The Last Day in Berlin

The last day in Berlin we got up really early and went to the town were Martin Luther lived and nailed up his theses on the church door. Since our family is Lutheran, it was really exciting to think we were going to go to the place where the Protestant movement started. Wittenburg is the tiny town where Martin Luther lived and protested the Catholic Church.

The ride there was really beautiful there were little towns and flower fields and forests all the way there. When we got there we sat down for breakfast to decide were we should go first because we had a limited time there so we picked the Luther house, the monestary of Martin Luther which now houses a museum with collections of all things Lutheran. The house was huge and took a long time but was really cool to see. It even had a lot of his original writings in it. It was so big that it took us longer then we planned but once we had finished looking we went straight to the church that he used to preach at and went in there for a little to look around. It was a very old looking church which was supposed to have Martin buried under it. From there we went to the church that the thesis’s were put on and just took a few picture of it but didn’t go in because we had no time. The drive back to Berlin was long because we didn’t really know how to get back. We were so late that when we got to a rest stop we got off to call Robert because we were supposed to meet up with him before we left. When we got off we realized it was a bad idea because there was a full blown biker convention going on there. It ended up taking like 20 min just to call and leave because it was so packed. Finally we got back to Berlin, had a quick lunch and met with Robert for a few. Then we went and picked up Eleni and headed back to Den Haag. We didn't leave Berlin until after 6pm, and we didn't get back to The Hague until 4am. I slept most of the time, but my Aunt had to drive and had to get up the next morning for work...so it wasn't so easy on her. But, it was worth it....it was a great trip!

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

We are still in Berlin, but today we got up early and headed out because we were going to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. This camp wasn't a death camp it was a work camp so although many people there died it was not even close to how many people died at the death camps. I knew that the camps were big but when i got there i found that it was bigger then i thought. It was also very interesting to see where the people slept every night and sad to see just how little space they had and to hear just how bad there life was. In school you learn about the Holocaust but it is very different to hear about it when you are at the camp and see the things that they had to do and where they had to sleep. I also learned things that you aren't taught in school like if you had a deformity they would kill you just to see what it was. An example of this is when a man with a crooked spine(my guess would be he had scoliosis) was killed and took out his spine and hung it in the courtyard just because they thought it looked weird. After we were done there we drove back and met up with Robert and his girlfriend and took a boat tour of Berlin. The tour was a lot of fun even though it rained a little on us. The tour took us through parts of Berlin that people don't usually see if they just walk the city. After the tour my aunt and I went to the Holocaust memorial which was really interesting because it is a bunch of rectangular slabs that make a maze like area. From there we went back to the hotel and rested for a few minutes before we went back out to meet up with everyone for dinner. (We were supposed to meet another one of Eleni's brothers and the roommate of the brother that lived there.) When we got to the restaurant everyone but Eleni's brother and the other brothers roommate was there. Right after we ordered they both walked in. It was nice to meet them and the dinner was a lot of fun. After diner we went straight back to the hotel and straight to bed because we were getting up early the next day.

Day Two in Berlin

The second day in Berlin we went to the zoo. When we got there the line was really long so we let Twiga stand in line with us till we were about to get the tickets then I put her back in the car. Right when we got in we started looking for Knut the Polar bear. (That was my aunt’s only real reason to go there) Knut is a very famous polar bear in Europe, though in the US we haven't really heard of him. He was born last year at the Berlin zoo and the whole continent went crazy over this cute polar bear. He is now a teen ager though.

I thought it was a nice Zoo, of course I still think the San Diego Zoo is better but that is because it is :P

Before we could find Knut we decided to get some lunch so we went to one of the food courts and I got a Bratwurst and fries and my aunt got what was supposed to be potato salad and a pretzel. I loved that lunch but my aunt thought the "potato salad" was not good. After that we kept looking for the bear but it was hard to find because the signs aren't really that helpful. While we were looking for Knut we saw some white wolfs and I thought that was really cool because I love wolfs. Shortly after the wolfs we found the famous polar bear. That was the most active and fun bear I have ever seen. It actually was amazing to see.

After we saw that we headed strait for the exit and back to Twiga. From there we went back to the shops we were at the day before and I got some cool stuff. On the way back to the hotel that night we stopped at the Brandenburg Gates and got a few pictures. My aunt is such a freak that everytime we passed the gates she would say, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall." She is very embarassing to hang out in public with.

That night we went to Eleni's brothers Opera at the Berlin Opera House. It was the first real Opera I had been to and it didn't seem to be the normal kind. It was...different. I could always tell where Eleni's brother was when he was on stage. The story of the Opera was Joan of Arc, but my Aunt and Eleni said it wasn't a classic opera but a modern one so there was a lot of weird stuff going on that I didn't quite get. But, it was still fun to be there and to see it all. After the show was over, we met Eleni's brother in the restaurant for the actors and musicians and we had dinner with them and then went back to the hotel and to sleep.

Back In Europe and off to Berlin

So I have been in Europe for a total of 7 days and yet I have been having a lot of fun. Right when I got here I met up with my aunt at the airport and we went back to the house to drop off my big bag and pick up Eleni then headed to Berlin. We ended up leaving late so we didn't get to Berlin till about 1 in the morning. I slept most of the ride there so it didn't bug me too much. The next day we meet up with my aunt’s friend Robert and his girlfriend for a little tour of the city. The city is so big and fun with a lot of cool things to see and do. We started the day off with a really good breakfast at the hotel then went over to Roberts house where we had another breakfast. I didn't really eat anything at their house because I had eaten so much at the hotel. After they were done eating we went to the train station by there house and went to the city center where we met up with Eleni for a little and walked around the city looking at shops. One of the shops was a shop that sold Ampelmann which are the old stop and go signals for the crosswalk. The shop had a lot of cool things like bags and balls, pins and pens, and even more. The first time I went in I only got a pin because I didn't really know what to get so my really cool aunt said that we would go back later and look again. Shortly after that shop Eleni had to go because her other brother was coming to stay with the brother that lived in Berlin. (Elaine was staying with the brother that lived in Berlin too.) After she left we continued looking around at the cool buildings. After a long time of looking at different buildings we got to Checkpoint Charlie. (The checkpoint got the name Charlie from the communication code "Alfa Bravo Charlie") Robert and Katharina were really great tourguides of their city. It was really cool to see the checkpoint but I think my aunts favorite part was when we got Starbucks right after. From there we all took the train back to Roberts house and then met up with Eleni for dinner...pizza.....yum!

Paintballing

Last weekend I went paintballing with my church youth group. We went to this place called American Canyon because one of the kids had been there before and said it was good. When we got there we thought it looked really cool and kind of like a forest. The main field is 65 acres and then there is Air Ball, Teepees, and Zulu Territory. The main field is just trees and then 4 forts but is a LOT of fun. The Air Ball part is just blow up obstacles that you can hide behind and attack your opponent. The Teepees are just like what they sound like, they are a bunch of teepees that you hide behind and attack your opponent. In the Zulu Territory there are no rules for the speed of the paintballs or anything like that. We started off in the main field but it closed for lunch right after our first game so we went to the Teepees and Air Ball area because they were still open. We hung out down there and just played games against each other for a long time. I was having sooo much fun--you really have no idea. Then we realised that we had been there longer then we had planned so we figured that we might as well stay till they closed. So we went back to the main field and played like 3 more games with everyone and then the park closed so we headed home. We spent the whole ride home talking about how much fun we had and hoping we could go again.

The Final Part of the Mexico Trip

The last day before the long and boring ride home we crossed the border and headed to the beach. San Diego beaches rock! This year we had more time at the beach then ever before and we were glad to have it. We got to spend like 4 hours at the beach running and getting sunburned. It was great--I love that beach. Then at 4 we packed up and headed over to the Fashion Valley mall to buy dinner and I got Chinese food. Just Chinese food because last year some idiot got caught stealing shoes at the mall so we weren't allowed to shop this year. Then we headed to the church that we stayed at on the way down and unpacked to go to sleep. That night we talked about how much we were looking forward to next year and how we wished we were still in Mexico. Shortly after that was lights out so we could get up early for the long drive back home. I'm already planning for next year's trip.

Day Three on the Site

Right when we got on the sight the morning of the third day, we started getting the roof boards up and the tar paper done on the walls. I was on the roof with Papa Sig (group leader) and Kyle Sig (Papa & Mama Sig's son). While we were putting on the roof boards the people we were building the house for asked if we could put in a sky light, so we thought about it for a little while and then said yes, because it hadn’t been done before and we wanted to make a new record. We had to put extra support where the sky light was, because otherwise it would have been a weak spot. We also had the problem of trying to get a hole in the board because we didn’t have a power saw. Then out of no where, the guy we were building it for brought out a power saw and cut the board for us. (The group next to ours was mad because we weren’t supposed to have power tools, but it wasn't our power tool. It was funny.) Shortly after we had the sky light in, Kyle had to leave to help Smit do the barbeque. After he left we started putting the tar paper on the roof and then the roofing tar. Then I had to tar the all the nails and stuff to make sure no water could get in. By the time I was done with that the rest of the people were basically done with the house, so we gave the new home owners the key to the house and took some pictures. The most important part of the whole trip is the end when the family finally has a good house. Then went back to camp for some AMAZING tri tip that Smit makes. For the last night in Mexico Patrick and I made a huge fire and we all sat around it and talked and sang till it was bed time.

Day Two on the Site

The second day was a lot more fun and productive all around. We started off by breaking people up into groups. Patrick and I were a group and then there were 3 other groups--all of us were making walls for the house. In all there are seven walls and two roof parts that make up the house. After Patrick and I were done we put up our wall because no one else could do much more then make the walls until it was up because it was the front. After it was up I went down and helped Kelsey’s group finish and bring up their wall. (They were down the hill a little bit and it is a steep climb.) Once all the walls were up I started working on the roof parts with Kelsey, Patrick, Mama Sig (adult leader) and Hanna. When that was finally done we had to bring it over to the house and put it on top of the house. After that one was on I got on the roof and started putting the bird blocks in. (yes they do just what they are called, they block the birds from going into the house) While two other people and I were doing that, the other wall was being made and at the end of the day it was finished and put on next to the first half. Then we headed back to the camp site, had a bonfire and dinner and went to bed--we were pretty tired.

First Day on the Work Site

So the first day on the work site we built the frame for the foundation, and two walls, and also poured the cement foundation. Right when we got to the site we started to make the frame for the foundation. After we had it all square and level (which didn’t take that long) we had to dig about 3 inches down around the edges to make sure the foundation doesn't move. My first job was to make sure all the dirt was loose enough for the people with shovels to get it out. That ended up only taking me like 5 minutes because I got to use a pick axe and when I have one of those I can dig through just about anything. Then we started making the cement and walls at the same time. This didn’t work as well as it has in the past two years because we had a bunch of people that didn’t really want to do any work. (If and when they did work they wanted their friends right next to them so they could talk the whole time.) The cement takes a long time to make and is really hard because we have to make it by hand. This year Patrick and I broke the record of most cement mixed at once. (We mixed 6 buckets and the record was 5 so we thought that was cool.) While we are down there we don't have any power tools because we don't want it to seem like we are better or have better things or anything like that. After all the cement was in we all helped put together the second wall then we had to go back to camp because there are gangs where we do work and we don’t want to have to deal with that. Back at camp we just hang out until dinner. After dinner we have small groups and big group worship then we go to bed.

My Mexico Mission Trip

On Easter I went down to Mexico with my church youth group to build houses for the week of spring break. We meet Sunday before church and check in so that we know that everyone is there. After checking in we go to church service. In the service there is a part where we have to go up front so the whole church can see us and wish us luck. (I hate that part). After the service we go out to the vans (for those of you that don't know, we drive down to Mexico) to load up and say goodbye to people. After saying bye to everyone we headed out. I really don't know what happened till our first rest stop because I slept on the ride down. At the first rest stop we ate our bag lunches and changed seats. We do a lottery to see where we sit and at each stop we change seats so people get to know more people--people riding with me know that I like to sleep. Then we got back in the vans and I went back to sleep till the second rest stop. That was fun because I got Taco Bell for dinner. The third rest stop was the coolest rest stop we had because we got there just in time to watch the sun set. I wish I could have taken a picture but I didn't have a camera. Once the sun had set we hung out for a few minutes, then finished up the drive to the church we were sleeping at. After all the people were there we unpacked the box truck so we had all our things. After that my Aunt and Bestemom showed up with some more Taco Bell and Easter candy for me (they spent Easter in San Diego). It was cool seeing my Aunt again since I haven't seen her in a few months. Once they left, we were up for a few more minutes but then it was time for bed. Last year we were there too and some of the adults slept outside so me and Patrick and Chris asked if we could sleep outside too. The adults said yes so we all set up outside on the grass and went to sleep. Then at about 2 AM the sprinklers went off...that was a very weird way to wake up. So this year we slept outside but this time we were on the cement.