Berlin Vlog

NOW i feel like i'm in Berlin

Standing on the infamous Unter Den Linden, I pause to soak in the grandeur, magnificence, and history of the Brandenburg Gate. Falling in love with the piece even before my departure, nothing more was needed for the design of this very website. But the view from just a couple hundred feet is breathtaking as the golden colors are magnified against the dark, night sky. This gate captures the essence of a Berliner: strong, assertive, stern, bold, prideful, and triumphant as they have endured through many hardships in war and political battle. Today, the surrounding area is tickled with fancy hotels, French cuisine, luxury stores, and executive conference rooms. Berlin has come a long way since the rubble that once overwhelmed its locality.
The Brandenburg Gate benignly shares its stage with the Reichstag just a street away. The newly remodeled Parliament building boasts of a glass dome that attracts every wandering eye. This transparent dome is greeted by lines of people stretching over 5 times its own length.

These tourist attractions are found in Mitte (Middle) Berlin, and three subway stops away is our apartment in Kreuzberg. This region is concentrated with a large Turkish population. The chicken doner kababs with a little bit of garlic sauce are AMAZING! Although they appear to look similar to a gyro, the small differences make the experience completely different. The crunch of the outer pita meets the steaming hot and chewy inner layer lathered with a buttery garlic sauce. Chicken marinated in a unique sauce of heavy asian flavors makes a perfect combination with the unusual abundance of fresh vegetables. The stores on either side of the doner kabobs are no competition with their stale bread and shriveling vegetables which attempt to pose as a sandwich.

As of Day 3 in Berlin, the most exquisite dessert is a slice of german Marzipan cake. The outer appearance was deceiving as the german chocolate cake absorbed all of my attention. However, upon a classmate's advice, I decided to try something new. I won't attempt to describe the intricate textures, flavor, and overall saliva-forming experience. You will have to discover that for yourself someday ;)

Brandenburg Gate

Near the apartment


Marzipan cake!

Cultural Oddities...(for Maggie)

I almost failed at the Amazing Race--Honors Special if it wasn't for a nice couple who let me borrow their phone. Everyone in Berlin is used to American tourists and are very kind and speak at least a little English.

Rewinding back to my last post, the restrooms are interesting because there is a plate outside where they collect coins. I'm not sure if you're required to pay, or if it's donations-based. The honor code actually works here though because nobody steals the money. Everyone puts down a coin or two in the plate and when I came out of the restroom, the pile actually got bigger. I don't think that would ever work in America...

The subway also runs on the honor system. There aren't any baffle gates with ticket receivers. Anyone can just hop on the subway, but the fine for getting caught is 44 euros (that's about 70+ dollars).

Smoking is so commonplace here. People love sitting outside and smoking. Life is a little more relaxed and slow-paced here. It took 30 minutes for my roommates coffee to arrive! Everyone enjoys sitting, drinking, smoking, and relaxing for long periods of time!

Everything is closed on Sundays.

My final adjustment for today is the water. There aren't any water fountains at Humboldt University. The host provided water for us and as each person took a sip of water I watched their face cringe. They definitely didn't warn us that mineral water was carbonated! This is also the water they serve in restaurants, and most of the juices are also carbonated. You get used to it, but the water still leaves you thirsty. (On the topic of water, soap does not get foamy with the tap water! When washing dishes or taking a shower, even prolonged scrubbing does not feel clean since soap suds don't form. I hear that's what happens with hard water?)

I have finally arrived in Berlin! I definitely left my house in University Place at 4am and departed seattle at 6:30am, flew for 5 hours with a 4 hour layover before another 8 hr flight. After all of that...it was only 9:30 am!!! A whole day still in front of me... it should be exciting but i am EXHAUSTED.

So you probably want fun, interesting stories...

My layover in New York was pretty fun. I got on the subway to explore. Looking at the map, Manhattan was only 4 stops away so I hopped on only to find that there were little dots in between the big dots! There were a LOT more than 4 stops so I decided to head back and I SAW A RAT RUNNING AROUND!!! you don't understand how much I wanted to see that rat! lol~ weird, i know, but i always wanted to ride the new york subway and see the rats that lived down there...

Now when I arrived in Germany I had to refresh myself so I asked a a cashier, "Wo ist eine toilette?" expecting a one-word answer and a finger pointing in the right direction. I don't understand why it took her PARAGRAPHS to explain where the bathroom was...in GERMAN! Was my German really that good? haha~ then I laughed and asked again in English which she replied with a giggle and "downstairs." Much better.

. . .

I need to head back to the apartment now so I will finish this later :) Sorry for my lack of eloquence, I'm a little sleep-deprived at the moment. Can't wait to hear from everyone!

Unveiling the East German Mind...

Research Question:

As Germany concludes its second decade of reunification, to what extent do East Germans feel integrated in Berlin? The outward variances in East and West lifestyles are tough to decipher, but what are the mental boundaries that hinder complete integration?

Research Methods:

The investigation to answer this question will consist of interviews, a case study, and comparative observation of former east and west Berlin. A camcorder will be used for data collection and analysis. Because this inquiry will not have a visible or concrete answer, the data from my research will not answer the questions directly. However, the collected information should infer a general mental state that the East Germans currently experience.

First I will begin by visiting the DDR (German Democratic Republic) Museum. There I will interview the visitors to discover their purpose for attendance, whether it be tourist interest or nostalgia. Also, this will be an opportunity for me to be more exposed to the daily life of East German citizens. Then I plan to visit the former Stasi prison, now called the Berlin-Hohenschonhausen Memorial. There I will interview tour guides who are former inmates. I hope to unravel the political aspects of East Germany, as well as the darker side of East German life. More interviews and observations will be conducted at Hotel Ostel where I will be booked for a night. This summer I will attempt to get in contact with the owner of Hotel Ostel or the DDR Museum to form a case study around their business. Such a case study will focus on the intentions of the owner in recreating the East German household. I assume that their intentions will either be so that the East German life is not forgotten, or because of the market potential in showcasing communist life to tourists. The former reason indicates East Germans have yet to feel completely comfortable in the Capitalist society. Finally I will visit the far eastern areas of Berlin that still hold traces of the existence before the fall of the Wall. These observations will be used to compare the east and west lifestyles firsthand. The trip will also disclose how romanticized or exaggerated some of the interviewees’ reactions were.

Interviews will be held throughout my stay in Berlin and the questions will attempt to reveal whether East Germans actually believe they are able to practice true freedom in a capitalist society. Furthermore, the pros and cons of both Communist and Capitalist lifestyles will be questioned. The interviews, however, are limited to how willing the people are to speak openly about their thoughts.

Cultural Sensitivity:

During the interviews I will have release forms for people to sign before I film them. Also, it is very important that I do not ask for personal, identifiable information. Some people may be sensitive to the issue of living in the past Soviet Union and the boundaries of comfort must not be passed. The interview with the former Stasi inmates may reveal private information. If anyone is uncomfortable with their face being filmed, I can always resort to the pencil and paper.

Research Schedule:

Week 1— Visit DDR Museum and Berlin-Hohenshonhausen Memorial
Week 2— Stay a night at Hotel Ostel, Interview owner of DDR Museum or Hotel Ostel
Week 3—Travel to eastern side of Berlin with Michael
Week 4— Analyze data, edit videos, composition

DDR Museum
Contact: Peter Kenzelmann
Address: Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 1, direct an der Spree, gegenuber dem Berliner Dom,
10178 Berlin
Berlin-Hohenshonhausen Memorial
Address: Genslerstr. 66, 13055 Berlin
Hotel Ostel (9 euro/nacht)
Address: Wriezener Karree 5 – 10243 Berlin

Bibliography:

Bernstein, Richard. "Peek Into This East German Museum, and It Peeks Back." New York Times. 20 July 2006. Berlin Journal. 16 May 2008 .

Hunt, Jennifer, comp. Is the Transition in East Germany a Success? 20 Apr. 2006. McGill University and NBER. 30 May 2008 .

Hunt, Jennifer, comp. Post-Unification Wage Growth in East Germany. Vers. Working Paper Number 304. Nov. 1998. Yale University and NBER. 30 May 2008 .

Ladd, Brian. The Ghosts of Berlin: Confronting German History in the Urban Landscape. Chicago: University of Chicago P, 1998.

Von Hallberg, Robert. Literary Intellectuals and the Dissolution of the State. Chicago: University of Chicago P, 1996.

Research Group Composition

The compositions this time around seem to have evolved since the previous creations. Each group had more of a purpose and the compostitions were mroe thoughtful. Instead of centering the plans around meeting the requirements, the focus was more on presenting the research topic and related themes to the audience. The actors were more aware of the shapes they were forming (such as the visual from the arts group).
During the last composition, two groups ended up singing the birthday song because of the requirement of music. However, no two groups were alike in the recent presentation since the requirements was no longer the purpose. The discussion following the compositions was also a lot more interesting because each group had a message it wished to convey in the performance.

Research

Perusing through the internet for articles on East German identity, I found a lot of varying viewpoints. First of all, it was obvious that recreating East German life is a growing craze. The theme of "ostalgie" (east nostalgia) is making its mark on clothes, food, cars, TV programs and even a hotel! The East German viewpoint is to revive the life that they have lived for 20 years of their lives, not the government. However, many West Germans percieve the East Germans as not being ignorant to the "bad"-ness of their past.

I would like to research the different East German businesses (Trabant, Ostel Hotel...) that are coming out and find the motivation behind the owners to become entrepreneurs. After the westernization of East German society, some East Germans claim that the new way of life is not actually freedom. To what extent are the East Germans discriminated? Through research I have found that East Germans are marginalized politically, economically (jobs), and socially. (See http://mondediplo.com/1997/02/09germany) Is the discrimination a cause of bringing back the "old life," fondness of the past, or pure memories of the East German lifestyle that they are accustomed to?

My research topic needs a lot of refining, but that is the general idea.