Uplifting Festivities and Slight Disappointments

The activities in Berlin this past week weren't quite as tear-jerking as last week's activities. I found myself in a dark mood for several days after our trip to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. However, that all changed when the group and I headed over to Nollendorfplatz to partake in some of the festivities of Berlin's 22nd Gay and Lesbian Fest. The general mood of the festival was upbeat and full of acceptance for Berlin's gay community. Once again, I saw tons of nudity. There were men walking around in chaps with their rear-ends sticking out and women with painted faces and scant clothing.

Everyone was getting drunk and dancing, and literally having a gay ol' time. I saw men dancing and grinding on other men and I even saw several kissing, without a care in the world. I wish I could have gone to a festival such as this in the United States so I could compare it to my experience here in Berlin. However, seeing all these people from this counter-culture celebrating life and love was very heart-warming. All the various political parties of Germany also had tents set up at the festival, including some of the more conservative ones. The fact that so many of Germany's parties stand behind gay and lesbian culture made me smile, since gay marriage is currently such a huge controversy in the United States.

The week ended with some slight disappointments. I was very excited about going to the German resistance memorial to see when Colonel von Stauffenberg and his crew of Operation Valkyrie were shot to death after being convicted of treason and the attempted murder of Adolf Hitler. Once I got to the right facility, which is still a government building, I found myself wandering around the outside for at least 30 minutes before I could find a way in. There were no signs to point me in the right direction of the memorial, only gates, cameras, fences, and guards. I almost turned back to the U-Bahn station because I was slightly intimidated by the place, but I ended up going up to a guard and asking him where I needed to go. At first he had no idea what I was talking about, but then he pointed me in the right direction. The museum itself looked as if it were a temporary exhibition. There were no artifacts, only posters with information. I left disappointed. The only thing that had any impact on me was the actual courtyard where the members of Operation Valkyrie were executed, just because I knew what had happened there.

I only have two weeks left in Deutschland, and only one more week before our study abroad program is over. The time has flown by. I'm going to be sad when it is over. Berlin is so rich with history and culture, it's going to be hard for me to go back to the United States. I love it here, and honestly wouldn't mind staying forever.