Erfurt, 11:00 pm
Wittenberg was a rushed three days with a great host family and very little free time. I was catching up on sleep from the time in Berlin when I wasn't running around with my host sister, but I think I'm doing pretty well by now.
Today we took a day trip to Weimar by train, about a 20 min trip or so. We had a tour of Buchenwald concentration camp, which was...well, effective to say the least. I've read dozens of stories about the Holocaust and such, but being in the actual place was a heavy experience. The sheer expanse of it is amazing...the fact that the Nazi regime had such a huge effect on the population. Our tour guide said there were 50 different countries represented among the inmates of Buchenwald. The camp was built purposely on the most weather-beaten side of the mountain it's on. Today it snowed while we were there, and the wind was bitingly harsh. The whole time I could only think about the prisoners who were made to stand outside in such weather for up to 18 hours at a time, wearing far less clothing than I had on, and I was shivering. It was hard to look at, but I'm really glad I got to see it.
The rest of the day in Weimar was more cheerful. For once during a city tour it was sunny (we seem to bring rain and snow with us wherever we go in this country). We saw the famous Goethe and Schiller statue and went through Goethe's house. I liked Weimar a lot. It's relatively small, and the atmosphere was similar to that of Lübeck. Lots of history, and especially a history of good literature, of which of course I'm a big fan. At the same time though, the history is so mixed, because Weimar was one of Hitler's favorite cities, and he visited it a lot. The shadow of Buchenwald, so to speak, hovers over the rest of the city.
We've seen so many old churches here, but they never cease to amaze me. Someone was practicing the big organ when we went into the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, where Bach directed the choir. Big organ music in a big church is great, really. And the cobblestone streets are everywhere..I'll miss that when I get back to the States. But I definitely can't wait to see all of you...love you all!
Berlin, 10:17 pm
Last night in Berlin, and I feel like I've barely had the chance to get to know this city. Well, obviously, since it's pretty big. And there really isn't one single downtown area, so I feel like there are a million things I haven't seen. I could probably come back here for the same amount of time again and avoid everything I've seen so far and still have plenty to do. Of course, that could be true of any big city; I don't know cause I haven't been in many. But I think Berlin especially. Right now I'm in a different Interent cafe (they're everywhere) and it's in a Dunkin' Donuts. Real German culture, right here. Actually I think English-speaking people are drawn to the familiar pink and orange sign, cause I've heard more English here than German.
I can't even begin to talk about Berlin...there's so much here, so many impressions that I'm going to need to write down soon. I know I'm taking it for granted that I'll remember the little things. You know what I miss though, is big cups of coffee and cappuccino, etc. Every time you order something like that here, it comes in a little cup and lasts about 4 sips. Of course, there also aren't so many fat people here...
Last night was a blast. Professor Carvill's nephew Knut (what a terrific, utterly German name) and his friend Martin took us out to see the Berlin nightlife from a Berliner's perspective. And it was genuine Berliner perspective, cause we went to clubs that no tourist could find if they were trying. Through alley and up staircases and it looks like there's nothing there until you're in the room, and it's full of people and conversational furniture, and they're playing really interesting music. (It's kind of disappointing how many stores and restaurants here play American top 40.) We went to a place called Erdbeer ("strawberry") where the specialty is, of course, strawberry smoothies, and the decor was entirely red--walls, chairs, lights, everything.
Tomorrow we get on the train to Wittenberg, where we'll be with another host family. I've gotten an email from my host sister who is 17. So far I've had a host family with no kids, one with young kids, and now one with older kids, so I think that turned out nicely. I'm looking forward to staying with a family again because I'll have to practice my German. I don't have to speak it nearly as much here in Berlin cause I'm mostly with the American group.
Thanks everybody for your emails--South Dakota and Calvin seem far away, and I feel like nothing should be happening while I'm not there. So don't have any fun or anything...but yeah, thanks for the updates. I promise I'll answer all the questions you want when I get back since I never have enough time now. Umm, some random stuff...it's been rainy here. They don't get much snow, but we had some in Husum and the first couple days in Berlin, so I think we bring the weather with us. Oh, remind me to tell you about the Italian pizzeria. I'm getting better at typing on a German keyboard. There's a giant green-frosted donut on the window...do they really make green donuts? And everybody here (the women, I mean) wears boots with stilletto heels and pointy toes, and I feel very clunky in my Docs. I bought some cool European pants. I love the stores here. And we went to a flea market today. Okay, that's it for now, cause I think my time is running out...love you all!!
