Thursday March 25

Today was our last day in Freiberg. We visited another school. This school is 500 years old. They have been in this building since 1875. They have over 1000 students and 100 teachers. We spoke to groups of students and met an American teacher who is on a Fulbright scholarship to live and work in East Germany. The most interesting part of the school was the science labs. They had automatic electric lab units that dropped down in front of the lab tables at the press of a button. Each science classroom also has a green light outside that blinks when the students are performing a science project. The purpose is to identify which rooms are being used in case of fire.

Then we went to the city castle that has experienced several periods of change. It was finally restored to the current situation when the owner of the Wella Hairspray company donated her private collection of gems and minerals the city. This propelled the government and city to prepare the castle to be used as a museum to house the minerals.

This the Volkswagon of the GDR was called Trabant also known as “Trabi” or “Renn Pappe (racing cardboard)” because the car is not made out metal like most cars, but out of some type of plastic. These cars were made in the Cold War period. When each person was born, the parents had to apply for a car for the child because waiting time to pick up the car was about 14 years. It took so long because of lack of materials. Therefore, on the used market the car was available, but it cost about 22,000 East Mark (Money of the GDR). New cost about 10,000 East Mark. Monthly income was between 600- 1400 East Mark for a normal worker up to high sophisticated engineers. The Wartburg was another car of the GDR. It had four doors for a more comfortable car for a family with children. Our tour guide Jurgen told us about a time when he picked up his Eastern Cousin who visited the west and was used to the East German cars. He said to him about the Western German cars “These western cars are bad. They are so suspenged.” This means that his Trabi back home was very bumpy and was not used to the tight suspension. Today in Germany they are used for advertising to be used as an eye catcher. They are collectables.

Now we’re on our way to Frankfurt by air. This is our last location before we fly home on Friday.