Day 16 October 15th

First full day in Berlin started rather interesting. As students were waiting for our time to go into the Reichstag (parliament) building a few came across some gypsies who were supposedly collecting money for deaf children. The thoughtful kids they are, went to their purses/bags to give a donation when the gypsies grabbed in their purse/bag and just took their money. They tried to go after them to get money back but were recalled by me as it was time to line up for entering the Reichstag. One had gotten $80 taken the other $20. I of course lectured them about not handing anyone in Berlin anything because most are grifters. As we were waiting to enter the Reichstag the students saw the same two girls nearby. Several of us went to them to retrieve the money when one took of as she saw police heading our way but we had the other one circled. Once the police came she returned the $80 but still refuted any wrong doing. Turns out that these groups of young gypsies are a major problem in the area but police are rarely able to get evidence and enough witness statements against them. Most of the time they manage to run away. Thanks to our students they have enough witness accounts and even pictures a student took against them to finally prosecute them.

Out Reichtags experience was great. Everyone learned about The German election process and general government and the history behind it.

Berlin Scavengerhunt

After lunch we divided into two teams and played the Berlin City scavenger hunt. Starting at the Reichstag building we learned some cool information about the various monuments and historical landmarks throughout Berlin. We learned for example that the Memorial to the murdered Jewish people contains 1177 rectangular cement blocks, that the Berlin Wall was 160 Kilometers long and that it separated the two Germanys from 1961 to 1989. The hunt ended at Checkpoint Charlie.