Travel to Germany

Germany is the largest country in Central Europe and shares border with Denmark, France, Poland, Austria and Switzerland among other countries. It is made up of 16 federations each with its own culture and this facet of regionalism makes Germany one of the most diverse European nations.

Germany spreads over 350000 square kilometers and has more than 80 million inhabitants. Its capital Berlin is not as prominent a capital city as say London or Paris, yet it is one of the more fashionable cities of Europe and indeed the world. Like New York in the USA, the city of Frankfurt is the financial capital of Germany. Imperial Germany has had a very sordid history having been involved at the forefront of both World Wars. Adolf Hitler and his Nazi war machine marched all over the neighboring countries, attacking and taking over many of them until finally their devastating end came about in 1945 with the conclusion of World War II.

Germany is divided into five primary regions (North, South, East, West and Central) which contain its 16 federations. Western Germany is known in particular for the Rhine Valley. This is also wine country from where some of the world's finest Rieslings (a type of white wine) are grown and bottled. We will look at some of the key cities and their attractions:-

Berlin “The symbol of re-unified Germany, Berlin is home to the broken down Berlin Wall which used to divide the country into East and West Germany. The site of the (former) Wall is a popular destination for tourists. Berlin has an abundance of museums, art galleries and churches that one can see. The German parliament building, the Reichstag is a spectacular piece of architecture especially with its new glass dome and offers a fantastic all-round view of Berlin. The city also has plenty to offer to lover of arts and music with its numerous theatres, opera and concert houses. There's no better place for a clubber than Berlin with more than 200 different types of clubs catering to different types of music lovers.

Munich “Most people remember this city as the site of the 1972 Olympic Games massacre of Israeli athletes at the hands of the Black September terrorist group. However, Munich today is probably one of the safest cities you will find in Germany. It is a vibrant city with plenty of options for nightlife, restaurants, sightseeing and accommodation. A couple of hotels which are in the mid-range are the Hotel Wallis and the centrally located Cosmopolitan Hotel. Munich is also known for its world famous Oktoberfest which is a week long festival where all major breweries sell beer in big tents known as beer gardens.

Frankfurt “The financial center of Germany, Frankfurt unsurprisingly has one of the most futuristic skylines of any European city. Frankfurt is a major destination for trade shows across industries from stationary to textiles to automobiles. Aside from museums, Frankfurt has some wonderful Gothic architecture to be seen. The old area of Romerburg is quite popular with tourists in this regard.

More and more Nepalese are coming to Germany for studies these days. Although English speaking nations like the United States and the United Kingdom are top destination as yet, Germany is picking up rapidly. German institutions are renowned in the world for their state of the art educational facilities and academic excellence. And a handful of Nepalese have already made their way to being recognized as top-class students in Germany. 

Getting access to Germany is not that difficult for talented individuals and because the universities are run on state fund, there is a fair chance of free education here. Hence Nepalese students should try their luck for a free education and high standard of living in Germany rather than pushing desperately hard for a place in the United States or other attractive destinations. Many people may not realize that German institutions also offer courses based on English language but there are plenty of such courses in German universities. However, learning German language will yield further benefits.

At present there are thousands of Nepalese students all over Germany. The difference between these students and the majority of the students in the US, UK or Australia is that those who have landed in Germany have the opportunity to concentrate their time and energy fully on their study and research. While others may have to struggle to manage work and study together, those in Germany have fewer things to worry about. Nepalese students here are doing very well in here and many of them have experience of a better society than they had perceived of the Germans while in Nepal. 

It is obvious for people to remember the history of Germany before they make their mind to come here. But the truth is history has changed upside down in Germany. Today this is a land, which provides equal opportunity for all. So there is lot in the offing for the Nepalese students here. In this article, I am explaining how the Germans have left behind their forgetful past and why it is perfectly sensible for international students to grab the opportunity to come here and learn the German way of life and education.

History is an identity and normally the history of a nation glorifies itself around the world. But when it comes to Germany, the modern history of the country corresponding to the early twentieth century, paints a gloomy picture. The Hitler era and the Nazi atrocities caused millions to suffer at that time. Today time has passed and the wounds have been healed but still when anything related to German comes in people’s mind, the first thing they remember is Hitler’s mischief. However, the Germans have left behind the scars of their past and developed themselves as friendly, peace loving and hard-working people. 

So it’s unfair to judge them on the basis of the notoriety their grandfathers and great grandfathers did during the beginning of modern history. Most Germans I meet are not bad, they are very nice people. Today’s generation has it up to the back teeth with this constant blame and the more a country is unjustly made to feel bad for, well, being that country, the more right-wing minority proof are given fodder to feed uneducated, disadvantaged youths looking for someone to blame. Any person who believes that the German society is racist should look at the way many parents react when their daughter or son has a black partner. 

In majority of these cases, there is a general level of acceptance. But some will refuse to regard their child as a member of their family and people highlight these exceptions and make a loud noise. As usual in such matters, one should be careful not to generalize. Most Germans are extremely open-minded. Certainly there is some degree of racism in any country, but I still have to say that Germany gives a particularly good picture, especially compared to other European countries.

Germany sure has a much more difficult way to go than other nations concerning these problems because as soon as something is happening somewhere, as soon as one fool acist attacks a black person, the image of all of Germany has to suffer a lot more of this terrible accident than it would be the case in any other country. I know that this comes still from their bad image they got during the 2nd world war, but people should be aware that lots of water has flowed through the Rhine since then and Germans have transformed themselves.

People say Germans are sweeping the holocaust under the rug but there is not much substance in their rhetoric. Neo Nazis are very much in the minority in Germany, and the German government has taken some pretty bold strides to limit their movement. Many German corporations that did not even exist during the Holocaust have contributed vast amounts of money to various reparation funds. The German government has been extremely proactive in returning stolen valuables and art work to their rightful heirs. The site of Dachau serves as a museum and a sombre reminder of the atrocities committed by the Nazis.

There is no doubt the Holocaust was a terrible thing and the consequences still have significance in the lives of the children of the suffered Jewish people. It is a sombre reminder of the nature of humanity and the cruelty we are capable of and also a warning that may happen again somewhere, either in Germany of outside. But my point is that we should not lay a blanket of guilt over the entire German populace for something that had many dynamics driving it. 

I think the German people are well aware and have taken full responsibility for the actions of the Nazis. Let there be no mistake that sixty years ago, a majority of the German people did not agree with the ideology of the Nazis, and most Germans were not aware of the crimes being committed on their own soil. As for the death camps, very few Germans were actually involved in the genocide and murder we now call the Holocaust.

Given that sixty years have passed, and the responsible parties for the Holocaust have faced their crimes, I think the response from the German government has been one of compassion, understanding, and remorse for a piece of history it can never eliminate. German society doesn’t encompass more racism today than any of its European counterpart and for that matter of the rest of the world.

Therefore, start looking for study opportunities in Germany. Don’t bother about Hitler and the past and make serious efforts to grab a slice of chance in this land of Einstein and Max Plank. Germany offers a lot for deserving students of everywhere, fairly and equally.

Munich is located on the river Isar, North of the Bavarian Alps. This is the third largest city in Germany, right after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich has a population of about 1.35 million people. Its native name, Munchen is derived from the old German word for Monche, or Monks in English. This is why there is a monk on the coat of arms for the city.

Origin

1158 is the year that is assumed to be the foundation date, or the earliest date that the city is mentioned in any document. Almost two decades later Munich was officially granted city status and received fortification. In 1255, when the Duchy of Bavaria was split in two Munich became the ducal residence of Upper Bavaria.

Duke Louis IV was elected German king in 1314. He strengthened the city's position by granting it the salt monopoly, assuring the city additional income. In the late 15th Century Munich went through a revival period - The old town hall was made larger and the largest gothic church was now made into a cathedral - the Frauenkirche.

Hard Times

Life in Munich became quite difficult during World War I in 1914. The allied blockade of Germany let to shortages of food and fuel for Munich. During a French air raid there were three bombs that fell on Munich. At the end of the war the city was the centre of political unrest. Ludwig III fled Munich November 1918 on the eve of revolution. While the republican government had been restored, Munich had quite a few right wing politics, such as Adolf Hitler and the National Socialism.

Post war in Munich after American occupation in 1945, Munich was rebuilt with a rather conservative plan which saved its pre-war street grid. In 1957 Munich was on the rise again, and its population reached the 1 million mark.

Art

Munich has some of the best known museums in Europe. You can choose what you want to see from the last 500 years of art history. You can expect to see art from artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and many different works of art from all over the world.

Hofbrauhaus

Arguably the most famous beer hall worldwide, it is located in the city centre. Built in 1607, it was originally an extension of the Hofbrau Brewery. The general public was admitted in 1828. The building was remodeled in 1897. In the bombing of WW II, everything but the ground floor was destroyed, and it took until 1958 to be rebuilt.

Adolf Hitler organized the first of many propaganda events to be held here. During this event he outlined the basis with his twenty-five point program of ideas and founded the basis of the Nazi Party.

Walking into this building you can expect a good Bavarian meal and of course, plenty of beer or wine. This beer hall even has its own song, and is known worldwide. The song was composed in 1935 by Wilhelm "Wiga" Gabriel.

The beer here is provided by the brewery Staatliches Hofbrauhaus.

Munich is what most people think of when they think of Germany, it is here you will get your sausage and beer and see people in lederhosen. Lots of polkas enjoyed daily, and lots of good food and beverages. However, this city has a history; it is not just sausages and beer.