SPICE in Berlin!

~written by Nick Bowman

Erfurt, Thueringia, Germany -- This week, we're heading out to Berlin - courtesy of our hosts at the University of Erfurt and most notably, SPICE organizer Afifa Al-Bayed (be sure to thank her for organizing the trip, the next time that you see her). The trip itinerary is embedded below: 

As we're in Berlin this week, we won't have a communication culture or theory post, and likewise, we won't have an official class meting (don't worry, you'll still receive your meal monies!). However, there is an assignment for this week's Berlin trip, and it's detailed below (also posted in the course syllabus):

• Berlin reflections (30 points). As part of SPICE ’16, we will take a week-long excursion to Berlin – this year, from Monday July 11 to Thursday July 14. Students will be asked to complete a number of tasks in their journal reflections, see below (the total post should be between 600-800 words in length). This assignment is due by Monday, 18 July.
• Compare and contrast the communication styles of eastern and western Germany, using a framework similar to what will be provided for the “Interpersonal interactions” assignment. This divide might be a noticed by comparing Erfurt to Berlin as well as eastern and western Berlin (as well as a combination of these two comparisons).
• Understand the international significance of Berlin, and how this has influenced the people living in the city and the culture of Berlin as unique from that of greater Germany.
• Reflect on the increased diversity of Berlin from a historical and contemporary standpoint, and discussion how this diversity is similar to and different from representative areas in the United States. 

Note that this post does not count towards your travel and culture posts - it is a separate assignment, and a rather large one (30% of your course grade). Let me know if you have questions, but as you engage the SPICE tours this week as well as your own Berlin experience, take some mental notes as to how this "small city on the swamp" compares to Erfurt. I'm eager to read what you come up with, and we'll talk about it next week. =)