She noticed him walking along Alexanderplatz as he approached the eiscafe from the U-Bahn. She was sitting outside, enjoying an ice-cream with a cookie and coffee at a small table, alone. He asked her in clearly articulated German if he could join her at her table. She looked around. Seeing there were no other empty chairs, she welcomed him graciously but with apologies for her poor language skills.
Not knowing how to ignore a person sitting so closely to her, she allowed herself to be drawn into conversation. Since he didn't know much English, they continued conversing in German. She had skipped class at the University in order to see East Berlin for herself, without the supervision of the official Betreuer. She realized this friendly stranger could well be a another spy assigned by the DDR government to keep tabs on the American students, but it was fun to enjoy the attention of an attractive young man who seemed to show genuine interest in her, so she played along. It didn't occur to her she could be in any danger.
They talked for quite a while at the cafe, discussing politics, movies, music, careers in the United States versus East Germany. When she was ready to go, he accompanied her to the U-Bahn. At some point, as they walked, they began to hold hands. They continued to hold hands and sit closely on the bench as they waited for their train. On the train they kept talking almost amorously until it was clear she had to make a decision. He was headed for a party. Although she didn't think his invitation was sincere, she made it clear needed to return to her hostel, that people from her group would miss her if she didn't show up for dinner.
At the time, she thought she would never forget him. Upon parting, they exchanged small tokens of affection. But today she doesn't remember his name or even his face, only that they spent an afternoon together pretending to fall in love, and that it was altogether pleasant.
Not knowing how to ignore a person sitting so closely to her, she allowed herself to be drawn into conversation. Since he didn't know much English, they continued conversing in German. She had skipped class at the University in order to see East Berlin for herself, without the supervision of the official Betreuer. She realized this friendly stranger could well be a another spy assigned by the DDR government to keep tabs on the American students, but it was fun to enjoy the attention of an attractive young man who seemed to show genuine interest in her, so she played along. It didn't occur to her she could be in any danger.
They talked for quite a while at the cafe, discussing politics, movies, music, careers in the United States versus East Germany. When she was ready to go, he accompanied her to the U-Bahn. At some point, as they walked, they began to hold hands. They continued to hold hands and sit closely on the bench as they waited for their train. On the train they kept talking almost amorously until it was clear she had to make a decision. He was headed for a party. Although she didn't think his invitation was sincere, she made it clear needed to return to her hostel, that people from her group would miss her if she didn't show up for dinner.
At the time, she thought she would never forget him. Upon parting, they exchanged small tokens of affection. But today she doesn't remember his name or even his face, only that they spent an afternoon together pretending to fall in love, and that it was altogether pleasant.
