20 years ago, in the morning of 9 November 1989, most of the following would have been quite unimaginable for me (in no particular order of appearance):
I have returned to Berlin after nearly 20 years living in 4 Western European countries (Belgium, UK, Italy and Switzerland).
The country where I lived for 26 years does not exist anymore and was absorbed by its former enemy.
I am married to a British woman and have two kids whose mother tongue is English. Our language at home is English. I find it easier to write in English than in German (hence this article in English).
West and East Europe are united, almost border and visa free. Europe is a peaceful global power.
I travel freely, with ease and totally naturally between countries (this week I was in Budapest, Essen, Geneva and Madrid). I have travelled through most of Europe, as well as to the US, China, Africa, Australia.
China is a Super Power. Europe feels old fashioned in comparison.
I wear a suit most working days, but rarely a tie.
The Soviet Union has fallen apart. Russia has had a rollercoaster ride through poverty and then rapid economic development. A former KGB man from Dresden is now Russia’s prime minister and former and future president.
I moved through 7 currency systems (DDR Mark, D Mark, Belgian Franc, British Pound, Italian Lira, Euro, Swiss Franc, Euro).
The DDR government building is now a European Business School.
I still have my old friends in Berlin but my best friends are in Brussels, Copenhagen, Reykjavik, and Geneva.
Die Mauer ist weg. NVA and Stasi are gone.
I have worked for the EU, the UN, a global communications company, a Hungarian American billionaire philanthropist, and a German philanthropist from Essen. I was a UN Diplomat and gave it up to do something more worthwhile and fun.
There are doubts about the future of Capitalism.
I am a natural user of technology.
Twin brothers ran an EU country as President and Prime Minister (Poland). The richest man and owner of most media is the longest serving Prime Minister of Italy.
I have a car but it is not important to me. The Trabant is a cult car.
An East German natural scientist is the first female Chancellor of Germany.
I studied at the LSE in London and lived in Hamstead. I consider London my second home.
Berlin is the most interesting place in Europe. Some call it the cultural capital of the World. Berlin even became beautiful.
I am a house owner in Brussels. My favorite place is Italy where we are contemplating buying a family summer house.
FC Union Berlin plays 2 divisions above BFC Dynamo Berlin, neither play in the German top division.
One of the biggest global companies is called Google which makes hundreds of millions of dollars in a virtual reality called the Internet.
I am a co-founder of a pan European organization, The European Council on Foreign Relations to promote a united European foreign policy. The Vice Chair is a former German Foreign Minister who used to be a green radical wearing sneakers.
A bunch of terrorists crashed two airliners into the World Trade sky scrapers in New York. The Twin Towers collapsed and this marked the beginning of the decline of the USA .
My favorite daily newspaper is the Financial Times.
The Berlin Wall was build up again in 2009, as a temporary tourist attraction of giant domino stones. My son finds it quite real and hopes that we do not get stuck again.
Since 9 November 1989 I know that our imagination and dreams can never be big enough, really.
Andre Wilkens
Berlin, morning of 9 November 2009
Berlin, morning of 9 November 2009
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