Thread by @GdrMemories

My cousin the „Jungpionier“

Although my cousin, born in March 1983, so the same year as I, just 8 months before, she was the only one of us two that actually became a real "Jungpionier", because she started school in 1989.

I on the other hand was denied this "award". Unbelievable! She also had the pleasure of eight weeks of summer vacation, at least once in her life.
 
I had my first day of school in August 1990, a few weeks before the German reunification.

So by then, the fall of the Berlin Wall was less than a year ago and I proudly displayed my white dress with its purple silk bow and uncomfortable patent leather shoes at the „Einschulung“ (first day of school).

We had bought my entire outfit "in the West", in West Berlin a few days before. So my parents had spent their first ever «Deutsche Mark» they were allowed to use in the West for my «Einschulungskleid» (the dress you wear on your first day at school) and which is now in hindsight

a really nice thing to remember.
           
But, more dissappointing for me was the actual fact, that I never became a "Jungpionier", never learned their songs or wore their blue shawl, and the tip of the iceberg - I never had 8 weeks vacation either.

In retrospect, pretty ridiculous thinking, at the time however I felt really mistreated!

#jungpionier #cousins #gdr #gdrchild #memories #germanhistory #modernhistory #socialhistory #borninthegdr #ddrkind #gdrstories