Quick Update from Berlin

Hey everyone! I know that this second reflection isn’t necessarily required, but I thought I would write a little update anyways after having re-read my first post (so much has happened since then!). I’ve continued working at the Robert-Koch-Oberschule in the Kreuzberg area of Berlin every Friday for a few hours. It has truly been a joy to work there and I’m really going to miss these kids when I return to Durham. I’m having dinner with the teacher I work with and a few other volunteers tonight, and our last meeting is tomorrow—I’m really not sure how to say goodbye to these people. I don’t think they understand how much they’ve changed my perspective on Germany, America, and my life in general, so how can I thank them?

Anyways… this past Monday one of the English classes I work with did a live BBC-World broadcast from the school. I was so proud! Five kids (all of Turkish decent) sat down at microphones and were interviewed by a BBC reporter in London. Though they were nervous and at times their English wasn’t the best, they all did a great job. One kid even performed a rap live on air—that takes more guts than I’ll ever have. Mostly, they were discussing what “identity” is to them. They, and most of the other students at the school, come from non-German families and don’t know German as a first language. In preparing for this broadcast I had the chance to talk to smaller groups of students and try to help them organize their thoughts (in English) on the matter. Most of them told me that they feel like they don’t fit in or they have ‘no identity’ because the Germans say they are Turks and the Turks say they are German. These kids have a tough life in a tough area (known as Little Istanbul and a self-named “ghetto”) and yet they are really optimistic. Most of them have plans to go to college and to change the world. This is such an inspiration to me and I can only hope that I can help them change the world, too!

The kids have really welcomed me and are always so curious about my life in America, especially American politics and culture. They are incredibly friendly and warm people and have changed me more than they know. I hope everyone else has had equally wonderful experiences! See you all in a few short weeks.

-Allison Kenney, November 2006