I knew this trip was going to be tiring, but I didn’t realise how much my aging body would agree with me. Sucks being old, y’know?

Anyway, we’re in Prague now, after a night’s stay in Dresden. Just to get everyone up to speed, we’ve visited the Dachau Concentration Camp, the BMW Museum, the Nuremberg Documentation Centre, and did a walking tour of Dresden. All in all, we’ve had a pretty damn good time.

Being someone who has no personal experience with any of the World Wars (or any war for that matter, thank God!) I honestly didn’t think I’d be affected by the visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp. But right after walking through the gates and looking at that cold, barren courtyard, I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with grief. Overwhelmed with sympathy. Overwhelmed with inner cries of injustice. I simply could not fathom how mankind was able to allow such atrocity to happen. Were people that consumed by hatred? Hatred that, from all angles, didn’t seem justifiable at all?

After experiencing something as chilling as the Concentration Camp, we were brought to the BMW museum where we learnt about the history of BMW and saw many proud moments being exhibited in the museum. The students had a lot of fun roaming around the clinical-looking museum and ogling the cars on display. I personally think they were just happy to get away from us and do something non-WWII related.

Day 3. We headed to Nuremberg and Dresden after we left Munich. Nuremberg was a great learning experience for us all as we visited the Nuremberg Documentation Centre, saw the site of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, and learnt more about the Nuremberg trials. At this point, allow me to say that I love my students. I was extremely heartened to see them having as much fun as they did learning about this important piece of history, even though it wasn’t exactly a relaxed day. Travelling from Munich to Dresden via Nuremberg was slightly demanding as we were on the road A LOT. All of us were really impressed with their tenacity and lack of complaints.

Day 4. Today. We finally got a more relaxed (and not to mention, touristy) schedule as we took a walking tour of Dresden (which is super gorgeous by the way!) and found some time to shop at the local mall, before heading to Prague, but also not without stopping at another local mall (this time, in Prague) before dinner. So yes, that meant a whole lot of retail therapy for all of us. :p Me? I’m most happy that I’m back in Prague. Gorgeous, gorgeous, Prague. Can’t wait to go on the walking tour tomorrow.

So that’s it for me for now. We’ll be heading out to Berlin tomorrow afternoon and I’m praying that we’ll continue to have perfect weather and the students will continue to be wonderful. Will post again soon!

So we’re finally in our hotel room in Munich, after spending 28 hours on the road (12 hours on the plane and 14 – yes, FOURTEEN – hours going around the city). I’m not even going to bother lying about having any energy left over, because you and I both know I’m no longer a 15-year-old. But oddly enough, us teachers are seemingly more awake than the students who have, to their credit, been very, very gung-ho about the whole process. Of course there was some whining from them, but because of the conditions they were put through (I admit that 28 hours is kinda insane), I thought it was completely legitimate.

My impressions of Munich (and Germany) so far? I like that it’s clean and orderly, like Singapore, yet it has enough European culture and flavour to keep me enticed. However, I’m not exactly in awe of Germany yet. Unlike Prague (can’t wait to go back there in a couple of days!), Amsterdam, Paris and London, my first foray into each of these amazing cities have left me yearning for more. Perhaps it’s because I now have 20 students to help “shepherd”. It truly is tough to enjoy myself and really soak in the atmosphere when I have to constantly worry about losing one of the kids. Also, because I did zero research prior to my arrival, I feel extremely lost wandering round the city, not knowing what to expect. And if you know me, you’ll know that this is completely out of character and I absolutely hate this feeling. Nonetheless, I did my best to appreciate every little bit of art, architecture and history that came my way. One thing for sure, I’ll need to come back so I can do this country justice.

So I’m leaving for Germany this Friday night (4th), will be back on the 13th, then I’m off to Brisbane to visit my girls on the 16th, and will be back on the 23rd. With a schedule like that, one would think that I’m almost like a jet-setter. Alas, this faux jet-setter had a ton of administrative work to contend with (and is – believe it or not – still contending with) and is frustrated to the point that she can’t wait for the whole shebang to end just so she can go on her ACTUAL vacation and relax her days away in good ol’ Brissie.

I kinda feel like I’m cheating on Germany.

You see, I love planning for trips and doing all the research, and I can get all the admin stuff tied up without any whining. But it is completely different when it’s a matter of work and you have to be accountable to plenty of neurotic folks who insist you plan for the worst. Not that it’s bad or anything, but it’s unnerving and it makes me think of too many worst-case scenarios than I’m legally comfortable with. Scenarios so unlikely that I’m surprised they didn’t ask us to plan in the event of a plane crash. Or what if we encounter an accident on the Autobahn? Or get collective food poisoning? Now why aren’t we planning for those? Can you tell I’m irritated?

I hate having such feelings. I should be looking forward to learning and appreciating the history and culture of the place, but because everything leading up to the day of our departure has been such a chore, I’m not sure if I can give Germany its due. I know I’ll go back one day and really see it the way it intends for me to, but I’m upset that it will now be associated with all the crazy paperwork that my colleagues and I were made to do. And we all know that’s not a good first memory of a place.

So please forgive me, Germany. I promise I’ll do my best to not let my own “baggage” get in the way of our relationship.