Study abroad 2024-Laynee

    For my Berlin monument I decided to write about the monument to the murdered jews. This monument was very cool for me to see as I recognized from a Holocaust literature class I have previously taken. The monument includes columns of different heights, set in rows. The floor of this area goes up and down, in the same fashion as rolling hills. Rob told us that this monument can mean different things to different people and it's up to us to interpret it. He said that the architect intended us to reflect as we walked through the maze-like area. To me, it repented feeling lost and uncertain. Rob and Maryann shared a story about their son getting lost in the columns one time and them feeling helpless and they kept seeing him appear and then be gone. I think this can relate to the uncertainties of the Holocaust and the chaos is represented.     The Berlin monument to the murdered jews is important historically and culturally.  It stands as a tribute to the six million Jews who were ru

     Today I was able to learn about Luise Greger. Luise was a female musician who gained a lot of attention for her incredible talent as a pianist and composer. She started piano lessons at the young age of six. She was even good enough to play for the Czar of Russiaa at only 10 years old. Talk about pressure! She began composing and eventually got married. To contribute to the family income, she taught, composed, and continued to perform. She even had 3 sons admits her career. She did eventually get divorced and had to solely rely on her musical talents to support herself. As she aged, she was eventually put in an "old folks" home where she was euthanized for no longer "contributing to society."       Luise Greger was a wonderful musician. She was a great example for women as she nurtured her talent and devoted herself to her music. She was able to perform for people and bring her compositions to life! She earned herself respect amongst her male counterparts which

       Today we visited the  Berlin Reichstag building. This building holds great political and historical importance. The architecture has contrasting appearances, a Neo-renaissance style building and a modern glass dome in the middle. The front is embellished with sculptural decorations, including artwork, that represent aspects of German history, culture, and government. The glass dome above the Reichstag represents openness in government and allows natural light to enlighten the legislative rooms underneath. This signifies that the government has no secrets and the people rest above the legislatures. I was able to  ascend the dome on a spiraling ramp that gives panoramic views of the Berlin skyline which was very neat.     The Reichstag is important historically and culturally for a few reasons, especially since it has served as the seat of the German parliament for several eras in history.  It witnessed significant political events such as the passing of major legislation, discuss

      Lisa Meitner is so  inspiring! She was an Austrian physicist who helped make drastic strides in the field of nuclear physics and radioactivity, something unheard of for women at the time. She studied at the University of Vienna where she was one of the first women to earn a doctorate in physics, although it was a battle for her to earn respect. For over 30 years she had a collaboration with Otto Han, mostly at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry in Berlin. She earned her reputation overtime but especially by understanding nuclear fission and being able to explain the process. As a Jewish woman during the Nazi's reign, she had to flee to Sweden as the danger increased, before eventually returning to science and collaborating on the Manhattan Project.    Meitner's discovery of nuclear fission contributed to a basic understanding of nuclear processes by describing how an atom's nucleus may divide into smaller parts, releasing a considerable amount of energy. This

      For my free day post I decided to write about my visit to Budapest! Hungary marked my 26th country visited and I was grateful to have taken the trek. A monument that specifically stood out to me was Fisherman's Basin. It is a monument overlooking the city, almost castle-like with seven towers  symbolizing the seven Magyar tribes. The monument offers lookout points for tourists and locals which are breathtaking. You can see most of the city as it sits high on the city, located to the Matthias church. A bronze statue of St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary, is also located int he courtyard.     Budapest's status as a cultural capital is due to its many monuments and attractions. Monuments show meaningful moments, influential people, and educate the public and tourists about a city's history and how it all came to be. Fisherman's Basin was the monument that caught my eye the most. It is said to have been named after the group of fisherman that guarded the city'

       Käthe Kollwitz was an influential Germam artist. She was known for her emotional and powerful art pieces, often depicting war and social injustice. She was a master of many crafts, including drawing, etching, lithography, and sculpture. She studied at the Berlin School for Women Artists. I learned that her family was hesitant for her to marry. They were scared that she would have to step away from her art career. Alas, her husband ensured that she still had time to paint and create the emotive displays of human hardships. Her artwork frequently portrays the struggles that the working class and impoverished, particularly women and children, faced.     Her work has had a lasting impact on society, her country, and artists. Her art brought attention to the struggles of the working class, the poor, and women, particularly mothers. She offered the suppressed a voice and humanized their suffering by portraying the brutal realities of poverty,  injustice, and war. Her moving depictions

      Today we visited the  Stockholm: Skansen Open Air Museum. This was such a fun day! The park had so much to see and do. I love that it is a place for families and tourists to visit. I decided to spend grabbing some good food, authentic Swedish meatballs of course. Then my group and I headed to the Baltic Sea aquarium and then to the Nordic animal zoo. Both facilities were very entertaining. The aquarium had a few levels, with things for all ages to see. Downstairs, there were large tanks full of fish, including one with jelly fish. The zoo attracted a lot of guests. The Lynx perched on a rock attracted my attention. It almost seemed like the protective gate was too low...it appeared like they could jump over at any moment. Alas, they seemed to be taking a peaceful afternoon nap...lucky.      One of Sweden's most well-liked tourist destinations, Skansen is the oldest open-air museum in the world. With the intention of establishing a living museum that would conserve and showcas

      Today we visited the statue of  Kristina Gyllenstierna. She was born into a Swedish noble family and played a significant role in Sweden's history. She married a Regent of Sweden, who had a very influential family. Her husband passed a way, leaving her with the responsibility to defend Sweden against Danish attacks/invasions. She commanded the Swedish resistance and defended Stockholm against the invasion by King Christian II of Denmark. The Danes finally took Stockholm, despite her best attempts. In what became known as the Stockholm Bloodbath, King Christian II ordered the murder of several Swedish nobles once they were captured. After being jailed, Kristina was eventually let free.     Kristina's contributions for Sweden were important for several reasons.  In particular, Kristina Gyllenstierna was crucial in preventing Danish rule, especially in the chaotic time before the Stockholm Bloodbath. Her leadership was essential in defending Stockholm against King Christian

      Today I visited the Moderna Muset in Stockholm, right by our hostel. Before entering, our group had a discussion about modern art. Why is it so controversial? The confusion was because it's meant for our own  interpretation most of the time, and that's what causes division. For my art of choice, I decided to focus on one room that was an interactive experience. It was a dark room, with a large bed in the middle, facing a tv screen playing a film. The room was open for visitors to lay on, and most of the group took advantage of this opportunity. What I thought was interesting though was that I felt like I was a part of the art, and that was the designer's attention all along.           I think this room is important culturally for a couple reasons. The placard gave me some context about the idea behind the room's theme. It shared that often times it was/is typical for artists to put their most beloved work in their bedroom, hence the bedroom theme. The placard cont

      Today along our walk, we decided to talk about Greta Thunberg. I had a little bit of knowledge about her; I knew she was an activist and held a lot of protests. We learned that from a young age, she challenged political leaders to take action against human-caused climate change. In our preparation class, I recall hearing that she would skip school in order to  protest, hoping for stronger action by the European government. She started a movement on Fridays where students would skip school in order to protest. This strike gained national attentions and students from all over began participating. An interesting fact about Greta is that she also has a form of autism, making her one of the first female, neurodivergent activists.     Greta Thunberg is a great example of a powerful figure. To note, being a woman alone is not easy, let alone being a famous female with a voice, a loud one too. Greta is known around the world for her powerful dedication to the climate change cause. She ha

      Today we visited the natural history museum. I must admit, I am not typically a science girl. It just does not spark my interest. However, gazing around the rows of stones and  meteors, fossils and statues, and taxidermied animals was interesting. I decided to focus my writing today on the Venus of Willendorf figurine. I was very excited to see her in person because I learned about her in my Western Humanities class last semester. It was pretty surreal seeing the real thing. What shocked me was her size! She was about 4 inches tall and tiny! She was cream with large breasts and a full stomach.      The figure is extremely important historically. It is ancient, dating back to around 28,000 to 25,000 BCE. The figurine was discovered in Austria in 1908. Her figure has dramatized female features, including a large stomach and big breasts, thought to symbolize the "ideal" body type for a woman during the Stone Age. Though some disagree, she is commonly known to symbolize fer

       Today I had the fabulous opportunity to visit the Vienna treasury. We saw clear casings enclosed with royal gowns and bejeweled crowns. As a lover of royals, as well as anything bedazzled, this sparked my  interest. I decided to talk about the royal robes I observed in the museum. The robe was maroon and gold with a train. It had a white and black polka-dotted shawl. It looked heavy to say the least...I think I would get hot if I were in walking around in it. Red is traditionally associated with power and authority. To me it signified the emperor's status and role as a leader. The gold typically represents wealth and prosperity, which is typical with royals.      According to the information I  gathered and interpreted from the placards posted around the museum, such robes were often used during significant ceremonies. This was in accordance to the Holy Roman Empire's traditions. The robes worn were a significant symbol of the status of the wearer. The robe was associate