Hello from rainy Dresden!
I met a German man a few weeks ago, and he asked me, “Denkst du, dass Deutsche zugänglich sind?” In English, “Do you think Germans are open?” Before I could answer, he said, “I don’t think we are open. Germans are so closed and difficult to meet. They just have their own lives and don’t like meeting new people!”
Many foreigners I’ve talked with have found it hard to make German friends and integrate into German communities. To be honest, it has been hard for me to make German friends as well.
The best way I’ve found to get to know Germans and integrate into the community is to learn more about the city’s history. And Dresden has quite the history! Jewels, jewel thieves, destruction of the city, Stasi police and reconstruction.
Dresden is near the Czech and Polish borders, and a few hundred centuries ago, the electorate (the ruler) ruled parts these other countries from his residences in Dresden. That’s right – he had a few homes in this city!
Augustus the Great is the city’s best remembered electorate. He brought wealth, trade and military strength to the area. Furthermore, Augustus constructed lots of buildings. He transformed this small town along the Elbe River into a beautiful city.
