It's been a year since my dream-like journey around the Philippines, and six months since I went around the old continent on a motorbike. I miss the feel of the open road. Pavement that stretches for miles and miles, with no end in sight.
I miss the feeling of losing track of time. In long trips comes a point where you don't even know what day it is. Sunday? Thursday? In the end, it doesn't matter anyway. The rush of freedom, borrowed as it may be, is exhilitating.
Right now, I am sitting in front of a computer and dreaming about and longing for a really long road trip.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
So your Grandad was a Nazi...
Thomas and I stayed with his relatives in Berlin over the holidays. As I was poring over old family photos, I noticed a peculiar thing: Thomas' grandad looked a whole lot older than I expected. Bald, thin, with weary eyes and lined face, he seemed like he was in his fifties. At first glance I thought that he was Thomas' great grandad. In fact he was just in his early forties.
I approached Thomas' aunt, who confirmed that yes, he was her father. He died before Thomas was born, in the 70s at the age of 56. She was 15.
"Why did he look so aged?"
"He was a medical doctor. After the war he was detained in a Russian labor camp for the next six years, and didn't come back to Germany until 1951. He died of a heart attack. I guess being imprisoned took a toll on his health."
Whoa.
The implication is that he was a Nazi kind of took me by surprise. Thomas's family is not racist. However, I always had this sugary sweet hope in my heart that Thomas' family was a lot like the Von Trapps. I never thought about it, but in my heart of hearts I wanted the family to be one of those nice people who helped the Jews.
Later that night I told Thomas that finding out that his grandad was a Nazi freaked me out a bit. In a hurt tone, Thomas told me to get over it. "Hello, if I had been born in that time I would've been a Nazi too. There were benefits to being a party member. Just because they belonged to the party didn't mean that they believed in it. Why are you judging my grandad because of my country's past?"
"By the way, my aunt (from the other side of the family) was a member of the Stasi, and that is at the opposite end of the political spectrum."
I mean how hardcore is that? First, I find out that his granddad was a Nazi, and now I find out that his aunt was an East German Stasi?
In a world where even the German Pope was a Nazi, it honestly shouldn't be surprising. Trying to find a native German family untouched by the Nazi regime would be trying to find a household untouched by death. It doesn't exist.
By all accounts, Thomas's grandad was a great guy. Up to this day, his children adopt a reverent tone of voice when they talk about their father, the mighty doctor who survived a Russian labor camp.
I also feel a bit of envy. My grandparents were teenagers during the war, so they didn't do anything more exciting than hide out in the mountains of their respective provinces.
I need time to come to terms with the fact that Thomas' family, like the rest of the Germans, are players in Germany's conflicted past. It's not that they wanted to be a part of any of these groups. The circumstances of Germany's turbulent history forced them to be so. While I try to accept these facts, I am praying, hoping, that no Jews, gays, or political prisoners were harmed in his hands. Maybe, just maybe, he was a Von Trapp after all.
I approached Thomas' aunt, who confirmed that yes, he was her father. He died before Thomas was born, in the 70s at the age of 56. She was 15.
"Why did he look so aged?"
"He was a medical doctor. After the war he was detained in a Russian labor camp for the next six years, and didn't come back to Germany until 1951. He died of a heart attack. I guess being imprisoned took a toll on his health."
Whoa.
The implication is that he was a Nazi kind of took me by surprise. Thomas's family is not racist. However, I always had this sugary sweet hope in my heart that Thomas' family was a lot like the Von Trapps. I never thought about it, but in my heart of hearts I wanted the family to be one of those nice people who helped the Jews.
Later that night I told Thomas that finding out that his grandad was a Nazi freaked me out a bit. In a hurt tone, Thomas told me to get over it. "Hello, if I had been born in that time I would've been a Nazi too. There were benefits to being a party member. Just because they belonged to the party didn't mean that they believed in it. Why are you judging my grandad because of my country's past?"
"By the way, my aunt (from the other side of the family) was a member of the Stasi, and that is at the opposite end of the political spectrum."
I mean how hardcore is that? First, I find out that his granddad was a Nazi, and now I find out that his aunt was an East German Stasi?
In a world where even the German Pope was a Nazi, it honestly shouldn't be surprising. Trying to find a native German family untouched by the Nazi regime would be trying to find a household untouched by death. It doesn't exist.
By all accounts, Thomas's grandad was a great guy. Up to this day, his children adopt a reverent tone of voice when they talk about their father, the mighty doctor who survived a Russian labor camp.
I also feel a bit of envy. My grandparents were teenagers during the war, so they didn't do anything more exciting than hide out in the mountains of their respective provinces.
I need time to come to terms with the fact that Thomas' family, like the rest of the Germans, are players in Germany's conflicted past. It's not that they wanted to be a part of any of these groups. The circumstances of Germany's turbulent history forced them to be so. While I try to accept these facts, I am praying, hoping, that no Jews, gays, or political prisoners were harmed in his hands. Maybe, just maybe, he was a Von Trapp after all.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Du bist zu wunderbar, Berlin!
Had a great New Years in Berlin! Berlin has the greatest museums in the world! If you're a museum-lover, Berlin is a great place to go. The major museums are all located in a place called Museum Island. It would take forever to go everything.
Here's a tip: Go the the least crowded museum you can find. Buy a three day ticket, worth *€ 7.50. It's just fifty cents more than the day ticket. Both tickets allow you to view the 60 or more major museums in Berlin. The fee includes an audio guide. It's really helpful because it spares reading time and eyeache and it's also very informative. I love how well organized the museum system is!
*EDIT: Reduced price for students and senior citizens. The three day ticket is more expensive for normal people.
The line to the Bode Museum. I tell you, the museums are packed here.
An ancient gambling game from the early Christian period.
A brilliant piece from the 15th century.
The interior of the museum.
The Berlin Main train station. Brilliant. There's a sign that reads: Welcome to the most modern train station in the world.
The train station's got a giant Christmas tree decorated with Swarovsky crystals. Sponsored by the Swarovsky company, of course.
The Reichstag
The world-famous sculpture of Nefertiti.
The museum is so huge, they've fitted an entire Greek temple facade in it, and more!
Love the vibe of the place, love the energy of the city.
So how was your New Years?
Here's a tip: Go the the least crowded museum you can find. Buy a three day ticket, worth *€ 7.50. It's just fifty cents more than the day ticket. Both tickets allow you to view the 60 or more major museums in Berlin. The fee includes an audio guide. It's really helpful because it spares reading time and eyeache and it's also very informative. I love how well organized the museum system is!
*EDIT: Reduced price for students and senior citizens. The three day ticket is more expensive for normal people.
The line to the Bode Museum. I tell you, the museums are packed here.
An ancient gambling game from the early Christian period.
A brilliant piece from the 15th century.
The interior of the museum.
The Berlin Main train station. Brilliant. There's a sign that reads: Welcome to the most modern train station in the world.
The train station's got a giant Christmas tree decorated with Swarovsky crystals. Sponsored by the Swarovsky company, of course.
The Reichstag
The world-famous sculpture of Nefertiti.
The museum is so huge, they've fitted an entire Greek temple facade in it, and more!
Love the vibe of the place, love the energy of the city.
So how was your New Years?
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