I dunno

So......we're not in Chemnitz anymore. Chemnitz was a really good experience and really let us get to know the culture better but it is nice to be with the group again. Sunday we went to the Buchenwald concentration camp. It was............ intense. I am so glad we went though. It was amazing in a not happy way. It was interesting to put history into vision and emotion. Today in Aachen was fun. We just hung around town but it was relaxing and fun. It was also interesting to notice the strong differences that still exist between east and west Germany. Overall the trip has been an amazing experience though and I'm excited to see what the last week has in store for us.

Aachen

We spent the day in the city of Aachen, Charlemagne's capital city. We visited the Aachener Dom (Cathedral) and the Treasury, which had parts of Charlemagne's bones usw. The city is beautiful and Germany is amazing-tomorrow we go to Köln, and then on to Belgium.

Sächsiche Schweiz

Went hiking in the Sächsiche Schweiz near the Czech Border today....those Germans sure love their fitness! It was, by no means, a leisurely pace.
Anyhow, leaving tomorrow, first to Buchenwald and Weimar. Buchenwald is sure to be a sobering experience, but a necessary one.
Can't wait to see the rest of Germany!

Germany

The Germans are a peculiar people-they're not the coldly rational, humorless, expertly engineered Machines we sometimes see them as. They're very warm, they're very friendly, and they eat like nobody's business! They are, however every bit as efficient and punctual as everyone would have you believe, but those are rather good traits.
The country is amazing-Even Chemnitz, which most haven't heard of, is a beautiful city, culturally and architecturally (I hope I spelled those both right). Dresden, which we visited last week and which is near Chemnitz, is, quite simply, unbelievable....true to its nickname, 'The Florence of the Elbe.' And don't even get me started on Berlin. That was nothing short of an epiphany.
Suffice it to say, Germany is amazing, a really different experience, but definitely a great one.

One Week

I just wanted to add that I have been having an amazing time in Chemnitz. Having been to Germany a few times, I thought I knew what to expect but it is very different from the Southern area, which is where I have spent time. I have a very loving and hospitible family, they have made my trip so enjoyable. One thing that is a definate difference is the dialect, which I have a difficult time understanding. Dresden was beautiful, and I was lucky enough to be able to visit Berlin with my host family over the weekend, which was also an interesting experience. After being able to experience this city for a day, I would say it is comparable to New York City, or Los Angeles. Not only in size, but also the tourism, and different areas. We drove through one area with a majority of Turkish population, along with some very wealthy parts of the city. I have been loving this experience so far, and am excited for what is yet to come!

Dresden pictures

Dresden

Dresden was fun. Lots of old cities and a bunch of really old, cool, historical things to look at.  We have been here about a week now and have a little more than a week to go. The opera was last night. That was interesting, no one had any idea what was going on, not even the native speakers. It was fun though.