An amazing way to learn about German culture

The work of the 13-person team was to do landscaping and restoration of an old chapel that had been abandoned after WWII. The work was fun and satisfying, and the local community was outstanding. We were in a tiny village and they treated us very well, hosting dinner parties and taking us on a castle tour. We also happened to be there during the World Cup being held in Berlin. The country was positively abuzz with excitement and even national pride. The local community group paid for us to take a weekend trip to Berlin for the final, but for the games that occurred prior to that, we dragged the couch outside through a window, set up a television, and enjoyed some beers and friendly rivalries under the evening sky. It was an amazing experience in a part of Germany I would never have visited otherwise, and I couldn't have been happier.