Author Archives: aadvincula
How RIAS Fellowship Changed My Life
Oranienberg is the last stop. That was echoing in my head as I sat by the window of S1-Bahn train, watching suburban houses and buildings awash with stark graffiti. Three days after our RIAS fellowship ended in Belgium, I found … Continue reading
A Closer Look at the European Union
BRUSSELS, Oct. 16, 2014 — When a good friend called me on Thursday night from New York City, and I told her on the phone that our group was scheduled to visit the European Union the next day, she asked: … Continue reading
In Brussels, Fries are Frites and Peeing Boy is a Famed Icon
October 15, 2014. The sun was shining over Brussels, Belgium, when we arrived at the train station there early afternoon. I could not believe we were in another country. Two more days, I thought with sadness, our RIAS fellowship … Continue reading
My Top 5 Rarest Encounters in Deutschland
I could always go back to Germany and visit its remarkable sightseeing destinations. And, at any given time, I could try and enjoy the best entertainment and restaurants that this country offers to visitors and tourists from all over the world. But, if … Continue reading
Less than 24 Hours in Cologne
If you only have 24 hours in a beautiful city that you have never visited before, how will you make each hour worth it? On Tuesday, October 14, 2014, we took the train for about four hours from Leipzig to Cologne, … Continue reading
Train Strikes Urge RIAS Fellows to Leave Early for Leipzig
There was a train strike that day. We learned that the German trains were going to stop running at noon. So, avoiding the possibility of getting stalled in Berlin, we decided to leave for Leipzig early morning. Some of us took a cab to … Continue reading
Before Leaving Berlin, A Half-Day Tour of Wannsee and Potsdam
It was our first Saturday together. After we had breakfast at the hotel, a private bus took us to Wannsee and Potsdam, located about an hour-and-a-half ride from Berlin. It was quite embarrassing to admit, but I only learned about the … Continue reading
East Side Gallery: ‘It Happened in November’
Painter Kani Alavi watched the fall of the Berlin Wall from his former apartment near the Checkpoint Charlie, the border between the Russian Zone and the American territory during the Cold War. Looking from his window, he recalled that during that … Continue reading
A Memorable Lunch Near the Famed Brandenburg Gate
On Tuesday afternoon, our group visited the Brandenburg Gate, an 18th century monumental arch that has become Germany’s symbol of peace and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Europe. The sun struggled to shine over Berlin. It was windy and cold, but … Continue reading
The Berlin Wall and Today’s Silent Struggle for Freedom
The Berlin Wall was torn down 25 years ago, marking Germany’s reunification. A small segment of the wall on both the West and East side was placed at the memorial grounds — a stark reminder of Germany’s grim past. But while … Continue reading