This two week trip abroad will take us to Berlin, Germany where we will immerse ourselves in the rich contemporary art scene while also diving deep into Germany’s complex history. Through artistic approaches of memorialization, protest, and reimagination, we will experience the social impact that art has provided Germany in response to injustice. Students will also learn about the history, geography, politics, culture, art, and literature of the region throughout the course.

May 18, 2025

Student Authors: Caroline C. and Georgia A.

This morning, we enjoyed breakfast in the hotel before jumping on the tram to our graffiti workshop at the Urban East Side Street Art Garden and Graffiti Gallery. We worked with graffiti artist Tristan who guided us through the process of street art and graffiti. We split into two groups where we drafted two sketches of the phrase “leben und leben lassen” which translates to “live and let live” which is the closing phrase of the musical Cabaret, which we’ve previously examined as a class. 

With the help of Tristan, we got into our painting gear and made our visions come to life. We hopped back on the U-Bahn and tram to the area of our hotel where we split into small groups for the final “DIY” lunch. We walked around the neighborhood until we stumbled upon a Japanese restaurant. After this delicious meal, we reconvened as a group to celebrate the trip with a final gelato run. We headed back to the hotel to pack for our approaching departure. 

We then came back together as a group in the common space to mindfully reflect on our time here in Berlin. During this reflection, we worked together to create a timeline that represents our shared experiences. We then individually reflected by answering shared prompts. We finally headed to dinner by once again jumping on the tram as a whole class. We enjoyed some fresh naan and curry at an Indian restaurant where we savored both the food and our remaining time together. We are so sad to be leaving Berlin but we are so grateful for this experience and we look forward to returning to Farmington!

Student Authors: Summer-Zaire B. and Sam S.

Today, we started our day off with a reflection of the whole program. We worked together to create a timeline of everything we had done in Berlin. Then we worked individually to answer questions that made us reflect even deeper. Then we were able to go into small groups to different restaurants for lunch. We chose a Thai place we had already visited, showing our comfortability with the area. 

Soon after, we took a train to Urban East Side Street Art Garden and Graffiti Gallery to work with a local graffiti/street artist named Tristan. This was a unique and new experience for many of us who have never engaged with an art form like this. We had split into two groups and in the end we made two very different pieces: one focusing on individuality and community and the other focusing on love! From this experience, we learned that graffiti is more than just graffiti, but rather it is art that brings people together!

May 17, 2025

Student Author: Ivy H.

Today we started our day by revisiting Alex – the man we had previously done the Zine workshop with – to collect our finished zine books and again to create designs we felt resonated with our experience in Berlin, this time to be screenprinted. It was really exciting to see the final book of all of our works come together, and everyone’s drawings looked so amazing. The rest of our experience in the workshop felt like a good beginning towards closure as we’re getting ready to leave Berlin. We got to reflect on aspects of Berlin that felt important to us, and were able to bring our ideas alive through the process of screen-printing. At the end, we voted on a design we wanted printed on fabric for everyone, something our whole cohort could keep to remember our fun times together.

After lunch, we visited the Fotografiska Museum, which featured unique pieces of photography reminiscent of the Dada, Surrealist, and Pop Art movements. One of the exhibitions we saw was called “Toilet Paper”, and like its unconventional name, the exhibition was surrounded with unusual images open to interpretation. For example, one piece was similar to a ball pit, but instead of balls there were styrofoam bananas in the pool. A lot of the art was centered around the idea that art is all around you and that art must question reality. This made us think more deeply about one of the essential questions we’ve been exploring throughout our class: “what can be considered art?”

Lastly, we took the tram to the book burning memorial. Taking what we’ve learned about the intention and design behind memorials, it was really impactful to see that the memorial was a window in the ground, revealing rows of empty bookcases underneath where we stood. The design made the memorial almost seem like a grave, while simultaneously providing a window for representation into all of the valuable knowledge that was burned. We noticed that flowers were placed on the memorial as well, which was a powerful addition to the feeling of recognizing the gravity of this moment in history.

To end our day, we had a delicious dinner and visited the grocery store to pick up any last supplies we might have needed before we leave soon. We’re excited to see everyone back at Porter’s and our friends and family again!

Student Author: Cam R.

Today, my cohort and I did a screen printing workshop with an artist named Alex. We started the journey of creating our art pieces by scratching the design on a piece of paper. Once satisfied with the piece, it was then scanned and printed to a piece of parchment paper. After that was done, directions on how to transfer the parchment paper to the card stock were given and we were tasked with the next step, doing it. Individually, we all came up and printed our design a piece of card stock, then the process was done. 

Once every member of the group had finished that process it was time to vote on a design that would be printed and featured as our whole group’s logo. Getting to do this journey of creating and bringing art to life’s an incredibly rewarding experience. We have had so many opportunities through this trip to not only see and visit many different beautiful forms of art but we have also had the opportunity to create it ourselves. 

Moments like these on the Germany trip will forever be something that I will cherish and bring into my adult life.

May 16, 2025

Student Authors: Tierney S. and Zaiyi Y.

We started our morning off at Tempelhof, a former airport that was transformed into a community space. This reused land included beautiful secluded areas used by many civilians for leisure activities such as riding bikes, running, games of frisbee, and more. On a spacious lawn adjacent to a still-existing runway, we enjoyed a thrilling game of frisbee. Then, we strolled through the park area through the crystal-like rain and took in the sights and sounds of this zen green space. How nice the chirping birds sounded to our ears, and the fresh air felt in our lungs! Through the luscious green-leaved trees, we made our way to an upcycling workshop. There, we folded, cut and manipulated your regular milk or juice carton into slick, fancy, and reusable wallets. Fun fact, cartons such as these are hard to recycle due to the chemicals that are laced in the material. We are inspired by this workshop to reuse materials as such to create not only long-lasting objects, but also memories to better our understanding of our environment and each other.

After a fulfilling lunch at the Manifesto, we headed over to a guided tour of three specific memorials in remembrance of victimized groups during the Holocaust. We started at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and explored the memorial consisting of 2711 concrete slabs in representation of all that perished during the Holocaust. Due to a sudden downpour of hail, we moved to the underground museum for independent exploration and a workshop discussion. We felt informed and present as we learned through presentations of writings and photographs made by and of Jewish families before and throughout the Holocaust. After discussing what memorials consisted of and meant to us, we made our way to the Memorial to the Sinti and Roma of Europe Murdered Under National Socialism and the Memorial to Homosexuals Persecuted Under Nazism. We had impactful conversations about grappling with tragic historical events and the significance of numbers surrounding victimized minority groups. This tour was educational, and we continue to process the emotions and information that we felt and gained in this valuable experience.

After a yummy German dinner, we debriefed and journaled about our enriching experiences of today in the hotel. We hope you enjoyed this day in our life in Berlin!!!

See you all soon with many more stories to tell!

Student Authors: Sarah H. and E. Wesson

To begin our day, we took the various forms of public transport to Brandenburg Square where we took a walking tour of three memorials commemorating the victimized groups of the Holocaust. We ended our walking tour with the Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe, where we individually explored the columns of various heights and grappled with the emotional gravity of such a somber topic. After viewing the memorials, we gathered as a cohort in the museum below the monument to view the individual stories of victims of the Holocaust, ending with a group discussion. A particularly interesting topic of conversation that came up was the comparison of how the US and Germany treat the historical atrocities that they have perpetrated. We noted that such an explicit memorial would never exist in the United States, because we are unable to paint ourselves in a negative light and instead paint ourselves as the victims. This experience has made us especially appreciative of the honest education we are receiving, and the opportunity we have to go on this trip to broaden our global perspective. 

After our visit to the memorials concluded, we walked to the Mall of Berlin where we ate lunch at a restaurant of our choosing. Following our lunch, we went to what we thought was going to be an upcycling workshop. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, we were faced with the sudden change of our afternoon workshop. Despite the experience differing from what we expected, we were able to come together and create another memorable activity to replace the upcycling workshop – collecting herbs from Prinzessinnengarten and incorporating them into butter, which we enjoyed as a cohort with loaves of bread. This experience was multi-faceted, allowing us to reflect within ourselves after a heavy morning and to overcome change as a group. Two more days to go!

May 15, 2025

Student Authors: Kendall M. and Vivianne B.

This morning after breakfast we took the tram and walked to Alex’s workshop. He is a professional zine maker. In this workshop, we learned to create prints. We worked on creating our own print for a book. This book will be a combination of each print that each individual got to create. In the prints, we pulled together a bunch of scenes and activities that we have done on this trip. We tried to make meaning through our art that would connect to the bigger picture of art and social justice. Specifically for us (Vivianne and Kendall), Vivianne chose to do a flea market stand with jewelry and a jean jacket hanging up. The unspoken “uniform” for our trip has been a “Canadian Tuxedo” LOL. Kendall created a scene of our group sharing an authentic German meal practicing our intercultural competencies. In the afternoon, we got to go to an art museum, Checkpoint Charlie, and best of all, a chocolate store. Lots of us got treats to bring home so #GetExcited! 

Student Author: Alyssa S.

Today was a very enriching art experience that enhanced my aesthetic appreciation and practical art making skill. We went to the Berlin Modern Art Gallery in the morning. What really stood out to me was the arrangement of the exhibition space. The gallery guided me through the whole contemporary art history of Berlin, and the way it was organized helped me understand the interactions between historical events and art in a chronological order. The keyword I came up with for the exhibition was “transformation”: transforming from past to present; from classics to expressionism and abstraction; from confiscation of artworks to provenance; and from unification to division. Artworks from every time frame epitomizes the period, and knowing the historical context and the story behind the work broadens my perception beyond art to the language it conveys. 

Although I walked to Checkpoint Charlie with previous knowledge about the Cold War and the Berlin Wall, It deepened my understanding of both the design of the wall and experiences of victims attempting to escape. There was a whole section of a list of records, including the time, date, and specific event, which humanized the persecution of citizens of GDR beyond textbook and number. I once again felt that, how can an inconsiderate decision extensively and severely impact people of a whole nation and generation.

Lastly, we went to the Zine Workshop where we made a design about the trip, printed it out in two colors, and made a magazine including everyone’s work. It was a very engaging and enjoyable experience. I felt that although the lens varies by individual, the experience is shared by everyone. It was fascinating to see what stuck out to everyone, and how unique artworks can eventually unify, composing a more complete piece and collective memory for Berlin.

May 14, 2025

Student Authors: Gabby D. and Genesis L.

Today we went on a tour with a local named Ursula. She gave us a tour around East Berlin about architecture and repurposing buildings. We talked a lot about the importance of building new neighborhoods for different communities. She highlighted the things needed in new environments such as schools, housing, places to work, and more. 

Throughout the tour, we got to see different styles of architecture from the 50s and 60s. As the tour progressed, she pointed out different needs for repurposed buildings. During our tour, there was a local that let us into one of the construction sites. He talked about the ways that the space was being remodeled for the community. A specific example of this was the community arts workshops that would be held from time to time. This opportunity allowed for our cohort to not only experience the creation of an up and coming community space from an old building, but also brought unity and art into the conversation.

As the tour came to end, Ursula brought to light the practice of recycling material from these historic buildings. We saw construction workers separating materials such as concrete and metal. This later led to us comparing repurposing techniques between what we saw today in Berlin and what we know in America.

The second activity was the cohort’s favorite for the day. After a short rest period, we went to an art workshop. The experts – Nathalie and Kiki – separated us into two groups. One group was in a room that had bright colored materials and music while the other group was placed in a different room with monotone art materials. 

Both groups were tasked with explaining our understanding of how walls impacted different  civilizations. In 20 minutes, both groups came up with a storyline as well as a drawing. Once we reconvened we compared the products. We talked about the differences between our drawings and how our materials and overall energy in the room affected them.

It was later revealed that the true purpose of the workshop was to interpret the differences between life in East Berlin and West Berlin post-World War II. The group with the music and colorful materials was meant to represent the West while the opposite represented the East. This added context to what we were doing and made the next part even better! At the end, we combined both posters to represent the falling of the wall. This represented unity throughout Berlin and the ways in which people broke down barriers to build bridges and eventual joy.

We ended the day at a Japanese restaurant and a refreshing trip to the grocery store. This was yet another day of good conversations, new experiences, and lots of laughs throughout the cohort.

Student Author: Paige M.

Today we got to work with a local artist named Mattias. He works with film, animation, and other types of art. We were able to go outside into the city to sketch what we saw. We were encouraged to focus on perspective. Mattias taught us that starting with an outline of the structure and things around it will help us to keep our bearings without losing perspective. He also taught us to use our pencils to measure angles and translate them to our paper. This was a very meaningful activity and I really enjoyed it. I think that it was good to incorporate art that we are making into this program. The workshop allowed us to have a creative outlet after viewing art all around the city. I also felt like this was a new experience for a lot of us. We don’t take the time to look around at the constantly changing world and draw it as we see it. I think that this was a great opportunity.

May 13, 2025

Student Author: Kate K.

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a full week since we began our travels! Today was packed with experiences that offered a unique glimpse into Berlin’s vibrant culture, art, and history. 

We started the day with a guided walk to Teufelsberg, an abandoned Cold War-era listening station that was turned into a huge street art and graffiti canvas. The guides were very funny and engaging, teaching us about the unique history of graffiti. It was interesting to see this different part of Berlin, exploring the different types of art that define the area. 

Afterwards, we went to Bikini Mall for a DIY lunch. There were many food options and I loved the chicken bao buns! From there, we split into groups of four or five and explored the mall, answering prompts. One of today’s highlights was speaking with a fashion store owner. Hearing about her journey, about bringing European style and brands to Asia was inspiring. Her story showed how hard work and passion can bring a vision to life. I noticed the striking difference between her passionate perspective and that of someone simply doing it for the money.

Next, we visited the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. Exploring both the new church and the old one gave us a meaningful window into this part of Germany’s history. Outside, we analyzed the bronze crack and discussed its symbolism. It serves as a memorial to the 2016 terrorist attack victims. 

The crack resembled kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. It symbolizes embracing flaws and treating breaks as part of an object’s history rather than something to hide. The bronze crack represents the community coming together in the aftermath of a tragedy, choosing unity, strength, and healing. The more the crack is touched, the shinier it becomes, reflecting how something beautiful can come from everyone coming together. 

We ended the night at a yummy vegan cafe. There, I engaged in more fun conversation with my chaperones and tour guides after another exciting day in Berlin! 

Student Authors: Suvi S. and Storey S.

Tuefelsberg, Bikini Mall, and the Kaiser Wilhelm Church Memorial; a Jam-Packed Day.

Leaving at a generous 10:10 am, our big ole class made our way to a nature walk, then a guided tour of a graffiti venue. The graffiti venue was originally a forest, then a hill made from all the rubble from the second world war, then a command center used by the United States to spy on the Soviets in East Berlin. After its use in espionage, the space was abandoned. However the story of Teufelsberg did not end there. Left alone, graffiti artists started painting over the space. In time, it flourished into one of the largest open air street art venues in Europe.

Seeing artists reclaim a space built on the ashes of war was particularly inspiring in this time of conflict as it serves as an example of how to rebuild and reinvent in the wake of conflict. Hopefully we can see beautiful art and expression sooner than later around the world. Tying the artist’s reclamation of Teufelsberg back to our study of Berlin more specifically, the space exemplifies the city’s theme of reinvention and interaction – rather than passive observation of history. The complex history of the area mirrors that of Berlin as a whole, and the beauty of the space compliments how Berlin leverages the arts as a means of processing its past.

The history lesson did not stay within the bounds of Berlin. However, instead we ventured to Philly and the South Bronx, then back to Berlin to learn about the history of graffiti, and its techniques. What stuck out most to me about graffiti in Berlin was a lack of etching. Growing up taking the subway in New York, the windows are covered in tags etched into glass. That style of graffiti is entirely absent in Berlin, as corroborated by our tour guide Rob. I learned after asking about its absence that Berliners stay away from that technique because it is entirely permanent. Of course paint is permanent but it can be painted over. As such, out of consideration for public space, graffiti artists don’t use etch. That contrast between Berlin’s graffiti and graffiti elsewhere highlights German consideration. It is exactly details like that, which have helped myself, other Guzz Girls, and Thomas’ Tomatoes fall in love with this lovely city.

In short, the themes of reinvention, and consideration, which have been present throughout our time in Berlin were on full display during our jam packed day.

For the afternoon our whole group went to the Bikini Mall food court for a delicious lunch before an activity. This was a reflective activity around what the purpose and what was in the mall. We were given questions to consider as we walked through the stores about the trends we saw in clothing prices, colors, patterns, and materials , as well as to talk to someone working in the stores in small groups. In my group, we found that a t-shirt in the mall usually cost over 50€, that the most popular colors seemed to be pastel or white, and that there were a lot of knit items. In our conversation with an employee in one of the stores, we learned that this was because the top sellers were basic t-shirts or knit wear so stores with a lot of items like that got the most clientele. We also learned in this conversation that this was the store’s second location and that it was added because the other location was in East Berlin and due to old habits not many people from the West would go to the East. So to increase their customers, the store opened another location in the Bikini Mall in the West. This caught my group’s attention as this shows the lasting impacts that the history of Berlin, like the Berlin wall, that we have been learning about in class and on this trip affects everyday life and habits in Berlin such as shopping and store location. This was a super informative and fun activity that allowed us to talk to locals and learn more about culture in Berlin.

Later in the afternoon we visited the Kaiser Wilhelm Church, a building made in honor of the last Kaiser of Germany that was heavily damaged in WWII but left as a reminder of the destruction and cost of war. This visit also showed us the lasting impacts of Berlin’s history but in a more stark fashion as we saw the destruction to the beautiful building. Next to this original church stands another more modern church used as the original might have been, had it not been damaged. This more modern building created a sharp contrast to the more romantic build of the older church. These bits of history connect to the idea of reimagining memorials to serve a new purpose, an idea we discussed in class before embarking on this trip. The Kaiser Wilhelm church was first built in his legacy, but now stands as a reminder of the atrocities of war due to the choice to leave this damaged building up. This experience has been a very informative and impactful part of the trip as it incorporated real life experiences with the knowledge of memorials and history that we have gained throughout this class.

May 12, 2025

Student Author: Anya K.

Today, we started the morning off with some very warm, sunny weather as we walked to the laundromat. We were greeted with the bustle of sidewalks, parks, and playgrounds before reaching our final destination. While we waited patiently for our clothes to finish washing, we took a short trip over to a nearby convenience store and cafe to pick up some snacks, coffee, and other treats. With laundry in-hand, we set back towards the hotel and almost immediately turned around to head for lunch. We had make-your-own pita sandwiches from a delicious Sudanese restaurant, Basmah, along with some freshly-baked desserts.

A workshop in the afternoon, led by Matthias Daenschel, was the highlight of the day. We learned valuable lessons in sketching and even got to keep the sketchpads he gave us! He brought us to a semi-hidden community garden in the center of Berlin, where we tried our best to sketch our serene surroundings. The warmth of the sun and the freshness of the air left us all relaxed and refreshed. We also travelled to a city square, where many of us focused on sketching the architecture or people in the surrounding area. The background chatter of people, interrupted more than once by a tantrumming child, was our background music. The warmth and laughter surrounding us amplified the feeling of community and togetherness. 

We later were able to roam around a large, expansive artstore and make some small purchases. Finally, we headed to dinner at the Vietnamese restaurant, Miss Phuong, where we enjoyed many delicious dishes. My personal favorite was the mango rice with crispy chicken. As a surprise treat, our chaperones bought us all some amazing gelato to help us cool off on this hot day. 

Today was filled with fun, relaxation, and community. I can’t wait for tomorrow!

Student Author: Chloe G.

Today we visited a new part of Berlin. Using the tram and metro, we visited Kreuzberg. This is where we participated in an activity with Vero. She helped us understand the difference between East and West Berlin on maps, pointing out that East Berlin prioritized trams while West Berlin prioritized cars, causing a difference in city layout. 

After answering a series of questions, we made 2 different maps, one of a place we call home and one of Berlin. We noticed patterns in the maps we made. The ones of home were more structured with the house in the middle of the page. In contrast, the maps we made of Berlin were more abstract and contained historical elements. I believe that familiarity influenced this contrast. Due to the fact that we were very familiar and connected with our home and community, we were able to see the bigger picture and create a layout of the area and also how significant our house was impacted the size and location of the drawing. We were able to link this activity back to the IGE lessons we have taken to help inform our lens. 

Today was very engaging and fun and I am looking forward to tomorrow’s activity!

May 11, 2025

Student Author: Maddy W.

This morning, we went to the flea market at Mauerpark. I interacted with a few vendors and noticed some differences in the way they approached our conversations. The people selling second hand items, which they did not make, usually kept the conversation directly focused on the sale. They were serious, not smiling or having fun. On the other hand, the sellers (artists) who sold their own products were generally more friendly. Talking about their art seemed validating, even without a purchase. This made me think about what kind of job I want in the future. I want to be an artist, deriving my happiness from what I am doing, not only the money I am making.

Later, we walked around the re-painted Berlin wall. It was kept as a reminder of the East vs West Berlin separation during the Cold War. After the war, murals were painted by many different artists. Then, years later when it needed to be repainted over, a few artists declined returning to repaint their murals. As a group, we discussed whether old art should be retouched and repainted over. I find the retouching of old and celebrated pieces of art to be harmful. No one piece of art should be known worldwide and celebrated for decades. It allows people to sell the fame of dead artists, hindering the creativity of new works. Idolizing famous works closes the space new artists need to expose their work.

Overall, I have found valuable takeaways during this day that I will continue to reflect on long past this trip.

Student Author: Fiona

Hallo, Happy Mothers Day from Berlin!

Today we got to dive into the wonderful culture of the city. This morning we went to a local flea market where we were able to see what types of things the different vendors sold, and also interact with the sellers to learn about their culture and how their businesses came to be. After the market, we grabbed more of our favorite Berlin snack – strawberries! From there, we had another DIY lunch on a gorgeous street filled with restaurants that we were able to explore. My favorite part was getting the chance to go to Hokey Pokey, an ice cream shop recommended to us by a Berlin local we met earlier in the week. It was great to be able to explore the city on our own and to follow our curiosities and taste buds.

We then headed back to the hotel to engage in a workshop where we could reflect on how our class’s historical content connects to what we are seeing and experiencing while here. It was empowering to work together as a group and to incorporate each of each other’s perspectives of the city to create our final art piece which allowed us to see how our individual identities had been shaped by this trip. In our last activity of the day, we had the chance to break out in groups and complete the scavenger hunts we had made earlier in the week. It was challenging to complete, but we persevered with our groups and used intercultural competencies we learned in class to ask locals for help. In reflecting on the day, it was fascinating to see how our identities shape how cultures and individuals perceive us. Dinner was a perfect end to the day and we enjoyed Vietnamese food and a walk home full of smiles and laughter.

Ready for another great day tomorrow!

May 10, 2025

Student Authors: Paige W. and Princess M.

We started the day with visiting the Jewish Museum where we were able to deepen our understanding of the history the Jewish culture has in Germany. We often learn about Jewish history in the classroom but this was an experience like no other. When we think of Jewish people, most of us go to the Holocaust, however, today the individuality of the people affected was the main purpose. The buildings and the exhibits themselves were interesting, as they made you reflect on the uphill battle and uncertainties the Jewish people have faced during the Holocaust. We were also introduced to a Hebrew exhibit and learned how to write our names; our personal favorite exhibition was the gratitude tree. We were able to see all of the hopes and wishes people had left on the tree and left our own notes. We also gained insight on the prominent Jewish figures of the time, who were crucial in Germany’s development.

After the Jewish museum, we had the opportunity to visit museum island. We went to the Neuse (new) museum, which was displaying ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the Bust of Nefertiti. We also went to one museum of our choice where we went to a museum displaying Greek and Roman exhibits. We ended our daily activities by going on a boat cruise with both cohorts and got an up close look at buildings like the Reichstag and the Bode Museum. We concluded our evening by going to a German restaurant with everyone.

Student Authors: Yulisa M. and Cate C.

This morning we got to sleep in!!! After a great breakfast with pain au chocolats we headed to the Jewish Museum. The museum covered topics ranging from the Holocaust to in depth discussion of Judaism and Jewish culture and history. What was really interesting about the museum was how the architecture was designed to evoke emotions relating to the topics the exhibition was covering. One really engaging piece of architecture was the Garden of Exile. It contained 49 tall cement pillars laid out on a slanted slope with walls slanted on a different angle. It symbolized the history of exile and turbulence faced by the Jewish community and was placed at the end of a hallway that had discussed the refugees of the Holocaust. The garden was intended to create feelings of hope and disorientation to allow empathize with challenges of exile discussed in the exhibition. One of the most heartwarming parts of the museum was a tree in the exhibition on Jewish culture that allowed visitors to write wishes for the world and their communities on leaves and add them to the tree. 

After a delicious “do it yourself” lunch in Potsdamer Platz, we headed to Museum Island and got to choose from four different museums to spend the next couple of hours at. I (Yulisa) visited the Neuse Museum, which contains an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian art and artifacts including mummies and the bust of Nefertiti. I (Cate) visited the Bode Museum which mainly contained art from the Byzantine empire and Renaissance. My favorite parts of the museum though was a beautiful mosaic from the Byzantine empire and a collection of coins and medals on the second floor of the museum.

To finish the day we enjoyed a long cruise on the River Spree and sat in a local park across from museum island before heading to dinner down the street. The cruise was a great experience, as we are not only able to enjoy the scenic views along the riverside, but also see the weekend lifestyle of local Germans. Porter’s girls on the cruise waving to the people on land, while the passersby on the bank wave back was a wholesome experience. 

May 9, 2025

Student Author: Lily M.

Today was our second full day in Berlin. We started our day off with an “Unscavenger Hunt,” which involved exploring the neighborhood around our hotel. We were challenged to find our way using only a paper map. Using the themes of history, culture, and art – we found special places for the other group to find using our clues. Specifically, I really enjoyed seeing the cemetery. We chose to include the cemetery as one of the scavenger hunt destinations because it represented the history of those who had passed, the unique art of each gravestone, and the culture of those visiting. In class, we have studied the devastation of loss throughout German culture. But actually seeing the monuments and memorials made us look beyond those textbook statistics and put the history into more context.

Following our morning activity, we had a fun DIY lunch at Alexanderplatz and we got to explore one of the most populated areas of Berlin. We then traveled to go see the Dark Matter art museum. This exhibited light installations in various different rooms. Some of them were even interactive. This was a moving experience as it was very different compared to other art forms we have studied and seen here so far. It made me realise how much more you truly see when you take a moment to relax and focus on one thing.

We were fortunate enough to have extra time to visit an exhibition of redone Berlin wall art remnants. This walk included amazing art representing a huge part of Berlin’s history. We also got to see live music along the river – and we ended our second day with yummy burgers.

Student Author: Lauren M.

Today we walked to and from the Berlin Wall Memorial. I like how the German artists are representing the past in a modern way. The way they traced out and indicated the escape tunnels during the War era is very important. The only thing I could think about were the people who had to live through this.

The way the wall memorial is set up as a much more open structure with iron poles that represent where the separation used to be. It makes you think what the people in East Berlin were going through and how the separation was literally in the middle of the city. Being able to see it with my own eyes brings so much more meaning to the Berlin Wall.

Similar to the way the rods were done, we walked over to a standing remnant of the Berlin Wall. I looked through the cracks in the concrete to get eye-level with the systems and barriers that prevented people from crossing. It made me think about the people who had to experience this and see it built in their community and see people try to escape.

Today, we also went to the Berlin Mall for a DIY lunch. It was very similar to malls we see in the States like West Farms but it was much bigger. The top floor is a food court with many options. It was very lively with a lot of people walking around and there was a lot of sunlight coming in. It made me realize that I’m able to make my own decisions.

We also went to see the Dark Matter Museum. This was a very interactive museum with a variety of exhibits. It focused on the usage of light and sound and how it can spark emotion. One of my favorite’s was the bonfire exhibit which featured a digital version of a campfire with the sound of crackling wood in the background. It allowed me to be fully immersed in the exhibit and focus on the complexity of this artwork. I also really enjoyed the Tone Ladder exhibit. This featured three ladders that when touched or stepped on – each rung produced a different sound or rhythm. I worked with Dari and Genesis to create new and exciting beats which sparked new emotion and was joyful.

May 8, 2025

Student Author: Arianna

Berlin is very cool and we’re enjoying everything. We spent today adapting to our new schedule and getting to know each other and our chaperones better. We began our day with a breakfast at our hotel and a sunny & brisk walk to our orientation at the House of Poetry. We did a collage workshop, then ate a German lunch.

It’s been very cool to gain exposure to a new culture. We explored the city further in our un-scavenger hunt around a quaint, perfect colorful street. We included aspects of our class content into the hunt. This included art and poetry, a monument, and a figure/thing with historical significance. We all got to know our groups better which was fun. We reunited at the Reichstag and spent time understanding the importance of the building.

Our last bit together was at dinner in our cohorts. It was delicious and we’re all so grateful to be in a new space with our peers. I can’t wait to continue discovering more aspects of German culture!

Student Author: Brigette

Hello from Berlin! Today was our first full day here. In the afternoon, we had an amazing tour guide, Holgar, who explained some of the historical buildings in the city center of East Berlin. I liked learning about an old church that was bombed during WW2 and how it is now used as a place for exhibition and celebrations today – connecting back to what we learned in class about memorializing our history.

We then went to the Berlin Wall Memorial. It was really interesting to see where and why the tunnels were placed for people to escape from the east to the west side. Being able to platform to see a physical representation of the wall was powerful and helped me deepen my understanding of the wall. We talked about how “walls” are a place for division. This makes me think about how important it is to think about new places as we are right now. 

We also had the best strawberries!

May 7, 2025

We’re happy to share that the group arrived safely in Berlin around noon local time! Students were excited (and understandably tired!) after the long journey, and the energy remained high as the day continued.

At the airport, they were greeted by their local program leaders from Atlas Workshops, who will be guiding them in the group’s visits, activities, and projects. From there, the students headed straight into city life, and navigated a combination of train and tram to reach the hotel. It was the group’s first real encounter with Berlin’s public transportation system, which they’ll be using daily. It was also a hands-on reminder of why we encouraged students to pack light!

After checking in at the hotel and freshening up, we kept the group active and outdoors to help adjust to jet lag and to the time zone. We know that a bit of effort today will make a big difference in the days ahead! Each cohort visited the DDR Museum, a lively and interactive look at everyday life in former East Germany, and followed that with a walk through the Alexanderplatz neighborhood, getting to know this iconic part of the city.

They ended the evening with a traditional German dinner: think wurst, schnitzel, dumplings, cabbage… with a cheerful polka band in the background!

The group finally headed back to the hotel for an early bedtime. Tomorrow we will start bright and early for the group’s on the ground orientation, and to get ready to dive into all that Berlin has to offer. We will keep you updated.