Navigation Challenges

Never having been to Germany I found myself confused and often times lost, even though I had my phone with navigation. Even equip with directions, navigating through the cities and towns of Germany was a challenge for myself and others in the program. Now imagine people coming into Germany, without previous counsel and without reliable phone service. Some people may even come without a device to provide such directions. Getting to and from different locations in Germany is hard as it is, but can prove to be much more challenging for migrants coming into the country. 

To get from my hotel to the migrant facility just outside of Fürstenfeldbruck I had to find the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), ride the train about 45 minutes out of central Munich, get off and immediately look for the bus station to ride for another 15 or so minutes. All the while, making sure to not miss the correct train or bus stop. After staying for two weeks the navigation system began to feel much more manageable, but in the beginning this was not the case. Even equip with all the necessary tools for easy navigation, there were still a few times my group and I got lost either going back to the hotel or going to the migrant facility. 

To give a perfect example, my group and I, after attempting to leave the Caritas office in Fürstenfeldbruck, rode the train for about 15 minutes in the wrong direction. Though beautiful scenery, it was not the most ideal situation.

 

(View from the train ride in the wrong direction)

-Jasmine Recinos



 

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