Berlin, Germany

Berlin’s geography had some differences from the United States, especially compared to Eau Claire or my hometown of Albert Lea, MN. Movement is a huge difference. In Berlin, the majority of people get around through public transportation. We got everywhere we needed to be through the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn. There were stops everywhere! U-Bahns are basically underground subways; S-Bahns are above ground. I saw kids, professionals, teenagers, elderly people, and even dogs on the public transportation systems. It is such a quick process—you hop on really quick and it leaves the station. There are many different lines, so people may have to transfer. Even with transferring, it is still a fairly quick and easy process. I was confused at first, but after a day or two I felt like I could get anywhere in the city. There is a huge reliance on public transportation, which is very different than in the Midwest here in the United States. In the Midwest, we all have our own car. In the Midwest, out mindsets are different. We all want our own car because it is more convenient and we like not having to rely on anyone else. It is interesting to me that their form of transportation takes up a different kind of space than what I am used to—Berlin uses underground space for public transportation.

 

 

My favorite academic experience in Berlin was the Jewish Museum, followed closely by the DDR Museum. Both museums gave me a great background on the history of the troubles Germany went through. The Jewish Museum had a lot of information about not only the Holocaust, but also how Jewish people have been oppressed for years and years. I learned a lot about the Jewish culture, which I’m very glad was included in the museum. The DDR Museum gave information about the life of the east side of the Berlin Wall when it was up. It is crazy how much control the party had over the people and how manipulative they were.



Jewish Museum before Nazis closed it



New Jewish Museum



"Fallen Leaves" in the Memory Void of the Jewish Museum. These 10,000 faces are dedicated to all the innocent victims of war and violence.

 

 

 My favorite extra-curricular experience in Berlin was going to the East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall. The whole story behind the Berlin Wall just blows my mind. It was a little eerie to be standing next to the wall, knowing it was used to trap people and that people were killed trying to get over the wall. The East Side Gallery has a large part of the wall still standing, complete with meaningful graffiti. They are trying to build a condo and tear down part of the wall, so people have been protesting this. I agree with the protestors. I think they need to keep the wall up as a remembrance of the terribleness of it and to help prevent something like this from happening again, I also find it fascinating that all around Berlin, you can see a certain kind of cobblestone that used to be where the wall was. It really helps put it into perspective that a literal, cement wall used to be separating the two sides of the city. Going to the East Side Gallery was optional for us and I am very glad I went. I would recommend for future years to make it required—I think everyone needs to see this!

 

As for places to eat in Berlin, I would recommend trying gelato anywhere they have it! Gelato is very similar to ice cream, but you have to try it while you’re in Europe! There was a place fairly close to our hostel we stayed at. Otherwise, there are many gelato stands about all the Bahn and train stations! Yum!