#6 Field Trip to Dresden
Today we took the train to Dresden, state capital of Sachsen (Saxony). First we visited the Deutsche Hygiene-Museum, established in 1912. Going there was not a subtle commentary by our hosts on our personal hygiene, but according to its website, the museum got its name because “at the time, hygiene was understood in a broad sense as an expression of progress and modernity. Accordingly, hygiene was the catchword for a society that was organized based on scientific findings; one that would enable both individuals and whole sections of the populace to lead a healthy life.”
The main event of the day was a city tour with two guides. One did an English-speaking tour; the other did it in German. Our kids could (more or less) choose in which group they wanted to be. Especially since the weather once again played along (it rained in the morning and then again on our way home), the 90-minute tour was informative and fun for all. But you shouldn't take my word for it. Let's hear from our students. Our two bloggers today are Mariana and Branden.
The Hygiene Museum was definitely the
highlight of my day in Dresden. I thought it was just absolutely fascinating to
see all the different displays in their raw forms, especially since it doesn't
compare to science museums I've been at in the United States. I could've spent hours
in the museum, which is why Lena and I came to the meeting with the group for
the city tourđ
. The tour itself was absolutely
amazing! Lena was telling me that the residents are used to seeing the
architecture in the city, but my reaction to the art engraved on every building
was funny. It really did leave me in awe to see these things in person because I've
only had pictures for 15 years. The stories that can be told with each art
detail is super cool to me. I also think I've come to really, really appreciate
the FuĂgĂ€ngerzonen (pedestrian zones) Germany has. I didn't have to
worry about cars, which I know is a small detail, but it enhanced my experience
that much more. Additionally, while walking, I noticed that there were
cigarette ads on the S-Bahns while in the US that type of advertisement is
banned. Overall, I had an absolutely amazing time in Dresden! 11/10!
Branden
writes:
The trip
to Dresden was really nice because we got to witness such a historical and old
city. After arriving in the city, we headed straight towards the Hygiene Museum.
It was fascinating because I had never been to a museum like that before. I
learned a lot about the human body, but I really enjoyed doing all the
activities the museum had to offer, such as numerous puzzles and memory tests
as a way to challenge yourself. My favorite one was trying to form a wooden
cube using oddly shaped pieces which took me around 10-15 minutes, mainly
because I was too stubborn to give up. Another activity I liked was a machine
that tested how strong each of your legs are and how many kilograms they could
hold. Sitting in a chair you had to hold onto handlebars and use one of your
legs to push against a bar where you could see on a screen how much you were
pushing. A funny thing I saw was during my exploration of how diet affects the
body, I stumbled upon a tiny but plump Ronald McDonald.
After
spending time in the museum, we went to the Theaterplatz
where we were meant to meet with the other groups. That turned into a slight
issue as the group I was in may have miscalculated the journey to meet up with
the other groups, so we arrived too early for the meeting but too late to get
food. However, we found a Döner place for later. Döner is one of
the most famous Imbiss (fast food) dishes found all across Germany. It consists
of sliced meat, salad, and different types of sauces, all served in a sliced
flatbread. The Döner was really delicious but absolutely massive with
both Joey and Sanjay unable to finish their food unlike Erik, Ernst, and I.
Although I reckon it counts towards our goal of reaching 10 Döners
during our stay in Germany. (I’m currently on three.)
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