The Center of Europe

We've done it! We've survived another week in Germany, and boy has it been a great one. I figure the best way to work is chronologically, so I'll start where we left off on Sunday. Added note, sorry for the delayed post. I had no way to post on Saturday when in Berlin. From now on I will be updating on Sunday to avoid this problem in the future. I also changed the font from Times New Roman due to Nevan's complaining, so you're all welcome for that.

On Sunday morning our group went to the English church in Leipzig, and we had a great time getting to meet other Christians that we could talk with. There were violins, beautiful voices, and a delicious potluck afterward. It began to snow on Sunday, and it has been ever since, leaving beautiful scenes like these.

Snowy night

A Church near our flats

On Monday we had our first visit to the German language school where we will be taking six hours of German language credit. The teachers are wonderful, though the class can be quite hectic. There are seven students to a class, and the German teachers are native speakers. However, the twist that nobody expected is that the class is entirely spoken in German. The teachers will speak, explain, and respond only in German. This causes plenty of confused faces and questions, but I have no doubt that the instructors know what they are doing. The view outside of the school is amazing, at least.

View out of our school

We had two of our other classes on Tuesday: German culture and ACU's Core. We also got to visit the U.S. consulate on Tuesday. We were greeted with a warm American welcome by angry security guards, an ear splitting metal detector, and a long speech on culture in a hot room. The people inside were nice, and it was more time that we were able to spend with our German mentors, who we have found to be awesome people.

Students and Mentors at U.S. Consulate

Wednesday and Thursday passed with all sorts of exciting trips to the Hauptbaunhof, wanderings around the city, and meals spent with our friends. The city is complex in the way that it feels. While you live so incredibly close to the Leipzigers around you, you never spend time in exchanging small talk with them. The city is safe with dogs off of their leashes and children walking unaccompanied, but there are also slides that dive straight off in front of a frozen river. Most of all, it is a pleasant place to spend quiet time without feeling lonely. 

Fantastic dinner of grilled cheese and grapes

The metal slide that aims at the frozen river below

On Friday we left as the sun rose to go to Germany's capitol, Berlin. The train ride was an excellent combination of calm and crazy, but it was far easier than any kind of car or plane. Upon arrival we checked into our hostel before we turned right back around to go into the city to begin our walking tour. However, on the walk I saw the perfect scarf, and was able to take a brief detour to get it. On the tour we visited multiple sights across East Berlin that were historical, and stunning. Old churches, a memorial for victims of war and tyranny, the location of the book burnings, checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall, and Brandenburg gate to name a few. It lasted over four hours, but our tour guide, Jaime, kept us interested the entire time, even though we were all freezing our buns off.

Animation of our approaching train

The Berlin Wall

A Fabulous Scarf

Checkpoint Charlie

Berlin Cathedral Church

Location of the Nazi book burning

Memorial to War and Tyranny victims

Brandenburg Gate

On Saturday, we had free travel and decided to go visit Parliament followed by Museum Island. The dome above Parliament was closed due to weather conditions, but the view was gorgeous nonetheless. We spent the rest of the day exploring three of the five museums on the island. We explored the Greco-Roman museum, the Egyptian and history museum, and the National Gallery of Germany. Spending six hours among ancient artifacts that are worth more than you will make in your entire life is exhausting, but we observed famous items. Hundreds of statues, the head of Nefertiti, original fragments of the book of Acts, John, Exodus, and Isaiah. The National Gallery was just as much as a work of art as everything hanging inside of it, which gave the feel of an old and powerful building.

Statue

Greek pots depicting Hercules

National Gallery

Art from National Gallery

Parliament

The Book of the Dead

Sarcophagus

On Sunday we visited the Topography of Terror Memorial which is the memorial for the German SS, Gestapo, and Berlin Wall. We finished the visit by going to the Holocaust memorial and museum in central Berlin.

Inside the Holocaust Memorial

Outside the Memorial

Now we're back safe in Leipzig, excited to be home, excited to explore more, and excited to get blissfully lost. 

-Tad Kile