My first experience in Europe began in 2009, when I was selected to participate in the RIAS Berlin Kommission exchange program for Journalists. For several months, my good friend Stephen urged me to participate as he completed the program a few years earlier. In September 2009 I flew to Berlin for a week, then on to Dresden, Prague, Brussels and Brugge for another 10 days.
Each city presented different themes. Berlin was the cultural and political mecca. As participants, we attended lectures with political and cultural leaders, attended events, and were allowed to independently explore a city with a rich and turbulent history. Dresden, represented “old” Germany and ties to several years under communist control. The culture is rich, the people friendly, and the historical context from World War II forward, profound. Prague was perhaps my favorite city during this tour, eastern and exotic. This city was never bombed during the Great War, so the history was most easily able to shine.
The Following year, 2010, I attended the Montreux Jazz festival in Switzerland! Montruex, the Chiion Castle, and the beautiful Alps were storybook in nature. It’s a place where I wanted to revisit.
In later years, I visited Frankfurt, Brussels and Mainz. Europe holds a dear place in my heart. I look forward to spending time there in the future.
