There is no need to track back Germany’s past in detail to remind ourselves of the significance Berlin has in regards to the past and the separation of Germany. If you stay in apartments in Berlin you will immediately notice the international dynamic of the city. Something that was unthinkable 30 years ago.
I can’t tell what it would have been like if I had grown up in a different place, but although I come from a small town in Germany I was lucky enough to grow up in a place where xenophobia was never a problem. I should probably mention that I have Asian roots, as my mom is from the Philippines. I grew up in a very diverse place and only few of my friends are 100% German and I always took it for granted to be perceived German.
Not too long ago realized that this something I can’t take for granted (No, I have not been oblivious of my looks for almost 30 years!). I think the first time I realized the being German carries a bit of a stigma was during the soccer world cup in 2006 which took place in Germany. Apart from reporting about the tournament itself it was also a big topic how important this tournament is to improve the image and perception of Germany in the rest of the world.
Another rather funny occurrence that leads me to believe I might not look as German as I feel is the face that people make when I tell them where I’m actually from (leaving out the detail about my mom):
“Foreigners in Germany” remains a topic that tends to divide. Let’s think about the publication of Thilo Sarrazin’s book. In the immediate years after the Berlin wall a very important task at hand was the reunification of the population amongst it many foreigners who tried to integrate themselves in German society which was not easy, especially in Berlin the clash between foreigners and people who lived on the Eastern side of the wall was tricky.
Now more than 20 years later, I think one of the main qualities of Berlin that gives the city so much of its character is the diversity. Since the Berlin is constantly evolving it is particularly interesting for young adults, so the city attracts a great amount of you adults from all over the world who end up settling here, renting Berlin apartments. My favorite part about diversity is the food. What’s yours?
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