Pray for the World

This weekend, for me, was wonderful. I spent it all with Alex and his family celebrating his 21st in both Wolverhampton and Birmingham. Usually, I would now go on to do a post about all the fantastic places we went to and what a brilliant time was had by all; but I can't.

On Friday night, there were terrorist attacks upon Paris. According to reports they were the most deadly attacks in Europe since the Madrid train bombings 10 years ago. Due to these horrendous events many have been calling people to #prayforParis, but thankfully light is now being shed on other atrocities that also occurred and deserve our prayer. ISIS also attacked Beirut, there were earthquakes in Mexico and Japan, and bombings in Iraq. On a daily basis ISIS are raising hell across the Middle East, but I can't say I remember seeing the Syrian flag across the Sydney Opera house.

There is a whole world out there that needs our prayer, our focus, our attention, and our help. 3 out of 4 of those things can be done without a person believing in God, because this isn't about religion. This is about a group of people who want to watch a large section of the world burn, and they're willing to burn with it where necessary. If this was about religion, then the 1.7 billion Muslims in the world would probably be very close to being in full control of every single one of us by now. I fully agree that in many respects the West should never have invaded the Middle East, and if the cultures there truly do not want our culture thrust upon them then that's fair enough. However, the likes of ISIS who say that that is their aim, to rid the world of western culture, are being fled by the people they are trying to 'save', the West is being chosen above them.

And why is the West being chosen above them? Because it the West, we are still surprised into a humungous reaction whenever we are attacked as it doesn't happen that often or severely. That's a privilege. Our news reports can't stop going on and on about Paris because it's brand new and shocking, whereas unfortunately countries like Iraq are atrociously attacked everyday. I'm not saying that any of it's right, but that's how it is.

We are of privilege. My main worry this weekend was would I manage to fit in enough work around Alex's celebrations? My main worry about the future is will I get the degree mark I truly want? Will I work hard enough to achieve what I want? Safety and security are handed to me on a plate so I have room to figure out my dreams and work hard enough to achieve them. Can you honestly imagine what people are going through where they're so insecure and unsafe, all they can dream is that they wake up tomorrow? We need to think outside of ourselves and do whatever can be done to help. Right now, for me, that's praying and donating money to the refugees (yes, one of the Paris attackers came through Greece from Syria as a refugee, but that only implores us to do tighter checks, not stop helping those in true need), and awaiting better instruction from those who know.

Berlin, You Have a Piece of my Heart

Last Thursday until Sunday Alex and I used the excuse of it being his 21st next week to forget life in Berlin for a bit. It was brilliant. Berlin's Alex's favourite city, and a place I have been dying to visit so that's why I chose it. It was great decision even if I do say so myself. Even though we went at a time that wasn't summer or Oktoberfest or Christmas, it didn't matter, there was such a natural, welcoming buzz about the place regardless.

In terms of organising the trip, I used all of my usual methods. I put all my money on the Travelex multicurrency card, while Alex had some cash which worked out rather useful as Berlin is a cash more than card city. The flights and hotel were all booked through Expedia. It was a bit annoying that there weren't any direct flights to Berlin as the airport there is a bit all over the place with them building a new one, but Munich airport was a very nice place to stop in. Our hotel was the Sofitel, Kufurstendamm and it was b-e-a-utiful. The toilet had a phone in it for some wonderfully bizarre reason, and we were each got the cosiest slippers and a dressing gown. In terms of booking things to do while there, I booked the city sightseeing bus for two of the four days we were there, and usual it got us round everything we wanted to see whilst teaching us something along the way. I also booked the guided tour of the Reichstag, which was incredibly interesting.

Much like when I visited Ellis Island in New York, there was a lot of personal eye-opening emotion in me when in Berlin. My dad went there in the 80s, while the wall was up, and the there was an East and West Berlin, 30 years later there I was viewing sections of the wall, and wandering through Checkpoint Charlie without a care in the world. It was quite astounding.
I think the historical thing that upset me the most was probably seeing sections of the wall. Especially in the current climate of fences against immigrants, the likes of Donald Trump wanting to build a wall across the American/Mexican border, it really disgusted me that the deaths of those attempting to cross the Berlin wall have barely affected politics. There were children shot by soldiers as their parents tried to take them to a better life. Absolutely foul. At one section of the wall (the one in the picture below), there was a cross to commemorate all of the graves that were either moved or built upon to create the wall. They literally built a wall on dead people, and then shot others at it. It upset me so much.

The thing most heart warming about this particular section of the wall was that very nearby is the Chapel of Reconciliation. It's a place for those of all or no faith to sit in quiet; peace.







Luckily, Berlin is a place of beautiful culture that cheered me up no end. Even politically it still has moments of strength, and happiness, particularly in the form of the Reichstag which is the parliament building.

The most impressive thing about the Reichstag for me, was that due to the fire there, only the facade is in the classic, older, stone style. Inside it is uber modern and really open, not at all stuffy and traditional. However, something that has been kept from the time of separation is some of the Soviet graffiti. The most offensive phrases have been removed, but the names of soldiers, the places they've been, even a love heart with two names in of a couple who are still married now, has all been carefully preserved.

Outside of the historical and political elements, Berlin has some fantastic food and beer. The first night we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, as we do in every place we can. Inside there was a guitar made out part of the wall, it was brilliant. Then we found a place called Zoo Bar, it was really cool inside and made some lovely cocktails. It looks out over the zoo from the top of a nearby hotel, but as it was late at night we couldn't see anything unfortunately. Though to be fair, Germany don't water down their alcohol in bars it seems so I was seeing all sorts by the time we left. For real German food, the next two nights we act in Restauration 1840 and Dicke Wirtins, I can't recommend either more. The currywurst in 1840 was delicious, and the steins were humongous and delightful. Then in Dicke Wirtins, everything was really cheap, really tasty, and absolutely massive! I couldn't finish my schnitzel.

To get to all of these places we used a mixture of the tour buses and the trains. The system in Germany meant that we could get on trains without paying, which we did. It all went well until the last day when ticket inspectors caught us as we were pulling into the station we were going to get off at anyway. This meant we finished our holiday with a lovely €120 fine...it's about £90 which is far less that an English fine would be, but still, not how one wishes to end a holiday, so buy tickets people!

In all, Berlin is now most definitely in my top 5 of favourite places. I could actually see myself living there, especially once I get my confidence back up with my spoken German. I really frustrated myself over the weekend because I kept speaking English instead, even though it really wasn't necessary. It's definitely something I'm going to work on for next time! That is after I've finished all of this university work, trying to have fun and take a week out in third year doesn't half create a backlog of things to be done.