Eleven U. They spend the first week in Berlin for talks on current political, economic and media issues. When I was a young child, Germany was probably the first foreign country that entered my radar.
He was American but wanted to be connected with the land of his own grandparents. Years later, after my grandpa Carl was gone, I spent several years learning German β a fact which, I imagine, would have elated him. After living there for seven years, I returned to my hometown and now yearn for my own roots in central Europe. And while I know Austria inside and out, Germany always remained a land of intrigue to me. While there were many highlights, a few moments will undoubtedly define the trip for me.
The first of course being the highly anticipated blind date. Their eagerness to show us their city, and to get to know us, was immediately clear. It was night of food and drink and talk of everything from politics to work to nightlife. Another highlight was our trip to Erfurt. Despite the cold rain the city and charmed us all with its perfectly preserved historical architecture, its dumplings and the generosity of our host Andreas Postel.
I was struck through the trip by how close Germany feels to they chaos of Syria and to the turbulence in Russia. These events, which I read about and hear about every day, are not just news stories in Germany. They are present, imminent, permeating. Back at home in Tucson, which feels so far and so different to Germany in many ways, people keep asking me about my trip.
The good folks at RIAS Berlin Kommission asked for a couple paragraphs detailing the experience from our group of participants in the Spring Program. What an eye-opener! In-depth background briefings and conversations with experts on security, the European and German economies, how the country and Europe are dealing with the influx of migration from war-torn regions in Africa and the Middle East notwithstanding the program was a continuing flood of cultural experience. Whether one is a veteran traveler or a first-time visitor, the RIAS program proved to be a well-considered and executed slice of not only German life but also a glimpse into the everyday world European view, including their perspective on the U.
