Reichstagsgebaude and Kanzler(in)amt

I'm packing to leave Germany right now, which means I need a distraction from the thousand important things I haven't done yet. SO I'll make it fast.

We got to go to the Reichstagsgebaude (Parliamentary Building) and witness floor discussions on an IT law.  Here is the video (according to a friend's Fbook post:

After watching the talk, we went up stairs to a big room in the CDU portion of the building.  There, we were able to ask questions to numerous party officials and technical experts in certain fields (renewable energy, for example).  The high-schoolers dominated the microphones, the questions were pretty good. Mainly asking about policy perspectives.

After the questions, the Ambassador (Emesron) and the Bundestagspraesident came and talked to us. Our ambassador was charismatic and thankful to the people in the room who secured the funding for our program to continue. He reassured everyone that he had heard positive things about the CBYX program receiving funding, but then immediately mentioned how the programs success was making it so lawmakers wanted to shift focus to other countries that need the diplomacy more.  It was an interesting little quip, and the Bundestags President, Norbert Lammert noticed it (he had a translator behind him).  The ambassador passed the microphone off:



Lammert was probably the most interesting political speaker I've listened to, because he was more passionate and off-the cuff than any other.  He started in English, "Hello all... I believe, that today I will speak in German.  German, as you know, is still the most spoken language........ in germany.  And if we are obligated to speak to our colleagues in German, I believe it is appropriate for this setting to." German.

Mr. Lammert started out with a history lesson.  First, to the 300th anniversary of German immigration in the United States and the founding of the program.  He then highlighted famous moments in German history that were the direct result of the United States.  First was Marshall plan.  Then he repeated the words Reagan, and talked about how every German knows these specific words, and perhaps that not every american does (tear down this wall).  He mentioned how many other people had said it before, and how many other famous people felt the same way, but the reason he is remembered is because it was the combination of WHO said it, WHEN they said it, HOW they said it, and WHY they said it. He talked about specific moments in history when things were uncertain and they changed faster than anyone could have imagined (1933, 1945, 1990, among other times).  After setting the stage for the history and importance of the US and German efforts, he turned to the ambassador and spoke directly to him.

Something like, "Is it not alarming..." that Germany, with it's smaller GDP and smaller budget, can afford to double the expenditure on the CBYX program, while the US can no longer afford to keep it?  In the most blunt and beautiful German way, he did not mince words or sugar coat some of his feelings on the current political situation.  He was optimistic and understanding of US politics- but ultimately he gave out some harsh criticism.  It was interesting to see the interaction of official representatives of government that wasn't extremely scripted and flowery.

After the talk, we migrated across the street to the Kanzleramt- the building of the Chancellor of Germany, where the cabinet meets. It is pretty much the white house.

We waited a really long time for Angela Merkel to come:

 

We got on these stairs pointed towards a microphone.  People were losing their minds in anticipation.  You could smell the anxiety (and sweat).  When she finally walked through the door every high-schooler errupted in applause and screams. I kid you not, a section was chanting "We love you Merkel".  It was very unexpected for me, but the German politicians next to me were not. They made jokes about American stereotypes on volume control. I saw their point.

 Angela Merkel addressed us for a short few minutes.  She seemed very nice.  After a short welcome and thanks for being here 'I hope you learned' talk, one of the participants was invited to the stage.  He performed a show tune he wrote about the program.  This is it:

There is a lot to say.  But I'll just highlight that the guy had guts.

After the singing we ate and then got tours of the buildings.

  Here is the view of the Parliament building from a balcony.

And the boardroom:

After the guy explained to us all of the subtleties of the cabinet room (for example, the finance minister is directly across from the Chancellor, so that the chancellor can see his face's reactions to ideas thrown out in discussion- because the budget is important)

He then asked if we had questions.  We only had one actual German with us, and he asks "Is there a particular reason that the finance minister doesn't have a chair?"

And our tour guide looks shocked, and then smiles. "Yes, yes of course there is.  It's because he is confined to a wheelchair due to a disability" AND THAT was hilariously awkward for our dear German colleague.

Here is the art example:

They have a semi-museum of gifts the Chancellor has received. I think the one shown is the speech card for "Ich bin ein Berliner". Perhaps it was a reproduction, but nonetheless it was an official gift from our state.

 For New Years Eve one year, the German government invited every kid who lost parents during September 11th to Germany as a way of maybe helping them be distracted from reminders of their loss.  They did art projects and had a sleepover in the Kanzleramt Building. (*I did have trouble understanding the old lady who told us this, but my friend confirmed it was something to this effect). Here is art that the children made during this time:

 And here is the front of the building: