Major points:
-We have a 4-day weekend this weekend for a German holiday called Himmelfahrt. It is very nice to have these days off. I am tiring somewhat of the Unterricht (lessons). Also, the weather is fantastic, so it's a great weekend to have off
-Meine Gastschwester (host sister) Philine ist nach Paris gefahren (went to Paris) und sie wird für sechs Wochen dort bleiben (she will stay there for six weeks). Ich bin jetzt gewöhnlich allein zu Hause oder mit meiner Gastmutter (I'm usually home alone now, or with my hostmom). Aber Luise kommt oft. Ich helfe ihr mit ihrer Antrag auf einem Praktikum (Luisa comes often (she's my older Gastschwester). I help her with the application she's working on for an internship-- the app is in English)
Alte Nationalgalerie Museum on Museum Insel (Museum Island). Had to visit this to see an exhibition on German painter, Friedrich. Honestly, I did not enjoy Friedrich's work. It was some little people and mostly just a lot of blue or yellow, as was discussed in a useless Unterricht (lesson) on German Art History. However, there were some really beautiful landscapes done by another artist, whose name I have forgotten. If you recognize the below picture, maybe you can tell me who created it. It's kind of bothering me that I've forgotten.
Said piece of art by artist whose name I forgot because I'm a delinquent who doesn't pay attention in class.
How the dogs sleep on hot days feat. Emmi
Luke and I went out to a club in der Nähe von Friedrichstrasse (in the area around the S Bahn station/Kiez (neighborhood) of Friedrichstrasse). This was the entrance. You had to knock on the steel door. We felt pretty sweet going in. Mostly, it was filled with middle-aged people. Primarily groups of 40 year old women, and some couples in which the man appeared to be many years older than the woman. Fine scene for a Thursday night, though.
Owners of poodles tie their dogs ear-fur up in little ponytails. Purpose unclear. Amusement un-endless.
Last week's Exkursion was very cool. We went quite a ways from the center of the city to a Stasi prison called Hohenschönhausen, which was active from 1945 through the fall of the DDR (Deustche Demokratische Republik, i.e. Eastern (Communist) Germany). Our tour guide was fantastic and really gave us a sense of what it was like to be a Stasi prisoner. Thousands of innocent individuals were subjected to intense psychological torture at the hands of inquisitors. Prisoners were not allowed to sleep during the day, and were forced to undergo intensive questioning by trained (some with phDs...) inquisitors. A dark period in German history.
A small glimpse into a typical prison cell.
Hohenschönhausen from the outside. Classically communist.
This is practically everything that a prisoner had in his cell: a wooden bed. Conditions improved marginally throughout the years of the prison's operation, but only marginally. Rooms were not ventilated, and the humidity caused mold outbreaks. Oftentimes, rooms were either over or under-heated specifically for the discomfort of the occupant. Sounds like hell.
Windows were paned so that prisoners could not distinguish the surroundings of the prison. They were meant NOT to know where they were, at any time. Part of the whole psychological torture thing.
The group walks through the prison.
Change of pace. Last weekend, my friends Carter, Luke, and I went to Northwest Berlin to a Kiez (neighborhood) called Spandau. There is located one of the oldest sites in Berlin: Zitadelle, which is a fortress, parts of which were constructed as early as the 1300s. Carter and I had to do a presentation on the area, but it was awesome to be there regardless of the fact we did it for school.
Entrance to Zitadelle. This portion of the castle was built in the 1600s. Everything has been restored in the last 30 years. Very popular site among the Berlin public.
Juliusturm (Julius Tower) was built in the 1300s. Very old part of the castle.
Enormous staircase up the Juliusturm. The tower stands 32 m high, so one can see much of the city from the top (pics to follow).
Don't go up the Juliusturm in a lightning storm. That is a bad idea.
View from the top of the tower.
After visiting Zitadelle, we ventured into the small town of Spandau. Spandau is home to about 30,000 residents these days; kind of its own little township. Apparently Spandau residents don't really consider themselves part of Berlin. They put their identity as members of Spandau before their identity as members of Berlin. Kind of funny, considering it's a really tiny town with not a ton to its name. Above, however, is a picture of one of Berlin's oldest churches, which is located in Spandau. St. Nikolas is an evangelist church and was built in the 15th century.
Old Spandau
Rathaus Spandau (Spandau Townhall). One can see how important Spandau believes itself to be by the size of its townhall... is that really necessary for a town of 30,000?? We tried to get in, but apparently it was closed. A not very nice man informed us of this.
Now that the weather is getting so beautiful (just took a run, and it's 70 degrees and sunny), meine Gastmutter und ich frühstucken oft draussen (often eat breakfast outside). As you can see, I live a very difficult and trying life here.
Balu and I being very ernst together.
Last Saturday, I went with my host family to a town south of us called Postdam. We walked about 8km around a gorgeous lake with the Hunde. Luke ist auch mitgekommen (Luke came along as well). Gorgeous views, gorgeous day. Stopped to eat at a restaurant about half way around. Doesn't get much better than that.
Path around the lake in Potsdam.
Emmi and Balu take a dip
Evil swan swims on lake.
Restaurant. Ate some pasta with truffle oil. Not a bad mid-day snack.
Made another visit to the city center on a beautiful day. This time, we went to take a deeper look at the Mahnmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas (i.e. the Holocaust monument for the murdered European Jews). First, however, we made a stop at the Brandenburger Tor. The Brandenburger Tor is kind of an inside joke among our class, because we spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about it. It is definitely not important enough to merit the two weeks we focused on it in our history class. So we make fun of it frequently.
Monument.
Inside the information center for the Mahmal. Extremely, extremely well done. Really enjoyed walking through. Strongly recommend if you happen to be in Berlin. The museum works to bring a personal quality to the events of the Holocaust, focusing on individuals and families whose lives were cut short by the genocide.
This week's Exkursion was Topography of Terrors, which was supposed to be about the Gestapo and the Nazi regime. Unfortunately, our tour guide did not talk much about this, and mostly we stood in one place for about an hour. I thought I was going to pass out. The exhibition seemed super cool, but by the time we were done having our brains ground to mush by the tour guide, no one hatte Lust zu bleiben (no one wanted to stay). I might try to go back and check out the exhibition another time.
Group outside of the Topographie Des Terrors museum.
This is a small pizza place about a 2 minute walk from IBZ, wo wir unseren Unterricht haben (where we have our lessons). The pizza is wirklich gut (really good) und auch billig (also cheap). I probably eat lunch here at least once a week.
Yesterday, a group of friends and I travelled to Pfaunisland, i.e. Peacock Island. It was actually super close to home-- just about 30-45 min away via train, bus, and a literally minute long ferry ride that the company charged 4 Euro/person for.... After an extremely long wait at a local beer garden to buy a member-of-the-group-who-shall-not-be-named ANDREW food, we went over to the island. Above is a schloss we saw on the island. Not actually sure if the buildings were real. There was little to no information about the Geschichte of the area (history).
PEACOCKS. We didn't see one for the first half hour or so, so I was extremely relieved to spot this handsome cock.
Another building whose history is unexplained.
Me, Andrew and Zak enjoying the island.
Some sheep on the island, protected by an electric fence.
Other noteable parts of the past week included Wednesday night bar-hopping in Kreuzberg, which was a lot of fun. Ended up at a bar on the 5th floor of a parking lot (???) that was voll (very crowded) and hoppin'. Nightlife here is unparalleled. The bar scene is a blast, and the neighborhoods are all completely safe at night.
Oh, forgot to talk about the nightmare that was this play we saw last Saturday. Luke and I had to rush into the city after our beautiful day in Potsdam to see a play at the Deustsche Theatre. It was the weirdest thing I have ever seen. The German was impossible to understand (it was Kafka literature converted into a play montage), and the English subtitles were so fast that it was hard to keep up. There were five different actors all dressed the same, in old school '40s work clothes. The whole thing sounded like the rant of a schizophrenic. I pinched myself partway through to make sure it wasn't an actual nightmare. Apparently I really, really cannot appreciate modern theatre. God was it awful. The actors were so talented! But WHY ON EARTH would they choose to participate in a Stuck (work) that consists of speaking like a madman? Das kann ich nicht verstehen (can't understand that).
Can't believe I only have a month left here. Really wish I could come back in the fall for the advanced program, but unfortunately that will not be possible with all the classes I have to take for my major. Schade (a shame).
This week, I'll be going to Wien (Vienna) with Luke, Carter, and Andrew. More to come following that kleine Reise (little trip). Bis dann!
You must pay attention in class in order to get some info about that paint :p (don't be a delinquent).
ReplyDeleteLoving Balu and Potsdam!! <3