Germany was a lot of fun. We had two classes 4 days a week. Engineering and German language. We had our engineering professors in the hotel with us so it made studying really comfortable. They would stay up till late at night to answer our questions and help us with our homework. I think we all developed a good relationship with everyone. In Germany, we visited castles, beautiful churches and we went to different parts of Germany too. My favorite was Bremen. Being there was like being in a fairytale. The buildings were beautiful and there were musicians in almost every block. We went to concentration camps, holocaust museum I learned so much about the history.
I also learned how insignificant we are when we travel. When I first arrived in Germany, it was completely foreign to me. By the end of the trip, I learned a little German but when I went to Denmark for my last week which was only an hour away from there. I was in a completely different place. The three languages that I knew was just useless.
Overall, I had a lot of fun visiting new places, trying out different tastes, and building new relationships.
Author: Belina Sainju
Some glimpses of our time in Germany
Group Photo at the Bus Stop
This was at the Europa Center, a place where there are a lot of shopping malls, cafes, and restaurants. This photo was taken right after we had bought some icecream and were waiting for our bus to head back to our hotel. This picture also almost looks like our International Passport (International Orientation of Calvin) but in Berlin.
Professor Nielsen
Professor De Rooy
They are our dear Professors. The first picture is of Professor Nielsen when we were in Wittenberg. He was telling a story about the place where Jewish resided in the past. The second picture is of Professor De Rooy. They would tell us jokes and stories about their experiences. Their jokes would make all of us laugh out loud and we loved listening to their stories too. We could not ask for any better Professors for this trip. Also, aren’t they so cute!
Bearlin!
One of the things that you notice in Berlin is the bear statues in almost every street. Out of curiosity, I looked it up and it says that there are approximately 350 bears in the city. Bear statues I mean, of course. Apparently, these bears symbolizes Berlin. They are called “Buddy Bears” and its story started in an artistic event back in 2001. When I learned about this, I tried getting pictures with as bears as I could in Berlin. This is one of the bears in Berlin near the huge Sony Center.
Berliner Dom
These pictures are of Berliner Dom at the Museum Island in Berlin. I visited many churches in Berlin and among all, this was the most beautiful church I had the chance to visit. The ceiling was so beautiful, I spent a long time just looking up and admiring it until my neck started hurting.
Taking a break
This picture was taken in Potsdam when we walked about 13 km (8 miles). It was a sunny day; we were all tired so we found a shade to sit and wait for our friends to catch up.
I had the best time of my life in Germany and I could not ask for a better group to go with.
(All credit for these photos goes to my friend, Kelsey Yen)
How was being in Bremen?
Being in Bremen was like being in a fairytale. The buildings were beautiful. My favorite thing about Bremen was how there was at least one musician at every corner playing different instruments, so we could hear the music everywhere we walked around in that city. I wish I could somehow save that wonderful atmosphere from there, but really, just imagine being in a musical fairytale. That was Bremen.
We mostly toured around the city in Bremen. One interesting place in Bremen was the place with colorful buildings on both sides of the small road. There were either cafes or pretty shops on the ground floor of the buildings.
The church in Bremen was also really beautiful. The glass windows, the monuments, the architecture. It just left me in awe. I spent a very long time in that church.
Visiting Concentration Camp and Holocaust Museum
Visiting the concentration camp, I realized how unaware I was of the pain that innocent people had to go through in the past. I knew about the history of war but never knew all the details I got to see in the concentration camp. It took around 3 hours to walk around the place. I saw places where people were tortured, suffocated, and killed. I read stories about how they were tortured. Looking at the rooms of torture gave me goosebumps. There was a small room where 400 people were thrown together to suffocate in there. The room was so tiny I could not even fit the image in my head as I had never heard of such torture stories before. I also saw drawings of torture that the victims had made and the letters written in hopes that they would reach to their family members. It was a pretty depressing day for me. I could not stop thinking of those torture places and it still holds my breath when I remember that place.
The next day, we also visited the Holocaust museum and reading the words of the victims just gave me shivers. While I was in the museum, I found time to read a book written by one of the survivors. She (the writer) had lost her mother and her baby brother. She writes about the time they got separated and wonders if she had spoken a little lie and insisted to stick with them, maybe they would have been alive with her. She expresses how even a small decision made at that moment caused a huge difference in her life.
After seeing the museum and reading about all the stories, I wonder how all those stories could be looked at in a completely different way if Hitler had won. Maybe those stories of torture and pain would have been seen as a victory rather than a crime. It made me think how history could be shaped by people in power or people who won and it has so many different sides to it. It is not just one story, it is a compilation of many different experiences.
Initial Reflections on Berlin
Since Berlin is the capital city of Germany, I had imagined it to be very crowded with tall buildings and a lot of traffic everywhere. But to my surprise, it was so much better. There were tall buildings, but only in certain places. There was not a lot of traffic and I believe that is because of the amazing public transport system. There are buses and trains everywhere. It was also interesting for me to see so many people using bikes as a means of transportation.
Besides transportation, I also noticed how there are not many posters or billboards with pictures of models in Berlin. In fact, I would hardly see one or two and they would be very plain ones. I wonder if that shapes the people’s mind to not have an ideal body shape. I noticed how people in Berlin no matter their age or their body shape dresses in their own unique fashion and they look very comfortable with their bodies.
I wish it was the same back at home. The convenient transportation system so that I won’t have problems with cars to go anywhere and also, the absence of ideal body shape.
Why I decided to participate in this program
I decided to participate in this Summer program because the idea of studying engineering in Germany, one of the leading countries in technology and engineering, was intriguing to me. I hope that when I am in Germany, I will be able to develop a closer relationship with professors and friends while we learn about engineering not only through textbooks but also outside in the field. I hope to be able to see the practical use of the material we learn in class. I also hope to use my strength of positivity and hard work by studying with other students and maintaining good atmosphere.