Today we spent the first half of the day getting acquainted with the Eurocenters. We all took placement tests and separated into our respective levels and classrooms. I wasn't nervous at first when I was given the test, the first half seemed to be an overview of what I had spent my previous semester studying.. the second half was much harder- as most language examinations are, but ultimately I hope to have been put into the correct class. I am still nervous about speaking, I just lack the confidence, especially in the classroom where there are some individuals who are clearly more advanced than myself. Hopefully time will give me the courage to better my speaking and overall language abilities-- I take that back, I know it will! After all, isn't that what this month is all about?
Speaking of month, I am having a hard time believing that we have already been here for a work week; it seems like we only arrived yesterday. Time is really flying, which is also depicted in mine and my fellow group members ability to survive on so little while we wait for our luggage. This past week we have all said, "just one more day, just one more day"-- today however, several of us caved after learning that our professor received her luggage back in Seattle.. which is basically what we had all been fretting. Talk about a learning experience though, even if it was for just a short time, I found it so ironic that after packing for days and spending money on clothes for this month I was able to live on literally 3 shirts, a pair of pants and other "bare essentials," and be just fine! It's funny that we all think we need so much.
After the Eurocenters we went to the Gay Museum. The only one in the world. It focused on the history of gay culture mostly in Berlin, but also focused on pre-historical information outside of Germany. The museum was unlike anything I had seen before, probably because there is nothing else like it. I learned so much about the suppression of these people and the way they have been able to overcome such extreme prejudices. I wish I could have shared the experience with a few individuals I hold very dear to me. Below are photographs from my favorite portion of the museum.
Both of these stood out to me because they were not like a lot of the other pictures and sculptures in the museum. Homosexuality, overtime has been sculpted and photographed in many pornographic ways, which is a large part of why it was able to be largely discriminated against and suppressed. These two examples however, show just the couple. How simplistic and non-discriminatory love is, can, and should be. I found it truly inspirational.
I look forward to seeing and talking to you all soon!
~Courtney
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