I had a lot of incredible experiences this summer. This was my first time ever leaving the country, and being fully immersed in a different culture. I was able to experience different forms of worship at a different cathedral each weekend. Studying engineering at the Technical University of Berlin and learning German from native German speakers was even more immersive. On the weekends we would go to cities around Germany, and spend the day exploring the city. This last week we were able to separate into smaller groups and travel around Europe. My group traveled to Munich and stayed for two days, staying at The Tent, which was a hostel that is famous for being very cheap and super hip. After that we went to Zurich, Switzerland for three days, and on one of those days we went to Schwanden, and climbed the Swiss Alps. On the way back to Berlin we stopped at Freiburg, Germany and got to see the Schwarzwald (Black Forest). Then we got back to Berlin and got to relax until we left for America.
Author: James Kulaga
Protestant and Catholic Mass
This summer we’ve gone to many different churches throughout Germany, some Catholic and some Protestant. After our trip to Wittenberg, and seeing Luther’s church, I was able to see the differences in the two major religions in Germany. We were first able to participate in a Catholic Mass at the Cathedral in Cologne. The mass felt deeply religious and private, as a protestant, I felt like an outsider and even an intruder. The service felt more like a ceremony than what I was used to. At the protestant service I was actually surprised to find that much of the service was similar. The specifics of the service were different, but the overall feel of the service was the same. I was raised in a far more contemporary style of church services, and being in both of these types of services was far different than anything I was used to. One thing that I could tell from both services, was that the religious people here seem deeply devout.
Trip to Bremen
This summer we took a day trip to the city of Bremen. Like many of the other places we visited Bremen was very touristy and bustling with people. However Bremen was the first touristy city we had visited that wasn’t a tourist spot for Americans. It was really interesting to see a popular location unaffected by American culture. Out of all the cities we’ve visited so far, I could see myself living here the most. I really loved the older town square and the cathedrals around town. The city was absolutely gorgeous, when we had time to wander around, I took a lot of pictures and explored every church I could find. I’ve loved seeing all the churches throughout Germany, and Bremen had a lot to offer. I found a church that had an underground portion that was open to view and it was really cool, both figuratively and literally! It was really hot out so a break from the sun was fantastic. After seeing a lot of the older portion of town, a few of us went to see the more modern city, which was a lot more like the other cities we’ve been to. Overall our trip to Bremen was really fun because we got to see a city that still had a lot of intact older buildings and lots of German culture.
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
This past weekend we visited the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. The main concentration camp headquarters in World War II. We began the tour by walking down a long path with a wall on our left that told the timeline and details of Sachsenhausen’s use during the war, as well as its liberation. I’ve read the words before in other exhibits in Berlin, as well as in history classes in the past, but words are just that, words. Nothing could really prepare me for seeing the the compound myself, behind the large gate with the words “Arbeit Macht Frei” (work sets you free) written on the doorway. From the moment I walked through that gate there was a constant haunting feeling that chilled me despite the eighty degree heat.
My first impression upon seeing the camp was that it was massive, Sachsenhausen was far larger than I had ever anticipated, and just like that my image of the concentration camps during the war shifted. Although I had read details about the events multiple times, the numbers and statistics meant nothing to me until I saw it. Even though most of the buildings had been burnt down and destroyed, it was clear that an immense number of human beings were forced to work, and be tortured there. I stayed there for 4 hours, seeing all the buildings still standing, and all the museums the compound had to offer. I read hundreds of plaques and memorials, though there were thousands more available. There was so much to take in. At the end however I found that I had not taken any photos. I realized that really there was nothing I wanted to take with me when I left. So much evil happened there and it left me feeling ill. There was nothing that made me want to think about that place again. But despite my discomfort and weak stomach, I know that this is something that I will never be able to forget, and I believe it is rightfully so.
First Thoughts
I am so excited to go on this trip. This is going to be a whirlwind of completely new experiences for me. I have never been to another country, I have never flown on an international plane. I have never been fully immersed in a different culture. This summer I hope to be able to throw myself at new experiences and come out a new person. I want to be changed this summer by the people I meet, the places I go, and even the food I eat!
I hope to complete Engr 202 with the rest of my class and learn a lot more about engineering, and have a new respect for working hard to complete my work on time. I think I will be able to bring a fun and adventurous attitude to our group and keep everyone at an upbeat mood. My prayer for this summer is that I will learn a lot about Germany, and engineering, and how the two are related. I pray that I will experience a wide range of German culture, and that those experiences will change my outlook on the world!