The Bicycle Teacher

With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 went the culture and identity of millions of people. Through this story of Michael Smith, an Australian who moved to East Germany in 1981, the positive side of communism is shown, focused on good people who had no ideological position. Michael married an East Berliner and began to raise a family, further educating himself to become a teacher instead of a mechanic. His life was fulfilling and satisfying, but the fall of the wall brought his...
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With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 went the culture and identity of millions of people. Through this story of Michael Smith, an Australian who moved to East Germany in 1981, the positive side of communism is shown, focused on good people who had no ideological position. Michael married an East Berliner and began to raise a family, further educating himself to become a teacher instead of a mechanic. His life was fulfilling and satisfying, but the fall of the wall brought his happiness to a crashing halt, especially because his secret life as a Stasi (secret police) informer had him riddled with guilt. He uprooted his family back to Australia and a better life, but not nearly as satisfying as it had been in East Germany.