the food was great.
I don't know if I'll ever return, I anticipate I will but you never know.
See ya Deutschland.
Major Differences United States vs Germany
Some of the major differnces in Germany that are very different from the US is fußball and football. They sound the same but there are compleatly differnt in 'merica football is american football with NFL and the pig skin but in Germany it is what 'mericans call soccer. Some enviormental differnces that differ from arkansas is that Germany has lots and lots of graffiti all over from U-bahn to buildings.
Also many of the rivers that run through berlin are very poluted ulike natual rivers in Arkansas in which people swim in. In belin there are many things to ddo such as go out to different musums and attractions like the historic tours that take place all thoughout Berlin. Something that I liked seeing was the Berlin wall, because its something of Berlin that all people want to see.
Also many of the rivers that run through berlin are very poluted ulike natual rivers in Arkansas in which people swim in. In belin there are many things to ddo such as go out to different musums and attractions like the historic tours that take place all thoughout Berlin. Something that I liked seeing was the Berlin wall, because its something of Berlin that all people want to see.
End of the Line
Well, well, well. My time in the land of cheap street food, endless bier, and a near millinium of history have too soon come to an end. I couldn't even explain how incredible and eye opening this trip has been in the length that I have here. Among my favorite things that we have done these past two weeks was the bike tour on only the first day. This was probably my favorite tour just because it was a great opportunity to be able to see nearly the whole city on a bike, which is like my favorite thing to do! The architecture in the city is absolutely beautiful. Berlin is comparable to a New York City with about half as many people in twice the area and much more aesthetic buildings. I am in love with the city. Another amazing experience for me visiting the Czech Republic for a weekend hiking trip. Ricardo's family took me to a small German town on the border of Czech called Rathen. This town is exactly what I think of when I think of a European village. The town was split by the River Elbe and the only access to either side was a single ferry that ran back and forth all day long. The town was surrounded by absolutely astonishing rock features and remains from medieval castles. The whole area was littered with magnificent history. On that Saturday we drove into the Czech Republic by train and then by ferry. Our hiking trip took place in a Czech National Park where we saw more incredible views and landscape and Europe's only land bridge. Our final day of the excursion we visited Germany's largest castle which was gianormous and of course beautiful. This final week I have experienced several tours regarding WWII and the DDR here having to do with post-war history. All throughout I have had ample time to just kick back and relax in Berlin with Ricardo, Zac, and many of my German friends that I have made while I have been here. I feel now that I might be ready to go home and see my family and friends to share all of my adventures and experiences. I haven't even left yet, though I am already missing döner, currywurst, schnitzel, the architecture, the culture, and the people. However, without a doubt I will be returning here to Germany before too long as I know that I always have a friend here with Ricardo. Until next time, Berlin.
Jacob Velliquette, signing off.
Jacob Velliquette, signing off.
Last Day
Today is the last day here in Germany sadly. These last two weeks have been filled with adventures and new experiences. We had many tours that taught me so much I didn't know about the history of Berlin. I would say my favorite tour was the Bike tour. I ate arabic food which was very delicious and Turkish döner (probbaly the thing I will miss most about Germany). I rode more public transporartion these last two weeks than I ever had before. I like big cities so seeing the street filled with walking and cycling pedestrians made me happy. I had no idea how much graffiti Berlin was filled with but I Think thats a unique thing about Berlin. I think gaffitti in Berlin should be called "Street Art" rather than Graffiti. One thing I actually learned yesterday is that Germany also has troops in afghanistan. My overall experience in Germany has been GREAT and German people are nothing like they are stereotyped to be they are very nice welcoming people that will continue to feed you even after the 5th plate. Today is not even over yet and I am already looking foward to coming back to Berlin!!!!!!!!
Last Day
As days go by I cant wait to go home! My stay here was an enjoyable stay. I got to meet new people, more people than I expected. My stay here will never be forgotten as I thought I was getting home sick the first days it was nothing, it was just a fear of not being able to communicate effectively to get around. I love how the city is just a liberal city where you can get around at whatever time you want.
Well I am just excited to get home and see my family, be with them, and go out with them. I am taking back a couple souveniers to share with mains back home and tell them about my "adventures" her.
My finally thought is completely different from when I first got here. I thought that I wouldn't like the food, people would be nicer, everyone would get along, and transportation wouldn't be so complicated. But as I come to realize the food is great a bit different from what I use to but I give an 8, I would be able to live with that food if I lived here. Most people I see on the streets look so kind and friendly but they're rude, I mostly think becauseof theyre accent, its so strong.
Again and again, I miss home so much!
I will certaintly enjoy my plane ride back home.
Well I am just excited to get home and see my family, be with them, and go out with them. I am taking back a couple souveniers to share with mains back home and tell them about my "adventures" her.
My finally thought is completely different from when I first got here. I thought that I wouldn't like the food, people would be nicer, everyone would get along, and transportation wouldn't be so complicated. But as I come to realize the food is great a bit different from what I use to but I give an 8, I would be able to live with that food if I lived here. Most people I see on the streets look so kind and friendly but they're rude, I mostly think becauseof theyre accent, its so strong.
Again and again, I miss home so much!
I will certaintly enjoy my plane ride back home.
the pros and cons of leaving germany
I came into the exchange program, as I try to go into most things, with no expectations (it's the best way to both avoid disappointment and leave yourself fully open to new experiences without preconcieved notions). Thus, I can't really say it met or exceeded expectations, but it was definitely an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. I plan on coming back to Germany in three years to study abroad, so this isn't a goodbye, just a "see you later". That being said, enjoy this list:
the cons of leaving Germany:
-I love German breakfast, and my mom is gonna think I'm weird if I start asking for bread + cold cuts for breakfast
-the public transportation here is amazing. Luckily, I won't be missing it for too long. I'm moving to the Twin Cities for college and they have a well-established public transportation system
-everyone here seems more tolerant. I could be a lesbian Muslim and not get smashed over the head with an American flag and/or bible, which is pretty cool.
-I don't get weird looks for wearing my beloved fanny pack here
-being such an old city, there's so much history
-döner... and like every other food I've eaten here for that matter
-the perfect combo of parks + big city bustle. Like, what does Springdale have...? Chickens and confederate flags...? Road construction? Lmao no thanks.
-no Southern accents... unless they're Southern German accents which I've heard are equally inaudible
-I can never find a good lemon sorbet in the US, but the Zitroneis here is a+
the pros of leaving Germany:
-I lost my phone here so like... I never know what time it is. I'm just floating through time and space. It's light out?? It could be 4am or 3pm. Who knows. Not me. Did I even go to Germany?? Idk because I don't have any pictures. The whole thing could be an elaborate ruse. Talking to friends??? Just kidding no one talks to me whether or not I have a phone, but still.
-I'm not gonna miss going to high school after I graduated high school. I am not waking up before 8am the rest of this summer... or the rest of the year (my earliest class fall semester is at 9:55... god bless)
-at home I mostly understand what people are saying, where I'm going, and what I'm doing. Here, as previously stated, I'm just floating through time and space and going where Germans/teachers lead me
-kinda tied into the previous point, I'll be able to watch tv in English
-the sun comes up at a regular time in America
-people don't blatantly stare at me in the US... usually
-PERSONAL SPACE
It's been real Berlin, even though Sans Souci ate my phone. See ya soon.
the cons of leaving Germany:
-I love German breakfast, and my mom is gonna think I'm weird if I start asking for bread + cold cuts for breakfast
-the public transportation here is amazing. Luckily, I won't be missing it for too long. I'm moving to the Twin Cities for college and they have a well-established public transportation system
-everyone here seems more tolerant. I could be a lesbian Muslim and not get smashed over the head with an American flag and/or bible, which is pretty cool.
-I don't get weird looks for wearing my beloved fanny pack here
-being such an old city, there's so much history
-döner... and like every other food I've eaten here for that matter
-the perfect combo of parks + big city bustle. Like, what does Springdale have...? Chickens and confederate flags...? Road construction? Lmao no thanks.
-no Southern accents... unless they're Southern German accents which I've heard are equally inaudible
-I can never find a good lemon sorbet in the US, but the Zitroneis here is a+
the pros of leaving Germany:
-I lost my phone here so like... I never know what time it is. I'm just floating through time and space. It's light out?? It could be 4am or 3pm. Who knows. Not me. Did I even go to Germany?? Idk because I don't have any pictures. The whole thing could be an elaborate ruse. Talking to friends??? Just kidding no one talks to me whether or not I have a phone, but still.
-I'm not gonna miss going to high school after I graduated high school. I am not waking up before 8am the rest of this summer... or the rest of the year (my earliest class fall semester is at 9:55... god bless)
-at home I mostly understand what people are saying, where I'm going, and what I'm doing. Here, as previously stated, I'm just floating through time and space and going where Germans/teachers lead me
-kinda tied into the previous point, I'll be able to watch tv in English
-the sun comes up at a regular time in America
-people don't blatantly stare at me in the US... usually
-PERSONAL SPACE
It's been real Berlin, even though Sans Souci ate my phone. See ya soon.
What I Will Miss
After being here for two weeks we have all become accustomed to the way our Germans live their day to day lives, and there are many things I will miss about the city and the German culture.
I will miss waking up at 6:30 am and seeing that the sun is already up. It makes it feel as if I have been asleep forever instead of just the few short hours that I have been getting. I will miss looking at the art on the walls at our school. Every wall is covered with clay sculptures or drawings done by the students that often depict social issuses or showcase their creativity. I will miss the independance that the public transport offers to you and watching the diversity of people interact all around Berlin, a city of 3.5 billion people. I will also miss sitting in the car, a standard car (the more popular option here), as Amelie's mom drives, and marvaling at the fact that I have not seen a car accident yet despite how seemingly crazy the drivers are. I will not necessarly miss this but it will be different to go home and not see people smoking everywhere or people drinking beer on the streets, transport, and parks. I will miss the graffiti all over the city and the cute little German houses on the cobblestone streets. I will miss the small cars and how they have to all squeeze into parallel parkng spots at night. I will miss the adventures around the city that the Germans lead us on daily. A special thank you to Ricardo (Jacob's German) for making sure we stay on schedule and do not get lost. I will miss walking into Amelie's living room and seeing her family sitting around the TV watching the European Cup games while cheering and booing. Lastly I will miss opening my window before I go to sleep (because there is no air conditioning) and listening to the cars and people going past my house.
This experience has exceeded any and all expectations I had. Amelie's family has been so welcoming and even tryed to convince me to stay another week. Living the life of a German for two weeks has been awesome (a word that Amelie learned in America and enjoys using). I cannot imagine having spent these weeks doing anything else and I would not trade them for anything. It is difficult to get across in a blog all that I have experienced and learned from the Germans and the culture, but one thing I know for sure is I will miss this city and cannot wait to return one day (hopefully soon).
See you soon Arkansas.
P.S. I just learned that I cannot bring back my stash of Kinder Eggs (even in my checked bag) because I could get fined. Nevermind I don't think I am comming back to America.
I will miss waking up at 6:30 am and seeing that the sun is already up. It makes it feel as if I have been asleep forever instead of just the few short hours that I have been getting. I will miss looking at the art on the walls at our school. Every wall is covered with clay sculptures or drawings done by the students that often depict social issuses or showcase their creativity. I will miss the independance that the public transport offers to you and watching the diversity of people interact all around Berlin, a city of 3.5 billion people. I will also miss sitting in the car, a standard car (the more popular option here), as Amelie's mom drives, and marvaling at the fact that I have not seen a car accident yet despite how seemingly crazy the drivers are. I will not necessarly miss this but it will be different to go home and not see people smoking everywhere or people drinking beer on the streets, transport, and parks. I will miss the graffiti all over the city and the cute little German houses on the cobblestone streets. I will miss the small cars and how they have to all squeeze into parallel parkng spots at night. I will miss the adventures around the city that the Germans lead us on daily. A special thank you to Ricardo (Jacob's German) for making sure we stay on schedule and do not get lost. I will miss walking into Amelie's living room and seeing her family sitting around the TV watching the European Cup games while cheering and booing. Lastly I will miss opening my window before I go to sleep (because there is no air conditioning) and listening to the cars and people going past my house.
This experience has exceeded any and all expectations I had. Amelie's family has been so welcoming and even tryed to convince me to stay another week. Living the life of a German for two weeks has been awesome (a word that Amelie learned in America and enjoys using). I cannot imagine having spent these weeks doing anything else and I would not trade them for anything. It is difficult to get across in a blog all that I have experienced and learned from the Germans and the culture, but one thing I know for sure is I will miss this city and cannot wait to return one day (hopefully soon).
See you soon Arkansas.
P.S. I just learned that I cannot bring back my stash of Kinder Eggs (even in my checked bag) because I could get fined. Nevermind I don't think I am comming back to America.
Summary
My experience in Germany has been very cool and I would deffinatly come back again if I had the opportunity. My host parents have been very nice and caring they also have taking me to various places, such as The ka de we which is a large shopping center in which you can buy various things such as groceries. Also my host parents have taken me bowling and alexander platz. I have also tried traditional German food like schnitzel, curry worst, and Dönner, out of all of them my favorite has been dönner. While being in school in germany i have noticed many differences compared to American schools like instead of students moving to different classrooms of their teachers like in America, Germany has the students stay in the same class and the teachers come to the students.
Overall my experience here in germany has been very exciting and awesome. I would still like to come back to visit my host German and family.
Overall my experience here in germany has been very exciting and awesome. I would still like to come back to visit my host German and family.
Complete and Utter Despair at the Thought of Departure
Yesterday we went to school and then the day was left up to us to do with what we pleased.
After school with Liz, we biked home extremely fast. This girl knows speed. It was exhilerating! There is a lush forested area adjacent to Liz's neighborhood that we rode through. We met up with Nele and Liz and went to Templehof Airport, which is now a massive park. We played music and danced and ate peaches and grapes. After a few hours of being happy together, Liz and I went to her grandparent's house where we ate so much food, it was so delicious, and I ended up in a food coma while watching the game against Poland. No points were scored so this was okay. Liz's Oma gave me an ornate mug from a cafe in England which uses her recipes called Cafe Vergissmeinnicht (Forget me not). She was so sweet I had to hold back tears. The people here are wonderful beyond words.
It's kind of fitting that this morning, like the first time I arrived in Germany, I slipped while getting out of the shower. But I haven't fallen! That's a win for me. Today is a sad day because it will be all over in less than 24 hours; I'll be on a plane flying home. But even with this woeful thought on the forefront, I still have a hundred more moments to treasure and plenty more euros to spend.
Deutschland, this is not goodbye.
After school with Liz, we biked home extremely fast. This girl knows speed. It was exhilerating! There is a lush forested area adjacent to Liz's neighborhood that we rode through. We met up with Nele and Liz and went to Templehof Airport, which is now a massive park. We played music and danced and ate peaches and grapes. After a few hours of being happy together, Liz and I went to her grandparent's house where we ate so much food, it was so delicious, and I ended up in a food coma while watching the game against Poland. No points were scored so this was okay. Liz's Oma gave me an ornate mug from a cafe in England which uses her recipes called Cafe Vergissmeinnicht (Forget me not). She was so sweet I had to hold back tears. The people here are wonderful beyond words.
It's kind of fitting that this morning, like the first time I arrived in Germany, I slipped while getting out of the shower. But I haven't fallen! That's a win for me. Today is a sad day because it will be all over in less than 24 hours; I'll be on a plane flying home. But even with this woeful thought on the forefront, I still have a hundred more moments to treasure and plenty more euros to spend.
Deutschland, this is not goodbye.
1 Week
Its been a whole week since I have arrived in Berlin and one thing I have learned is that the German people are very accepting of the refugees. I have seen however several tags on walls that say "Kein Refugees" or things around those lines. I was also surprised on how much German the refugees are able to speak after roughly about a year here. What surprised me even more was that a few of them spoke a little bit of english which was impressive to think they were starting a third language with just 1 year in a foreign country. Most refugees seem comfortable in Germany although one thing I have been wondering is if they get offended by being labeled as refugees. I think the refugee's will eventually find further comfort in Germany and be able to call it their home.
Last Days in Berlin
With only a few days left in Berlin, Jenny and I are trying to pack in everthing that we can while I'm still here. I'm definitely not ready to go home and I would love stay longer. But there are definitely some things I miss about home. In Berlin, the sun rises at 4:00 am and setws at 10:00 pm which can make for a difficult time sleeping. The neighborhood next to Jenny's also has some construction going on which also makes it hard to sleep. The language barrier also just makes everything 10x more difficult and more awkward. Jenny will be talking to her friends in German and I'll just be standing there with a confused look on my face, trying to pick something out. But usually Jenny will tell me what has been said in the conversation (if it is relevant to me). But the food, the culture, and the history in this city is amazing and I would love to stay for much longer.
All of the different people here also make the city that much more amazing. It's awesome to see how so many people from different backgrounds can exist together and flourish; uniting together under their country but still retaining their individuality.
Yesterday, Jenny and I went on a tour of the Olympic Stadium and it was awesome! We got to sit in the VIP secion (where Angela Merkel has sat) of the stadium and it was interesting to see the old and new architecture combined to create the stadium. After that we went to the East Side Gallery. This gallery consists of art painted on street long portions of the Berlin Wall. It was so beautiful and I saw a bunch of well-known paintings! Today we have our farewell party and I'm not sure I'm prepared. There are definitely going to be tears.
Overall I have had a wonderful stay in Berlin and I can't wait to come back when I study abroad. Thank you to GAPP and our teachers for making this trip possible. Auf Wiedersehen Berlin!!
All of the different people here also make the city that much more amazing. It's awesome to see how so many people from different backgrounds can exist together and flourish; uniting together under their country but still retaining their individuality.
Yesterday, Jenny and I went on a tour of the Olympic Stadium and it was awesome! We got to sit in the VIP secion (where Angela Merkel has sat) of the stadium and it was interesting to see the old and new architecture combined to create the stadium. After that we went to the East Side Gallery. This gallery consists of art painted on street long portions of the Berlin Wall. It was so beautiful and I saw a bunch of well-known paintings! Today we have our farewell party and I'm not sure I'm prepared. There are definitely going to be tears.
Overall I have had a wonderful stay in Berlin and I can't wait to come back when I study abroad. Thank you to GAPP and our teachers for making this trip possible. Auf Wiedersehen Berlin!!
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Culture and Diversity
Well it has been nearly two weeks in Berlin and I can say that I have had an incredible time and the chance to really live the culture and see for myself all of the differences and diversity. The German culture and lifestyle seems to be one more simple and less rushed than that of our everyday American lives. Here I have had the chance to just sit back and observe life as it goes on from across the Atlantic. Here in Berlin there is a large group of Syrian refugees staying in refugee homes, or others with their own flats and regularly attending school. We have had the opportunity to get to speak to several of these refugees in the school and hear their stories and dreams. This is interesting for me because in Northwest Arkansas we really do not see any refugees fleeing to America from war. Though we do have our fair share of diversity with the large Hispanic and Island populations. In this case of soley race diversity I would say that we in America actually have much more. The US is a melting pot of culture, race, and ethnicity. Here in the Berlin schools I have mostly seen white Germans with the occasional foreign student from another European or Asian country. For me, this new culture has been unbelievably thrilling and new. I love to be emersed into new cultures and world lifestyles and I certainly hope to be back in Germany before to long!
Tschüß und bis später!
Tschüß und bis später!
Second impressions
A little bit more about what there is to experience in Germany, we visited Sauchsanhausen, the "model" concentration camp that all of the others were supposed to be based off of. I thought it would be a normal history lesson but it was certainly more than that. To know what the Nazis did but to also see the instruments they used to carry out the genocide of the Jewish people in Germany, is truly disturbing. I have a lineage that is partly from the Czech Republic, or Czechloslovakia as it was called at the time, and just to know that some members of my family could've been put into those camps made me furious, and nearly break down into tears when I saw the ovens they put all the bodies into.
The next day we got to go on a tour of some of Berlin's underground, including a WWII air raid bunker. It was interesting, especially the part where they had a bunch of old weapons on display. Most were completely rusted out but you could still distictly make out the models of the STEN, MP40, MP44, Panzer Waffe, Kar98k, and DL-44. Which for a WWII buff like myself was by far the coolest part of the tour. I'd just like to point out the diversity of guns on display in the museum because that's what we're supposed to be talking about.
That weekend was an especially cool experience as I got to go to Heide Park, the German version of six flags or worlds of fun. It was very cool to see the small differences which I will now list for your amusement: They don't check any bags upon entrance to the park, which meant I brought a crap ton of sandwiches, drinks, and so on. When we got on the first roller coaster, which was about a 45ish minute wait, they had a kind of baggage carrousel that you could put all your stuff in, and that thing would turn so that no one could access it until you got off your ride, frickin awesome, best part of the park by far. Which leads me to beleive that theft is a bigger problem than I'm seeing in Germany because I've been told multiple times by several different people to watch out for pick pocketers, and to always carry valuables in my front pockets.
I'll be back to share my final impressions in the next blog post.
The next day we got to go on a tour of some of Berlin's underground, including a WWII air raid bunker. It was interesting, especially the part where they had a bunch of old weapons on display. Most were completely rusted out but you could still distictly make out the models of the STEN, MP40, MP44, Panzer Waffe, Kar98k, and DL-44. Which for a WWII buff like myself was by far the coolest part of the tour. I'd just like to point out the diversity of guns on display in the museum because that's what we're supposed to be talking about.
That weekend was an especially cool experience as I got to go to Heide Park, the German version of six flags or worlds of fun. It was very cool to see the small differences which I will now list for your amusement: They don't check any bags upon entrance to the park, which meant I brought a crap ton of sandwiches, drinks, and so on. When we got on the first roller coaster, which was about a 45ish minute wait, they had a kind of baggage carrousel that you could put all your stuff in, and that thing would turn so that no one could access it until you got off your ride, frickin awesome, best part of the park by far. Which leads me to beleive that theft is a bigger problem than I'm seeing in Germany because I've been told multiple times by several different people to watch out for pick pocketers, and to always carry valuables in my front pockets.
I'll be back to share my final impressions in the next blog post.
I would have never believed that 2 weeks would have gone by so quickly. Nele and her family have made this experiance so exciting and welcoming that I feel like Germany is my second home. When I started German, I would have never thought that I would get this oppertunity to come visit.
I don't think anyone could have been a better partner for me than Nele. After living together for a month in both America and Germany, Nele is a part of my family. My second home is in Berlin.
I've learned how how to navigate a big city and say weird German words I'll probably never have a need for... We've seen big places like the Fernsehturm and little places like the building that was in Captain America 3 (which we also saw). We sang in the streets and at home. I enjoyed having tea with my German father and talking to my German mother. Max, my German brother, took me to get my first döner. I'm going to miss them all greatly. Nele is truly my sister and her family is mine.
I'm going to miss her and the rest of our #squad until we meet again (because I have to come back). There was too much to see in just two weeks that I didn't even scratch the surface.
This has been one of the coolest and best things I've done in my life. I'm not ready to go home.
Berlin, Ich liebe dich. <3
I don't think anyone could have been a better partner for me than Nele. After living together for a month in both America and Germany, Nele is a part of my family. My second home is in Berlin.
I've learned how how to navigate a big city and say weird German words I'll probably never have a need for... We've seen big places like the Fernsehturm and little places like the building that was in Captain America 3 (which we also saw). We sang in the streets and at home. I enjoyed having tea with my German father and talking to my German mother. Max, my German brother, took me to get my first döner. I'm going to miss them all greatly. Nele is truly my sister and her family is mine.
I'm going to miss her and the rest of our #squad until we meet again (because I have to come back). There was too much to see in just two weeks that I didn't even scratch the surface.
This has been one of the coolest and best things I've done in my life. I'm not ready to go home.
Berlin, Ich liebe dich. <3
Another One
This was meant to be the second part of my blog post 'An Overview', but due to mysteriously self publishing blogs (probably due to teachers that don't actually hear when you say "It's not ready"and publish it for you) this is a new blog post in itself. So, due my shoddy memory I am going to skip the rest of the events of last week, and fastforward to this one. Monday of this week we went to the Reichstag, which is basically the German Congress. The architechture is way more modern than most of the government buildings in the US. Whereas our buildings have Greek or Roman style architechure , their Reichtag is made of a lot of steel and glass. After that we went to the Museum 'The Story of Berlin', which covered Berlin from the early 13th century until present. That was fun, because all you ever hear about with regards to Germany is the Nazis, and while there was a section on the Nazis, it didn't focus on them. Tuesday was a trip to castle Sanssouci, home of Prussian Emporer Frederick the Great until his death. Frederick was a rather odd emporer, preferring to only have men in his court. He didnt like his wife, and they almost never met. Instead he had many dogs, which he was (eventually in the 90's) buried next to. Yesterday we visited a monument from a more recent, less talked about part of Germany's history, the Stasi prison Hohenschönhause. After World War 2, the Soviets made camps with the purpose of "deNazification" of Germany. In actuality, these camps were used to imprison anyone who openly opposed communism or political opponents. After a time, the GDR was given control of the prisons, which by then served a new purpose; to imprison those attempting to escape from Eastern Germany. Today we're doing nothing, which sounds boring, but is actually great because we're always busy. Can't believe that we only have one day left to be here. Tomorrow we'll be heading to a refugee camp as well as having our going away party. It's been a great (almost) two weeks and I'm both elated and reluctant to go home. Signing out, Aaron.
Heading Home
I am more than happy to know im heading home this weekend!!!!!
I have enjoyed my trip as much as I can, I have tried togo the places I had planned to go and also enjoyed my time spent with my host parents. As my first week started I felt a little home sick, I felt as I had no where to go, but that was only because I knew I was going to be far away from home and my family wasn't close enough to go out with me. After Sunday night when I talked on the phone with my mom she told me to have fun and enjoy this opportunity. Then as the days passed and my first week came to an end I started to enjoy more my trip. I really appreciate Frau Brazel for eveything she has done for the whole exchange group!
I will never forget my first Monday at GHO! As the school was somewhat different than ours I found it cool how the teacher also have to move from classroom to classroom just like some students do.
I will truely miss Berlin but I am so ready to go home! I miss my mom and my grandma the most then my sister and my brother follow and so on, (lol) :)
This trip has certaintly made me realize how important family is and how much family is worth.
I miss America but I will miss the little bit of freedom I had here in Berlin.
Ups and Downs
June 15, 2016
I hate riding the bus, especially when we are at the top of the bus and we have to go down, I hit myself on the rails and it hurts. We have to wait so long or run to the stop. But in America you get your keys and drive off, you don't have to wait on anyone or anything. I think the bus a good for the smaller kids that can't drive, so that means they can go anywhere.
There is a much bigger variety of food in America than here. Yes there is more European and Middle East but I miss my Mexican food and drinking my own water and sleeping after school and understanding the language and most of all I miss my familia.
The restrooms and baths are so different from America. The doors don't have locks and one has to hold the thing to take a shower. When one has to do the number 2 one has to open the window so the smell has to go out. On the door of the bathroom and there is a window and I feel like they can look throught the window to the inside of the bathroom, which is so umcomfortable.
Berlin is so different from Springdale and Springdale is so different from Berlin.
I hate riding the bus, especially when we are at the top of the bus and we have to go down, I hit myself on the rails and it hurts. We have to wait so long or run to the stop. But in America you get your keys and drive off, you don't have to wait on anyone or anything. I think the bus a good for the smaller kids that can't drive, so that means they can go anywhere.
There is a much bigger variety of food in America than here. Yes there is more European and Middle East but I miss my Mexican food and drinking my own water and sleeping after school and understanding the language and most of all I miss my familia.
The restrooms and baths are so different from America. The doors don't have locks and one has to hold the thing to take a shower. When one has to do the number 2 one has to open the window so the smell has to go out. On the door of the bathroom and there is a window and I feel like they can look throught the window to the inside of the bathroom, which is so umcomfortable.
Berlin is so different from Springdale and Springdale is so different from Berlin.
All in all I had a GREAT TIME!
The last two weeks may be the best two weeks I've ever had in my life. Being able to spend it in a whole different country other than USA or RMI. Experiencing a whole new culture and a whole new environment was great. Seeing how the outside world is and how other people cope with life and whanot. Staring off my summer in Germany was a great way to start my summer. I love how all these german hosts KNOW their way from one place to another with public transport. Like, public transpor there is soooo confusing! We'd take like 2 buses and 3 trains and another bus and another train just to get to our destination. CRAZY! haha. But I like it. Also, as we travel to places I notice there's way more ethnicities other than Germans. The diversity here is just like how Springdales diversity is. Really really mixed. I can say that every field trip we had, our tour guides on each field trip come form a different ethnic background. This trip brought us Americans closer. In the beginning we all didn't really know each other and now we're all like a family. This trip did not only bring us closer to our host families but our american family as well. Being able to go to historical landmarks and places to chill was my favorite part of my whole trip. I've always wanted to see the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburger Gate. If it wasn't for this trip, I wouldn't have seen them. Also, the lakes here are really really pretty. Even the hills that were actually made from junks from the war. My other favorite part of this trip was when Frau Robinson told me that I was being a good example for the Marshallese community as an ambassador through out this trip. And she started tearing up. When she told me that, I really wanted to cry because it warmed my heart and made me feel like I am someone who could go far in life and I could achieve my goals. On behalf of the American group from SHS and HBHS I'd like to thank Frau Brazle and Frau Robinson for EVERYTHING that they've done for us. We may piss you guys off and get on yalls nerves at times, but we love the both of you. And if it wasn't for you two, we wouldn't have been here IN DEUTSCHLAND! It's been the best two weeks! I'll definitley miss it here. Especially spending it with this group. #SquadUp (;
My final thoughts about Berlin, Germany
June 16, 2016
Being here in Berlin has been a wonderful, amasing, one in a lifetime, trip. I absolutely loved the tours and all of the beautiful sites of the city. All of the great food, astonishing buildings were worth it all.
Living in the city is so much different from living in Springdale. The amount of people here is so mindblowing, how can all the these people fit in such a city. There is many types of people here in Berlin that are not often seen in the city of Springdale. Like the amount of Asian people or the big population of Middle Eastern people.
Having an overpopulated city, trash is alwasys a major problem and so is the smell.
Many types of people and many types of cultures and languages is amazingl.
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to be in this amazing trip!!!!!!!!! So thankful for everything that my host family has given me and has let me, a stranger to them, into there home. Also thankful to all of the teachers, but especially Frau Brazle, THANK YOU FRAU BRAZLE FOR LETTING ME CAM E ON THIS TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will miss Berlin and all of its wonderful places and the food to and my host family! ♥♥♥
Being here in Berlin has been a wonderful, amasing, one in a lifetime, trip. I absolutely loved the tours and all of the beautiful sites of the city. All of the great food, astonishing buildings were worth it all.
Living in the city is so much different from living in Springdale. The amount of people here is so mindblowing, how can all the these people fit in such a city. There is many types of people here in Berlin that are not often seen in the city of Springdale. Like the amount of Asian people or the big population of Middle Eastern people.
Having an overpopulated city, trash is alwasys a major problem and so is the smell.
Many types of people and many types of cultures and languages is amazingl.
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to be in this amazing trip!!!!!!!!! So thankful for everything that my host family has given me and has let me, a stranger to them, into there home. Also thankful to all of the teachers, but especially Frau Brazle, THANK YOU FRAU BRAZLE FOR LETTING ME CAM E ON THIS TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will miss Berlin and all of its wonderful places and the food to and my host family! ♥♥♥
The German Experience- Berlin Part IV
So far Berlin has been a huge suprise for culture and experiences. Our trip is coming to an end very soon. The friends Ive made will always be friends here in Germany and I can trust that when I come back, Ill have veteran Germans ready to take me places that I have yet to discover.
Im not looking forward to leaving Germany on Saturday morning, but I am excited about coming back home. I love America, but I love Germany at the same time. Living in another country for 2 weeks doesnt seem like a long time, but when you have never experienced the culture in that new country everything you do is new. The language, the food, the people and most of all. The freaking public transportation. Its taken me way to long to figure out train lines and how to properly read them, but now I feel confident in my abilities to take myself somewhere in Berlin or Germany. There are tons of aspects about America that I miss without even thinking much about it.
The German people are an overall amzing group to live and speak with, and the thing America needs to step up in is teaching a secondary or tertiary languages at a much much earlier age. I love just about everything that Germany has to offer and Ill miss so much. But thats not the complete point about this blog post.
The real point is to tell you about how much freaking free stuff Ive gotten over the last 2 week. Its freakin dope. I have some pretty sick Mercedes lanyards for the German national Football team. A sick Berlin Marathon windbreaker and other sweet Mercedes stuff. I also ended up buying this amazing Deutscher Fussball-Bund jersey and I absolutly love my purchase. I have tons of free and bought things from Germany and I cant wait to start getting into Football more and enjoying a european sport. Thanks so much for reading and read other peoples blogs, they're dope too.
Im not looking forward to leaving Germany on Saturday morning, but I am excited about coming back home. I love America, but I love Germany at the same time. Living in another country for 2 weeks doesnt seem like a long time, but when you have never experienced the culture in that new country everything you do is new. The language, the food, the people and most of all. The freaking public transportation. Its taken me way to long to figure out train lines and how to properly read them, but now I feel confident in my abilities to take myself somewhere in Berlin or Germany. There are tons of aspects about America that I miss without even thinking much about it.
The German people are an overall amzing group to live and speak with, and the thing America needs to step up in is teaching a secondary or tertiary languages at a much much earlier age. I love just about everything that Germany has to offer and Ill miss so much. But thats not the complete point about this blog post.
The real point is to tell you about how much freaking free stuff Ive gotten over the last 2 week. Its freakin dope. I have some pretty sick Mercedes lanyards for the German national Football team. A sick Berlin Marathon windbreaker and other sweet Mercedes stuff. I also ended up buying this amazing Deutscher Fussball-Bund jersey and I absolutly love my purchase. I have tons of free and bought things from Germany and I cant wait to start getting into Football more and enjoying a european sport. Thanks so much for reading and read other peoples blogs, they're dope too.
IF YOU LIKE PINA COLADAS
#LITHARD I need to boast on my exchange partner!! She's a sister to me.
Yesteday we took a trip to a Satsi prison memorial, which was utterly horrific and incredibly dour. The history was very interesting but the place made my skin crawl and guts churn. The tour guide was so knowledgable about everything that had occured, and the details he told us about the physical and pyschological torture used to get people to "confess" was extremely greusome. This tour and Templehof airport have been the coolest experiences for me thusfar, barring hanging out with Lizard.
Last night after we got home from the Stasi Prison, she made me some delicious hot food and then we compiled a list of all our favorite songs and danced in her room. It was purely happy and I'm going to miss her so much until I see her again. We've got a pact to watch the next Guardians of the Galaxy together! Liz, thank you for the best two weeks ever.
Yesteday we took a trip to a Satsi prison memorial, which was utterly horrific and incredibly dour. The history was very interesting but the place made my skin crawl and guts churn. The tour guide was so knowledgable about everything that had occured, and the details he told us about the physical and pyschological torture used to get people to "confess" was extremely greusome. This tour and Templehof airport have been the coolest experiences for me thusfar, barring hanging out with Lizard.
Last night after we got home from the Stasi Prison, she made me some delicious hot food and then we compiled a list of all our favorite songs and danced in her room. It was purely happy and I'm going to miss her so much until I see her again. We've got a pact to watch the next Guardians of the Galaxy together! Liz, thank you for the best two weeks ever.
A Better Understanding
Yesterday we met with a Syrian refugee. Í can´t remeber her name because she was talking softly and ist a very unusaual name. She is 14 years old and had to relocate Germany as a result of the wars going on in Syria. In just to 2 years she seemed to have already mastered the German language. She also knows 4 other languages (at any age that's really impressive, but at 14?! Wow). She seemed to be making the best of the whole Situation. She was said to be in the top of her class. Honestly it was a really Eye opening experience. All Ive heard in America regarding Syrian Refugees is negative remarks like that the refugees are coming to countries hosting refugee camps with some sort of malicious intent, and that they don't deserve our help. But to me this girl alone proved them all wrong. She has gone through so much tragedy and change in her life, but yet She is in the top of her class, knows 5 languages, and has plans to be a doctor. She is striving to better her life any everyday that she can. While most of us in America are so spoiled rotten that we are complaining of not having the latest or greatest of something, she has lost everything, and is actually doing something about it. Yes, there are some Syrians that are causing a lot of destruction in our world, but I don't feel one group like ISIS should be a deciding factor for a whole country of people. One of main reasons I came to Germany was because I wanted to see and experience things outside of where I've grown up (my original understanding) and form my own opinions of whats going on in the world. Frau Brazle said yesterday during the conversation that visiting another country often makes you greater appreciate things about your own country and your own situation. I feel like Ive done both: I greater appreciate my Country and have had a chnacee to form my own opinion on what is Happening in Syria. I cant believe we leave this place in two days. Im reday to get home, but im going to miss this place!
Wrapping up Berlin
As our wonderful trip is wrapping up, I'm dreading having to leave my exchange family and go back home. Staying with Basti has been an amazing experience, and I truly feel like a part of his family. Everyday his parents have done everything possible to ensure that I feel like I'm at home, and I am going to miss them immensely!
In these last couple of days I visited another escape room which I completely destroyed with ease, and I also bought some amazing German souveniers and clothes to show my Deustch pride. This time the escape room was an alien invasion lockdown, and we only broke one door going through it this time. We also explored some of Berlin's commercial areas for football jerseys and other merchandise which we found.
My reflection on diversity in Berlin is that here a multide of cultures especially Syrian and Turkish that are prevalent and accepted with only minor prejudices. The German people are very open and accepting, but there is some tension due to the large number of refugees coming into Germany. After talking to some of the refugee students at our school, I realized that many of these kids had experienced more hardship in the past 5 years than most will in their entire life, and it made me truly value the oppurtunities and safety I am given. Most of them had been forced to flee their homes due to war, and they had shifted from country to country for several years without ever truly having a home. I wish them the best in their lives in Germany, and I am grateful for the chance to meet with them.
My final overview of Berlin is that it is an open and inviting place that is both fun to explore physically and culturally. I wish I could stay here for 4 weeks instead of 2 because the time is simply too short to completely experience the German culture. Here are a few of the wonderful things that have made me love Berlin: The people here are mostly kind and accepting with only a few, rare exceptions, and they always greet each other even if they don't know each other. The beautiful cars (Ferarri, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, etc.).There are trees literally everywhere, and Berlin has a feeling of nature that no Amercan cities can capture. Basti's family was kind and welcoming, and they made the exchange enjoyable. The food is heavenly (I <3 Döner and Currywurst). The way people here face their problems and social struggles head on without trying to be politically sensative.
I <3 Deutschland
In these last couple of days I visited another escape room which I completely destroyed with ease, and I also bought some amazing German souveniers and clothes to show my Deustch pride. This time the escape room was an alien invasion lockdown, and we only broke one door going through it this time. We also explored some of Berlin's commercial areas for football jerseys and other merchandise which we found.
My reflection on diversity in Berlin is that here a multide of cultures especially Syrian and Turkish that are prevalent and accepted with only minor prejudices. The German people are very open and accepting, but there is some tension due to the large number of refugees coming into Germany. After talking to some of the refugee students at our school, I realized that many of these kids had experienced more hardship in the past 5 years than most will in their entire life, and it made me truly value the oppurtunities and safety I am given. Most of them had been forced to flee their homes due to war, and they had shifted from country to country for several years without ever truly having a home. I wish them the best in their lives in Germany, and I am grateful for the chance to meet with them.
My final overview of Berlin is that it is an open and inviting place that is both fun to explore physically and culturally. I wish I could stay here for 4 weeks instead of 2 because the time is simply too short to completely experience the German culture. Here are a few of the wonderful things that have made me love Berlin: The people here are mostly kind and accepting with only a few, rare exceptions, and they always greet each other even if they don't know each other. The beautiful cars (Ferarri, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, etc.).There are trees literally everywhere, and Berlin has a feeling of nature that no Amercan cities can capture. Basti's family was kind and welcoming, and they made the exchange enjoyable. The food is heavenly (I <3 Döner and Currywurst). The way people here face their problems and social struggles head on without trying to be politically sensative.
I <3 Deutschland
Journey to Germany
Upon arriving at the XNA airport, a volatile cocktail of emotions stirred inside of me. I wanted to jump for joy, scream, run, practically swim across the Atlantic Ocean; I wanted to be there the moment my journey started. However like with most things, I look too far ahead and don't take as much joy in the now, losing some of the best aspects of of life. Truly it was the path our GAPP group took to get here which kick-started an amazing life changing experience.
The first flight taken on this trip was to Chicago from our small airport in Northwest Arkansas. Despite my better judgement and a minor case of claustrophobia, I made like the good little sardine I was and begrudgingly found myself in a metal can that would soon be thousands of feet above everything I knew. As this flying steel tube made its way down the runway, I grew more and more weary with each passing moment. "In case of an emergency, your seat can be used as a flotation device." Very helpful, I thought. We're only being propelled into the air over mountains and fields with virtually no bodies of water in sight. Fantastic. I really feel safe now.
Don't mistake my thoughts for doubts about the trip. This did not, in fact, perturb me from being elated with my first international experience. Instead I would say that it made the trip much more memorable. After panicking internally during take off and landing in a seemingly rickety death trap with wings, I was impossibly more excited. Believing that we had only a few minutes of layover, we all made our way around the enormous airport to our next gate. In those first few moments I had made it my mission to get across the ocean. I wanted to be there in that moment, and with all of the adrenaline coursing through me after getting out of the first plane, I was certain that if I had to I would do anything to get there.
After another long, frigid flight, our GAPP group finally landed in Düsseldorf. The only problem with this was by the time we had landed our next flight had already started boarding. Because we had also landed in another country, we would have to go through customs, check our passports, pick up our luggage, make sure everyone had gone to the restroom, and make it to the gate with all twenty-four of us together. I guess you can already tell where this is going.
We missed the last flight to Berlin.
And so the waiting began. Together, the twenty students in the program ended up creating a make shift caravan of suitcases and carry-ons and backpacks. We had no idea if there was any way to get every member on another flight any time soon, so our teachers searched desperately for a solution. After six hours, we finally found a way to Berlin: by train. A four hour train ride. Yikes! So instead of finally arriving to meet our host families at the airport at ten in the morning, we ended up meeting them at a train station at eight in the evening, but all was well because we had finally made it. The next two weeks, despite being somewhat planned, would have a lot more in store for us than just what was written our on a single sheet of paper, and I loved every second of it.
Claras Familie
At first I was very very nervous about living witth Claras family. But when I first met her dad, he was really really nice. I was actually afraid to meet him at first. But my first impressions were wrong. He's a really nice person. I like how he would explain what's what around the city. I'm not only learning new things from field trips, I'm also learning from her dad. Also, I met her mom next. I was also afraid of meeting her too. But, once we got to Claras house from the train station, I looked up and saw a happy woman waving at me. I smiled back not knowing who she was and so I asked Clara is that woman was her mother, and it was. I felt so welcomed by the way she smiled and waved at me. The next person I met was her little sister. She is soooo adorable and outgoing. She was so excited to see me. Which made me feel even more welcomed. After her little sister, I met one of her older brothers. But he had to stay in his room because he broke his leg the same day we arrived in Germany. I felt really bad because he seems like an outgoing dude. I didn't get to meet her oldest brother because he wasn't home for a couple days. I finally met him days later and he's really nice too. I love how her family always ask me questions and whatnot to have a conversation with me. Making me feel like I'm apart of their family. They're all so sweet and nice.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Culture in Germany
Lets start with the biggest cultural difference there is. The language. Of course everyone here speaks German, and that makes it hard to get around sometimes, but luckily a lot of people also speak English. Kids here start learning English in the first grade, and it is extremely useful. They also have the chance to learn other languages once they're older, such as Latin or French.
The people in Germany, dispite being hard to understand, are actually quite nice. If you need anything, they are always willing to help. However, in America when you pass someone walking it is pretty normal to wave or say hi. This isn't the case here. Maybe it's just because it's a big city, but they just go on their way on their own. It is also normal for the kids to use curse words like any other word. They aren't bad to them like they are to us. I was in the car listening to Macklemore on the way home from the beach with my host family, and Robin and his brother just kept singing through the curse words. It was quite funny to me because I would never do that, especially if my parents were sitting in the front seats. It is just normal for them.
The diversity in Germany is a little different also. The different ethnicities here are different, the main ones being Middle Eastern and Asians. In America, there are a lot more different ethnicities. In Northwest Arkansas alone there are large groups of people that aren't here. Germany also has a lot more Italian and Asian places to eat. In every mall there are at least two or three places you can get pizza or pasta.
The clothing styles here are different too. A lot of the sandals people wear in Arkansas are considered weird and not normal here. Birkenstocks are pretty popular in Arkansas, but when Jacob and I bought them here, our German students didn't like them. I don't speak German, but I think they were dissing them. They also tend to wear longer shorts, and just more clothes in general.
Overall, the culture here in Germany is great, and very welcoming.
The people in Germany, dispite being hard to understand, are actually quite nice. If you need anything, they are always willing to help. However, in America when you pass someone walking it is pretty normal to wave or say hi. This isn't the case here. Maybe it's just because it's a big city, but they just go on their way on their own. It is also normal for the kids to use curse words like any other word. They aren't bad to them like they are to us. I was in the car listening to Macklemore on the way home from the beach with my host family, and Robin and his brother just kept singing through the curse words. It was quite funny to me because I would never do that, especially if my parents were sitting in the front seats. It is just normal for them.
The diversity in Germany is a little different also. The different ethnicities here are different, the main ones being Middle Eastern and Asians. In America, there are a lot more different ethnicities. In Northwest Arkansas alone there are large groups of people that aren't here. Germany also has a lot more Italian and Asian places to eat. In every mall there are at least two or three places you can get pizza or pasta.
The clothing styles here are different too. A lot of the sandals people wear in Arkansas are considered weird and not normal here. Birkenstocks are pretty popular in Arkansas, but when Jacob and I bought them here, our German students didn't like them. I don't speak German, but I think they were dissing them. They also tend to wear longer shorts, and just more clothes in general.
Overall, the culture here in Germany is great, and very welcoming.
Little Post on Big Diversity
As for diversity in Germany, it's very interesting. Because Germany touches so many countries, there is an influx of both tourists, immigrants, and refugees. It's difficult to tell which is which as everyone is reguarded with respect. I find that the universal language here is both German and English but some people speak so much more. It makes communication very easy so that everyone can understand eachother. They have classes to teach young refugees German too! I think that this is pretty cool because they are able to express themselves to everyone and hopefully won't have communication problems as an adult.
Their cultures widely coexist everywhere. People from all over have shops and restaurants that make up the city. Berlin is particularly diverse because it is such a large tourist destination. Many people come for a visit but stay for a lifetime.
In America, most people emigrate looking for a better life, but it's hard to find yourself and retain your culture. In Germany, however, everyone seems very happy. It is because of their differences that they create their culture which is awesome!
Their cultures widely coexist everywhere. People from all over have shops and restaurants that make up the city. Berlin is particularly diverse because it is such a large tourist destination. Many people come for a visit but stay for a lifetime.
In America, most people emigrate looking for a better life, but it's hard to find yourself and retain your culture. In Germany, however, everyone seems very happy. It is because of their differences that they create their culture which is awesome!
diversity differently recieved
Though both America and Germany are both very diverse, diversity in Berlin is treated much differently than it is in America. Despite the US being a melting pot of different races, cultures, and religion, it has always been fairly racist and xenophobic, throughout history shifting the brunt of its bigotry from Irish immigrants to latinx immigrants and everything in between. Of course, Germany had a period of its history that was quite similar and resulted in the genocide of 13M diverse peoples (Jewish people, Rromani people, political opponents, "asocial people", gay people, Jehovah's witnesses, and disabled people). The difference is that Germany is not afraid to confront its history, no matter how horrific it is. Whereas children are essentially taught US propaganda in schools until they take APUSH and states like Oklahoma attempt to ban nonbiased US history classes for not being "patriotic enough", German history is taught in its entirety and made clear to the public. It is understood here that knowledge and education, not denying the fact that there is/was a deadly problem, is the only way to prevent such atrocities from occuring again.
Furthermore, diversity seems much more well recieved in America. Women in hijab can exist in public freely without fear of being met with violence. In America, Muslims are treated very poorly and politicians like Donald Trump have even proposed banning all Muslims from the US. Even more terrifyingly, a lot of people agree. Here, Berliners acknowledge that practicing a certain religion does not make one inherently lesser or a "terrorist". In general, people of color and/or people who speak different languages in public are not met with the same look of unadulturated hatred that one so often sees in America. Though many Americans would be made deeply uncomfortable by this tolerance, it is one of the most refreshing things I have ever experienced. Obviously Berlin isn't a land free from racism and prejudice, but at least here it isn't widespread, wrapped in a flag, and called patriotism. Such a mistake is hard to make twice if a country is properly educated about the realities of its past.
Furthermore, diversity seems much more well recieved in America. Women in hijab can exist in public freely without fear of being met with violence. In America, Muslims are treated very poorly and politicians like Donald Trump have even proposed banning all Muslims from the US. Even more terrifyingly, a lot of people agree. Here, Berliners acknowledge that practicing a certain religion does not make one inherently lesser or a "terrorist". In general, people of color and/or people who speak different languages in public are not met with the same look of unadulturated hatred that one so often sees in America. Though many Americans would be made deeply uncomfortable by this tolerance, it is one of the most refreshing things I have ever experienced. Obviously Berlin isn't a land free from racism and prejudice, but at least here it isn't widespread, wrapped in a flag, and called patriotism. Such a mistake is hard to make twice if a country is properly educated about the realities of its past.
Erster Schultag (First Day of School)
My first day of school was pretty cool. Seeing how school here in Germnay is like is a cool experience. There's a lot of differences between SHS and Gustav-Heinemann Oberschule. The first thing that got to me was seeing all the bikes. In Springdale, you see cars parked out. But not here, all you see is bikes. In Springdale, you see cars parked out. But not here, all you see is bikes. Lots and lots of bikes. Also, you'd think grade level would be separated into their own schools. But no. 5th-12th graders attend Gustav-Heinemann Oberschule. Like, whoaahh. You'd also think this would be over crowded with so many student because there's so many grade levels in one school. But no. This school only has about 1,400 students. In Springdale, SHS and HarBer both has about 2,200 students. That's like 4,400 all in all and it's only 10th-12th graders. Also, there's barely any technologies in this school. All they have is a chalk board and desks. Not even a dry-erase board. School here just opens my eyes and makes me feel thankful for what Springdale Public School Districts has. Sports in German schools isn't really popular. The only type of sport they'll get close to is P.E. SPeaking of P.E. I had P.E. with Clara ony first day and it's way different than the way America does their P.E. They don't even call it P.E. They call it Sport. Their P.E. gym is not even apart of the school. It's off campus. They just leave campus and walk to the gym that's a couple blocks away. Also, there are no air-conditioning in any classrooms. I really don't know how they survive in their classrooms. Plus, it's strict. No phones, food, or drinks allowed. Wow. I enoyred my first day of school because I also got to answer little 5th graders. When I told them I also spoke Marshallese, their faces got so confused. It was pretty funny and a good experience.
#SQUADMOMENT
Lizard, Nele, and Hailey have made this trip wonderful. Liz is the perfect match up for me. I love how she makes my lunch every day and always makes sure I stay hydrated and happy. I've done tons of shopping while I'm here and been to so many historic sites!! I even went with the girls to Liz's grandparents' house, where they made us incredible food and when we got full Liz and Nele kept telling them that we were hungry, and to keep them from being sad we were forced to eat more. It was delicious cruelty. I feel both sick and hungry just thinking about it.
I don't want to leave Berlin in a few days, we are definitely going to try to squeeze in as many activities as possible before the flight back.
The four of us (the Squad) went to the Berlin zoo, where they have a diverse amount of species. It was funny because we got off the metro and were confronted by a shopping center, and then we turned around and there was a zoo hidden in the center of the city. Not only are the people here diverse, but the environment is as well. Often times, shrouded in the lush trees is something completely unexpected and totally magical. We saw large cats, ocelots and fosa, many monkeys and soooo many birds. I love birds. They even had chickens!! It was a total blast.
After we went to the zoo we saw some hot cars, and then went to a skyscraper to someplace exclusive and mystical called the "Monkey Bar". There was an all-around view of the entire city (even from the bathroom). We could see the city center with its beautiful architecture new and old, the zoo directly below (including some monkeys), and historic sites with blossomed up from the rich folaige which makes Berlin such a unique city. I'm glad my mind's eye can recall every immaculate detail, because I was so astounded that I didn't take any photos. A picture could never do that kind of beauty justice.
The next day Lizard and I went to Templehof airport, full of history. I was completely entranced by how much this extravagant building has endured. Built by the Nazis using slave lobour, it bears a gleaming exterior and a rough, ramshackled and abandoned interior. The main gates along the hallway are completely empty, as is the high and vacant terminal. The tarmac sports one massive airliner which was used during the Berlin Airlift during the American Occupation (I took a picture of it for my brother Isaak who loves planes) and one out-of-place white tent which houses refugees. It was sad to see it sitting out on the tarmac.
One room in the airport was converted into a basketball court by the Americans, and another was used for bowling. In the underground bunker there are original paintings from wartime, and marks on the walls where the American troops stationed there had tallied scores for a game of pool. The Hunger Games were filmed at Templehof, wherein much of the underbelly has remained jagged picturesque concrete and will never be finished. The airstrips are fixed in a massive park which will hopefull remain undeveloped, despite lying in the heart of Berlin. Loads of people go there for skating or walking their dogs.
For lunch we went to a Beirgarten where the Schnitzel was to die for and the Apple Beer was intensely flavorful. Sehr lecker! Then we went to Schloss Charlottenburg, an amazing castle that was bombed during the war, and was currently under construction. The gardens were scenic and serene, complete with a lake and many statues. We walked over a petit bridge and spat in the water, because Lith's father said it was traditional and spitting in the water meant one would return.
The next day we went to the Reichstag and saw a cheesy museum called the Story of Berlin. Then I went shopping with the Squad and got some stuff for my family.
On Tuesday we visited Potsdamer Platz and Sans Souci, both beautiful places. We walked at least 3 kilometers in the rain through the gardens.
Today we're alloted to visit a Nazi prison. Tomorrow I'm probably going swimming with the squad. Friday remains to be planned
I don't want to leave Berlin in a few days, we are definitely going to try to squeeze in as many activities as possible before the flight back.
The four of us (the Squad) went to the Berlin zoo, where they have a diverse amount of species. It was funny because we got off the metro and were confronted by a shopping center, and then we turned around and there was a zoo hidden in the center of the city. Not only are the people here diverse, but the environment is as well. Often times, shrouded in the lush trees is something completely unexpected and totally magical. We saw large cats, ocelots and fosa, many monkeys and soooo many birds. I love birds. They even had chickens!! It was a total blast.
After we went to the zoo we saw some hot cars, and then went to a skyscraper to someplace exclusive and mystical called the "Monkey Bar". There was an all-around view of the entire city (even from the bathroom). We could see the city center with its beautiful architecture new and old, the zoo directly below (including some monkeys), and historic sites with blossomed up from the rich folaige which makes Berlin such a unique city. I'm glad my mind's eye can recall every immaculate detail, because I was so astounded that I didn't take any photos. A picture could never do that kind of beauty justice.
The next day Lizard and I went to Templehof airport, full of history. I was completely entranced by how much this extravagant building has endured. Built by the Nazis using slave lobour, it bears a gleaming exterior and a rough, ramshackled and abandoned interior. The main gates along the hallway are completely empty, as is the high and vacant terminal. The tarmac sports one massive airliner which was used during the Berlin Airlift during the American Occupation (I took a picture of it for my brother Isaak who loves planes) and one out-of-place white tent which houses refugees. It was sad to see it sitting out on the tarmac.
One room in the airport was converted into a basketball court by the Americans, and another was used for bowling. In the underground bunker there are original paintings from wartime, and marks on the walls where the American troops stationed there had tallied scores for a game of pool. The Hunger Games were filmed at Templehof, wherein much of the underbelly has remained jagged picturesque concrete and will never be finished. The airstrips are fixed in a massive park which will hopefull remain undeveloped, despite lying in the heart of Berlin. Loads of people go there for skating or walking their dogs.
For lunch we went to a Beirgarten where the Schnitzel was to die for and the Apple Beer was intensely flavorful. Sehr lecker! Then we went to Schloss Charlottenburg, an amazing castle that was bombed during the war, and was currently under construction. The gardens were scenic and serene, complete with a lake and many statues. We walked over a petit bridge and spat in the water, because Lith's father said it was traditional and spitting in the water meant one would return.
The next day we went to the Reichstag and saw a cheesy museum called the Story of Berlin. Then I went shopping with the Squad and got some stuff for my family.
On Tuesday we visited Potsdamer Platz and Sans Souci, both beautiful places. We walked at least 3 kilometers in the rain through the gardens.
Today we're alloted to visit a Nazi prison. Tomorrow I'm probably going swimming with the squad. Friday remains to be planned
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
2nd Week in Berlin
After a whole week in Berlin, I have come to realize many things about the people and the city itself. First off, Germans will unapologetically stare at you when they hear you speaking English. Over the weekend while a group of us were at an amusement park, I met eyes with a German man holding a beer and looking extremely confused as Grant and Kyra were speaking in English. Even after I looked at him, he kept staring at Grant, Kyra, and I as if we were aliens from a different planet. I've also noticed that Germans absolutely love it when you try to speak German. Although our exchange students sometimes laugh at us when we struggle to pronounce words, they are very helpful and do their best to help us. Even shop workers have helped us. The other day when Kyra and I were getting döner, we asked Dani to order for us but the man behind the counter had none of that and pointed to the two of us and said "no, you order!" So we struggled our way through and when we were stuck, the man would ask us questions to help with the continuation of the order. Overall it was a wonderful and hilarious experience and it really showed me how kind the German people are and how willing they are to help us learn the language and experience their culture.
Another thing I've observed is how willing many Germans are to welcome others and make them feel at home. When we went to the refugee classroom last week, most of the students could speak German almost fluently and appeared to love living in Germany. It seems to be much easier here than in the US to freely speak about where you come from and what religion you practice as well as becoming a part of the German culture. It's amazing and wonderful to see how many Germans are very accepting of and embrace the diversity of religions, ethnicities, and cultures that are present within their own country. Germans of all shapes, sizes, colors, and families proudly display the Deutschland flag on their car or on their window and appear to be very proud and open about the many cultures within their families and within their city.
Speaking of experiencing culture, our German exchange partners have been wonderful at showing us around the city. I've been sightseeing, shopping, trying new foods and drinks, attempting to improve my grasp on the German language, and enjoyzing every single second of it. Jenny has shown me so much and explains about anything that I have questions on. Her family is so welcoming and I'm pretty sure they love the United States more than I do.... They have US flags everywhere including the pillow and comforter in my room. Jenny and I have gone shopping at the Mall of Berlin and on Schloss Straße (I probably spelled that wrong oops!) and we have gone sightseeing on Potsdamer Platz and have gone to museums like Madame Tussauds. Overall, it has been a wonderful experience here in Berlin and I'm so excited for what else is to come the last few days.
Another thing I've observed is how willing many Germans are to welcome others and make them feel at home. When we went to the refugee classroom last week, most of the students could speak German almost fluently and appeared to love living in Germany. It seems to be much easier here than in the US to freely speak about where you come from and what religion you practice as well as becoming a part of the German culture. It's amazing and wonderful to see how many Germans are very accepting of and embrace the diversity of religions, ethnicities, and cultures that are present within their own country. Germans of all shapes, sizes, colors, and families proudly display the Deutschland flag on their car or on their window and appear to be very proud and open about the many cultures within their families and within their city.
Speaking of experiencing culture, our German exchange partners have been wonderful at showing us around the city. I've been sightseeing, shopping, trying new foods and drinks, attempting to improve my grasp on the German language, and enjoyzing every single second of it. Jenny has shown me so much and explains about anything that I have questions on. Her family is so welcoming and I'm pretty sure they love the United States more than I do.... They have US flags everywhere including the pillow and comforter in my room. Jenny and I have gone shopping at the Mall of Berlin and on Schloss Straße (I probably spelled that wrong oops!) and we have gone sightseeing on Potsdamer Platz and have gone to museums like Madame Tussauds. Overall, it has been a wonderful experience here in Berlin and I'm so excited for what else is to come the last few days.
Pros & Cons: The land of Brats & Beer
So after my first week spent immersed in the German culture, I think I have been able to acquire an idea of the true German lifestyle. I have noticed a vast number of differences in culture and several similarites as well. I thought about giving a few things I miss about America and I love about Germany that I wish America had, but rather I decided to turn this post into a simpler, more broad list of what I love and what I don't so much love about Deutschland. Und jetzt beginnt Pros & Cons...
Pros:
Public Transportation, Legal drinking age of 16, Strong national passion for Fußball, Amazing food often for cheap, Amazing chocolate, Language and cool symbols(üöäß), Beautiful architecture, Nearly a millinium of history, Shorter school day, Many more holiday breaks, Sun sets at 10:00pm, Easy to travel throughout the European Union, the highways in some places have no speed limits, The metric system, Their currency (they have coins for the €1 and €2)
Cons:
No free water... ever, Free refills, Have to pay for public restrooms, Sun rises at 4:30am, Language barrier makes conversation difficult, Natives speak WAY TO FAST, Not much car driving, Germans don't appreciate Chacos, No sweet tea or Dr. Pepper, Everything is smaller here, No Taco Bell, City smells like sewer sometimes
Overall, Germany is incredible! I love the culture, the food, the architecture, the public transport, and all!!! I look forward to updating you further on the best trip of my life! Tschuß und bis Später!
Pros:
Public Transportation, Legal drinking age of 16, Strong national passion for Fußball, Amazing food often for cheap, Amazing chocolate, Language and cool symbols(üöäß), Beautiful architecture, Nearly a millinium of history, Shorter school day, Many more holiday breaks, Sun sets at 10:00pm, Easy to travel throughout the European Union, the highways in some places have no speed limits, The metric system, Their currency (they have coins for the €1 and €2)
Cons:
No free water... ever, Free refills, Have to pay for public restrooms, Sun rises at 4:30am, Language barrier makes conversation difficult, Natives speak WAY TO FAST, Not much car driving, Germans don't appreciate Chacos, No sweet tea or Dr. Pepper, Everything is smaller here, No Taco Bell, City smells like sewer sometimes
Overall, Germany is incredible! I love the culture, the food, the architecture, the public transport, and all!!! I look forward to updating you further on the best trip of my life! Tschuß und bis Später!
America VS. Berlin
I thought it might be interesting to lay out all of the differences I have found between the USA and Germany:
Air Conditioning: The Germans prefer to use their windows and air flow for natural heating and cooling rather than over-using air-conditioners like most Americans. While I miss being able to walk into a freezing cold home after a long day of sweltering heat, I see that the Germans waste much less electricity by having a conservative approach to temperature control. Also I have noticed that even where air-conditioning is used, the rooms in Berlin are only cooled to about 70 to 75 degrees rather than the 60 malls and homes in America.
Food: I never wanna eat Taco bell again since I've found food heaven in the tiny street vendors of Berlin. The level of avaliablity for a variety of foods is astounding here, and it is likely due to all of the cultures that have taken up residence all throughout the city. From the Turkish style döner to the Deutsch currywurst, all of the food here is amazing. I've also noticed that the Germans don't eat 3 full meals everyday like Americans do rather the Germans like to only eat 1 full meal and snacks or just eat a few small meals when they are hungry. When I say 1 meal however, I mean one massive meat packed meal. This has made me feel way less stuffed than I usually do after a meal, and it feels like a much healthier alternative.
Culture: Germans are an interesting people, and they are completely different from Americans. In America we are very sensative about our political, social, and racial issues, and it is almost impossible to discuss these problems with others without offending someone or being shunned for your personal views. I have found here that individuals are more than willing to discuss the public issues that are prevalent in society, and it is refreshing to be able to have intelligent conversations without being told "you cannot talk about that". Even in the schools, Germans have art that calls out the troubles they and their peers face. For example one drawing we saw in the art class showed a refugee girl holding up a protest sign, and I was suprised that such sensitive subjects were allowed. In America if I mentioned the issues surrounding immigration, I would be completely grilled by students, teachers, faculty, etc for being insensitive. I have also found that people here are very appproachable and genuinely kind. For example, people greet each other openly here, and they don't care about race or ethinic background like in America. People here come from so many backgrounds yet they don't judge each other as harshly as in America, and I believe it is because people accept their differences and backgrounds without fear.
Air Conditioning: The Germans prefer to use their windows and air flow for natural heating and cooling rather than over-using air-conditioners like most Americans. While I miss being able to walk into a freezing cold home after a long day of sweltering heat, I see that the Germans waste much less electricity by having a conservative approach to temperature control. Also I have noticed that even where air-conditioning is used, the rooms in Berlin are only cooled to about 70 to 75 degrees rather than the 60 malls and homes in America.
Food: I never wanna eat Taco bell again since I've found food heaven in the tiny street vendors of Berlin. The level of avaliablity for a variety of foods is astounding here, and it is likely due to all of the cultures that have taken up residence all throughout the city. From the Turkish style döner to the Deutsch currywurst, all of the food here is amazing. I've also noticed that the Germans don't eat 3 full meals everyday like Americans do rather the Germans like to only eat 1 full meal and snacks or just eat a few small meals when they are hungry. When I say 1 meal however, I mean one massive meat packed meal. This has made me feel way less stuffed than I usually do after a meal, and it feels like a much healthier alternative.
Culture: Germans are an interesting people, and they are completely different from Americans. In America we are very sensative about our political, social, and racial issues, and it is almost impossible to discuss these problems with others without offending someone or being shunned for your personal views. I have found here that individuals are more than willing to discuss the public issues that are prevalent in society, and it is refreshing to be able to have intelligent conversations without being told "you cannot talk about that". Even in the schools, Germans have art that calls out the troubles they and their peers face. For example one drawing we saw in the art class showed a refugee girl holding up a protest sign, and I was suprised that such sensitive subjects were allowed. In America if I mentioned the issues surrounding immigration, I would be completely grilled by students, teachers, faculty, etc for being insensitive. I have also found that people here are very appproachable and genuinely kind. For example, people greet each other openly here, and they don't care about race or ethinic background like in America. People here come from so many backgrounds yet they don't judge each other as harshly as in America, and I believe it is because people accept their differences and backgrounds without fear.
An Overview
So to start off, as everyone has been talking about, our flight was a bit delayed. Nevertheless, we arrived in Berlin at about 8 o'clock p.m. on Saturday. Having been awake for basically the previous 36 hours, I slept. For a long time. I'd probably put it in my top ten best nights of sleep. The next day, we took a bike tour around Berlin with Fat Tire Bike Tours. They just took us around the city to the more touristy places like Checkpoint Charlie, the Fernsehturm, Museum Island, etc, so nothing too interesting. Our Tourguide was great though (Hannah's being super poetic and dramatic right next to me at the moment, I'll have to read her masterpiece later). Monday was just experiencing German school for the first time, which, though pretty interesting, made me cringe, because I've graduated, and I never wanted to see the inside of a high school again (yay college). Tuesday we went to Sachsenhaus, which was the concentration camp located in Oranienburg, which was obviousy one of the more serious parts of our trip. It's not pleasant but it's good to know exactly what happened, more than just the basics. People say history repeats itself, so it's our duty to know it in order to stop those things that should never be repeated. I also discovered th game of PrellBall on tuesday, which is kind of like volley ball but not quite.
Updates and Berlin's Diversity
So far this week has been a lot calmer because we are getting accustomed to how they do things and we are getting more comfortable with our speaking skills and using the public transport. We got an amazing introduction last week to Berlin but there is still so much to do!
Yesterday I got to go to the top of the Siegessäule to see a breathtaking view of Berlin. When I got back to Amelie's house her parents told me that on top of the Siegessäule is where they got engaged! They pulled out a photo album and showed me the cutest picture of them after Amelie's mom said yes. I also got to eat my first full Döner, a German favorite, (just kidding, that is a lie becuase I did not finish it), but it was really good. One of my favorite things that I did not mention in my other blog about my host family specifically are how much effort they put forth to communicate with me. I feel bad about my lack of German skills but they reassured me that it is fine. I also love how Amelie's mom always has gummy bears with her. I have developed a slight addiciton to gummy bears that I never expected to have. Other things I am very thankful for are the fact that they give me regular water becuase they know I do not like sprakling water and that they make me coffee some mornings.
Before I write this paragraph on diversity I would like to say that the German keyboards we are typing our blogs on have the "y" key in a completly different spot so the word "diversity" is quite annoying to type (also there is no spell check on my computer, sorry mom).
As far as diversity in Berlin it definitely has a big city feel with the amount of different ethnicities and languages I have heard being spoken, but at the same time it does not strike me as that different from back home. The refugee crisis, although, is not something we are experiencing in Springdale right now. All the Germans I have talked to about it seem very welcoming toward the refugees. Ricardo (Jacob's German) told me that he is okay with having them in Germany as long as they do not have to use their school's gym to house them. This attitude I feel is significatly kinder than what people back home think about the refugees. The diversity of the city as a hole including the refugees and people from all parts of Europe is worth paying attention to.
Yesterday I got to go to the top of the Siegessäule to see a breathtaking view of Berlin. When I got back to Amelie's house her parents told me that on top of the Siegessäule is where they got engaged! They pulled out a photo album and showed me the cutest picture of them after Amelie's mom said yes. I also got to eat my first full Döner, a German favorite, (just kidding, that is a lie becuase I did not finish it), but it was really good. One of my favorite things that I did not mention in my other blog about my host family specifically are how much effort they put forth to communicate with me. I feel bad about my lack of German skills but they reassured me that it is fine. I also love how Amelie's mom always has gummy bears with her. I have developed a slight addiciton to gummy bears that I never expected to have. Other things I am very thankful for are the fact that they give me regular water becuase they know I do not like sprakling water and that they make me coffee some mornings.
Before I write this paragraph on diversity I would like to say that the German keyboards we are typing our blogs on have the "y" key in a completly different spot so the word "diversity" is quite annoying to type (also there is no spell check on my computer, sorry mom).
As far as diversity in Berlin it definitely has a big city feel with the amount of different ethnicities and languages I have heard being spoken, but at the same time it does not strike me as that different from back home. The refugee crisis, although, is not something we are experiencing in Springdale right now. All the Germans I have talked to about it seem very welcoming toward the refugees. Ricardo (Jacob's German) told me that he is okay with having them in Germany as long as they do not have to use their school's gym to house them. This attitude I feel is significatly kinder than what people back home think about the refugees. The diversity of the city as a hole including the refugees and people from all parts of Europe is worth paying attention to.
Everything
June 13, 2016
During the weekend I had a lot of fun. I spent so much time with Emmas family. On Friday we went shopping with my friend to a mall near Berlin but outside of it. I bought a couple of stuff, many of the people working there were able to speak English and we even got attended by a Mexican guy at the Adidas store. The weird thing that doesn't happen in America is that, our Germans left us to go shop separately. After shopping for a while we sat down to eat some currywurst, which is always very good. We left the shopping mall and Melanies mom went into a store where they make homemade jam. After that me, Lesli and Melanie's mom went into the Olympic tower. It was a very beautiful sight. I could see all of Berlin and all of its wonderful sights and popluar monuments.
I could see the main street with lots of traffic, I could see the trains and the buses running there routes, which is a very common type of transportation here in the city. I have noticed that the cars here are very small because of the little amount of space that the cars have to park out in the streets. There is a lot of parallel parking here, which I always thought was very difficult but they make it look so easy. The buses and trains are always pretty crowded.
On Sunday: me, Memo, and our Germans meet up at the Flea market, Flohmarkt. There was so many people there it was insane. People from all over the world were there: I saw/heard: Americans, Asians, Argentinian, Peruvians, Africans, and many Germans as well. There was music, karaoke, magic acts, artist, food, and many booths with clothes on sale. Everyone was drinking and having a good time that Sunday afternoon.
Another thing that one sees in Berlin, is people handing you a piece of paper to read in German or English asking for money. Or some don't ask for money, but for your bottle of water or your glass bottle of soda. Because that is money to them, one can exchange the bottles in any drugstore or market, for .25 cents or .50 cents.
During the weekend I had a lot of fun. I spent so much time with Emmas family. On Friday we went shopping with my friend to a mall near Berlin but outside of it. I bought a couple of stuff, many of the people working there were able to speak English and we even got attended by a Mexican guy at the Adidas store. The weird thing that doesn't happen in America is that, our Germans left us to go shop separately. After shopping for a while we sat down to eat some currywurst, which is always very good. We left the shopping mall and Melanies mom went into a store where they make homemade jam. After that me, Lesli and Melanie's mom went into the Olympic tower. It was a very beautiful sight. I could see all of Berlin and all of its wonderful sights and popluar monuments.
I could see the main street with lots of traffic, I could see the trains and the buses running there routes, which is a very common type of transportation here in the city. I have noticed that the cars here are very small because of the little amount of space that the cars have to park out in the streets. There is a lot of parallel parking here, which I always thought was very difficult but they make it look so easy. The buses and trains are always pretty crowded.
On Sunday: me, Memo, and our Germans meet up at the Flea market, Flohmarkt. There was so many people there it was insane. People from all over the world were there: I saw/heard: Americans, Asians, Argentinian, Peruvians, Africans, and many Germans as well. There was music, karaoke, magic acts, artist, food, and many booths with clothes on sale. Everyone was drinking and having a good time that Sunday afternoon.
Another thing that one sees in Berlin, is people handing you a piece of paper to read in German or English asking for money. Or some don't ask for money, but for your bottle of water or your glass bottle of soda. Because that is money to them, one can exchange the bottles in any drugstore or market, for .25 cents or .50 cents.
Stuff and Things I've Done
With as many people as there are in Berlin, everyone has a different story.
I've met refugees from Syria and Poland in a class that is set up to teach German as a second language. They are incredibly fluent for the time they have spent with the language. It was fun getting to know them and how much they have in common with us.
I've also met people who don't speak a lick of English, but are some of the kindest people I've met. They made sure we had no way to go home hungry, serving us a 4 course meal with homemade foods!
I also really love my host family. They make sure that I always have everything I need and more. We've gone sightseeing many times, and I feel like I've gotton to know Berlin more than a tour ever could teach me. Their little dog, Timmy is one of the cutest things ever. He's loved by all.
We've also done a lot of shopping! You'd be suprised how hard it is to find a gift for father's day here! They have amazing stores (... Pull & Bear) that we don't have. But then again, buying stuff is really fun!
Nele, Liz, Mary, and I have also formed a squad. I'm really glad to know them because they are amazing people and wonderful friends. We've done lots of shopping together. We also went to the zoo where we saw so many different animals that wouldn't be in Berlin; lions and tigers and bears, oh my! They had so many different kinds of bears (my favorite animal) which is the symbol of the city.
On Sunday, Nele and I saw the musical, Tanz der Vampire. It was one of the coolest things I've seen. Even though the entire show was in German, it was easily understood. Most of the songs had some repetition, which made it easier to trnaslate too. It was funny and romantic and everything I could have wanted.
Sometimes the Germans tell me that they are a little bit of an American and they buy clothing with English phrases and dream of going to places like New York and California. It's really difficult to find something that sasy "BERLIN" outside of the really tourist-y shops. But, reguardless, the people I've met really love their city, and I'd like to think that I'm going back a little bit German too.
I've met refugees from Syria and Poland in a class that is set up to teach German as a second language. They are incredibly fluent for the time they have spent with the language. It was fun getting to know them and how much they have in common with us.
I've also met people who don't speak a lick of English, but are some of the kindest people I've met. They made sure we had no way to go home hungry, serving us a 4 course meal with homemade foods!
I also really love my host family. They make sure that I always have everything I need and more. We've gone sightseeing many times, and I feel like I've gotton to know Berlin more than a tour ever could teach me. Their little dog, Timmy is one of the cutest things ever. He's loved by all.
We've also done a lot of shopping! You'd be suprised how hard it is to find a gift for father's day here! They have amazing stores (... Pull & Bear) that we don't have. But then again, buying stuff is really fun!
Nele, Liz, Mary, and I have also formed a squad. I'm really glad to know them because they are amazing people and wonderful friends. We've done lots of shopping together. We also went to the zoo where we saw so many different animals that wouldn't be in Berlin; lions and tigers and bears, oh my! They had so many different kinds of bears (my favorite animal) which is the symbol of the city.
On Sunday, Nele and I saw the musical, Tanz der Vampire. It was one of the coolest things I've seen. Even though the entire show was in German, it was easily understood. Most of the songs had some repetition, which made it easier to trnaslate too. It was funny and romantic and everything I could have wanted.
Sometimes the Germans tell me that they are a little bit of an American and they buy clothing with English phrases and dream of going to places like New York and California. It's really difficult to find something that sasy "BERLIN" outside of the really tourist-y shops. But, reguardless, the people I've met really love their city, and I'd like to think that I'm going back a little bit German too.
The German Experience- Berlin Part III ( Ja, Genau )
Diversity in Berlin- It has come to my attention that the country of Germany is not as much of a melting pot as our home country America is. America is filled with all sorts of culture, people and languages that have come from all over the world. Its much easier to use America as a country of study on the topic of diversity. However Berlin has begun to open its doors to refugees from Syria and other countrys as well as all of Germany. Syrian refugess have found their way into Germany and are spreading all of their cultrual ideas and many other attractive ways of living. The same can be said for the Turkish, they have put quite a bit of their own culture into German styles of living. Now before someone gets offended all of the things that I am saying are not 100% fact because I am sharing my own experiences. Lets not get butthurt about something stupid. I love Germany so far and I need to come back again in the near future to visit my newfound friends and explore different parts of the Country.
The thing I love the most about Berlin is the ability to walk or bike anywhere you want to go. If you want to go shopping, there are hundreds of shops and stores all over Berlin. If you want food, there are at least 20 restaurants down one street. With so much to do with so little time another trip to the capital of Berlin is nessesary for any American. Much like many large American cities, street vendors are everywhere. Selling this and that, if you're ever hungry you can stop by any of these vendors and almost have a garanteed good meal. The Germans took a few of us shopping again because I really wanted the German National Football Team jersey. After seeing one for 85 Euros, Leo said his mom could find one much cheaper that 85, and so. We ordered a jersey for 60 Euros and all I can say is. Ja, Genau! ( Dont worry about the translation, just roll with it )
The thing I love the most about Berlin is the ability to walk or bike anywhere you want to go. If you want to go shopping, there are hundreds of shops and stores all over Berlin. If you want food, there are at least 20 restaurants down one street. With so much to do with so little time another trip to the capital of Berlin is nessesary for any American. Much like many large American cities, street vendors are everywhere. Selling this and that, if you're ever hungry you can stop by any of these vendors and almost have a garanteed good meal. The Germans took a few of us shopping again because I really wanted the German National Football Team jersey. After seeing one for 85 Euros, Leo said his mom could find one much cheaper that 85, and so. We ordered a jersey for 60 Euros and all I can say is. Ja, Genau! ( Dont worry about the translation, just roll with it )
People usually pay more attention to the differences between things. Like how Berlin is different from Springdale. There is a lot of differences between Berlin and Springdale. But there are also similarities. The similarity that mostly got my attention is the diversity. There are a lot of different ethnic groups here in Berlin just like how there are a lot of different ethnic groups in Springdale. It's really cool how we could relate a little bit. It's not really surprise that Germany is really mixed because it's literally surrounded by a lot of countries. Which makes Germany more mixed than Springdale.
First Impressions
Hallo und Guten Tag meine Freunde! Today is my second full day in Berlin and my trip has already been full of much adventure! We started off the excursion with a nice bike tour through the city. We began our journey at the Alexander Platz Fernsehturm and rode all around seeing sights such as the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Building, Museum Island, and many more! My first impression upon arrival in the Düsseldorf Airport was much different than my impression now of the German people and country. First of all we stepped off of the airplane and were greeted by a bunch of unfriendly faces of rushing people frantically trying to get where they needed (though I feel that this is so in every airport internationally). We spent 8 hours in the DUS airport so we definitely got top experience very much culture in there, at least as much culture as you can experience in an airport. I enjoyed my first German beer in the airport which was not so much good to drink but an exciting milestone.
After hours of pointless waiting around, we boarded a nice commuter train to take us the last 4 hours into Berlin. Initially we were disapointed because we wasted many hours in the airport and arrived in Berlin almost 10 hours later than we were supposed to. However, I really enjoyed the train ride because of how comfortable it was and how much of the German landscape and countryside that we got to see. Along with this we also met a German citizen by the name of Fred who was the definition of freedom, adventure, and finding joy in the simplicity of life. He actually lived in Southern Germany and was visiting the Berlin area just as we were! Enough to say that after the first night in Berlin my impression of the people had almost entirely changed. By now I have noticed that the German people are quite friendly and very hospitable. Not only this, but they are also very similar to us in terms of just being high school kids who strive for the same sense of adventure and to live life to the fullest. All in all this weekend was an excellent kickoff for the next two weeks to come and I look forward to sharing my adventures with you all! Danke Schön und tschüß!
After hours of pointless waiting around, we boarded a nice commuter train to take us the last 4 hours into Berlin. Initially we were disapointed because we wasted many hours in the airport and arrived in Berlin almost 10 hours later than we were supposed to. However, I really enjoyed the train ride because of how comfortable it was and how much of the German landscape and countryside that we got to see. Along with this we also met a German citizen by the name of Fred who was the definition of freedom, adventure, and finding joy in the simplicity of life. He actually lived in Southern Germany and was visiting the Berlin area just as we were! Enough to say that after the first night in Berlin my impression of the people had almost entirely changed. By now I have noticed that the German people are quite friendly and very hospitable. Not only this, but they are also very similar to us in terms of just being high school kids who strive for the same sense of adventure and to live life to the fullest. All in all this weekend was an excellent kickoff for the next two weeks to come and I look forward to sharing my adventures with you all! Danke Schön und tschüß!
First Impressions
With the total travel delays summing up to ten hours my first experience in Germany was nicht so gut. But we're here to talk about diversity apparently so let's discuss. Germany is host to a multitude of races, ethnicities, cultures, and religions. Actually there are so many different types of cultures coming into Germany that the right wing political parties are gaining popularity in the polls, namely the parties advocating for restriciting access to the Fatherland. One big difference in Germany is that calling a political party right-wing is synonymous with calling it racist, nationalist and most of the time Nazi. As someone who has some conservative ideologies as well as liberal ones, this frightens me that an entire side of the American political spectrum is regarded in the same way that Neo-Nazis are regarded. Sure some right-wing political parties in Germany are riding on the same political principles that got Hitler to power, but that doesn't mean that everything right-wing is inherently evil.
By far what I've enjoyed about Germany the most is the food. Every German dish I've had so far has been amazing. I had currywurst the first night and it was delicious, however the döner, a Turkish invention that is now everywhere in Berlin, is probably now my favorite fast food of all time. Either pork or chicken in a half open roll, with optional lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and a special blend of sauces. So. Freaking. Good. Of course this dish wouldn't exist without immigration of cultures into Germany.
I don't know if this is a Berlin thing, a Germany thing, or just a big city thing, but everytime I go to the Brandenburg Gate there is a different protest going on for something. On sunday there was like a women's freedom protest, then yesterday it was like Jamaican rights or some stuff. All very interesting, all diverse, some stupid.
By far what I've enjoyed about Germany the most is the food. Every German dish I've had so far has been amazing. I had currywurst the first night and it was delicious, however the döner, a Turkish invention that is now everywhere in Berlin, is probably now my favorite fast food of all time. Either pork or chicken in a half open roll, with optional lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and a special blend of sauces. So. Freaking. Good. Of course this dish wouldn't exist without immigration of cultures into Germany.
I don't know if this is a Berlin thing, a Germany thing, or just a big city thing, but everytime I go to the Brandenburg Gate there is a different protest going on for something. On sunday there was like a women's freedom protest, then yesterday it was like Jamaican rights or some stuff. All very interesting, all diverse, some stupid.
Monday, June 13, 2016
First Days in Berlin
I don't think any one of us was excited about all of the delays while traveling to Berlin but that made finally getting into Berlin and seeing our exchange students that much better. Jenny's family is super nice and I'm so excited to spend two weeks in Germany!
Berlin is a lot different than what I would've expected from a big city. They are extremely dilligent about recycling and while Berlin is a big city there are still countless trees and parks everywhere. Everyone for the most part speaks English (thank god) and are not bothered if you ask them to speak in English. So most transactions are pretty easy but it is fun and challenging to order in German.
My time in Germany so far has been so much fun. I love the difference in scenery, people, and how the city functions as a whole. Jenny and her family have been wonderful and helpful the entire time. We've been shopping, sight-seeing, eating döner, and indulging in many other things that you can only do in Berlin. The food here is so amazing and super easy to access since there is an Imbiss stand on practically every corner that you can just walk right up to.
I have seen many cultural differences between Germany and America that aren't immediately noticable but will strike one as strange if they pay enough attention. For example, Germans greet every single one of their classmates. Two girls will hug and put their cheeks together and make a kissing noise kind of like what an American would imagine a stereotypical European greeting to be like. If a guy and a girl are greeting each other they will hug and if two guys are are greeting each other they shake hands or do the handshake and chestbump/half-hug thing that guys do a lot. But while Americans see this as strange, the German probably think it's weird that some Americans will just say hi to random people on the streets or at the store.
There are also a plethora of different cultures within the German culture. It is plain to see that Berlin has a very diverse 3.4 million people within its city limits. I have seen Turkish, Muslim, Black, Indian, and Asian people and this is most likely just a fraction of the diverse culture that Berlin has to offer. It has also been interesting to observe how all of these cultures interact, Take döner for example, it it a Turkish dish that many Berliners have come to know and love, and if there wasn't a Turkish presence in Berlin this wonderful dish may have never come to be. I have also noticed that supermarkets carry alcohol-free beer, wine, spirits, etc. This could (I am using the word could because I'm not 100% sure that my inference is correct) be extremely helpful to the Muslim population of Berlin and Germany as they can still participate in one of the most prominent aspects of the German culture while also remaining faithful to their religion.
Berlin so far has been nothing short of amazing and I'm ready to continue observing and soaking in the culture for the duration of our exchange,
Berlin is a lot different than what I would've expected from a big city. They are extremely dilligent about recycling and while Berlin is a big city there are still countless trees and parks everywhere. Everyone for the most part speaks English (thank god) and are not bothered if you ask them to speak in English. So most transactions are pretty easy but it is fun and challenging to order in German.
My time in Germany so far has been so much fun. I love the difference in scenery, people, and how the city functions as a whole. Jenny and her family have been wonderful and helpful the entire time. We've been shopping, sight-seeing, eating döner, and indulging in many other things that you can only do in Berlin. The food here is so amazing and super easy to access since there is an Imbiss stand on practically every corner that you can just walk right up to.
I have seen many cultural differences between Germany and America that aren't immediately noticable but will strike one as strange if they pay enough attention. For example, Germans greet every single one of their classmates. Two girls will hug and put their cheeks together and make a kissing noise kind of like what an American would imagine a stereotypical European greeting to be like. If a guy and a girl are greeting each other they will hug and if two guys are are greeting each other they shake hands or do the handshake and chestbump/half-hug thing that guys do a lot. But while Americans see this as strange, the German probably think it's weird that some Americans will just say hi to random people on the streets or at the store.
There are also a plethora of different cultures within the German culture. It is plain to see that Berlin has a very diverse 3.4 million people within its city limits. I have seen Turkish, Muslim, Black, Indian, and Asian people and this is most likely just a fraction of the diverse culture that Berlin has to offer. It has also been interesting to observe how all of these cultures interact, Take döner for example, it it a Turkish dish that many Berliners have come to know and love, and if there wasn't a Turkish presence in Berlin this wonderful dish may have never come to be. I have also noticed that supermarkets carry alcohol-free beer, wine, spirits, etc. This could (I am using the word could because I'm not 100% sure that my inference is correct) be extremely helpful to the Muslim population of Berlin and Germany as they can still participate in one of the most prominent aspects of the German culture while also remaining faithful to their religion.
Berlin so far has been nothing short of amazing and I'm ready to continue observing and soaking in the culture for the duration of our exchange,
Happy Berlin (:
When I first arrived in Berlin, I was afraid that language and culture would have been so much different! However, I was surprised to find that everyone I have met has been a super inviting person. Everyone has been so kind and willing to help in every way. Generally, everyone shares a love of Fußball and their country. They also like America!
There were however a few little things I've noticed in my time here.
Everyone has very well trained dogs! They are able to walk them without a leash and take them on the public transport all without worry. Most people also use public transportation to get from place to place if they aren't walking or riding a bike. The roads mostly have bike and bus lanes for them!
They also have so many trees. You wouldn't think that a city would have as many as it does, but each one is numbered. It makes for an awesome urban forest! The Germans also take care of their city, and most everyone recycles! Most trash bins are sorted by all different types; paper, plastic, and what have you. There is also an abundance of carbonated water as opposed to still. It can take some
getting used to.
From what I have seen, the city is very diverse, but everyone gets along well. Most everyone is very friendly and helpful. It's a very AMAZING place to be!
There were however a few little things I've noticed in my time here.
Everyone has very well trained dogs! They are able to walk them without a leash and take them on the public transport all without worry. Most people also use public transportation to get from place to place if they aren't walking or riding a bike. The roads mostly have bike and bus lanes for them!
They also have so many trees. You wouldn't think that a city would have as many as it does, but each one is numbered. It makes for an awesome urban forest! The Germans also take care of their city, and most everyone recycles! Most trash bins are sorted by all different types; paper, plastic, and what have you. There is also an abundance of carbonated water as opposed to still. It can take some
getting used to.
From what I have seen, the city is very diverse, but everyone gets along well. Most everyone is very friendly and helpful. It's a very AMAZING place to be!
Deutschland ist super!!!!!
Diversity in Germany:
After visiting with the refugee students, I had a new understanding of the varying culturs that make up the melting pot that is Berlin. Coming here, I didn't expect to see so many different kinds of people from so many backgrounds, and the experience has been eye opening. I have met Syrian, Turkish, and Polish students, and they make up a significant portian of the school. Similarly to Har-Ber, GHO has language classes for students coming to study from a foriegn country. It also makes me realize that different individuals come from a variety of backgrounds and some much more difficult than others.
The Past Weekend: These last 3 days have been LIT! First Basti and I explored Alexanderplatz, and we went shopping for some Deutsch apparel. Then we met up with Nico, Leo, Chris, and David to go to a medieval themed escape room which was incredibly difficult. After destroying two toilets, learning to play the piano, crawling through small cooridors, we finally managed to make it through all of the escape rooms. It was such a fun experience that we decided we are all going again this week! The next day was Nico's birthday, so we went to a trampoline park, and we then had a nice lunch with all of his friends. On Sunday Basti's cousins, brothers, aunt, uncle, and grandparents all came to have a massive German cookout. It was some of the most delicious and weird meats I have ever had! To end this amazing weekend, we went to a neighbors garage and watched the Deutschland vs. Ukraine game. I realized something very quickly, Germans are very excited about soccer. They scream, blow airhorns, have vuvuzalas, and they go absolutely insane when someone makes a goal.
After visiting with the refugee students, I had a new understanding of the varying culturs that make up the melting pot that is Berlin. Coming here, I didn't expect to see so many different kinds of people from so many backgrounds, and the experience has been eye opening. I have met Syrian, Turkish, and Polish students, and they make up a significant portian of the school. Similarly to Har-Ber, GHO has language classes for students coming to study from a foriegn country. It also makes me realize that different individuals come from a variety of backgrounds and some much more difficult than others.
The Past Weekend: These last 3 days have been LIT! First Basti and I explored Alexanderplatz, and we went shopping for some Deutsch apparel. Then we met up with Nico, Leo, Chris, and David to go to a medieval themed escape room which was incredibly difficult. After destroying two toilets, learning to play the piano, crawling through small cooridors, we finally managed to make it through all of the escape rooms. It was such a fun experience that we decided we are all going again this week! The next day was Nico's birthday, so we went to a trampoline park, and we then had a nice lunch with all of his friends. On Sunday Basti's cousins, brothers, aunt, uncle, and grandparents all came to have a massive German cookout. It was some of the most delicious and weird meats I have ever had! To end this amazing weekend, we went to a neighbors garage and watched the Deutschland vs. Ukraine game. I realized something very quickly, Germans are very excited about soccer. They scream, blow airhorns, have vuvuzalas, and they go absolutely insane when someone makes a goal.
ITS ACTUALLY BEEN OVER A WEEK SINCE I GOT HERE
I can't believe it's been over a week since we arrived in Germany, time is just moving so fast. We've seen much more than I thought we would have already, and we still have almost a week to go. Today we'll being going to the Reichstag, as well as a sort of tour called 'The Story of Berlin'. going to have to be a short post, but I'll make up for it later. Btw Doner is the best.
-A-Aron
-A-Aron
Week 1 and counting
Monday, June 13, 2016
Last week went by quicker than I actually thought. Through the week we went on many different tours and including the weekend I went out with my host parents. The most amazing part of my stay is that everywhere you go you get to see different cultures. The variety people here is so cool. The population here is so big it also amazed me how well the city manages to have order.
The best part of my weekend was Sunday night, that night I bet $50 that Germany would win, and guess what! Germany won 2-0 against Ukrain. Over the course of the week I took tours I never thought I would have taken.
My favorite part of my everyday routine is seeing Jenny! Could'nt be more thankful for her presence here in Germany! <3
Sorry I jump around so much with my points but now I can say that I love the city life. I like Berlin and to be honest I think I would survive here.
I am th every first in my family to travel to a europian country, and what can I say... I love it here. It would be better if I new the city a little more so I could get around a bit more.
Walking play a major role in transportation. And getting to the train stations and waiting at the bus stops just gives me a minute to breath and let Berlin sink in for a little.
The fact that drinking beer and smoking is so normal for them is weird for me. My family may drink once in a while but not with everyday meals.
I hope this next week brings much more to do before I leave.
Last week went by quicker than I actually thought. Through the week we went on many different tours and including the weekend I went out with my host parents. The most amazing part of my stay is that everywhere you go you get to see different cultures. The variety people here is so cool. The population here is so big it also amazed me how well the city manages to have order.
The best part of my weekend was Sunday night, that night I bet $50 that Germany would win, and guess what! Germany won 2-0 against Ukrain. Over the course of the week I took tours I never thought I would have taken.
My favorite part of my everyday routine is seeing Jenny! Could'nt be more thankful for her presence here in Germany! <3
Sorry I jump around so much with my points but now I can say that I love the city life. I like Berlin and to be honest I think I would survive here.
I am th every first in my family to travel to a europian country, and what can I say... I love it here. It would be better if I new the city a little more so I could get around a bit more.
Walking play a major role in transportation. And getting to the train stations and waiting at the bus stops just gives me a minute to breath and let Berlin sink in for a little.
The fact that drinking beer and smoking is so normal for them is weird for me. My family may drink once in a while but not with everyday meals.
I hope this next week brings much more to do before I leave.
The Good and the Bad
So far Germany has been a blast. Wednesday night we went to a festival, and at first I wasn't really looking forward to spending a lot of money on carnival rides. But eventually the Germans persuaded me to ride with them. It is so much cheaper here, and the rides go for a lot longer.
The pros continue with the food. They have döner, currywurst, spaghetti eis (which is ice cream in the form of spaghetti), and so much more. They have these small food shops all over the city, so that whenever you are hungry, you can stop wherever you are. The public transportation is great. It does take longer, but its a lot easier to just hop on a bus or train and ride to wherever you need to be.
With everything I love about Germany, there are some things I miss about America. Even though the public transportation is awesome, I do miss being able to get in my car and get to wherever I need to be in 20 minutes tops. I miss free bathrooms everywhere you go. Here you have to pay for bathrooms. I don't know how much they cost because I'm not going to pay for the bathroom, but it sucks. Also you can't go into a restaurant and just simply get a glass of water. You have to pay for it. It is the same with refills. Even in McDonald's you have to pay for a refill.
That brings up another topic. I never thought I would go to McDonald's here, but we were on a trip to the Baltic Sea and we just stopped to eat. It is so much better in Germany. Since the Euro Cup is going on, they have special Deutschland burgers. Not only this but they have special fries too! When I got my burger I really expected the patty to be halfway off the sandwich with the toppings stacked in the middle like in America, but it seems like they care a lot more here.
The pros continue with the food. They have döner, currywurst, spaghetti eis (which is ice cream in the form of spaghetti), and so much more. They have these small food shops all over the city, so that whenever you are hungry, you can stop wherever you are. The public transportation is great. It does take longer, but its a lot easier to just hop on a bus or train and ride to wherever you need to be.
With everything I love about Germany, there are some things I miss about America. Even though the public transportation is awesome, I do miss being able to get in my car and get to wherever I need to be in 20 minutes tops. I miss free bathrooms everywhere you go. Here you have to pay for bathrooms. I don't know how much they cost because I'm not going to pay for the bathroom, but it sucks. Also you can't go into a restaurant and just simply get a glass of water. You have to pay for it. It is the same with refills. Even in McDonald's you have to pay for a refill.
That brings up another topic. I never thought I would go to McDonald's here, but we were on a trip to the Baltic Sea and we just stopped to eat. It is so much better in Germany. Since the Euro Cup is going on, they have special Deutschland burgers. Not only this but they have special fries too! When I got my burger I really expected the patty to be halfway off the sandwich with the toppings stacked in the middle like in America, but it seems like they care a lot more here.
The German Experience- Berlin Part II
UPDATES- The last few days have been truly exciting. Our Germans treated us to a new game that I didnt even know existed in the states. Leo, Nico, and Basti took Alex, myself and Chris to the Escape game! Germans vs Americans. It was an overall great game to play and we had so much fun we're going back and playing again on Tuesday. Im enjoying everything I have done here in Berlin this past week. I am looking forward to going home, but Berlin will 100% be my next destination to Europe and I believe I have found a new love for the game of football.
The Weekend- After waking up early Saturday morning, Leos family took me on a 2 and half hour drive to the Baltic Sea. The Baltic is a very attractive area for tourists. I was treated to an amazing fish lunch and had icecream to follow. We took a walk down the beach and looked at some amazing sites on the water. After walking down the beach we made our way back to the car to make the trip home. Sunday was a much differnet story however, I went to a Protestant church. Something I have never experienced before. I understood absolutly nothing and I had no idea how to sing in german. We made our way home after stopping by a local bakery to get some bread for the party to follow. I took the best nap of my life and soon it was already 5 o'clock. Friends from the exchange were already at the house. We had a very american styled cookout with all kinds of foods to enjoy. We watched the German football match which in American is "Soccer", the German national team pulled out a win against Ukraine. German flags flew all over this city with happiness with one more win under the germans belt. We have one more week left, and there is so much more to learn and experience. Thanks Germany!
The Weekend- After waking up early Saturday morning, Leos family took me on a 2 and half hour drive to the Baltic Sea. The Baltic is a very attractive area for tourists. I was treated to an amazing fish lunch and had icecream to follow. We took a walk down the beach and looked at some amazing sites on the water. After walking down the beach we made our way back to the car to make the trip home. Sunday was a much differnet story however, I went to a Protestant church. Something I have never experienced before. I understood absolutly nothing and I had no idea how to sing in german. We made our way home after stopping by a local bakery to get some bread for the party to follow. I took the best nap of my life and soon it was already 5 o'clock. Friends from the exchange were already at the house. We had a very american styled cookout with all kinds of foods to enjoy. We watched the German football match which in American is "Soccer", the German national team pulled out a win against Ukraine. German flags flew all over this city with happiness with one more win under the germans belt. We have one more week left, and there is so much more to learn and experience. Thanks Germany!
Willkommen
After an excruciating journey to Berlin, we are here! Our first week in Germany we have already had so many exciting and new experiences. Immediately after arriving I noticed many differences between Springdale, AR and Berlin. The water and coke bottles here are huge! In the airport we noticed people taking the glass and plastic bottles out of the recycling and trash, and I guess we figured they just collected them. Once we (finally) got to Berlin we saw the same thing again and after asking Frau she told us that they are homless and can get 25 cents for each bottle. Now I notice them everywhere and I was asked a a few days ago for the finished bottle that was in my backpack. The homelss still ask for money, like at home, but the diversity between the homless here compared to at home seems to be an improvement. I find it great that Germany is giving them a way to earn money that also encourages recycling.
When Amelie took me home I almost forgot to take my shoes off and I had to ask how to flush the toilet and use the shower, but besides that I was pretty mentally prepaired for how different her flat would be from houses back home. In the school and at the house there are no window screens, but they open the windows all the time because they do not have air conditioning. I guess they have no fear of bugs here. Other more noticable differences are the lack of yellow lines on the street, the school still uses chalk boards and elmo projectors, they two hole punch their papers instead of three, they write with caligraphy pens at school (I have no clue why), there is an interest in Japanesse culture, the spoons are different, all the commas and periods are switched when writing numbers, and every blank space on the buildings or walls are filled to the brim with either advertisments or graffiti.
There are few things that I do not like in Germany including the abundance of sparkling water that the Germans seem like (do not ask me why) and how much American music they play (I did not come to Germany to listen to American music). But for the most part I love it here! The first week did not dissapoint with an abundance of new experiences including ordering food in German, riding the public transport, and going to the Baltic Sea, and I cannot wait to see what the next days hold!
When Amelie took me home I almost forgot to take my shoes off and I had to ask how to flush the toilet and use the shower, but besides that I was pretty mentally prepaired for how different her flat would be from houses back home. In the school and at the house there are no window screens, but they open the windows all the time because they do not have air conditioning. I guess they have no fear of bugs here. Other more noticable differences are the lack of yellow lines on the street, the school still uses chalk boards and elmo projectors, they two hole punch their papers instead of three, they write with caligraphy pens at school (I have no clue why), there is an interest in Japanesse culture, the spoons are different, all the commas and periods are switched when writing numbers, and every blank space on the buildings or walls are filled to the brim with either advertisments or graffiti.
There are few things that I do not like in Germany including the abundance of sparkling water that the Germans seem like (do not ask me why) and how much American music they play (I did not come to Germany to listen to American music). But for the most part I love it here! The first week did not dissapoint with an abundance of new experiences including ordering food in German, riding the public transport, and going to the Baltic Sea, and I cannot wait to see what the next days hold!
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