Unfortunately, due to my lack of history classes in the past few years my knowledge of the history of Berlin is rather limited. The knowledge I do have is very factual and doesn't go far beyond the basic facts about the Berlin Wall. This first chapter of "Ghosts of Berlin" provided me with a wealth of new information and a new perspective. A main focus of this program is identity and The Berlin Wall seems to have had and is still having a large impact on the identity of Berlin as a city and Germany as a whole. In reality the effect of the wall had to have gone far beyond the city itself; the people living in Berlin must have been experiencing an impactful identity crisis. The country had been in a constant state of change for decades, but the complete division of a city would have serious implications on those living there. I cannot imagine being separated from family, friends or locations that in the past could be visited without a second thought. The use of an actual wall is such a strong simple. I would think that those living in Berlin at the time would start to see their city as more of a cage and less of a home. Seemingly constant change, unrest and political issues must have made the living situation for Berliners exhausting and confusing.
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I am Hannah Lewis and I am a Biochemistry and Public Health major. This is the story of my journey before, during and after my stay in Berlin, Germany. Archives
August 2015
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