Living with History

History is fascinating to me. The way it winds, repeats, circles, and stops pulls me in, no matter when, or where. Berlin is an intriguing city in this regard. When you visit Rome, London, Paris, Copenhagen or many other European urban centers, much of the visible history is extremely old, crossing centuries, or even millenniums, with scars of the past buried in layers. However, with Berlin, the majority of the observable history is extremely modern, only decades or even a few years old.

This is particularly fascinating, as due to the 'freshness' of the history within the city, its effects and scars are still extremely influential in everyday life. There are many here who grew up with (or even within) the Wall, those who remember the days of the DDR, or even the Third Reich. There are those who experienced it through the previous generation, or second-hand by recently moving here. No matter what, the history of the city and the nation are very much at work here.

I've had opportunities to talk with my teachers, my host parents, other host parents, artists and all sorts of people about their experiences growing up in a divided country and city. Each perspective is unique and it's an incredible experience to talk with people who are primary sources themselves.

From bullet holes in older buildings, to the destruction of symbols of past governments, to the construction of newer modern structures, Berlin is a city of modern history and that is definitely one of the reasons why I adore it so much. It's constantly being built, something that one picks up from the number of cranes scattered around the city. Construction and modern buildings are everywhere, stitching this city together as it attempts to move forward from the past.

As author Karl Scheffler said in 1910: "Berlin is a city condemned forever to becoming and never to being" (Berlin ist eine Stadt, verdammt dazu, ewig zu werden, niemals zu sein). That quote is constantly echoing through my head as I wander and explore the streets of this city.