July
20, 2014
Sunday for people in Berlin is a
really rest day. I went to a grocery store in the morning, but it closed. Dr. V
told us people in Berlin love Sunday. They will do nothing but enjoy this day.
However, I have never thought even the sellers in the grocery store can stop
working on Sunday. It was really surprising me.
In afternoon, I went to join a
walking tour. Our tour guide named George. He is from Missouri, United States.
He is not that kind of funny. I guess the reason is he respects the history in
German. He told us the only day people in German will celebrate together is
their national football team won the championship of the World Cup of the
European Cup. All the Germen try to pay Nazi’s debt. Unlike Japanese, Germen though they feel regret to the people who was persecuted by Nazi. They also built The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It is the correct way to
tell the next generation what the real history is.
Meanwhile, about the Berlin Wall, it
was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13
August 1961 that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany
and from East Berlin. Before the Wall's erection, 3.5 million East Germans
circumvented Eastern Bloc emigration restrictions and defected from the German
Democratic Republic, many by crossing over the border from East Berlin into
West Berlin, from where they could then travel to West Germany and other
Western European countries. Between 1961 and 1989, the wall prevented almost
all such emigration. The physical wall was primarily destroyed in 1990. The
fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German reunification, which was
formally concluded on 3 October 1990.
Before
I went to Berlin, I am really interested about the history of Berlin. All big
things happened in this city. When I looked the Berlin Wall, it seemed like you
can see the people from both sides. I cannot image what kind of feeling I will
have if my family and I were separated in a same city. This is the city I want
to know best. I can’t wait to explore
more about this historical city.
