​I. Tipps der Woche

1. Nikolaiviertel
Not far from Alexanderplatz is the Nikolaiviertel with the oldest surviving rooms in Berlin, the Nikolaikirche. In addition to the church and museum, the Nikolai Quarter has a number of shops, cafes and restaurants. As we get closer to departing Berlin, you may be looking for small gifts to take home to friends and family. The Nikolaiviertel has a number of shops worth checking out.

2. New Synagogue and Hackesche Höfe/Hackescher Markt
The New Synagogue on Oranienburger Straße was the main synagogue of the Berlin Jewish community before WWII. Architecturally, it is truly stunning and worth a visit. A 6 minute walk from the Neue Synagoge is Hackesche Höfe/Hackescher Markt, which combines art, work, cafes and entertainment. Some have called it Berlin's liveliest quarter since reunification. There is a market on Thursdays and Saturdays. 

II. Upcoming events 

Mini-Excursions
The PAs will be offering mini-excursions again. Please look out for a separate email. 

June 28 - June 30: Weimar Excursion
This coming weekend, we are going on our second out-of-town excursion to the city of Weimar. Besides exploring Weimar’s rich cultural heritage, we will also visit Buchenwald Concentration Camp Memorial on Friday. I encourage you to peruse the Memorial’s website to prepare you for the visit, which, even if you have been to a concentration camp memorial before, is always emotionally taxing. 

You will receive a copy of the excursion itinerary on Wednesday. 

I. Tipp der Woche / Recommendation of the Week: Markhalle Neun
In October 2011 this historic market re- opened in Kreuzberg’s Eisenbahnstraße. On Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays there is a traditional weekly market. Every day except Sunday you will find street food from all over the world, such as British pies, Thai tapioca dumplings, Mexican tacos, Allgäu cheese spaetzle or Nigerian FuFu. A great place for cheap, but excellent food.

II. Mid-Program Evaluation
Now that we are about to start the second half of our programs, we'd like to hear from you about your experience during the first half. Please take 10 minutes are so to respond to this anonymous Feedback Survey. 

III. Mini Excursions
This week, our PAs are offering a great variety of different mini excursions. Don’t miss out on these! 

Monday, June 17
Hohenschönhausen trip, 11:30 am - 2 pm
Former Stasi prison with a guided tour. Free for students, please text Anne Marie if you plan on joining! The group will depart together from Metzer Str. 8.

Berlin Third Reich Tour, 2:30 pm - end
We have six tickets available, please RSVP to Chris to claim a ticket!

Tuesday, June 18
Visit to the Berlin Cathedral, 10:00 am
This mini-excursion will take a visit to the Berlin Cathedral, including a climb to the top of the dome! The group will meet Chris at Metzer Str. 8.

Wednesday, June 19
Rittersport Chocolate Making, 5 - 6 pm
We'll go and try chocolate-making! It's around 15 Euro per person to make your own chocolate. Anne Marie will lead this, starting from Metzer Str. 8.

Thursday, June 20
Jungfernheide High Ropes Course, 1 pm - end
Student prices are 18-21 Euro. It's a really cool experience with ziplines and climbing and ropes courses! Anne Marie and Jamie will lead this, starting from Metzer Str. 8.

Saturday, June 21
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Time TBD
Details to come in your GroupMe, please plan to RSVP through the GroupMe by Wednesday!

I. Tipp der Woche / Recommendation of the Week: Marienfelde Refugee Center

This week, I’d like to recommend an interesting historical site and exhibition to you, the Marienfelde Refugee Center Museum — the central site dedicated to the history of flight and emigration in divided Germany. Between 1949 and 1990, about four million people left East Germany (the GDR) for West Germany (the FRG), with 1.35 milllion of them passing through the Marienfelde Refugee Center in Berlin. The Marienfelde Refugee Center, which was opened in 1953, supplied refugees with housing and provisions, and was also where refugees completed the official procedure to receive residency permits for West Germany and West Berlin.

I highly recommend a visit to this museum, which preserves and memorializes the causes, process, and consequences of inner-German flight, exploring not only flight from the GDR itself, but also the offical process of emigration and the subsequent integration of refugees into the FRG. 

INCENTIVE: If you visit this place by June 23, and send me a photo of your receipt, I will reimburse you for it. 

II. Upcoming event: Vienna Excursion (June 12 - 16)

This week, our big “event” is our five-day excursion to Vienna. You can find a draft of the itinerary at this link. 

Some important reminders:

• We will meet outside the apartments at 6:30 am on Wednesday
• You must bring your passport
• Bring a swimsuit—Vienna has some amazing lakes and rivers to go swimming
• Bring a hat and sun screen — The temperatures will be up in the 90s
• Bring a business casual outfit — We have concert tickets for Thursday night 
• Most courses will meet as a class in Vienna — Please check with your instructors what materials you will need. 

RSVP needed: For Thursday night at 7:30 pm, we have tickets for the Wiener Symphoniker, a classical concert. We have tickets for everybody, but you must RSVP by Tuesday, 5 pm. Just reply to this email 

I. Tipp der Woche / Recommendation of the Week: The Turkish Market 

Do you enjoy cooking with fresh produce and lots of spices? Do you like trying foods from different cultures? Then you must check out the Turkish Market at the Maybach-Ufer, an amazing farmer’s market that opens twice a week. 

The address is: Maybachufer, 12047 Berlin
Opens: Tuesdays and Fridays, 11:00 am until 6:30 pm 

II. Mini Excursions
Our amazing PAs will offer several mini excursions this coming week. Those excursions are a great way to explore insightful and fun aspects of the city in small groups. Watch out for an email from Austin tonight with an overview of all weekly mini excursions. 

III. Upcoming events
This week, we will have an exciting series of events. Please note that some of them require an RSVP (marked in red)

Monday, June 3: 
Presentation at Canisius Kolleg (Topic: Living and Studying in the U.S)
Be part of a group presentation about life as a student at an American college. We will be speaking to year 12 students at Canisius. 

Meeting time: 12:45 pm
Meeting place: Outside Canisius Kollege

RSVP: Email (Stephen.J.Meisenbacher.2@nd.edu)  or message (+49 176 59877959) Stephen Meisenbacher if you are interested in presenting 

Tuesday, June 4
a) Soccer Tournament at Canisius Kolleg
We were invited to compete in the annual soccer tournament at Canisius. Join the ND team, and let’s bring home that trophy. 

Meeting time: 2:15 PM
Meeting place: Outside Canisius Kolleg

RSVP: Email (Stephen.J.Meisenbacher.2@nd.edu)  or message (+49 176 59877959) Stephen Meisenbacher if you want to play for the ND team. 

b) Stammtisch (for German Speakers)
Join the Immersion Program for their weekly Stammtisch (conversation table) to practice your German.

Meeting time: 7:30 pm
Meeting place: Beer Garden at Cafe am Neuen See (Tiergarten)

Wednesday, June 5
a) Mass at Canisius Kolleg
Father Zimmermann and our friends from Canisius are inviting us to celebrate an evening mass with them. 

Meeting time: 5:45 pm
Meeting place: Canisius Kolleg

b) After-mass barbecue and picnic 
After mass we will gather with the students of Canisius Kolleg in the courtyard for our annual picnic. Delicious brats, burgers, salads, and refreshing drinks will be provided. There will also be a game of soccer. Don’t miss out on this fun event.

Time: after mass
Location: Inner courtyard at Canisius Kolleg 

Friday, June 6
a) Day Trip to Potsdam (Optional)
Dr. Matthias Pabsch will take us on an insightful walking tour of the city of Potsdam, including a visit to the breathtaking Sanssouci Gardens and Palace. Since some of you are in class that morning, we will go to Potsdam in three groups.

Group 1: Everybody who is not in class Friday morning will meet at the time and place below

Meeting time: 12:20 pm
Meeting place: “Zoologischer Garten” Train Station, Platform 3

Group 2: Students in German Language Classes going to Potsdam 

-You will be led to the train station by Dr. Gallagher or Dr. Della Rossa after class.

Group 3: Students in Green Germany going to Potsdam
- You will be going to Potsdam directly from Ecologic Institute and will be accompanied by a PA.

RSVP: This trip is optional. Please RSVP by Tuesday, 5 pm, through this form. 

b) Concert: Berliner Philharmoniker
Experience one of Europe’s best symphonic orchestras, this time under the baton of maestro Daniel Barenboim. More information about the concert and pieces played can be found here. 

Meeting time: 7:30 pm
Meeting place: Outside of the Philharmonie (the building is across from Sony Center)

Attire: Business casual 

RSVP: This concert is optional. We have enough tickets for everybody, but please RSVP by Tuesday, 5 pm, through this form. 

I. First day of Classes
You can find the course schedule on the website at this link. For this coming week, we have arranged for one of the PAs to take you to class:

• Monday afternoon — German Language Classes: Meet Anne Marie outside the apartments at 1 pm.   
• Tuesday morning — Architecture and Design: Meet Anne Marie outside the apartments at 7 am. 
• Tuesday afternoon — Berlin since the War: (German Historical Museum): Meet Aaron outside the apartments at 1:15 pm. 
• Wednesday morning — Green Germany: Meet Jamie and Lauren outside the apartments at 8 am. 
• Thursday morning — Berlin Theater: Meet Jamie outside the apartments at 9 am.

Lunch near Canisius Kolleg
The general public is welcome to grab lunch on the 4th floor of the Nordic Embassies housed in the sea-foam green building located at the corner where the 100/200 busses drops off. Their cantina is open to the general public beginning at 1pm. This may be particularly attractive for students in Prof. Boes' class who have class back-to-back on Thursday with Prof. Della Rossa.

II. General Announcements

• Bring a reusable water bottle to class, and some snacks. Class periods are long. 
• Direct any questions about Catholic Berlin to Stephen (Stephen.J.Meisenbacher.2@nd.edu) .
• For any apartment related issues, contact your PA. They will be able to report any issues to the apartment company. 
• There is a washer in our apartment building. The PAs will work out a laundry rotation schedule by apartment, and communicate that to you. 
• IMPORTANT: When you leave the building, make sure to pull the front door to the apartment building shut. It does not always close shut by itself. Always check that it is closed.    

III. Travel Registry (Action Required)
On free weekends when we don’t have program excursions, you are free to travel to other German and European cities. However, you are required to submit your travel plans, so that in case of an emergency, we know where you are. Please submit your travel plans by this coming Wednesday at this link. If you plan on staying in Berlin during our free weekends, please still submit the form and enter “Staying in Berlin.” 

IV. Apartment Cleaning Schedule
All apartments will be cleaned once a week, and at that time your towels and linen will also be changed. It is important that you remove all personal belongings from your bed, and that you take out all trash and pick up the apartment the night before. They cannot clean if the apartment is full of clutter. 

Wednesday: Casals
Thursday: Granados, Rodrigo, Mompou

The first cleaning is this coming week.

V. Upcoming event 
We have an exciting event this week. There will also be some mini excursions, which the PAs will announce in a 

1. Visit to Reichstag (German Parliament Building)
An amazing behind-the-scenes tour of the German parliament building. Something you don’t want to miss. 

Date: Wednesday, May 29
Meeting Time: 5:15 pm
Meeting Place: Outside apartments
Tour starts: 6:30 pm

N.B.: If you have a language class at Canisius Kolleg, please take the 100 bus directly to “Reichstag/Bundestag,” since that is only a couple stops from the school. You will meet the group there rather than going back to the apartments. 

IMPORTANT: You must bring your passport. You will not be able to clear security without it.