Tadhg Hannon ’15 – Greetings from Germany! I am sitting on a train, waiting to depart Frankfurt for Belgium. Today we had the pleasure of visiting the European Central Bank. A highly intelligent and well-dressed Polish man gave us a presentation about ECB monetary policy and how the Euro currency is administered on this incredibly diverse continent. We also had the good fortune to have our seminar moved into the conference room on the top floor of the EuroTower, where we were able to sit in the same seats as the European Central Bank Board of Governors. This was a rare treat for any tour group, and something that we certainly could not have replicated in Baxter 212.
After our informative visit to the Central Bank we took to the streets of Frankfurt where we were treated to thousands of German mothers demonstrating against German educational policy. This afforded us a live look at European politics. Apparently the mothers of Germany are quite upset.
Frankfurt is a fantastic city. The Main River runs through the center of city and provides a beautiful place to walk as the sun rises every morning. The best thing about Frankfurt is that although it is a major financial center and an important city within the European Union it is not a major tourist attraction. This has allowed us to get a better look of what actual German life is like. Frankfurt also has a large immigrant population, which exemplifies the freedom of movement and integration the has been a hallmark of the European Union. In Frankfurt you can dodge Germans riding bicycles while choosing between Turkish street vendors or an Italian bistro.
This is not to say that there is not anything to see in Frankfurt. Today I went and visited St. Paul’s Church, which was the seat of the first united German Parliament after the 1848 Revolution.
I would like to use this forum to thank the Rogge Fund for their generosity. Without the Rogge Fund this wonderful trip would not be possible. I have learned so much here in Europe that I could not have in Indiana.
