Midterms and Thoughts
I can’t believe that my experience in Berlin is already halfway through! Today, during dinner, Fe, one of my hosts, commented “Wie Zeit rennt!” (“How time flies!”) and I couldn’t agree more. My weeks in Berlin have fructified so many benefits, and in this week’s edition, I will perspicaciously look back on my time to catalog my progress in my goals, expectations, and even insights. I feel satisfied with my experience so far this semester, and with everything that has come from it, whether it be improved German-speaking skills or a wider scope of cultural experiences. I believe that the goal in which I’ve made the most progress is my German-speaking skills which is evident in my classes and my daily discussion with my host family. I remember barely following the conversations with my host family during the first couple of weeks here, but now I’ve been able to track the majority of the conversation and even respond appropriately. In addition to the practical and grammatical skills that I’m gaining in the classroom, Fe has been teaching me more idiomatic German through everyday speaking. I have an ongoing list compiled, and it’s only a matter of time before I add them to an Anki Deck (@deandanell). My efforts outside the classroom have been lacking, however, which is something I hope to change upon my return from Midterm break. With so much to visit and experience in not only Berlin but also throughout Europe, I find it hard to make time for additional efforts for German learning. Regardless, I feel a major improvement in that aspect of life in Berlin.
Speaking of improvements, I could definitely improve on my drive to step outside my comfort zone. I have spent a lot of time with MLC grads (@ Phil Balge and Logan Pankow), which I love, but creating individual experiences in a foreign setting is beneficial. This past weekend David, Phil, Logan, and I had the opportunity to visit Hamburg and enjoy the sights of a traditional harbor city. However, the entire time we stuck together in the city. This may be something that I can improve on in the second half of my time in Europe. With my German-speaking skills and branching out, I also want to improve my confidence in the country itself. I feel a need to confidently go about my time in Europe without worrying about whether I’m making the most of my time or not. This seems to be an issue for the first semester. I’ve caught myself worrying about the nitty-gritty details of life in Europe a couple of times. Those are the major three areas that I would like to see improvement in this semester.
Improvements are all well and good, but there have been several surprises that I’ve experienced while in Germany. The focus on environmental issues especially with waste is in sharp contrast with the American system. There is more than just your basic trash and recycling bin, and it has been something to adjust to quite regularly. There also seems to be a gap in fashion trends between America and Europe. I’ve noticed many trends that would not necessarily be prevalent in the United States. My conception of basic European has definitely evolved over the course of this semester and I hope to develop a more mature view of other cultures. Other than that, I guess have not much more to add as I prep for my Midterm Break. Until next time! Tschüss!
A chat about death
4 weeks in and we’ve been keeping busy. We’ve been traveling all over Berlin and the last week we went to Oktoberfest and Salzburg. With all the big flashy trips, it’s often easy to forget about the smaller things. Josiah and I got the opportunity to experience one of those smaller things two weekends ago. When we first got to Germany, Logan Pankow and the local pastor invited us to the Jungentreffe. Literally translated as “Youth Meeting”, it’s a meeting of younger people in the ELFK (German sister synod). They meet together for a weekend of fun and fellowship. At first we planned on not going. We figured there were just too much to do. However, we changed our minds and ended up going. There were about 30 people there, at ages from 14 to late 20s. Needless to say, it’s a very different feel from the WELS youth rally. Additionally, everyone there speaks primarily in German, although they know English. I was pretty apprehensive going into it. However, two recent prep grads who are living in Germany were there, along with Logan and another MLS grad we had made friends with earlier. But even without them, we didn’t need to worry. Everyone was super welcoming and friendly. The theme of the weekend was death, and even though we didn’t understand a lot of it, what we did was super interesting. Our new friend Paul acted as our interpreter and let us know what was going on. We had devotions coupled with a hymn, and afterwards a variety of activities to expand on themes from the devotion. In our free time, we ended up playing various games and just talking to the other people there. Later, I was talking to my sister, who had gone on an LPS trip to the Czech Republic. We talked about how special it is to see people in a different country and different language worshipping God. Germany is by and large an atheist nation. Berlin, being a large city, is especially so. And the ELFK is a synod of 4,000 people in a nation of roughly 80 million. After a while, you can start to feel like Elijah in 1 Kings, and say to God “I am the only one left”. But when I saw these people gathering together in fellowship, from across the country, even when the vast majority of the country disagrees, I remembered God’s reply. God tells Elijah, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel”. Even when it feels like the world is devoid of people like that, the Jungentreffe was a really good reminder that I don’t just have the fellowship of the WELS, but of believers all over the world. Josiah and I have never been to a WELS youth rally. And I know that both have their strengths. But seeing how this close-knit group from across the country can build each other up, it seems to be such a great thing. That’s all for now. Bis später!
P S I don’t have any pictures from this weekend, which is a shame. I’ll double up next week
Hot Takes
Germany is super different from what I’m used to. First of all, the other German students dress a little more formally. I could count on one hand the number of students I’ve seen with athletic shorts. For someone with no fashion sense, it’s tough to be denied your go-to outfit. For another thing, it feels like you have to pay for everything. Free bathrooms and water fountains are a scarcity, so you really have to plan out the little things about your day. Berlin is also a lot more diverse than I thought. There are so many different cultures here, with communities such as Turkish, Vietnamese, or Middle Eastern. It’s weird to hear so many people speaking German, especially when your mind thinks of English as the classic language.
As a whole, however, I love being here. There have been setbacks, like figuring out transportation, money, and getting hit by a car (with minimal injury, by what I can only imagine is the grace of God). My host family is nice, and we’ve been speaking German most of the time. For more complex conversations, like about politics or current events, we’ll use English. The experience of living in a large city is a new one to me, and it’s great to have so much to do within about an hour of me. We’ve already been to the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Berlin Zoo, and a Fußball match (as they call it) in the Olympic stadium, to name a few. Public transportation allows us to get to pretty much anywhere in the city, and while it may take longer than driving, it’s very easy to use and navigate.
Classes are a bit different than what I’m used to. For one, going to school in a secular atmosphere is a lot different than what I’ve been doing for the last six years, so it’s a lot to get used to. It’s very interesting to see what an education in this atmosphere is like. Josiah and I are taking a German class, an Art and Dictatorship class, and a Pop Culture class. Each class heavily involves German culture and has field trips every couple of weeks, something that MLC does not have, but really should (@prezgurgel).
Otherwise, things are going well. Josiah and I have been exploring Germany, and have been working on some future trips that we’re excited about. The highlight of the past weekend was our trip to Wittenberg, the birthplace of the Reformation. We put the day to the fullest use we could. We managed to visit the Lutherhaus, Melanchthon’s house, the Castle Church, the Stadt Church, and the Assisi Panorama, and topped it off with a short organ concert. As a whole, the history of everything we see is just staggering. Everything seems to have a rich past that is just waiting to be discovered.
That’s all for now. Attached are a couple pictures of my time. These are just a few first impressions of the city, and I’m sure these will change a lot more in the coming days. Bis später!
Berlin is NOT Germany
Today marks exactly two weeks since I first stepped foot in Berlin, and about 2 1/2 weeks since I first flew into Germany. A lot has happened within those two weeks. Many of my initial goals have seen improvement over these weeks and despite my ignorance to the cultural “ins and outs” of Berlin, I’ve grown surprisingly comfortable with the city. The city is certainly a melting pot of cultures, as is evident by walking down the street, looking at the various shops, or even taking public transportation (which I have grown accustomed very to). That is one thing that I’ve gotten a better handle on—public transportation. My first experience with Berlin, or even German, trains and buses was with two bulging suitcases and a backpack that felt like it weighed a ton, so it was not as enjoyable as I would have hoped. Since then, all I’ve needed to carry around the city has been a backpack at the least, which almost seems like a necessity, since I am out and about all day. From school to my and David’s many excursions, the culture of Berlin definitely shines through (even through the many cloudy days that have been forecasted for these next two weeks 🙁 I think the multicultural feel of the city has eased my transition into living in a foreign country. I definitely feel as though I am one of the many people in Berlin who are still figuring out how to handle everyday life in a new city. I don’t feel so isolated and there are a host of people who are willing to help a tourist, who looks like a “deer in the headlights”.
However, despite looking like a lost tourist, I have been adjusting well to my new norms because I have kept myself busy whether it be planning for potential trips or taking mini-excursions within the city itself. Berlin is such a large city that I doubt I will ever have the possibility of seeing every corner of it, but thats the hope. It’s stunning to me that two weeks ago I couldn’t even imagine being able to navigate throughout the city even with Google/Apple Maps, but now I am familiar enough to get to and from school everyday plus certain places within the city. David and I packed our week full of excursions and have been checking-off places from our list which are more enjoyable to do outside since Fall is coming fast. Plus, swimming in the Wannsee (an S-Bahn stop away from my house) in the middle of Novemeber would be a slightly different experience than in early September. There are probably plenty of places that have been accidentally omitted from our list of “must-see” sights, but even without them our list is long enough to fill two semesters worth of excursions.
I hope my German has improved, even in the two weeks of classes I’ve had. It is a whole other level of German having to keep my brain on focus for 3 hours of class, plus speaking in German every day for breakfast and lunch with my host family. It’s funny—I find my ears perking when I hear people speaking English on the S-Bahn or passing me on the street. The longing for something familiar is probably a good sign; a sign that my brain has been working on all cylinders and needs some relief. Even writing this blog has taken me longer than expected, not because I am getting confused with the German also bouncing around in my brain, but because of the sheer mental effort it takes to keep my brain functioning. Yawning has become a habit, now.
In regard to my continued faith life, David and I manged to visit the local ELFK congregation in Teltow, which is just outside Berlin, in the Bundes of Brandenburg. The ELFK congregation was very small, but a solid group of people, even including a fellow ministerial school grad, Paul Hübener from MLS. After attending, I realized that is something that I’ve missed while being in a foreign culture and country; Christian fellowship. Although, both sides of the conversation were not even close to fluency in the other’s native tongue, Pastor Hübener, David, and I were able to talk a bit before and after the service. It was refreshing to talk with someone outside America who holds to the same beliefs as ours. My impressions of Berlin have been different than my typical picture of what Germany looks like, and that is why Berlin is NOT Germany. It’s its own culture, people, and place. Das ist alles für jetzt, tschüss!