Perhaps the greatest surprise are the buildings. Before coming to Ilmeanu, I thought everything from the former Eastern Sector had been left in disrepair. There is certainly evidence of decay but it is not dominent, Dominent is the obvious care and pride that has been put into this city and every city I have visited. They have either been beautifully restored or reconstructed. And there is a good portion of new construction.
The only unpleasant aspect has been the cold rainy days that I had not expected nor packed for. They were few and far between, so I shivered and enjoyed the splender of the flowers the rains bring.
Dealing with the unknown, here, makes me conscious of the cultural differences. At home, I rather well know what is acceptable and can comfortably proceed. Here I must ask for direction, because I really do not want to offend anyone. If I were unsure of something at home, though, I would seek out someone I trusted to guide me proprly. So although the setting is different, I guess the stradegy is the same. The novelities, such as how to use silverware properly, and my approach to them lets me see that having lived longer than my classmates, gives me more experiences to drew from and more confidence to ask questions. Somehow, this is a revelation.
The west poured a lot of money into the former GRD, funded by an additional income tax, for years. These funds basically rebuilt all infrastructure, which is now much more modern than in the west, and provided low-interest loans to individuals to repair homes and buildings. I know at least one German man (west) who, in heated conversation, states "I want a Leo B. street" because he has sent so much of his money there. As we discussed, the only buildings that haven't been renovated are those whose ownership remains muddled, or are buildings destined to be torn down at some point (some of the Wohnblöcke).
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