6.26.2003
(6/26)
Today the kids got to go on a canoe trip down the Rhein River. Pretty cool. We went to see them off and take pictures but then headed back to the school where I have been typing all morning. They are being picked up now and then I believe they go to class with their partners until school is out.
Later...
Julie and I spent a relaxing afternoon reading and then had a GREAT dinner that Birgit made us. We had very interesting conversations about politics, too. Apparently when East and West Germany combined, it did not go well. The chancellor at the time was up for re-election and made it his platform even though many of the people thought it was too rushed. East and West were VERY different and to put them together so quickly was not a good move, identity-wise and financially. The people who lived in West Germany before the wall came down still pay a "unification tax" to help pay for the rebuilding of East Germany. Obviously they don't care for that. The East Germans have no jobs so they try to migrate to the West but can only get grocery type jobs. It is all very interesting and Julie was really...moved? hurt? shocked? You don't learn about this stuff from books. Volker said they expect the economy to be bad/rebuilding until the year 2020. He feels it could easily have been avoided. Interesting stuff.
I suppose I'll read for a bit and then go to sleep. Tomorrow I'm going to look for "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving at the suggestion of Steven Grahmann. That was so formal...ick.
Today the kids got to go on a canoe trip down the Rhein River. Pretty cool. We went to see them off and take pictures but then headed back to the school where I have been typing all morning. They are being picked up now and then I believe they go to class with their partners until school is out.
Later...
Julie and I spent a relaxing afternoon reading and then had a GREAT dinner that Birgit made us. We had very interesting conversations about politics, too. Apparently when East and West Germany combined, it did not go well. The chancellor at the time was up for re-election and made it his platform even though many of the people thought it was too rushed. East and West were VERY different and to put them together so quickly was not a good move, identity-wise and financially. The people who lived in West Germany before the wall came down still pay a "unification tax" to help pay for the rebuilding of East Germany. Obviously they don't care for that. The East Germans have no jobs so they try to migrate to the West but can only get grocery type jobs. It is all very interesting and Julie was really...moved? hurt? shocked? You don't learn about this stuff from books. Volker said they expect the economy to be bad/rebuilding until the year 2020. He feels it could easily have been avoided. Interesting stuff.
I suppose I'll read for a bit and then go to sleep. Tomorrow I'm going to look for "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving at the suggestion of Steven Grahmann. That was so formal...ick.
