This week in Berlin consisted of both personal and group exploration of the city.
With the World Cup going on, the night life in Berlin is thriving. It is a completely different experience than sporting events in the States. Once Germany scores, car and air horns start to blare. Everyone stops what they are doing to cheer for their country. From what I can tell, residents of European countries do not have strong support for their local teams, but rather their national teams. I see no evidence of college or professional sports (other than soccer) getting any attention. This is the reason soccer, or any other national team, is not popular in the US. There are some fans, of course, but there is not the same nationalism that is prevalent in other countries. Everyone has their favorite local teams that they root for passionately. However, on thing remains the same-- walking through a town in the wrong team colors can get you some pretty dirty looks.
I have learned everything is ever wanted to know about divided Berlin. The whole thing seems almost comical to me. How did the Stasi not realize what they were doing was so ridiculous? Wearing popular clothes? Socialist-hater. Antennas pointing towards the west? Lost your job. Reading a western publication? Unthinkable. There were so many things that could get someone blacklisted, it’s no wonder there was one informant for every five residents. I wonder if in present day, past informants feel regret for turning their family or friends in to the Stasi. I imagine such, but it is very difficult putting myself in their position. I have never been so thankful to grow up in the US.
Even though this division of the city and country is no longer in effect, you can still feel the division. We ventured off to the deep east side of town this week. I can’t even describe the sort of eerie feeling that I get when I go to the east side of the city. Buildings are made out of cement. I bet it is cold inside. I get colder looking at these unimpressive structures. I find it strange that people take pride in those silly Trabi cars. Why would you take pride in a poorly made, smelly machine? Yet, a Trabi Safari passed us while we were walking the streets. They seem to be a sort of memorial, memorializing how life used to be. Which makes me think—do people miss these cars? Do they miss their old lives in Socialist Berlin? I suppose if that is all you knew growing up, it would be hard to let go.
With the World Cup going on, the night life in Berlin is thriving. It is a completely different experience than sporting events in the States. Once Germany scores, car and air horns start to blare. Everyone stops what they are doing to cheer for their country. From what I can tell, residents of European countries do not have strong support for their local teams, but rather their national teams. I see no evidence of college or professional sports (other than soccer) getting any attention. This is the reason soccer, or any other national team, is not popular in the US. There are some fans, of course, but there is not the same nationalism that is prevalent in other countries. Everyone has their favorite local teams that they root for passionately. However, on thing remains the same-- walking through a town in the wrong team colors can get you some pretty dirty looks.
I have learned everything is ever wanted to know about divided Berlin. The whole thing seems almost comical to me. How did the Stasi not realize what they were doing was so ridiculous? Wearing popular clothes? Socialist-hater. Antennas pointing towards the west? Lost your job. Reading a western publication? Unthinkable. There were so many things that could get someone blacklisted, it’s no wonder there was one informant for every five residents. I wonder if in present day, past informants feel regret for turning their family or friends in to the Stasi. I imagine such, but it is very difficult putting myself in their position. I have never been so thankful to grow up in the US.
Even though this division of the city and country is no longer in effect, you can still feel the division. We ventured off to the deep east side of town this week. I can’t even describe the sort of eerie feeling that I get when I go to the east side of the city. Buildings are made out of cement. I bet it is cold inside. I get colder looking at these unimpressive structures. I find it strange that people take pride in those silly Trabi cars. Why would you take pride in a poorly made, smelly machine? Yet, a Trabi Safari passed us while we were walking the streets. They seem to be a sort of memorial, memorializing how life used to be. Which makes me think—do people miss these cars? Do they miss their old lives in Socialist Berlin? I suppose if that is all you knew growing up, it would be hard to let go.
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