Germany: Isabella Richter (Learning on excursions)

A few days ago, all 27 of us on my program met early in morning and took a bus to France. We live close to the French border, so it was a short drive. The places we visited used to belong to Germany, since possession of the border region has switched between Germany and France throughout history.  The first place we visited was Feste Kaiser Wilhelm II, a bunker from World War One. We went through cold, extensive underground tunnels and saw where soldiers lived for three years. I can safely say our apartments in Freiburg are more comfortable than their conditions were. Then, in a more somber visit, we went to the concentration camp Natzweiler Struthof. The strong impression it left on our group was palpable. It was an individual, reflective experience, since everyone had their own audio guide and walked around at their own pace.

I am taking a course specifically for people in my program, called “Germany in the 21^st Century.” It only starts next week, but the excursion was required for everyone taking the course, and was relevant to its themes. The course discusses Germany’s history and politics, which have been greatly shaped by both world wars. I know we are planning to discuss what we saw on our excursion; it helped us contextualize Germany’s difficult past and to understand its current domestic politics and international role. Hopefully, the excursion will also help us to remember how close the past is, and how to engage meaningfully with it.

Isabella Richter

Hometown: Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Major: Political Science; History; German

Program: Academic Year in Freiburg