Hello, from Krakow, Poland! This week’s post will be a quick one, because we are having trouble finding time to write about adventures while we are having adventures! 😀
Two significant things (and one less than fun thing) happened to us on Monday.
First, we became official Leipzigers! We have the complimentary coupons and keychains to prove it now. Oh yeah, and the official documents that we have been waiting for, too. Through Nathan’s diligent efforts to gain an appointment at the registration office, we were able to register at our new address and we are now official. Fun fact, this whole registration thing in various countries in Europe is a holdover from the Roman Empire. Now, Nathan has moved his focus to the next goal, residence permits so maybe we can stay longer than our allotted 90 days.
The second thing was less fun. Since we had been gone on our last trip for a few days, our cupboards were bare. So, we stopped after getting registered to get some groceries and have some lunch. However, while we were waiting for our sandwiches to (slowly) be made, the heavens opened and there was a pretty good rainstorm that we then had to walk home in. We were soaked, the groceries were soaked. It was soggy.
The third thing was that Monday was October 9, the day that Leipzigers celebrate the beginning of the end of Communist rule in East Germany. It was on the 9th of October 1989 when tens of thousands of Leipzigers took to the streets in peaceful protest and demanded more freedom of movement. They were threatened with violence from the police but started with what had become the weekly prayer meeting in the Nikolaikirche followed by a completely peaceful march. The police didn’t really know how to react, so they allowed the march. Germans across the country saw a glimmer of hope that their efforts were working and would maybe progress would be made. Protests continued and a month later, the Berlin Wall came down.
The celebration consisted of different art installations in some of the city’s plazas and people carrying lit candles and placing them in the plazas to show the collective power of hope and action. It’s called Lichtfest Leipzig and it was fun to be out amongst the people of our new home on a meaningful night.
I will save the report of our impromptu trip to Poland until next week. Tchüss!
P.S. If you would like to help with my service project, you can go to the Utah Food Bank website here, make a cash donation, and then send me a text or email and I’ll include your donation in the team totals!
