Berlin Field Trip

It has already been a week since I've returned from Berlin and I can't believe I haven't shared yet. This trip was with my program so it was a great balance academic meetings/ tours and getting to explore the city on our own.

The first afternoon we had a great tour of the city center, starting with the famous Brandenburg Gate, a neoclassical monument, that has become a symbol of German unity since the fall of the Berlin Wall. On this tour, we also got to visit the Holocaust Memorial which is difficult to put into words, but the architecture and design was extremely well thought out. Nobody can walk through the museum without feeling some sort of somberness or without taking a moment to remember a dark time in German history.

This is from the second day in Berlin when we visited the Bundestag, where the federal representative body gathers to make legislative decisions.

From inside the Bundestag, where the elected representatives sit. Germany, unlike the U.S, does not operate with a two party system, it has a multi-party system consisting of two main parties, three smaller parties, and other minor parties. This room is sectioned off by party alignment. What I found most fascinating about the Bundestag was the overall architecture. One can go all the way to the roof of the building and still be able to look down at the representatives, which is a reminder that they are representing the entirety of the German population and are not above the German population but rather a unified voice.

After a long day consisting of an economics lecture, a tour of a former Stasi prison(the police for the GDR, when Germany was divided) it was finally time for a walk along the East Side Gallery. This is the longest remaining stretch of the wall and every piece has a mural/ art of some sort. Definitely my favorite part of Berlin. Above are just a few of the murals that stuck out to me.

There is so much more to say about Berlin! I haven't even touched on the amazing museums I visited(The Jewish Museum and Berlinishe Gallerie), all of the delicious food, and the night life! But I will conclude this post with the iconic Ampel Mann which is found on pedestrian traffic lights all throughout Berlin. The Ampel Mann started when the wall went up and has been around ever since. I find it adorable.

To say the least, Berlin was such a diverse and vibrant city, with rich history. Some of this history I have been learning about since my time in German immersion Elementary school and it was great to finally see it in person. I hope to be back again.

Ich bin ein Berliner!(not really)!

Byeeee!!!!