Growing up in Germany I never felt that it was ok to be proud of my country. With our history, all I learnt was to be ashamed. Ashamed of a truely horrible crime that, however, I have not commited. Other cultures are proud of everything that makes them, their history and their country. All I ever learned was that you risk being classed a Nazi if you say that you are proud to be German and that we all have to carry the burden of the holocaust on our shoulders.
All this was reason for me to move abroad. Since I was 14 I knew I wanted to move to Ireland and when I finally finished school, I fullfilled this wish. Funnily enough I only learned in Ireland to be proud of Germany. A lot of great things have come from Germany: most famous fairy tales, Volkswagen cars, good quality electrical goods and other things. Nowadays Germany is a beautiful country with people living in it that share different religions and cultures. German people are friendly, and welcoming and in their own way humurous. We have delicious food in our supermarkets and brilliant bakeries with very yummy breads and cakes.
Today I can stand tall and say: I am proud to be German....not proud of our history at all but still proud of what we have achieved since and how far we have come in less than a century.
Yesterday I went for a little walk while Lucy was sleeping in her buggy. I took some photographs and I would like to share some things with you that to me are truely beautiful and a reminder of my home country.
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6 comments:
Its lovely T!!! Love the architecture! Unlike here which has all been rebuilt after years of bombing... Glad ur enjoying ur time at 'home' :) x
Thanks so much for this post.
Living in America and having never travelled to Europe there are so many things not seen and yet assumed. This is beautiful and I am so glad you have taken the time to share what you have experienced as a German woman today.
Just wonderful!
Bravo for you. Lovely pictures keep them coming.
Thank you all so much. It's so nice to get such positive feedback. I was a bit scared posting this.
I visited Germany about 15 years ago and I just loved the countryside, the architecture and most of all the people!!! I would love to be able to visit again someday. Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos and the love you have for your country.
I'm a bit late with this (given it's been a good half year since you posted this), but I just happened to stumble upon your blog recently.
Having spent most of my life in Germany (growing up in the "Ruhrpott") I had about the same experiences as you did, and I guess I'm all there with you on the subject of (unjustified) feelings of guilt and shame that we probably both grew up with. When my generation left the German school system we were all kind of paranoid, and I still find it difficult to shed those feelings. My Dutch friends and family (since I live in the Netherlands now, my husband came between me and my ultimate goal England ;) ) thought it rather strange that I have a "problem" being proud of the country I grew up in. They have a very relaxed relationship with their nation and their royal family, and celebrate their country and heritage regularly and proudly. I sometimes envy them for being able (or "allowed"?) to do so...
And I 100% agree with you on the subject of German bread!!! If there's one thing I miss... ; )
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