From Joy to Painful Memories of the Past

This past week in Berlin will definitely be one that I will never forget. The weekend was filled with bright and joyful adventures, while the week was littered with memories of sadness and pain from Germany's darker past. Over the weekend, several of us decided to go see what it is like to experience a German beach. I wasn't really sure what to expect since Berlin and the areas surrounding it are landlocked. The weather was obscenely hot over the weekend and it appeared as if every single person residing in Berlin and the outskirts of town had migrated to the beach for the day. I don't think I've ever seen so many people frying themselves in the sun and looking incredibly content while doing so. I admit that a part of me really wanted to go submerge myself completely in the water, but I was kind of skeptical of the quality. It did not smell too pleasing and the mixture of thousands of hot and sweaty bodies did not help matters. Therefore, I was content to sit on the beach and people watch. I noticed that most people did not have a scrap of modesty, and would change out of their bathing suits right in front of everyone on the beach. I actually found this fascinating, because in the United States everyone is so worried about not allowing anyone to see their body parts, as if they're ashamed. Here I've noticed that people just do what they want (to an extent of course), and don't really care about what others think of them. As long as they're having a good time, they do it. I love that aspect of Europe. Everyone seems so carefree and nonjudgmental.

On Sunday a few of us went to the Berlin Carnivale. This was my favorite part of the weekend. I've never seen a street festival this large in my entire life. There were hundreds of food vendors of every ethnicity and shops selling all kinds of trinkets from all over the world. There were stages set up with bands playing music of all genres imaginable. The energy of this festival was absolutely incredible. One of the things I found most fascinating was the fact that none of the food and drink vendors used plastic silverware or plates. They actually charged you an extra Euro for your food or drink and gave you a chip. Later, once you were finished, you could return your plates and the chip to get some of your money refunded. I thought that this method was absolutely spectacular since it was so eco-friendly. Once again, this is yet another system that I wish we could adopt in the United States. Everyone was dancing around the stages in a carefree manner with huge smiles on their faces. No one cared about how they looked, they were just having a good time. Seeing this was a heartwarming experience for me.

The week, however, brought a lot of sadness with it. Yesterday we visited the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. About ten years ago I visited Dachau with my parents, and I remember the feelings of utter hopelessness that permeated my brain while touring the place. Therefore, I knew what to expect for our visit to Sachsenhausen. It wasn't until we walked through the gates that stated "ARBEIT MACHT FREI" that it really hit me. I had a surge of emotions that I can't even begin to put into words. The only thing I kept thinking was all the death and suffering that had taken place on the very ground upon which I was standing. I found myself struggling to hold back tears. All these precious lives of artists, writers, professionals, and even criminals, had been snuffed out because of the hateful Nazi ideology. These were people who were treated in a viciously inhumane manner and then brutally murdered. Sachsenhausen had a deep impact on me emotionally, like Dachau had ten years before. I wish I could do a better job of portraying my feelings in words. However, I feel like there aren't words for the emotions that coursed through my mind and body while standing on the grounds of Sachsenhausen. This experience will be one I never forget.