Week 1 in Berlin, Germany!

Willkommen in Berlin! I'm Mani and this summer I'm participating in UCSD's "Contemporary World History in Berlin" program. My first week was full of interesting history, good food, and a little bit of culture shock!

It should come as no shock to say that Berlin is a city full of history. Whether it be the central role that Germany played in World Wars 1 and 2 or the deep division between its Eastern and Western halves during the Cold War, Berlin is a site of deep historical importance. What is interesting about this history is how it seeps into the city's very design. Below I have included an example of the sort of plaques you find all throughout Berlin. These plaques are placed in front of the former homes of Holocaust victims and list their names, birth date, death date, and the concentration camp they were murdered at. This is an example of the ways Berlin, and Germany as a whole, is attempting to come to terms with its sad and difficult history. 

One of the things I love most about cities is how, due to their tendency to have large numbers of immigrants, they offer a wide variety of cuisines. In my first week alone I had traditional German, Vietnamese, Indian, and Turkish foods! 

Traditional German Food (including Berlin staples: curry wurst and schnitzel!)

On the topic of food: one of the first culture shocks I experienced here was learning that many restaurants and shops don't accept card! I am from Los Angeles: a city where everyone from upscale restaurants to people selling fruit on the sidewalk accept card or other forms of cashless payment. This is not the place in Germany. Many places only accept cash or have a $10 or $15 minimum to make card purchases. Learning from this, I took a trip to Deutsche Bank and now use cash to buy my döner kebabs!

I am incredibly glad and thankful to be here and look forward to the adventures I'll have during the next four weeks!