My Birthday in Deutschland

I was born on 23rd October 1992, the past 24 years I celebrated this special day with my family and my friends In India. First, I felt that I will be missing my family, but this year, this day is very special for me. When the clock changed to 12'O clock the role plays started by Shilpa, she said that her health is not OK, she wants to Vomit. I also trusted her words and I took her out. Suddenly she closed my eyes with cloth. I realized that something is going to happen. Really I was super excited. But by crossing all my expectation my friends and host family gave me a great surprise. Without informing me the other two friends were waiting for a long time in my home. When the clock bell rang at 12'O clock they opened my eyes, Really precious moment for me. By singing Birthday song Evelin, Shilpa and Abhilash standing in front of me with their Big Birthday Cake. This cake specially baked by them. Really yummy cake special thanks to my friends who comfort me with the showers of love. The night was endless one because many tasks awaited for me created by my friends. Next day the morning began with special surprises from special persons. My host family arranged a great celebration for me. The day started with the German Birthday Song sang by host family. The second Chocolate cake from my family was waiting for me.

My mentor place of assignment also took me out to her home and later on to a coffee shop. The whole day I was covered with huge piles of gifts. The day ended by having  a great spicy dinner with the host families and my friends. Thanks to each one of you for making my birthday an unforgettable one.  

An Icon of remembrance # Homo monument #

At last the story of my day in Amsterdam is starting here.....Which brings you the colors and flavors of many exotic and fascinating corners of the world. This is great post to get the feel of Amsterdam - the capital of Netherlands inscribed on the UNESCO world Heritage list, delightful little streets. 

When people think of Amsterdam, their ears immediately prick up and their eyes bulge intensely at the exotics of the that city of sin. With its famed tolerance of soft drugs and prostitution, Amsterdam's hedonistic aspects have often eclipsed its homely charms, cultural treasures and "Normal Night Life".

One of the best thing i noticed here in Amsterdam is An Icon of remembrance # Homo monument. 

I found it by accident while on the way to visit the Anne Frank House. As we passed by I stopped, and took a closer look and confirmed that i had found the only monument devoted to gays and lesbians who were killed by the Nazis. I stopped for a moment, waited for a well of emotions to gush forth, but none came. I was honored to be at the site, but the full weight of the experience didn't hit me until much later. While i applaud the monument which debuted in 1987, i don't think it goes so far enough. 

This world- renowned icon of gay remembrance lies beside the westerkerk, taking the shape of a triangle on the bank of canal. Amsterdam's Homo monument was designed by Karin Daan, was unveiled on 5 September 1987 and was the first tribute in the world to the many gay and lesbian people who lost their lives during second world war. Its three points are symbolic. In the center of Amsterdam is the Homo monument, which commemorates all gay men and lesbians who have been subjected to persecution because of their homo sexuality. and takes the form of three large pink granite triangles in the ground forming a larger triangle. It is on the bank of the Keizersgracht canal, near the historic westerkerk church.  one corner points towards the National war memorial on Dam square, another points across the canal to the site of the Anne Frank House. While the third corner points towards COC Amsterdam. It remains the largest monument in the world dedicated to homosexuality and remembrance.It was designed to inspire and support lesbians and gays in their struggle against denial, oppression and discrimination. The text on the monument " To such a friendship indulgence desire" is a verse of the guy Jewish writer Jacob Israel de Haan. 

I would like to see a proper display honoring both the accomplishments of the LGBT community as well as their suffering. Still this community facing so much of oppression in the world and i think we could all use a reminder of how many people suffering every day. For the moment though, its the best way we have and i have to thank Amsterdam and the brave people who thought of constructing this amazing monument on the banks of the Keizergracht. 

 I realized that every trip is a voyage of Discovery.

POLITICAL SEMINAR

Our thoughts and expectations were more like we would be hearing to some German political leaders speaking and making notes regarding it..since it was titled as Political Seminar..!!
The political seminar was was held in Karlsruhe , a beautiful city located at the right of the Rhine and near the beginning of the Black Forest. The journey to Karlsruhe began and once we reached the place; we completed our registrations and were allotted with our rooms. Soon we were given the instructions about the stay and the food timings. Then we all were divided into our groups which was the "Politics - Basics" group. We began with the introduction session and that's when we came to know about the other group members, their interest, their work etc. The group consisted of volunteers from Bosnia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Ukraine and India. For guiding us throughout the session we got a nice mentor "Nadine".
Everyday we got different tasks from the mentor. For each tasks we were divided into different groups. These tasks helped us to know the other volunteers too in a much better way. This seminar provided us a platform to explore the culture and tradition of different countries and its political systems in comparison with our mother country. There was a discussion about human rights and this was the platform to peep into the social system of different countries.
Everyone exchanged their experiences and it was more like group therapy..!! Those who were really exhausted in their volunteering were given suggestions to overcome the feeling. We also had the platform to present India to the group. When we were presenting about India a lot of queries raised by the volunteers from different countries regarding the Political systems of India, Traditions, Freedom for women, Educational system, Festivals, Human Rights and Cleanliness..etc Sharing the glory of our nation was the most happiest feeling we ever had..!

A Haunting Experience - knowing the German History

This could be the best title I can give to this post for what I experienced is that the name HITLER is no less than a haunting for every single German around the world.

The best part of this programme is when I started feeling what the people in Deutschland (Germany) feel when they talk about their history. Travelling made me see the atrocities caused by the greatest dictator the World has known which is Hitler. While in India, for me Hitler was a name which comes to my mind when I think about Germany, a nickname for any other person who tries to be dominating or angry, but today I realise how painful the word 'HITLER' is for the people of Germany. He is no less than the worst nightmare whom everyone just wants to forget forever. Today, I know the fear people had in their hearts, today I know the pain of the people who lost their dear ones, today I know how people felt when they were separated all of a sudden one day and how they left everything in search of a land where they can be just ALIVE.

Every person living here has a story from the time of the Nazi rule, some were young and others heard it from their parents and grandparents. I heard a story where a man went for swimming and suddenly the orders for building the wall was passed. The man was able to meet his family again only after the wall was broke. This might sound funny and unrealistic but this was the bitter truth of the German history.

The eastern part of Germany shows you still the glimpse of what the war has caused. When I went to Berlin, walking past the Berlin Wall I could see places where there were pictures of people and voices of people sharing their stories (hearing their voice was truly horrific- I was able to feel the fear, I was able to feel the pain). I was so overwhelmed that my eyes were filled with tears. A ordinary looking wall separated a child from his family, a husband from his wife, a human from another human....

The next thing, I came across was the Anne Frank House. I had known her by name but didn't know much about her life and that is when I spend a whole day watching a biopic of Anne Frank which brought immense pain in my heart knowing her story. Through her story, for the first time I saw the brutality faced by the people especially the Jews in the concentration camps.

This was when I badly wanted to see the biggest concentration camp where Anne Frank took her last breath. A place where thousands and thousands of Jews were killed for the mere reason of being born as a Jew. The place as the title states was just like a haunting. As I walked through I could feel the pain, the fear, the madness etc. which they must have had when they were inside the camp. A strange smell was coming while moving around (maybe it was just a feeling but it was horrible).


There were pictures of the people who died all around and I felt like they are screaming loud and telling me - After all, what have we done? Why did this happen to us? Aren't we humans too?

The Jews were used as medical samples as they were injected with different type of medications. Even today many of the survivors who were part of these projects, suffer for various diseases which is also affecting the next generations.


This was the moment when I realised the true meaning of the Holocaust which I saw in Berlin in the memory of the people died in the concentration camps.


A nice quote was written in front of Hitler's wax statue in Madamme Tussad's which stated that - By taking the picture of this man, you would be disrespecting many innocent souls who died because of him. I feel that man should be forgotten and such men should never be born again.

My first KINO experience...!!

For the first time we (Shilpa & Myself) experienced our first cinema in German Cinema Hall. (KINO). Yesterday, I was invited by my Co-Volunteer's host family for watching a  movie named,  ' VICTORIA & ABDUL' , a British based movie. We were really excited to see a movie in German Cinema Hall. Our curiousness was increased when we came to know that the movie was based on a story during the British rule in India.

The Cinema Hall was entirely different from India. Inside it was pin drop silence. I cannot believe that it was a Cinema Hall. I was able to hear my own heart beats. I felt like I am in a Holy Place!!! The movie started playing on the screen and the first scene began with our beautiful "Tajmahal" being shown. For a moment I forgot that I am in a  German Cinema Hall and showed all my excitement by shouting out the name "Taj mahal". Suddenly, I realised that only my voice was echoing around, hence, I controlled myself. Then, I  watched the entire movie just like a German. I really missed the Indian cinema halls. 

Victoria & Abdul is a British-American Bibliography by Stephen Frears, based on a book of the same name by "Shrabani Basu". The film tells us the story about the unusual friendship between the Queen Victoria and her young Indian Servant Abdul Karim. Abdul was introduced to Queen Victoria as a servant, but she saw a teacher in him. Their faithful relationship of a student and a teacher grew which raised concerns of her family and the other British officials since in their eyes, he was just a servant from the colonised land of the British empire. But this did not destroy their bond. Till her last breath, Abdul stood beside her by giving her the strength to face the death. Really, a heart touching moment. As an Indian, I really feel proud to watch this Historical movie. 

I thank my Co-Volunteer and her Host family for giving such a beautiful evening. 😊