I wouldn’t say I am a traveled man. I have been to a few countries but I’m certain more people have traveled to more places than I have. Still, my recent trip to Germany has revealed to me the uniqueness of this part of the world. I can’t say that it’s necessarily better but it certainly has a few things going for it. I felt the richness of history all around the place which I very much appreciate.
This historical tradition is even more astonishing when you see them side-by-side with technological advancement.
When I walked to the Bruehl Terrace of Dresden Germany, the buildings surrounding the area showcase the awesome architecture of a previous era. Structures such as the Semper Opera House, Zwinger Museum, Theaterplatz, etc., stand as reminders of great architectural achievements.
Not far from these wonders, however, you’ll find some of the most technologically advanced manufacturing facility in the world. A few kilometers away sits the “Glass Manufacturing” plant of Volkswagen. It’s described as “glass” not because it makes glass as a product. It makes cars alright. Its originality comes with having glass walls everywhere. It’s intended to be the most transparent of manufacturing plants there are.
Besides that, the factory uses an advanced transport system that is fully automated, driven by magnets. Much like how maglev trains work. The complex system to manufacture a car is made simple with the well-designed and well-engineered facility. It’s really enviable and the technology behind it is nothing short of amazing.
When you combine the rich architectural history and the adoption of technological breakthrough, the end result can be spectacular. It’s something, I know, Germans are most proud about. And why not? These are achievements that Asia is trying to reach. Although it may take a while for us to get there, seeing how it may look like makes me happy for future generations.
I have met only a few Germans and so far I came away impressed. They are generally nice to speak with and they are very accommodating. Younger Germans know how to speak English but the older ones oftentimes cannot speak a word of it. So it can be a little tricky sometimes. My German colleagues are hard-working and technically-adept engineers. I know I will learn more from them as I work with them in the weeks ahead.
On my flight to Singapore on my way to Germany, I sat beside a Filipina who now lives in France. She is married to a British-French guy which explains why she is fluent in speaking both English and French. She was with her son and was on their way back home after a two-week annual visit to the Philippines. She had a lot of good things to say about Europe. But the one that appealed to me the most is how discrimination is much much less there compared to the US. I certainly believed her because she has lived in France for 14 years of her life now.
As I listened to her stories, I was glad to hear someone has actually made it to a more prosperous life. That’s in contrast to many Filipinos who struggle to make a living overseas. I hope more people will experience the same fate and less of the OFW tragedies that we often hear about.
P.S.
My trip is not done yet so I'll be updating this post in a later time.
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