October 12, 2009

The morning started with a visit to a steel factory. I can honestly say I never expected to visit a steel factory in my life. I had no idea what to expect, so of course I wasn’t really dressed for the occasion. After putting on safety gear from head to toe, we headed into the fiery inferno, otherwise known as a steel factory. Ryan referred to it as the “stay in school tour.” The working conditions were dark, dingy, and grim next to huge cauldrons of burning, liquid steel.

It was very fascinating to watch, but it was not a pleasant place to be. We didn’t have masks, but I wished we did. I felt like the air we were breathing in took a couple years off my life.

That afternoon we went to Dresden for so-called vocational visits. Dena and I met with a former art museum director. While he was interesting to visit with, it certainly had nothing to do with my job. That evening we had a Rotary meeting at a castle in Radebeul. I met another person who spoke French, so I was happy to parler français.