Dear followers,
This will be my third post of the trip. Since last week, much has happened. I have met many new friends that I wish to remain in contact with after I leave Germany and head home. I have discovered new places to see and things to do in Münster with my classmates. We have also traveled to Osnabrück and the famous Shwarzwald (Black Forest) in Baden-Wurtemburg of southwestern Germany. My German has also greatly improved as well as my knowledge of the city and public transport. I finally feel comfortable striking conversation with anyone on the street or giving directions to fellow tourists.
First and foremost, this trip has given me the opportunity to meet so many diverse and interesting individuals from around the world. Along with developing my friendships with the other Rollins students, whom I previously never met before this trip, I have also made friends with many Swiss, Spaniards, French, British, Japanese, Swedish, and Vietnamese. Kapito serves such a diverse crowd. Also, the diversity I’ve witnessed at Kapito shows the international appeal and benefit of learning German as a second or third language. Many students at Kapito wish to learn German for the same reasons as myself. They believe it is a necessary language needed in order to traverse and make business in much of Europe. German is quickly becoming the most demanded foreign language in all of business right after English.
Along with Mauricio, Josh, Sally, and some new foreign friends, We’ve explored the extent of Münster. One of my new favorite places is the EMS Canal. The EMS Canal or simply, the canal, is a 269 km long canal between the inland port of the city of Dortmund and the sea port of Emden. It is used by cargo ships in order to lighten the load on railways, which cannot transports products of the Ruhr area and was apparently attacked several times during WWII due to it’s strategic importance. The people of Münster use this canal as a way to cool off from the summer heat. I have so much fun whenever we go and I always jump off the overhead bridge into the canal. However, it is very dirty, but once you get past that it is a great way to cool off and have fun during the very uncomfortable hot summers in Münster.
On Wednesday, 22nd we all traveled to Osnabrück to sightsee and go to the Felix Nussbaum Haus. The Felix Nussbaum Haus is a museum in Osnabrück Germany and is home to the collective works of German-Jewish painter Felix Nussbaum. The building itself is an exhibit and houses an exhibition space which focuses on racism and intolerance. I really enjoyed the Felix Nussbaum museum. I have never heard of him or his work until my visit. The artwork which I have posted below isn’t the most beautiful i’ve ever seen in person but it delivers and encompasses such strong emotion and delivers the melancholy feeling . One of my favorites is Triumph Des Todes.