Berlin, City of Culture, Art, and Protest
Upon moving to the Netherlands, I was excited to live near multiple countries and cities. This time, I found myself in a city I had never thought to visit. Berlin. For context, I am an international school teacher. I currently work and live in Noord-Holland, Nederland. In my school, I teach many grade levels, ten being one of them. My history curriculum focuses on the Cold War and its significance. Naturally, this combined with a four-day trip to Berlin with my school's tenth-grade class to visit the Wall and many other sights. In the chaos and stacked itinerary, I took photos of the city and quickly fell in love with its streets.
The architecture and streets of Berlin are rich with history and grandeur. Founded as a fisherman's village, Berlin, the capital of Germany, now finds itself with century-old cathedrals, soviet style apartment buildings, and numerous antiquity-inspired constructions. Many of these buildings have been restored since bombings during WW2 and the bloody struggle between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany at the tale end of the World's most significant conflict.
What makes Berlin unique from other European cities is not only its history—graffiti tags almost every corner of the town. In the four days of walking and taking public transportation, I never saw a building that was spared besides religious institutions. The influence of street art came from Brooklyn, New York, through cultural exchange between US service members and Berliners, as images of protest, pain, and life sprung through installations around the city. This city's art culture is still shown, as although graffiti is illegal outside of specific areas, every inch of Berlin seems to be covered with it.
I cannot forget to mention is the lasting effect the Sho'ah (Holocaust) had on Berlin and Europe as a whole. When walking the streets of Berlin, you are often in awe of the sights around and above you. However, much of the history is seen below. It would be best if you gazed downward in many cities, towns, and villages across Europe. When doing so, you will find considerable amount of bronze plaques in front of residential and commercial buildings. Then, you will find the names of those who resided in that building, along with their dates of birth, and place of murder. A reminder that we should never forget those who perished during the Sho'ah.
If you ever find yourself in Berlin, irrespective of the weather, walk around the city. You will find culture, protest, history, and a unique metropolis that seems to have adapted to the many disasters of history. Have fun in Berlin, and as always, explore responsibly.
By: Rainier Lee
