Prague, Czech puns, and more monopoly money

There really are no words to describe how beautiful Prague is. I've seen my fair share of Europe, but this city is by far the most beautiful that I have ever seen. Most everyone who I have talked to about their travels in Europe almost always say that Prague was their favorite city. While I can't say that it bumped London out of its spot as my favorite city in Europe, it definitely is up there on my top cities list.

Just a glimpse of the architecture

So anyway, we arrived at our hostel early Thursday afternoon and had enough time to put our stuff up, listen to the rules, and leave to go back into the city for our guided tour. This time we stayed at the PLUS Prague Hostel which was soooo much nicer than the one in Berlin! The wi-fi actually worked, I didn't have to share a bathroom with the entire floor, and there was a mirror in the room. Oh and a pretty cool bar (but I'll get to that later). Karin navigated our group then into the city, where we would meet our tour guide. The great thing about Prague transportation is that there are only 3 different subway lines. The bad thing is that I understand no Czech so when they call out the stops I could never tell if it was the one I actually needed unless I could see the name of the station on the wall. But luckily Karin's a pro and got us to our meeting spot. After finding some snacks, our tour guide finally showed up. Unfortunately for us, she was older and therefore didn't speak all that loud. Meaning that I really can't say I learned a lot from this tour which really is a shame since it focused on communism in the former Czechoslovakia. Though I did learn about the Velvet Revolution and that the Communism Museum is located above a casino. 

The casino that the Communism Museum is over

Paint a brick!

This statue. Literally no words. 

Memorial of the Velvet Revolution

Astronomical Clock!

We ended our tour at the Charles Bridge aka the central tourist bridge aka I don't care because it was beautiful! The view of the Danube and the other bridges over it, as well as all the statues on the bridge. Ugh, just too pretty. After making our way over the bridge, Rin, Emma and I had dinner with the boys at this Czech restaurant. I really wish I remembered what it was called because it was soooo good and so cheap! Emma and I split the goulash which was fantastic, and we also sampled some local beer that were like not even 2 Euros each. That was definitely one thing I loved about Prague, everything was so much cheaper! Even if the monopoly money didn't make sense (I took out a 1000 Koruny which was the equivalent of $50...).

View from the Charles Bridge

The best Czech beer!

Goulash!

After dinner we made our way to the Lennon Wall since we were so close to it. Emma shared the history of the wall with us. Wow, what an amazing piece of art. I just happened to have a couple of sharpies on me, so we all signed the wall. Afterwards we went to the John Lennon pub which was a hilarious time. Our waitress was super sassy, especially when one in our group ordered absinthe and she was called over to demonstrate how to drink it. We essentially did our own little pub crawl back to the hostel, ending it at the hostel bar where it seemed like everyone from our program was hanging for the night.

Rin, Emma, and I at the John Lennon Wall

We all live in a yellow submarine

Walking across the Charles Bridge at night

The next morning we had speakers to listen to, so we were yet again divided into Groups A and B. Luckily for my group, our meeting was at the hotel down the street which was super convenient. Our first speaker really was more of a lecturer (I mean he was an Econ professor), but it was super interesting. He focused on socialism and why it doesn't work and the Czech Republic's transition to a market economy. The next guy was a journalist who looked like a shorter eastern European version of Leonardo DiCaprio. He opened the floor for Q&A right off the bat and we learned a lot about the Czech people and government. I'd say of our trip, he was my favorite guest speaker by far. After our meetings were through we went into town and grabbed lunch at this market right off the subway stop. I had boar sausage which was surprisingly really good, and then we were off to wander again through Prague. We stopped at several markets (I bought my postcard) and again went over the Charles Bridge. Unfortunately for us it really started to rain, so Emma, Rin and I ducked into a café for a while. Once the rain was through we made our way back to the hostel to get ready to go out. We ended up at this club called Lucerna which was doing an 80s and 90s night. We kinda ended up being the youngest ones there as it turned into us dancing with people our parent's age. It was still a blast though as they played awesome music.

One of the many markets

OMG the Charles Bridge...AGAIN!

Ugh so pretty 

The only picture I snagged at Lucerna. I believe Britney was singing on screen in the background.

My last day in Prague ended up not being so great due to some stuff going on back at home, but I tried to make the most of it. Jacob and I were the last 2 at the hostel that morning, so we palled up for the day and found this really cool market by the river. He was a gent and bought me ice cream as a thank you for reminding him that he had left his laptop back at the hostel! He had to go off and get that which left me alone for about 2 hours by myself. Again, I just wandered with no set destination, and met up with everyone back at the train station. After taking 2 benadryl on the bus to sleep, I slept the entire 8 hr bus ride home, and woke up in Freiburg! As great as the trip was, I definitely was missing my home away from home. And boy has it been good to be back this past week. Even if that does mean I actually have to go to class now :P

Some cool graffiti

A view OF the Charles Bridge

I think the Czechs are still a little resentful of the communists...

Song of the Trip: Strawberry Bubblegum by Justin Timberlake

Best food: My goulash! Hands down a winner.

Ice Cream: Well actually it was delicious chocolate gelato from the market that Jacob and I went to

Must Do: See the Lennon Wall. Seriously, it's so cool.

Don't Do: Use public transportation without a valid ticket. A few kids in my program were checked with unvalidated tickets. Let's just say it cost them a few hundred Koruny...

Nightlife: Check out Lucerna! It was a blast, even if it was an older crowd.

Berlin Round Two

It'd only been a little over a year since my last trip to Berlin, so I remembered the city fairly well. However last time it had just been my friend Sam and I, whereas this time I was with 60 other people. They divided us into 2 groups so we would be easier to manage (that and we had slightly different schedules), which meant that we were also located at two different hostels. With my luck, our group kinda got the shaft on the hostel deal and got the shittier one further from downtown. Though I shouldn't complain too much considering I spent almost no time there, thanks to some very late nights. As soon as we dropped our stuff off we went straight to Brandenburger Tor to begin our walking tour of the city. We briefly met the other group, and then we were off to walk around Berlin and learn about post WWII history!

I'm just all about the selfies in front of important stuff

Moser and I 

Our guide was great (and British, yay!) and gave us a pretty thorough history of Berlin under Hitler and right after the war. We walked through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, over Hitler's bunker, past the Topography of Terror, the Luftwaffe Headquarters, and the Propoganda Ministry. We ended our tour at Checkpoint Charlie which was just as unimpressive as it was the last time I was there, and then we were free for the rest of the evening.

The group walking into the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Kevin in the Memorial

Hitler's Bunker. Ahh I stood over where he killed himself...

Former Luftwaffe Headquarters

Topography of Terror Museum

We went to this awesome club called Felix which was right near the British embassy and the Holocaust memorial. Monday is Ladies Night which meant no cover for us girls and then basically male strippers from Magic Mike. Needless to say it was awesome. We danced and danced and probably didn't leave till about 3 or 3:30 and made the long cold trek home to BaxPax Mitte where we were staying. It was about 4 when I finally got in bed which basically allowed me to take a 3.5 hr nap before I had to get up and shower. With only 2 showers to our floor, I wanted to make sure I at least got one!

The group on stage at Felix

Our second day was pretty jam packed for us essentially having the afternoon off. We started out with a tour of the Berlin Wall Memorial where we watched a couple of videos on the wall, and then had an awesome tour guide take us around. The amount of people that died trying to escape East Berlin, or really just the victims in general astounded me. The fact that children died because they fell in the river and couldn't swim, yet no one could jump in the water to save them without risk of being shot, just hit me really hard. The fight against communism was so real and so strong, and you can still feel that the fight isn't over in Berlin. There's so much construction, especially in the Eastern half of the city, from tearing down Soviet buildings. There's also a strong presence of Die Linke in the Eastern half, as if the people still aren't willing to let socialism die just yet.

Anyway, after our tour we were free for the afternoon to work on our Berlin Projects for German. Mine required that I go to the Jewish Museum and answer some questions about it, reflect, and the sorts. I was intrigued because this was a museum that I had not been to, and Jewish history has always been so interesting to me, especially the Jews in Germany. I went with Tammy, Rin, and Salome, and this museum beyond exceeded my expectations. There is such a huge focus on the architecture of the museum and one's interpretation of it. Libeskind, the architect, designed it so that one would reflect, that one could put themselves in the shoes of the Jews - especially during the Holocaust era. The Garden of Exile and the Memory Void were the 2 highlights of the museum for me. They respectively lie at the ends of the Axis of Emigration and the Axis of Continuity. Being in the Garden of Exile you can tell that he wants one to feel disoriented as it does not lie on flat ground, but on a slope. There are also tall concrete blocks like in the Holocaust memorial that block most of your vision while in the garden. However, at the top of each block there is an olive tree planted which I believe symbolizes how that at the end of their journey the Jews were to eventually find peace (I believe that place to be Israel). 

View of the outside of the Jewish Museum

In the Garden of Exile

The other exhibit, the Memory Void, actually made me speechless. Never have I been so moved by a museum exhibit before. The floor of this void is comprised of over 10,000 iron faces "fallen leaves" as the artist calls them. They stare up at you hauntingly as you walk across them (which you're allowed to do because it's an interactive exhibit). The faces klang against one another as you move across the floor and actually make it impossible for one to move silently, but the klang is the only thing that breaks the silence. "Schallendes Schweigen" is a poem by Rose Ausländer which accurately, in my mind, represents the room. If you go to Berlin, you have to go to this museum, and you have to go to the Memory Void. It sticks with you. You feel the suffering of this group of people, hear their long lost cries. I scribbled out a poem the following day about it when I should've been paying more attention to the DGAP speaker, but I couldn't get the place off of my heart or out of my mind.

"Etched Faces"
Faces staring all around
Looking up,
as I look down
Their cries, they echo
through empty space
And haunt the void,
This solemn place
Standing still
They cry no more
Their dried tears
stain the floor
-S. Ireland

Fallen Leaves

When we left we had a tour scheduled for us at the Reichstag (seat of the German Bundestag aka Parliament), and we were kinda late getting there lol whoopsies. It was so cool actually getting to visit, even if our tour guide was ancient and talked super slowly in a monotone voice. It also made me realize that I've never even seen the US Capitol...awkward. Also the Cuppola at the top offers amazing views of the city, so I highly recommend giving the Reichstag a visit.

Where important stuff happens in Germany

Sunset in the Cuppola

The rest of the evening we had off, so we went and ate some tasty German food and went out to a neat little bar with some Australians. Literally the accents on this trip though, they just made me melt haha. Also on our way back we happened to walk through prostitute alley. German prostitutes are quite practical really, they all wear fanny packs with their corsets and 5 inch heels.

Our last day in Berlin was jam packed! We had a meeting at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik which was led by a Mr. Julian Rappold. The DGAP is essentially a network for Germany's foreign policy, so the meeting was very interesting as we really focused on the upcoming election. After our meeting with Herr Rappold we had a little break to change our clothes and eat before we went to listen to some women speak about living in the DDR (former East Germany). It was astonishing hearing actual accounts of the presence of the Stasi, how people were monitored, and how if you weren't compliant with the government they could essentially ruin your life. After listening to them, I had my reflection session at this cafe with some other students in my group where IES graciously paid for my coffee as I discussed politics in the EU and Germany. And for our last night in Berlin we made it out to East Berlin to this club called Suicide Circus. I think the name should be enough to accurately describe how that experience was. But hey I got to dance, and got a poster and some stickers so I think it was a success. Overall Berlin was yet another fantastic experience. While I experienced a lot of the same sights that I did with Sam last summer, it was such a different trip this go round. And I'm sure that the next time I go back, it will be just as different.

Song of the trip: Royals by Lorde
Best meal: My schnitzel at that one German restaurant we went to...
Must do: Visit the Jewish Museum
Don't do: Underestimate how long it takes you to get somewhere! We were like 30 min late to a meeting because we underestimated how far we had to walk hahaha
Nightlife: Go to Felix! So much fun! Firebar was also a great time (and cheap!)

First Freiburg Post!

To think that I’ve been back in Germany for almost 3 weeks is just something that I find hard to believe. I already feel so at home in Freiburg, and even though I still have a lot of the city left to explore, I feel like it’s mine already. Berliner Allee is my residence for the next 3 months, and while my room may be a little sterile, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

My room! (With a TV that doesn't work)

Very white I know

View from my window!

I’ve already become fast friends with the other Berliner Allee IES kids, the language program kids included. The acclimation to the German culture in Freiburg has also happened very quickly. I’m now a proud bike owner, and for once have my own bell to kling at people which is a glorious feeling after being harassed by so many bikers in Münster.

On my bike! (courtesy of Emma)

            After 5 weeks in the States, I was wondering how my German would be when I came back. But I’m surprisingly pleased with my level of speaking. I’m in the high level German class so there is formal instruction and whatnot. But it’s also great having German roommates that I see on a regular basis and can converse with. Louisa is really the only one of the 3 that I’ve met that I regularly talk with, but even still, talking about things like movies is practice. And I definitely want all the practice I can get. People generally don’t know that I’m American unless I’m speaking English with the other people in my program which is awesome. I was also asked if I was Russian or French which I found hilarious. I really enjoy the company of the Freiburgers. It’s an eclectic group, lots of students and hippies, but everyone is just super friendly. Not to mention this city is gorgeous. There are so many parks everywhere. Like seriously America needs to invest in more green spaces in its cities because it's just downright beautiful here. 

This is the lake that I run around. Kinda pretty huh?

            I’m also really looking forward to all the opportunities that I will be awarded this semester. They traveling and trips that we’re taking are of course awesome, but also things like the Rent an American program and the hiking in the Black Forest are just amazing. Through the Rent an American program I’ll essentially get to try and see if the Fulbright Teaching Fellowship is really something I want to do as I go volunteer in German classrooms and teach kids about American culture. I think it’ll really help me on my application for that. And then the hiking. Just oh my goodness. I’m kind of in love with the Black Forest. The waterfalls, the mystery of it, it's just somewhat magical. And the best part is, there’s so much to explore! Then there is the wine country to the Southwest of us, and I’m very much looking forward to biking to some vineyards and doing some wine tastings.

I'm outdoorsy and stuff

Some of the Berliner Allee chicks! (Left to right: Elise, myself, Emma, and Rin)

It really is the Black Forest guys

Waterfalls in Triberg

Waterfalls on our hike 2 weekends ago!

            Overall, I couldn’t be any happier with my decision to go back abroad and to do the IES European Union program. My classes should be challenging, and the fact that they’re paired with these field trips makes them even more awesome. The case studies that I'll be completing as well as the visits to the seats of these major European institutions is something that I never would have imagined myself doing. And I also couldn’t have asked for a more awesome and diverse group of people to travel around Europe with. While I’m not going to be best friends with everyone in this program (there are 57 of us, I know my limits), I know I’ll make several close friendships throughout the semester. I've had so much fun with this crazy group of people so far, and I know as we get closer, it'll only get that much better. 

We're kinda crazy fun (ps that's Moser and Anders in the back)

Just another night on the town (Moser is kind of a ladies man lol)

Berliner Allee celebrating Salome's birthday!

Making dumplings at Fei's place. Katie was kind of the dumpling master.

I'll be sure to post about Berlin and Prague soon! Just needed to get the first post up and running :)