The Finale

So, the end has come--the final group trip of the programme! The destinations today were Goerlitz and Bautzen. Goerlitz is on the eastern-most edge of Saxony, with half the town in Germany and half in Poland. The contrast in appearance of the two sides was shattering. Goerlitz in Germany is going through a major development initiative with the town being restored to reflect its historical past. Everywhere looks clean, is either newly painted or being newly painted. Once you cross the bridge over the river and onto the Polish side, nothing prepares you for the degenerated appearance of the buildings, the change in appearance of the people, and the general let down you feel at the contrast.

I also transitioned from a country where I feel comfortable with the language, can make myself understood in most situations, and feel totally at ease with the culture, to a foreign environment where the language is unknown and virtually unpronouncable for a tourist, where the culture is radically different, and where the general appearance of the town only increases the journey out of one's comfort zone. From an educational point of view, Dr. Gommlich could not have given us all a better example of how everywhere looked under the communist regime. Happily, Germany has the funds to renovate the former East German town of Goerlitz, but the Polish side of the town still acts as a reminder of the degenerative effect of the former political system.