tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81876459091673653362024-03-19T09:17:24.078-07:00Maren in EisenachMaren Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01501712195345704812noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187645909167365336.post-44246586378476612322012-05-16T14:03:00.001-07:002012-05-16T14:04:08.660-07:00Wittenberg!<br />
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This Monday and Tuesday we made a trip to Wittenberg, an
official Luther city. This is the city where Luther posted his 95 Theses
against indulgences. Essentially, a protestant’s dream tourist attraction!</div>
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Highlights of the trip included seeing famous churches; the
Schloßkirche and Stadtkirche. When we first arrived we participated in the
midday prayer service at the Stadtkirche. It was a small group, and we gathered
at the front of the church. By the time it was over, we turned around and the
pews were half filled with people from a tour group. It was startling since I
didn’t hear them come in, but it’s really cool to see how many tourists are
interested in visiting churches when they travel.</div>
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On Tuesday we visited some museums. In the morning we went
to the Luther house, where we saw many items featuring—who else?—Martin Luther.
I stopped to pose for a picture with Katy von Bora, Luther’s wife. We also
stopped by a history museum that showed what daily life was like in 20<sup>th</sup>
century Germany. </div>
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Another important figure in Wittenberg is Cranach. He was an
artist, famous for paintings of Luther. We stopped by a print shop where they
make ink prints of many things, including portraits by Cranach.</div>
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We also saw something I didn’t know about in Wittenberg- the
Luther gardens. This is a fairly recent addition. The park is shaped like the
Luther rose, with a cross that is made out of rocks in the center, surrounded
by trees forming the shape of the rose. The trees are planted by various church
congregations throughout the world.</div>
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<br /></div>Maren Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01501712195345704812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187645909167365336.post-61248513750514115152012-05-16T12:39:00.001-07:002012-05-16T13:08:09.296-07:00München!<br />
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Last weekend I got to meet up with Frau Losch’s group in
Munich—the really big city! For May Term the group of students are studying
German at a language school in Marburg, and they travel to different cities on
the weekends. After a long day of travel, including an exciting (or not so
exciting) hour delay in Fulda, I met them at the Hauptbahnhof in Munich. Friday
night we enjoyed a Bavarian meal at the Augustiner.</div>
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On Saturday morning we had a walking city tour. This was
very informative, and it was a great way to get an overview of the history of
Munich. Our guide carried photos of what the buildings looked like in the past,
and she told stories about their background. Many of the sites were of
significance to the founding of the National Socialist Party. Points of
interest included the Hofbrauhaus and the glockenspiel.<br />
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The highlight of the tour for me was when we stopped at the
university where the resistance group the White Rose was caught distributing
pamphlets. In the building there were memorials for Hans and Sophie Scholl, two
young siblings who were part of the resistance group during WWII. I learned
about this group in my high school German course, so it was important for me to
see the place where the history took place. It was dangerous for people to
publish writings speaking out against the Nazis, so I admire their bravery and
the legacy they left behind.<br />
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In the afternoon we had a tour of the artwork at the Alte
Pinakothek. I love art museums because they offer such a unique perspective of
history, so this was an enjoyable part of the trip for me. The gallery featured
many religious pieces. Later in the afternoon we had free time, so some of us
went out to purchase Dirndls (traditional dress) in true Bavarian fashion.</div>
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Sunday was palace and castle day, featuring
Neuschwanstein—castle of King Ludwig II. We rode an English-language tour bus
on the way there, seeing the beautiful countryside of Bavaria. Once we arrived
at the site of Neuschwanstein, we had a nice hike up to the castle, and then we
hiked up further to the bridge for an awesome view. Photos do not even begin to
describe what it was like.<br />
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<br /></div>Maren Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01501712195345704812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187645909167365336.post-68120880576974675002012-05-10T12:53:00.001-07:002012-05-16T12:50:55.474-07:00We're going to... speak German on the radio?<br />
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Mittwoch, 09. Mai 2012</div>
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This day gave me the opportunity to learn more from Kerstin
about what she does with public relations at the Wartburg. I had time to ask
her questions, and get an idea of what it is like to work in event planning for
a historical site. Many events and concerts are held at the castle, and Kerstin
works to make sure events run smoothly.</div>
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I have a strong interest in event planning, especially with
my involvement in Dance Marathon, so it was great to hear about how
event-planning functions in a setting like this. It takes a lot of preparation,
budgeting, and marketing for ticket sales. Many things within public relations are
similar here in Germany as they would be back home. Getting the word out about
events involves the using the Internet, writing press releases—all that good
stuff that I love doing.</div>
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After a day at my internship, I had an interesting evening.
People of Eisenach scheduled us to be part of a radio program, so we headed
down to the Wartburg Radio station to join a show. It was definitely fun, but a
bit nerve-wracking too! I have been on the radio for KWAR, but a language
barrier can make all the difference. Speaking German with others personally is
one thing, but to try to get a point across without the ability to use visual
cues is a different story. The two women who host the show were a lot of fun,
so it was a good experience. </div>
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Donnerstag, 10. Mai 2012</div>
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Today we made a trip to Erfurt—the big city! One of the main
highlights of the trip was seeing the churches. Martin Luther spent a few years
studying in Erfurt, so of course it’s a city with some good Lutheran history. Another
great thing about Erfurt is that it lies in the forests of Thüringen, so the
city has great hills to climb. When we hike up to high points, we get to see beautiful
views of the city and trees. Many, many trees, which I love. Note: These photos are not representative of the forests.<br />
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For Abendessen we went to the Augustiner restaurant, where I
had Schweineschnitzel Cordon Bleu. Dr. Kleinhans pointed out the irony of
consuming pork stuffed with ham. Hmm. The Germans sure know how to combine
their meats, and I think this was one of my favorites yet. The evening was
finished with another Bibelwoche Bible study. The Germans we meet here are also
very good with hospitality. </div>Maren Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01501712195345704812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187645909167365336.post-48227165821199497982012-05-08T13:04:00.000-07:002012-05-08T13:05:22.145-07:00Wartburg Days<br />
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Montag, 07. Mai 2012</div>
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Today was the first official day of my internship at the
Wartburg. When I first arrived, I had time to converse with Kerstin, my
supervisor. She is part of the public relations department at the castle. She
works with the press, events, and other functions of the castle that I’m sure I
will learn much more about.</div>
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Since I am still “learning the ropes” here, I went on two
guided tours. First I took the German tour, and then in the afternoon I joined
the English tour. There is so much history in the castle, and I think there is
something new to notice each time you go through.</div>
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There were a couple opportunities to be involved in the
church community tonight. After I returned from a day at the castle, Dr.
Kleinhans and I went to the Methodist church for Friedensgebet—peace prayer.
There wasn’t a huge group of people there, but the atmosphere was nice, and it
was a powerful service for me. It was one of those moments when it didn’t
matter if I could understand every word people were saying, because I could
feel the Holy Spirit working through the intimate group of people praying
together. Later in the evening we joined an ecumenical Bible study, in which
Psalm 42 was discussed.</div>
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Dienstag, 08. Mai 2012</div>
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It has only been a few days at the Wartburg, and it already
feels like home. Today both Dan and I were at the castle. The main task for us
involved helping with translations. This included translating a menu and a
promotion on the mobile app from German into English. This job seemed so
fitting to accomplish at the Wartburg, where Martin Luther translated the New
Testament. It was part of getting the true Luther experience.</div>
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In the upcoming days I look forward to gaining more
experience, and offering my skills as they can be used at the castle. In particular, I am excited to help with the website, because they are looking to change the layout of the page.</div>Maren Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01501712195345704812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187645909167365336.post-41762694121582308202012-05-07T14:35:00.001-07:002012-05-07T14:35:38.646-07:00Das Wochenende<br />
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The highlight of Saturday was enjoying a concert at the
Wartburg. I was delighted to enjoy a concert that took place in the Festsaal –
a hall with remarkable acoustics. The music featured works from Haydn,
Stravinsky and Beethoven. Concerts are a fantastic way to experience culture in
a different country, without the language barrier!</div>
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On Sunday we started the day with worship, Gottesdienst, at
the St. Georgen Kirche. The service was a Bach Kantate. St. George is the
church where J.S. Bach was baptized. Bach was born in Eisenach and spent part
of his childhood growing up there. This week a girl was baptized, so I got to
see what the ritual of practicing this sacrament is like in a different
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Sunday was a rainy and dreary day, so we went along with the
tone of the weather. We took a trip to Weimar in the afternoon to visit
Buchenwald. Although it was a far cry from a joyful afternoon trip, it was a very
meaningful experience. As someone who is interested in peace and justice
issues, it was important for me to gain perspective on the history of the
Holocaust. </div>
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Buchenwald was a concentration camp. It was technically a
labor camp and not an extermination camp, but people still lost their lives
there. Even if people survived physically, I could only imagine how the
de-humanization of it all impacted their mental and emotional well-being. While
it is hard to face, it is important to keep evidence of such atrocious history available
so that people can look back and understand the lesson to be learned.</div>
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One of the first things we saw at Buchenwald was the gate in
the entryway to the camp. On the door it reads, “Jedem das Seine,” which means,
“To each his own.” At the end of our visit, Dr. Kleinhans pointed out a
memorial that offers a glimmer of hope. The memorial had engraved all the
different nationalities of victims at Buchenwald. This memorial is always kept
at a constant 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, to represent the common humanity.</div>
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<br /></div>Maren Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01501712195345704812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187645909167365336.post-18358180445789234812012-05-05T08:34:00.000-07:002012-05-05T14:16:11.984-07:00Abenteuer<br />
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Freitag, 04. Mai 2012</div>
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Heute haben wir oft spazieren gegangen! The day was filled
with walking and adventure. During our free time in the morning, we hiked up
the hill to the Burschenschaftsdenkmal. From there we hiked back down a scenic
route, Panoramaweg, which provided a nice view of Eisenach.</div>
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The afternoon offered a unique opportunity for us. May 4 is
the anniversary of Martin Luther being taken away to go into hiding at the
Wartburg. We joined a group of confirmation students and took a bus to
Lutherweg, where we walked the path for a bit. We then came to the point where
Luther was taken, where a monument now stands. Several people gathered to
celebrate the day, and there was a reenactment of Luther’s “kidnapping,” which
I was mostly able to follow with my German. This opportunity was also a nice
time to speak with a couple pastors and learn more from them.</div>
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In the evening we attended worship at the Wartburg. This was
my first time in the castle, and I am very anxious to start working on my
internship there Monday. Today I received an outline of the plan for my
internship, and I look forward to learning from the people I work with at the
castle. Attending worship, if only to see the chapel, made me excited to be
part of the rich history.</div>Maren Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01501712195345704812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187645909167365336.post-64453516225581021022012-05-03T12:41:00.001-07:002012-05-03T12:51:26.642-07:00Wiedersehen Neuendettelsau, Hallo Eisenach!<br />
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Dienstag, 01. Mai 2012</div>
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Heute haben wir Jahresfest gefeiert! </div>
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We experienced the annual holiday in Neuendettelsau. This
allowed us to learn more about the Diakonie, and how they interact with the
community. The town was active with many sights to see and things to do. People
could participate in fun activities for people of all ages.</div>
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In the morning we went to church, which was my first German
worship service. Knowing Lutheran liturgy well in English certainly makes it
easier to follow along in worship. Much of the service focused on inclusion of
all people, which ties in with the mission of the Diakonie. </div>
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In the afternoon we went to the book flea market at the
library. While we were there we were lucky enough to run into a historian. He took
us downstairs in the library to show us archives. It was quite a sight to see
original works from Löhe’s time. </div>
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We saw a few other points of interest, including artwork as
displayed in the “Lebenskreuze.” Also, we saw the sign pointing to the places
where Neuendettelsau has sent missions.<br />
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Mittwoch, 02. Mai 2012</div>
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Our travels to Eisenach have led us to meet many great
people. On Wednesday we took the train from Neuendettelsau to Eisenach. There
was a very nice family on the last leg of the train ride. They were originally
from Leipzig and coming back to visit family, and it was nice to talk with them
about our travels as well as theirs. </div>
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Once we arrived in Eisenach, Heike was there to greet us.
Heike is coordinating our internships. She took us to the motherhouse, where we
are staying for the month. The rest of the day we had free. We walked around
town, and I also met a couple of the deaconesses with which we live.</div>
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Donnerstag, 03. Mai 2012</div>
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The morning started with breakfast and chapel. At breakfast
we met someone who is on a pilgrimage. I gather it is common for pilgrims to
stay at the motherhouse. We also met a couple who is from The Netherlands, also
from a sister city of Eisenach, like Waverly. At the chapel service people were
very welcoming of guests.</div>
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Following chapel we went to city hall to discuss plans for
our internships. I can tell that we are important to the community, and they appreciate
our being here. I am anxious to start working with people at the Wartburg. It
will be interesting to learn more about the culture, history, and how public
relations functions in Germany.</div>
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In addition, we had a city tour. Stops included the St.
George Church, Bach House, Luther House, and the smallest house in Germany. Tomorrow:
Wartburg Castle!</div>Maren Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01501712195345704812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187645909167365336.post-22093687181765151582012-04-30T08:53:00.003-07:002012-04-30T09:27:13.980-07:00The First Few Days<br />
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Sonntag, 29. April 2012</div>
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Today my journey with Dr. Kleinhans safely brought us from
Cedar Rapids, to Detroit, to Amsterdam, then finally – Nürnberg! Alyssa and Dan
greeted us at the airport Sunday morning, which was a great start to my first
time in a foreign country. We spent the rest of the day venturing around
Nürnberg, walking and sightseeing. We went to the Documentation Museum, which included a self-guided tour to
learn about the history of Nürnberg and the National Socialist party. We then went on to walk around the area
to see the various sites we learned about at the museum. We also explored in
the Altstadt of Nürnberg, which included visiting the St. Sebald Church.
Nürnberger sausages for dinner.</div>
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Outside the museum, remains of former Nazi Party Rally Grounds, Nürnberg.</div>
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In the St. Sebald church, Nürnberg.</div>
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I had my first experience with the S-Bahn today, which is a
little different from the Metro system I am used to in the States. It
definitely helps to travel with experienced people. At the end of the day we
went to Neuendettelsau. We are staying there for the next couple days with
Alyssa, who is currently studying there at Augustana. </div>
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It has been awhile since I last took a German course—two
years—so I am hoping to continue practicing. I am sure the next three and a
half weeks will allow me to do so! It is always nice when people let us use our
German, instead of automatically switching to English when they realize we are
American.</div>
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I look forward to upcoming adventures. Eisenach is near!<br />
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Note: Not our car. But it's orange, and eco-friendly!</div>
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Montag, 30. April 2012</div>
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What a wonderful experience to learn more about the history
of Wartburg College! Today we had the opportunity to meet with two insightful
and caring people, Dr. Becker and Sister Ruth, who taught us about Wilhelm
Löhe. Dr. Becker has an honorary degree from Wartburg College, and Ruth is a
deaconess of the Diokonie Neuendettelsau. </div>
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In the morning we had a nice time with Dr. Becker, chatting
with him at his home. He spoke a bit about what he has done, as well as German
history. We learned about the history of the church in Germany, and the impact
of immigration to America. He then took us to the Löhe-Zeit museum, where we
saw artifacts displaying what it was like while Wilhelm Löhe lived. Löhe was a
pastor committed to serving the greater community, and he was very much
involved with missionary work. He established programs, such as a school for
girls, that focused on bringing people out of poverty. During the early 1800s,
the people of Neuendettelsau were very poor, and Löhe saw this as an
opportunity for service.<br />
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Löhe-Zeit-Museum, Neuendettelsau.</div>
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After stopping for Döners for lunch, we went over to meet
with Ruth. She showed us many interesting things, including where they make communion
bread. We even got to sample some (not yet consecrated) wafers. It was great to
talk with her and learn more about how the Diokonie serves the community. God
has called them to service, and they work with all kinds of different people.
She also shared more information about Löhe, who established the Diakonie.<br />
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How the deaconesses create communion bread, Neuendettelsau.</div>
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The best part of this day was grasping a greater
understanding of the connection Neuendettelsau has with Wartburg College. It
makes me wonder if Löhe ever would have imagined that the spirit of service
still lives on, when he sent Georg Grossman to America to found Wartburg 160
years ago. It also makes me proud to be part of a community that is committed
to service and mission. Löhe might not have always followed the rules of the
land, but he surely knew what he was doing, and he understood the importance of
service.</div>Maren Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01501712195345704812noreply@blogger.com1