Dresden, Germany

I first came to Dresden as a study abroad student in the summer of  2007.  It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life and I made a few great friends.  I went home, finished studying and moved back to Dresden.  I've lived here, for the most part, since February of 2009 and I have to say that it really is an amazing city.  It's full of history, art and beautiful buildings.  I think one of the reasons that I fell in love with it is that, although it's a city of more than half a million people, it operates more like a small town.  Whether that's good or bad, I'm not sure. It reminds me of all of the medium sized cities in the States, except that the public transportation system is a lot better here.  The trains and buses run every ten minutes during the weekdays and even if you find you've stayed out too late and had one too many there's always a way to get home safely without having to drive yourself.

You may ask, then, what's not to love?  One thing is the number of people who speak English.  There is definitely a lack of that here.  The people who were born here were taught Russian in school, although most of them can't speak it now.  More importantly, they don't really want to speak English because they don't think that they need it.  There also seems to be a very low tolerance for other cultures.  If you speak English in public, you generally get a curious look from people around you.  The only places to go when you need a little respite from the daily German lifestyle are in Neustadt and most of them aren't open late. 

The consolation prize is the beautiful city itself.  If you take the time to get to know her, there is no doubt that you will love her.  The people who came to Dresden thousands of years ago were amazed by the beauty of the Elbe and built a royal community here.  The royal palaces and homes that still stand along the Elbe are breath-taking.  So, although the people of Dresden aren't the friendliest it's still a great city to live in and enjoy.

While the World Watched

I just finished reading  While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull McKinstry.  If you haven't read this book you should go buy a copy today.  I can't imagine living through the bombing of my church.  What the KKK did back on September 15, 1963 and throughout the 1950's and 60's was inexcusable.  They sought to frighten a group of people into submission and did not care if other people died in the process.  The thought that anyone, regardless of the color of their skin, should be dominated by another group of people is absurd.  The fact that these people bound together and fought for their rights as American citizens gives proof of their courage.  At the end of the book, Mrs. McKinstry  writes that she is hopeful for the future.  I'm optimistic because I know all of the hatred that still exist in the South.  Slavery was abolished many, many years ago and it seems to me that the South is still more or less segregated.  Why can't we teach our children to judge people on who and what they are and not what color their skin is?  I can only hope that in the next 40 to 50 years that people's attitudes will change and the world will become a better place.

Rest in peace Dr. Martin Luther King

Politics and the U.S.

I just finished reading That used to be us.  It's a book about everything that's wrong with the american system at the moment.  I think it's a great time to read this book, whether you agree with everything that is said in the book or not.  We, as a country, are at a point where a drastic change must occur.  I know that I'm not alone when I say that I'm fed up with all of the "he said, she said" crap that goes on amoung our political leaders.  Why are they so caught up in slinging accusations at one another and not focused on leading our country. 
There are a couple of things in the book that really struck a cord with me.  One is that a large majority of politicians in the U.S. say that global warming doesn't exist.  Really?  That's why the weather isn't changing so drastically, right?  They need a reality check.  But even if they don't believe it exist, that's no excuse to continue to pump oil from a country that would just as soon see us destroyed as become one of our allies.  We need a renewable, clean source of energy to become independent from these countries.  What would our military do without oil?  We would be crippled, what's more is that Iraq, Iran and all of the other Arab nations know this. 
Secondly, whoever thought that all of those baby boomers could retire and we could pay for it while cutting taxes and not go into debt was completely wrong.  We are more in debt now than at any point in our history.  Japan is also faced with the same problem, but they are raising taxes in order to keep from ending up like Greece.  Why can't the U.S. do this?  Sure, I don't want higher taxes either, but if it keeps China from owning every American company, and me from having to learn Chinese, then I will pay them. 
What I would really love to see happen is both parties stop throwing mud at each other and sit down to seriously discuss the issues that face the U.S. right now.  We have to improve the situation, or our children will grow up in a completely different country than the one we grew up in.