Imagine this: You’re waiting for the next train to Berlin Alexanderplatz at the train station Friedrichstraße. But before the train even stops, you let out an annoyed sigh. Not again, you think. It’s one of those old train cars, the ones with a step. Now you ask a strong-looking person for help, and even though it’s Berlin (which is not known for being the friendliest place in Germany), the person is willing to lift the front part of your wheelchair to help you get onto the train. Two stations later, you have to ask someone else for help to get off the train.
Studying With Limited Freedom of Speech: My Semester in Hong Kong
In 2021, President Biden offered a safe haven to Hong Kong residents in the U.S., which allowed them to prolong their stay for up to 18 months. This year, Biden extended that offer for an additional two years, calling Hong Kong’s policies a “significant erosion of human rights and fundamental freedoms.” To understand these policies better, here’s a brief look into Hong Kong’s recent history.
Winter Sports — At What Cost?
Photo credit: “Ski jumping in Oberstdorf, Germany” by Arne Müseler
“Having the World Cup back on U.S. soil is very important in developing the sport of Ski Jumping in this country and across the world,” enthuses one ski jumping trainer about the return of the Men’s Ski Jumping World Cup to historical site Lake Placid, NY, after over three decades. As heart-warming as this news may be for North American winter sports aficionados, it’s hard to feel as optimistic about ‘developing’ the future of snow sports when climate change is already heavily impacting events even today.
German Distance, American Naivety
As an American writer living in Berlin, I strain to understand and express some of the differences between my two homes. So many exceptions to any rule, no broad-brushstroke of a short essay is going to begin to capture anything but the most basic generalization. Still, let me try. Here’s a story plucked from memory.
Valentine’s Day – A Marketing Scam or a Day Filled with Love?
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Whenever I talk to people about Valentine’s Day, I get some sort of hateful response. It’s only about money. You’re forced to buy something for your significant other or they’ll be mad. It’s more romantic to show your love every day in small gestures rather than doing so only one day a year. And it’s all just a devious plan of the industry, trying to sell heart-shaped food, flowers, and other festive nonsense.
Is that the truth or can Valentine’s Day be something more? As a fan of spreading love and appreciation, I want to investigate this further. What are the roots of Valentine’s Day? And how can we escape all this negativity and make it an enjoyable day?
Feeding Feathered Friends in February – National Bird-Feeding Month
Christmas and New Year’s Eve are over. Now it’s already February, but Valentine’s Day is not really your thing? Worry not! National Bird-Feeding Month has arrived.
It’s just the right time of the year to provide our feathered friends with food and water in our backyards, then sit in front of the window to watch them. It’s a great delight to see them feast on seeds. You can get in touch with nature, take a moment to relax, and help the environment. It’s also cheap, and kids will have a lot of fun learning the different birds’ names.
You’re not familiar with the A and O of bird-feeding yet? Don’t worry about this either – I’ve been feeding birds in my yard for years. Let me feed you the most important titbits you need to know to participate!