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