One of the most exciting parts of our week was the day our cast spent in Berlin. Some of the most memorable sights included the Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, and Berlin Wall. It was amazing to spend time at these historical sights, and especially to experience the Berlin Wall, and the division of Germany. There are even some ruins of churches and buildings left behind from the bombings of WWII to commemorate that time in Germanys history.

To go back to something I talked about that week with my host dad…we discussed his experience with the division of Germany and what it was like living in the DDR, the side of Germany where people really weren’t allowed to leave. He expressed to us that contrary to what most people think, or what history books might tell, his life was better off during that time of separation. He owned an auto repair shop, and because the government controlled the businesses and competition, he was the auto repair specialist in his area. He said business was good, and because he knew the right people, it wasn’t difficult to get the everyday food and supplies that he and his family needed. After the Wall fell, competition started and he lost business and fell into a worse financial situation. When I asked him if he would rather the Wall still be up, he said that because of the pain it brought for some, he was glad it is down, but for himself, times used to be easier. I found this conversation so interesting because it is something you would never expect to hear…especially learning history in the States. Our show on Saturday was special again because Stefan and I also sang the German song we had done the week before. There were also guest performances by a local rap group and a Polish dance team. On our free day, our host mom took us to the Baltic Sea and we toured some of the cities near where she grew up.