Mein Versteck

There it is, the most beautiful spot in Berlin, a place where you can sit in the center of a grove, shielded from the sun, wind, and rain and contemplate the intricacies of life as you take in the sweet smell of the geometric fields of intensely colored flowers (the pictures I have do NOT do them justice) and listen to the gentle roar of traffic in the roundabout and the sounds of Berlin carrying on around you. A place where you feel safe: your own little bubble set off from the hustle and bustle of the big city by a ring of flags declaring the boundary between this tiny paradise and Berlin. This is the type of place where I could spend many an afternoon just sitting and writing.

At least, that's what I was thinking to myself as I dashed across 4 lanes of traffic to get there, Janet's disembodied voice in the back of my head chiding, "Don't EVER do this!"

Once I got there, I was greeted with everything I expected and more. Unfortunately, since I was expecting utopia, this was not a good thing. I saw the beautiful flowers and smelled their sweet scent. I stood at the fountain and listened to the pacifying sound of water splashing. I sat in the grove, collapsed the umbrella that the foliage rendered unnecessary, and took it all in. But, upon closer inspection, I noticed that this paradise was not what I had hoped for. It was not untainted by the touch of man.

 In the midst of the fields of flowers, plastic bags, newspapers, and take-out containers lay strewn about. Graffiti marred the otherwise pristine (if somewhat wet) benches. Floating in the fountain with the ducks were bottles, magazines, more take-out containers. One corner of the park reeked of raw sewage. Litter in the grass all over, most of it invisible from a distance.

I was outraged. I had fallen in love with this little park, only to come and find it under attack by the hands of man. Feeling defensive of what had become my Versteck, my own little bubble of nature and tranquility, I immediately set about getting all of the trash picked up. After an hour of work and the realization that I had only finished about a sixth of the park's recyclables, I decided that perhaps this was a task for a day when I had more time. Below are all the bottles collected from the grass, which I managed to stuff into my backpack and lug across the city to recycle back at our apartment.

This experience reminded me a lot of the Art of Travel. I had this great conception of this park before I came to it, and, when I arrived, was greeted with much more than I had bargained for. Instead of swearing off travel because it didn't meet my expectations, though, I did what I could to make the experience better. Humankind may have polluted my little paradise, but it was also humankind that created the spot, and humankind that could just as easily make everything right again.

Not the Who, What, Where, or When

I like to think myself an experienced travel.  Though I have only traveled internationally to about three other countries, I have flown probably more times than I can remember.  Each of those times with my family, usually because my parents needed to do some kind of site visit for one of their annual incentive trips, or because they earned a trip for setting yet another record with the company they work with.  But this time it's a little different: no training wheels, no family, no (annoying but lovable) little brothers.  Just me, and my German classmates.  I get to go out there and take another step in becoming an adult!  It's time for me to spread my wings and "FLY" (Wow, that was a terrible pun)!

But before the trip commences, Janet asked us to read a small excerpt from "The Art of Travel" which may hopefully inspire us and give us an idea for something to write in our pre-Deutschland post.  What stuck out to me the most was the following:

"If our lives are dominated by a search for happiness, then perhaps few activities reveal as much about the dynamics of this quest. . .than our travels. . .Yet rarely are they considered to present philosophical problems. . .We are inundated with advice on where to travel, but we hear little of why"

The first part made sense to me; when you travel you see other parts of the world and how they live.  Some of their traditions, some of their cuisine, hear their language, and a variety of other things.  You see what makes those natives happy, and that in itself can be quite an interesting experience.  But de Botton is right, travels don't normally create a philosophical problem.

As I said, my travels were mainly with my parents, and these trips have mainly been for leisure (and a little work for my parents).  We would, for the most part, stay on the hotel grounds and soak up the sun and swim in the pool.  This trip is entirely different.  I am traveling to Berlin to explore the city and German culture within the context of the country and German language itself.  This will be the first time I travel to a country where I can, for the most part, express myself in the native tongue.  That in itself is an incredible, albeit slightly nerve racking, experience!

Who knows what I will see and experience while in Berlin.  Perhaps this trip will help me discover who I am and who I will become.  I can barely even guess as to how this adventure will influence my "human flourishing" as de Botton mentions.  But no matter what, I will embrace all of these events with open arms and joy, no matter how "foreign" (another pun, really?) they may feel to me.  I mean, that's the "Why" at the heart of any "studying abroad experience" and other travels; learning and growing in a global community!

Regardless of how this trip impacts my life, I know I am going to have a great time, filled with fun people, great memories, and incredible experiences.  So Deutschland, bis bald!  And to my deutsche Leute, bis morgen! Ich sehe euch in Detroit!

Welcome to our study tour blog. Dear Students, please use the labels (post settings) expectations, Kiez, etc., and add your own labels in Germany so that it is easy for others to follow our blog. I'd like each of you to post about your expectations before you leave for Berlin. Perhaps one of the Readings on CTOOLS will prompt a post here (hint hint). Dear Friends and Family, we will try to make sure that at least one person makes a post every day. Our basic itinerary will be posted soon. Well, I still need to pack! Bon voyage. . . make that: Gute Reise! J