My last day in Germany

So, today is my last day in Germany. My flight home leaves at 10:00 am local time, so I've gotta be super early to make sure everything is packed and all that good stuff. I decided I wanted to write a little something about my experiences here and my anticipation towards going home after three months.

First, I still can't quite believe it's actually been three months. It doesn't feel like it's been that long at all. It feels like it's only been a few weeks, as if my first day here was barely past me. But apparently three months went by without me really noticing. I guess I can measure the passage of time by how much I've learned but I never considered it before because I'm always looking to improve. I wish I could've learned more in these short 12 weeks but I suppose if I want to keep learning, I'm going to have to do it on my own from now on. Good thing I planned on ordering the German channel package with DISH Network with I get back to Cruces!

I've really enjoyed my stay here in Berlin and learned a lot, not just in the school about the language, but I've learned so much about the culture and tensions by talking to people. Again, I wish I had more time to learn all I can about the people and their lives here. It's a fascinating country with a fascinating history and the way that history is still shaping the people is quite something. If anyone is looking for a vibrant, historically-rich, beautiful, and relaxed city in Europe, I would definitely recommend a trip to Berlin.

Although I got to see and experience so much in Berlin despite my limited budget, I wish I had taken the opportunity to see more outside the city. I only actually left the city twice, once to visit Potsdam, which is practically a part of Berlin and once to visit Dresden. I'm a little disappointed because I promised myself I would take a trip to Cologne to see the Köln Cathedral. That never happened. Neither did I get a chance to visit Hohenzollern Castle, which I was really hoping to see. I had also hoped to be able to spend at least a few weekends visiting other cities in Europe. I had imagined it wouldn't be very difficult to visit London, Paris, Prague, and Italy and indeed it really is easy to travel between EU nations. But time got away from me and when I realized I had to get a move on if I wanted to actualize any of those plans, it was too close to today and everything was much too expensive. I wish I had planned out some of those excursions while still in the US, because I could booked transport and lodgings in advance and it would have been reasonably priced. As it is, I spent three months in Europe and only saw one city. I'm pretty disappointed with that because I've spent my whole life dreaming of the day I could visit Europe and it feels like I've squandered that opportunity. Not to say my time in Berlin wasn't great, because it certainly was, but I don't know that I'll ever get a chance to cross the ocean again. I had the opportunity to see the cities I've studied for years and I couldn't take it. Oh well, in any case, Berlin was still a fantastic experience.

This trip also gave me the opportunity to cross two goals off my bucket list, learn German and visit Germany! It was truly a unique experience and I know I'll never look at some things quite the same. Not the sound morbid but it was quite the experience standing in certain places in Germany, looking out at some remarkable site and realizing Hitler once stood here, looking at the exact same thing. It's a chilling thought and it really drives home the terror of Nazi regime. I think for me the Nazi regime has always been a little more real than to most Americans my age because we're so far removed from it. We here the word Holocaust and we know what it means and we have some vague idea about international consequences but most people don't put much effort into learning what really happened in Germany 80 years ago. But I've spent years reading about it. I've watched recordings of Hitler's speeches, I've heard testimony from the Nuremberg trials, I've read accounts of concentration camp survivors, I even have a WWII Encyclopedia Set. I've written numerous papers for all different subjects in school about Nazism. For me, having a deeper understanding of the Nazi regime than most, the terror was always acutely real. But even at that, being there was something totally different. I know now that every time I see a picture of Hitler or Goebbels, or Himmler, or Heydrich, or any other top Nazi official in Berlin, I'm going to see where in that picture I stood. How close I was to that spot where they saluted the one who sanctioned the complete extermination of so many people across Europe. And for me, the worst part isn't even the Jews. Everyone knows about the great numbers of Jews who were murdered and they should. Those people should be honored and remembered. But what about the rest of them? Most people don't realize how many people and different groups of people were murdered in Nazi Germany. It wasn't just Jews. It started with political opponents, those who called out Hitler's radical views. It expanded to Jews and Gypsies and eventually to anyone considered by the arresting officer "asocial," which could mean they stole something or they weren't working toward the war effort, even if they hesitated to salute Hitler. But that's still not the worst of it. To me, the very worst part of the Nazi eugenics campaign was the extermination of the "unfit." Every mentally and physically disabled person  (including those with psychiatric problems and homosexuals) was rounded up and either killed, because they supposedly posed a risk to the health of the coming generations and were a drain on the government, or they were used in the God-awful Nazi science experiments, which I don't even like to think about. Those people are the ones I feel for most and they're the ones who are never mentioned, whose families still have not received any reparations for their losses. I think if more people looked into the atrocities committed against all the other people who were victimized by the Nazi regime, besides just the Jews, this would be a bigger deal and perhaps we wouldn't be so quick to forget.

But in the spirit of lightening the mood, I want to talk a little about going home. I'm really excited! Even though it doesn't feel like it's been three months, I still can't wait to see my family! I so miss my nieces and nephew! I can't wait to see those little brats! Of course my parents and my siblings as well! And also, I can't wait to see something there! I've eaten some truly delicious meals here in Germany and I'm going to miss some of the food but nowhere near as much as I currently miss green chile and tortillas!! My mouth is watering just thinking about! That's literally the first thing I have planned when I land in 'Burque. First get off the plane, then find some amazing food!! I'm also looking forward to seeing my friends, even though I only have a couple of those and we haven't talked much while I've been here. And after that, I can't wait to see the rest of my (Saiz-Lucero) family at our family reunion!! It's going to be perfect, both for getting home after three months abroad and then for having to go back to work in Cruces in the middle of summer (yuck!).

I'm also looking forward to a few other random things. Number one is driving! I've never liked being in close proximity to other people so not riding a sardine-packed train every day is definitely going to be awesome! I'm also really looking forward to being back at the house in Cruces. I only lived there for about month before leaving to come here but I got really comfortable there and I miss that comfort. I also surprisingly miss working. Mostly because I usually didn't have much to do after school since I'm not good at making friends, but also because I felt like I was wasting my time. I've always known I'm not good at having nothing to do, so I could never imagine just not having a job and now I know what that's like. As much as I dislike Walmart, I need work in my life. Also, work gave me pretty much my only instances of social interaction, and those interactions at work are more than enough for me, but lacking those I've discovered I actually look forward to them.

But it won't be too long until I can do all those things and for that I'm very happy. And I'm also very grateful to have had this opportunity. My family has been simply amazing and incredibly supportive in helping me get here and I can't thank them enough for all their help. I know this is an experience of a lifetime and I'll never forget it! 

Haus der Wannsee Konferenz and Don Juan!

SO, it's my last week and I've been neglecting this blog due to my anticipation! But I have done a few more interesting things this week...


First, I went to The House of the Wannsee Conference, which you've probably never heard of unless you're a WWII buff. But for the laymen, The Wannsee Conference was a conference between several Nazi officials during which "the final solution to the Jewish question" was carefully and meticulously laid out. And by that I mean the arrest, deportation, detention, and murder of the Jews of Europe was planned down to the letter. There is only one surviving copy of the minutes of this meeting and it is one of the only official documents that survived post-war Germany which outlines the exact means and process of the Holocaust. The interesting thing about the Wannsee Conference, though, is that it took place long after "the final solution" had begun to be carried out. Some historians theorize that the meeting was simply a self-important facade of some of the lower-level Nazi officials, as neither Hitler, Goebbels, Heydrich, or Himmel were in attendance and such a drastic decision couldn't have been made without them. It's possible (even likely) that the meeting was more of a recap for lower level officials who didn't get their orders directly from Hitler, but the importance of the Conference is unquestionable as it was this meeting that can show us today just how intricate and detailed were the intentions of the Nazi government to fully and completely eradicate the European Jewry.

So this the villa on Wannsee where the conference was held.

And the garden...

This is what the room used to look like...

And what it looks like today.

The view from the villa. Such a beautiful place!

I found Aslan!

I also decided to revisit some of my favorite sites in Berlin and I snapped this pic of Berliner Dom. 

The other thing I did recently was attend my first ever ballet! It was a modern production of Don Juan, inspired by Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. It was absolutely incredible! The performers were truly amazing. I can't wait until I can see another performance! Although it made me want very badly to see Mozart's Don Giovanni performed live because I never have, despite it being one of my favorite operas! Anyway, that's all I've got for now! 

Topography of Terror and Checkpoint Charlie

This is an indoor/outdoor memorial called "Topography of Terror." 

It documents the events leading up to, during, and in the wake of the Nazi Regime.

There's also a library inside, but this a day trip with just reading the information cards. There's just so much to see.

A prayer-like recitation taught to children during the Nazi regime. In case you didn't know, Hitler wasn't only a dictator, there were a lot of pseudo-religious aspects to Nazism, including the indoctrination of children. Children were taught that Hitler was the ultimate power, that he was to be valued above everyone and everything. The Hitler Youth, like the troops, military, and civil servants, swore fealty and loyalty directly to Hitler, not to Germany or the Government.

The translation of the recitation:

"My leader! (The child speaks)

I know you well and I love you like father and mother.

I will always be obedient, like father and mother

And when I grow up, I'll help you, like father and mother

And thou shalt look at me, like father and mother."

A poster showing that Hitler was given credit for all the good things that happened in Germany, including the increase in employment (though this was in fact due to changes put in place by the Weimar Republic) and the decrease of homeless people (who were actually rounded up and arrested, most sent to concentration camps and work camps on the grounds of being "asocial," which was a term used to justify the arrest and extermination of pretty much anyone) but all the bad things that happened were not considered his fault at all, mostly being blamed on the Jews or the Bolsheviks.

The rules for the Herrenrasse to retain its purity.

You can read that for yourself...

Some Jews fought back...

But with propaganda infesting literally every aspect of life, it was pretty much possible.

Kids had to use how to use gas masks in school during the air raids in Berlin.

The one thing every American wants to see, Checkpoint Charlie!

Checkpoint Charlie was the most famous crossing point between East and West Germany during the Cold War.

U.S. Army, American flags, and a McDonald's...it's like being back home! Haha!

Deutches Historisches Museum

So I today I finally took the time to go to the Deutches Historisches Museum, which I really wish I had done earlier because there is SOOO much to see there. The exhibits span from the time of Charlemagne to the Fall of the Berlin Wall. There is also a special exhibition area which I didn't even have time to visit but I may go back; the current exhibit is on the First World War. Anyway, here's a brief journey through time in Germany!

German language dictionary, compiled by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

The "Heliand-Lied," one of the oldest surviving papyrus of German literature.

What a marriage contract looked like!

German medieval armor and weaponry.

Quiver and bolts...

...for this crossbow!

Battle horn.

"The Chronicle of Cologne," a history of the city of Cologne.

The most widely-known portrait of Martin Luther.

Leather lining worn under a steel helm. (Don't mind the weirdo in the reflection.)

Mounted knight's helm. You can't tell by this picture, but this thing was HUGE!

This is one of the creepiest and coolest things I saw: An old mask made of leather to prevent catching the plague!

A page from the infamous "Hammer of the Witches."

And the other coolest thing I saw: A plague plaque, hung outside the homes where the plague was present to warn others.

Porcelain coffee set. Coffee and chocolate were considered so luxurious, only the finest wares were used to prepare and serve them.

I've always wanted one of these phones...

A cool, steampunk-looking telescope.

A German automobile.

A sewing machine.

And I've always wanted one of these bicycles, too!

WWI armaments.

WWI era hand grenades.

WWI German soldier uniforms.

Field knives.

WWI weaponry.

Leather caps worn during WWI.

I saw this steel helmet and just thought, "Somebody died in this." That was a creepy moment...

Anti-British propaganda cards from WWI.

This is a copy of the Treaty of Versailles in French and English.

The German "mark" had so little value during the hyperinflation, million-mark bills had to be printed.

This small silver coin was worth half a million marks.

The beginnings of National Socialism: a party member booklet from before the NSDAP entered the German government.

German marks stamped with anti-Semitic and anti-Bolshevik propaganda.

An early edition of Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" written during the one year he spent in jail for treason.

In the early 20th century, motorcycle became very popular in Germany.

An election poster for Hitler.

Anti-NSDAP literature.

Insignias of the SS

Anti-NSDAP poster. The text says, "The Third Reich? NO!"

Nazi SS uniform

Ballot for the 1933 elections, when the NSDAP was re-elected as the leader party.

Just a few of the numerous books that were black-listed by the NSDAP and burned across the country.

Civil servant uniforms, including park services.

Bust of Adolf Hitler.

Guide to the German races. The top row shows the "Nordliche" or Aryan ideal.

Anti-semitic children's picture book.

SS Lieutenant uniform...don't mind the odd reflection of that weird person.

Very crappy picture...of Hitler's desk.

American propaganda poster, Pearl Harbor.

The yellow Star of David was required of all Jews to be worn securely and prominently on the clothing to easily identify them.

Globe which once stood in Hitler's office with the area of Germany beaten in with a blunt object (presumable by Allied soldiers after the invasion of Berlin) and a bullet hole through the area where Berlin would be found.

Cannister of Zyklon B, the poison gas used to murder millions of Jews and other enemies of the State, particularly in Auschwitz during the implementation of the Final Solution.

Warning and instructions for using Zyklon B.

Reports after the invasion of Berlin by Allied Forces.

I wish I could spend days in this museum cause there's just SO much to read and see. If I ever come back to Berlin, I'm definitely going back! And I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in history or wants to learn more about the history of Germany, no matter which historical period interests you. Just do it!