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Life in Jena
SSTers in Jena quickly adapted to a busy schedule including German
classes - even Saturday morning - usually a field trip every week,
lectures and research assignments. Also, of course, a lot of
journaling, and at least one group meeting held at the IBZ, the
international guest center of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität,
where the Reimers live. German language classes are held at the
Christiliches Gymnasium, a private Lutheran high school.
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This building goes back to 1937, when it served as a garrison
for Nazi soldiers. At the end of the war, the Russians took it over
and billeted their soldiers here until they left in 1991. There
were three of these standing side by side. Two are still standing
in a general state of disrepair, like this one, the third one has
been renovated and is now home of the Christiliches Gymnasium - a
case of swords to plowshares! |
The renovated garrison now housing the Gymnasium, which has an
enrollment of 400 students. Brett, Danielle, and Emily ready to go
to class. |
Inside courtyard of the Gymnasium, where students can relax and
play between classes. Chris is engrossed in "The Record!" |
. . . and Matt is actively involved in Poing-Pong diplomacy with a
Gymnasium student (not pictured). |
Erfurt
The field trip to Erfurt, today the capital of the province (Land)
of Thüringen, took us to a city that flourished long before any
Europeans had come to America. The city was founded by St.
Boniface, the missionary from Ireland, as a bishopric in 742. It
was long one of the most important cities in Germany and many of
its fine old buildings attest to this.
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Field trip visits are accompanied by Germans who know the place
well. Here Wolfgang Bathe is briefing the students before setting
out to see the sights of the city. |
The most significant buildings in Erfurt are the two churches
standing on a hill in the middle of the city, the Severikirche
(1280) and the Dom (completed in the 14th century). |
The group posing on the steps leading up to the Dom. |
Students in the Neo-Gothic city court house (Rathaus) studying
the wall murals telling the story of Faust. |
Buchenwald
The forenoon field trip to Buchenwald, just up the hill from
Weimar, and the afternoon visit to Weimar itself, led us to reflect
on two very different facets of German history. The trip to
Buchenwald is not an easy one, and even after preparing for it by
reading Elie Wiesel and Primo Levy, the experience is overwhelming
and becomes very personal. Micah reflected on it as follows: " . .
.when the time came to leave Buchenwald . . . I was able to freely
walk out of that wretched place - no guards to beat me or shoot me.
. . My eyes filled once more with tears . . . I felt relieved to
leave, and yet . . . a certain small corner of my spirit wanted to
stay. I thought by making my heart break for these creatures I
didn't know, I would somehow make things right. . . I shall take
from Buchenwald a lesson about human . . . potential for evil."
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The fence surrounding Buchenwald concentration camp. A high
voltage barbed-wire was positioned in such a way that inmates could
not easily reach it in a possible attempt to commit suicide. |
Jaclyn and Phil entering through the main gate of the camp. The
slogan for this camp was "Jedem das Seine"/"Each to His Own." |
In the Goethe Park, Prof. Zickler talks about the intellectual
life of Weimar during the classical period. Goethe's famous garden
house is in the background. |
One of the fine Renaissance façades on the market square. This
house was once the home of Lucas Cranach the Elder. |
Wiemar
In Weimar Bernd Zickler introduced us to the home of the classical
writers Goethe and Schiller, among others. We also saw the coffins
of the two giants of German literature side by side in the cemetery
mausoleum.
Birthdays serve as a time to celebrate in Germany, and host
families do not hesitate to help SSTers celebrate their birthdays.
On the Sunday when Brett had his birthday, his family invited all
of the SSTers and their German neighbors to help him celebrate. It
started out mid-afternoon with wonderful home made Kuchen and
Kaffee, followed by a long brisk uphill hike, and then those
wonderful Thüringer Bratwurst that you never forget. The evening
ended with card games and singing.
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Around the table for Kuchen und Kaffee at the Reuters. |
Following the narrow path up to the Fuchsturm. |
The reward for the climb: a view of Ziegenhain from the top. |
Herr Reuter and son Florian tending the grill loaded with Bratwurst. |
Troy, Brett, and John, demonstrating the fine art of eating a Bratwurst. |
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