May 25th - an emotional trip in Krakow

Saturday May 25^th Day 12

Today we took a step into Hollywood, well actually history. We went to the Oskar Schindler Museum. This was my favorite museum thus far on the trip; first because of its chronological flow, second because the museum was set up in such a way that we became part of the story, and third because of the sassy British couple that wouldn’t leave us alone adding some comic relief amongst our group later in the day. We began our tour reminiscing the good times had in Poland in August 1939. Then, we saw Poland’s culture, land, and freedom taken partially by Nazi Germany (to the west) and the communistic USSR (to the east). The tour continued by displaying the methodical progression the Nazi’s took in order to change the lifestyle of the Jewish community and the thought of Jews among a nation. Nazi propaganda parades were held, laws were passed, ghettos were formed, camps began to crowd, and then generations were lost. Specifically, Poland lost 3,000,000 Jews and 6,000,000 people (Poland has had a very hard time since the war because they believe they were the main victims of the World War II). However, there are many stories of hope during this heinous period.  The tour culminated with Oskar Schindler’s story. If you’ve seen Schindler’s List prepare yourself! We walked the staircase from the movie, walked around his office, listened to testimonials from some of the people Schindler saved, read Schindler’s “list”, and touched the actual map of Europe that hung behind his desk just to list a few. The tour ended in the Room of Thought. The exhibition was laid out to make you question how you would have acted during this period. Would you have saved a Jew, turned your neighbors into the Nazis, join the Nazi Party, or would you have joined the Polish Resistance? These questions are very hard to answer and hopefully we will never actually find the answer.

            After some free time and a lot of shopping, the group gathered for a discussion of what we saw in Krakow. Krakow did a number on us for sure. Our main focus of this meeting was Auschwitz, The Schindler Museum, and Primo Levi’s poem. Generally we all felt the same way about what we saw; however, as a group, what really stuck with us was the public bathroom POLICY in Europe. I can easily say we dislike with a passion, because hate is a strong word, paying to go to the bathroom in Europe. Please, when you see your kids DON’T ASK ABOUT THE BATHROOM SITUATION IN EUROPE.

            To end the emotional trip in Krakow, the group, Professor Paces, Professor Rosa, and our lovely guide throughout Poland, Alicja, went to a bar for drinks, and we went to what could be described as a cave for karaoke. I’ve actually said too much about that night so I’m going to just end this blog right here with a period.

     

Warren Jagger

P.S. TCNJ loves Krakow!

May 28th- Treblinka Memorial

Tuesday May 28^th

Our last day in Europe was spent visiting the Treblinka Memorial. Although the weather was not the best, seeing this particular memorial was so inspiring. Personally, it was my favorite. The rugged stones jutting out of the ground in this beautiful meadow was peaceful yet unnerving. The sharpness of the stones reminded me of the broken communities and families that came from the Holocaust, but the flowers and the meadow and the trees surrounding the stones made me feel like the victims could be at peace here. Sarah Ponsini and I actually had a discussion about the grass and moss growing up in between the cement blocks under the stones. She thought it was disrespectful that the weeds and moss were not cleaned up but I thought the opposite. I thought letting nature take over was the natural thing to do.  The only part of the memorial that bothered me, which our tour guide pointed out, was that there were very few Jewish symbols represented in the memorial. But it makes sense considering when it was built and by whom it was built. We ended our discussion at Treblinka by talking about the feelings and controversy surrounding Poland’s involvement in the Holocaust, which is still being discussed in academic historical circles today. Poland is in a complex situation because the population was a mix of victims, perpetrators, and witnesses who did nothing. Having a part in the destruction caused by the Holocaust is a very disturbing concept to accept as a country, and Poland is still working towards it. Dr. Paces says she was seen improvement even in the last two years and our tour guide at Auschwitz has been seeing more and more Polish schools coming to visit the camps. Despite the progress, the topic is still touchy and the question might never been fully resolved. One point I want to mention that we discussed in our class was the difference between saying “6 million Poles were killed, 3 million of which were Jewish” and “6 million Jews were killed, 3 million of which were Polish”.  Comparing those to phrases shows the complexity of the Polish involvement. Which is right? Is it more important to stress how many people of one nation were killed or how many Jewish people were killed, with their nationality second? These are very hard questions to answer and I don’t think either one is necessarily “right”. All in all I thought the Treblinka memorial was the more impressive memorial that we saw on the trip.

            On a lighter note, it was Sarah Hymen’s 21^st birthday today! After our wonderful farewell dinner at a very fancy restaurant, the entire group went out for drinks and Alicja bartended for us! We had some trouble finding our way back to the hotel but it was definitely an experience for all of us. I think there are mixed feelings about going home tomorrow, but I think it was an eye-opening and life-changing experience for everyone and everyone took something different from the trip. For some, it was their first time out of the country and for others it was the first time seeing something as horrific as Auschwitz. I think we are all coming back to the ”States” as more knowledgeable, worldly, and well-rounded individual

May 23 (repost)

After a rough night on the sleeper train, consisting of not a lot of sleep for most of us, we arrived in the beautiful city of Krakow Poland. We met our tour guide for Poland, Alicja, and then traveled to the hotel. Since it was around 7 AM we were unable to check into our rooms so our luggage was placed into a holding room until we returned from our tour. We ate breakfast at the hotel, and shortly after headed to Kazimierz, the Old Jewish district. Here, we met up with our tour guide and walked around. We stopped and learned about the Old Synagogue, which got its name because it is the oldest synagogue in Poland. The synagogue is very important for the Jewish as well as Polish community. It has been rebuilt many times and was used as a Nazi storehouse during World War 2. It has since been rebuilt again, and is now used as a museum. Outside of the synagogue is a monument that is dedicated to the 30 people that were killed by the Nazis in that square. 

            We then walked over to the New Synagogue, which was built in the 1500s by the Father of Remuh. He was only 20 or 21 at the time, which prompted the saying that it is not the age that matters, but the wisdom. There was a special place added in the synagogue for women, and there is also a special chair that is always left empty for Remuh.

            From the New Synagogue, we went to the cemetery. Although they are next to each other, the synagogue and cemetery are not connected to one another. In this case, they are close due to the lack of space. The cemetery was ruined in world war 2, and was used as an illegal swamping place. The wall was built around the cemetery after WW2. The headstones were put back up, but the stone does not necessarily represent a marker as to who is buried in that spot. After the Nazis left, the stones were all mixed up. The only headstones that they are sure about is the headstones of Moses Ramuhs family. There is a legend that when someone would try to move the headstones, they would end up dead within a few days. We learned that stones are places on the headstones in cemeteries as a sign of respect, but also out of Jewish tradition. Back in Egypt, the Jews would be buried in sand, and then covered with stones so that wild animals would not eat the bodies. At the graves of Moses family, visitors now write wishes on a piece of paper and leave it there in the hopes that they will be granted.

            We then walked over to the High Synagogue. It is called the High Synagogue because the prayer room is on the first floor. This is for safety reasons. We learned that in order for Jews to settle somewhere, there needs to be a synagogue, cemetery, and a ritual bath. We then walked to the “Krakow Eye” which is in the Jewish square and is the center of trade from the 1900s. on our way to lunch, we walked by the “newish Synagogue” which has stain glass windows and is more modern, which is used for ceremonies and concerts.

            After some free time for lunch, we made our way to the Wawel Royal Castle. By this time, we were all pretty much ready to call it a day and go back to the hotel and sleep.  Although the castle was beautiful and there were a lot of interesting artifacts, we were just too tired to fully appreciate it. After the castle we went back to the hotel and had free time for the rest of the afternoon. We then all went to a Jewish restaurant for traditional Polish perogies and vodka, and listened to live Jewish music. It was a great time and a great way to relax after a long day.

Sarah Hart

May 29- It's an experience!

During our last class of the trip, Jen asked what we would say when our friends and family asked us about the trip-- could we say it was fun and we enjoyed ourselves when we went to 4 different labor/extermination camps? The consensus seemed to be that the best way to describe the trip was eye-opening.  It's true that we did go to Nazi concentration camps where death penetrates every corner and surface.  However, throughout the trip, we also celebrated life and the culture of these people when we had group dinners, saw Czech performances, or had traditional cuisine.  We all bonded and laughed as a group, which brought us as close as experiencing the suffering of victims of the Third Reich did.
The trip was first and foremost a class- we came on this trip to understand the devastation the Nazis brought when they were in power during the 20th century.  But we learned so much more than that. Many museums now focus on the entire history of the Jewish population instead of just the chapter that is the Holocaust.  With 4 Jewish people on the trip, the discussion about religion moved into daily conversation.  I personally learned more about Judaism and their culture/traditions than I had ever imagined.  This was just another facet that made the trip eye-opening.
I think I can speak for everyone when I say that this was the experience of a lifetime and one that will never be forgotten.  I'd like to than Dr Paces, Dr Rosa, TCNJ Global Engagement Center, and CEPA for making this trip possible.  They allowed us to experience a part of the world that we would never be able to experience in the states and bear witness to an awful tragedy that we can never allow to happen again.
--Sarah Ponsini

Here are some quotes from everyone about how they felt by the end of the trip:
Andrew: One of the coolest things was being able to have free time and walk independently throughout the cities.  Having the freedom to do as we want and have no other restrictions was an amazing feeling and experience.

Brittany: The best part of the trip was learning about different cultures and Jewish traditions.  It was also fun to ask deep questions and "would you rather" during free time. I learned so much about my fellow classmates.

Chelsea: Before this trip it was like we were going to the movies but we weren't allowed to see the screen... It's one thing to learn about the Holocaust but it's a completely different experience to bear witness to the atrocities.

Chris: These past two weeks have been some of the most memorable times of my life.. We all had the opportunity to see eye opening and also amazing things that I will always remember.

Emily: I came on this trip because I've always believed that in order to prevent another Holocaust we need to learn from the past, and it's mistakes.  This trip reaffirmed that belief and opened my eyes to how devastating the Holocaust really was.  I'm so glad I had this opportunity.  I have made amazing friends and gained an entirely new view on life.

Gabby: What I loved the most about the trip was the order that we went to the camps.  Each one built up the next one and Treblinka was great closure.  Amazing experience!

Joan: I hate to say that I had fun on such a serious trip, but I met some great people and learned so much that I could never have learned in a classroom.

Jenn F: These last two weeks have been some of the most adventurous, informative, exciting, emotional, and memorable weeks of my life.  I've met so may amazing people and gotten to experience so many things.  I've learned so much about the Holocaust and the culture of Central Europe.  This has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I'm so happy to have been a part of it.

Jonathan: This trip combined history, culture, and memory in an emotional format that was at times entertaining, moving, depressing and always memorable.

Lauren: My favorite parts of the trip were being able to immerse myself in the cultures of these cities and learn about the Jewish cultures.

Nicole: This was my first time out of the country and I loved the experience! I can't wait to travel more!

Sarah Hyman: I really enjoyed learning about the Jewish history of Warsaw, but also the history of all Poles during the mid 20th century.  I hope to come back to Warsaw with my family in the future to check out the new Jewish museum that is currently still in the works.

Susie: This was my first time in Europe and I really enjoyed the different cities.  My favorite tour was Ravensbruck. I didn't know such a place existed.  It was an amazing learning experience!

Warren: This was my first time to Eastern Europe.  It's very different than West Europe.  Now I have an appreciation for all European cultures and lifestyle!

May 22: Prague-Krakow

by Joan Hales

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Today, we had a free day in Prague.  It was our last day in the Czech Republic, and we were given the opportunity to visit or revisit any part of Prague that we so chose. My group decided to sleep in a little, and then do some shopping.  After breakfast, we walked to the Charles Bridge to browse the selection of goods that were being sold by all of the vendors.  Not too long into the shopping, it began to drizzle.  We went about our business unfazed by the slight rain, but then it began to pour.  Most of the group wanted to walk briskly off of the bridge to find shelter from the weather, while some of us wanted to jog.  As we regrouped underneath the bridge, it was collectively decided that it was time to start to look for the Lennon Wall.  As we started to try to find the wall, we realized that we were not completely sure where we were or where the wall was.  Instead of asking for directions right away, we ended up wandering for a little bit until we realized that we needed help.  The directions that we got from a woman in a souvenir shop were less than helpful, but eventually we found the wall. 

We ate lunch at a quaint little café just beyond the Charles Bridge, and were able to enjoy the music of a street-performing guitarist covering American songs.  As we crossed back over the Charles Bridge, we did some more shopping and a lot more browsing.  As we continued to walk aimlessly through the city, we stumbled across an ice cream parlor.  We ended up staying in the ice cream parlor for about an hour enjoying the ice cream, avoiding the rain, and talking.  An old man who was sitting by himself actually clapped as we left the parlor, because we were being too loud for his liking.  However, no one seemed to like this old man or have a problem with us, so we dismissed it and went on our way.  From there, we went to the Jewish quarter to do some more shopping.  We ended up talking about how commercialized the synagogues have become, since they charge people to take pictures or don’t let anyone take any pictures at all to avoid losing a sale of one of the pictures in their gift shops.  It honestly shocked me how much money tourists are willing to pay in addition to their admission fees.  I also think that if a place says that it is disrespectful to take photographs of their exhibitions, they should not sell replicas of the pictures children of the holocaust have drawn to cope with their experiences during those difficult times.

After revisiting the Jewish quarter, we went to an outdoor farmer’s market.  Seeing the fruits at the market made people realize how hungry they had become, and we went to a pizzeria for dinner.  After dinner, several of us went to an ice bar, where everything was made of ice from the glasses to the walls and furniture.  We had heard that it was an interesting place to go, and were advised that we should try it since we were in Prague.  Even though it took me personally a while to warm back up, it was so much fun.  After we got back from the bar, we prepared to go to the train station to depart for Krakow.  Even though the sleeper cars on the train did not look exactly like those from Harry Potter, we all enjoyed the experience.

May 26: Krakow to Warsaw

Today, we reached our final destination of our two-week journey: Warsaw, Poland. After waking up late like usual and rushing through breakfast, we all checked out of our hotel and made our way to the Krakow train station. After shocking our drivers with the size of everyone’s luggage, we reached the train station and boarded our train to the Polish capital.

Throughout our three hour train ride, we attempted to sleep, played games, and took pictures. Along with this, Jon took it upon himself to poke us with his sharp pen since he was just so bored….I have the marks to prove this. Eventually, after we unbelievably arrived early in Warsaw and had to wait and stand in the aisle of the train as three Polish men crawled over us like a jungle gym, we left the train and got into our Benz vans since we’re such high rollers.

Next, we arrived to our hotel (which has great wifi!!) and were actually able to check in right away. After an hour to get settled into our rooms, we made our way to the lobby to begin our walking tour of Warsaw. Our tour guide, who we decided to name Woody since we did not hear his name, met us at our hotel and took us on the tram to the Old Town Square. Here, he led us through a number of historical sites and gave us some background on them. Along with this, we made our way up over one hundred and forty steps to the top of a bell tower in the square. Up here we had a bird’s eye view of the entire area as we tried to stay away from the rusty railing (even though Woody kept leaning on it). A point that really stuck out to me from Woody’s tour was how the Swedes were the first to ever sack Warsaw and practically burn it to ground. Now, we all know this has unfortunately been the situation for Warsaw a number of other times throughout history (poor Poland L). Towards the end of our tour, it began to rain on us….which seems to be a common theme throughout our time here in Europe. Due to the weather conditions, we had to cut our walking tour short and head to dinner.

The group had to split up and go to two restaurants. The restaurant that I ended up at seemed like a giant coloring book with outlines of tables, flowers, and animals on the walls, tables, and chairs. Here, we had kopytka with gulash, which is a traditional Polish dish. After dinner, we all went to an ice cream shop and then made our way back to our hotel, completing our first day in Warsaw.

- Chris Minitelli

TCNJ Study Tour Day 11: 5/24/2013

By Sarah Hyman

     Our group has had an array of experiences thus far on our study tour in Europe, but I'd have to say that today was one of the hardest days as we toured Concentration Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. We spent about 6 hours at the camp, 3 hours in the morning touring Auschwitz and 3 hours touring it's sister camp Birkenau, with a quick lunch break in between. There is so much to say about what we saw and learned today. At the beginning of the first tour, I quickly whipped out my notepad to write down the list of facts our tour guide was saying, but soon after, I decided to take everything in without jotting down every detail.

     First, I noticed that the atmosphere around us at the camp was quite remarkable. The weather was cold, dreary and stormy, mirroring our feelings towards what occurred at the concentration camp. It was also, appropriately, really crowded with tours today, making it harder for our large group to maneuver around.  In addition, the paths were very bumpy and the sharp rocks I felt under my feet were constant reminders of the indescribably horrible happenings that occurred at the camp years ago. 

     As we entered the camp, we saw a sign with the words, "Arbeit Macht Frei," meaning "Labor makes you free" in German. These words symbolize the lies and deception the Nazis used with their prisoners. As we continued, we went inside buildings from the camp, which had been refurbished inside and filled with information and artifacts. 

     Some rooms contained photographs and timelines, while others were much more difficult to see. There were huge glass cases along the walls. One filled with bundles of human hair belonging to victims at the camp. Another piled high with their eye glasses. Others contained suitcases, shoes, and prosthetic legs. Seeing the suitcases hit me particularly hard. In Primo Levi's "Survival In Auschwitz," he writes about mothers packing the family's suitcases before going to the camp, without forgetting "the diapers, the toys, the cushions and the hundreds of small things mothers only remember." He continues, "If you and your child were going to be killed tomorrow, would you not give him food to eat today?" (Levi, 4) This reminds me of my own mother and how she remembers to pack every little accessory for us before a trip. I have learned about the Holocaust for many years, but seeing these items was an entirely different experience. These were ordinary people. It could have been anyone. How could this happen? These were the thoughts running through my mind. 

     Another place that stood out to me at the camp was a new exhibition commemorating Auschwitz victims from Hungary. It displayed photographs and stories of survivors and those who lost their lives. There was one picture that particularly touched me. It was a photograph of a woman before the war contrasted next to a picture of her being held up by a nurse after the war. The juxtaposition of these pictures was eye-opening as I compared the woman's full, healthy figure and bright smile to her emaciated skeleton and cold, aloof expression. In addition, I noticed that the glass floor at the exhibit covered train tracks and I heard repetitive, deep sounds coming from one side of the room. At first, I thought of the sound of a train, but as I walked through the exhibit, it sounded more like a heart beat to me. It made me wonder how some hearts continued to beat through the torture they endured. 

     We saw many other sights at Auschwitz in the morning, but the last sight was the toughest for me personally. We silently walked through the enclosed building where the gas chambers were held at the camp. No words can portray this experience. Countless numbers of men, women and children walked into these chambers, thinking they would walk back outside minutes later, refreshed from a shower. Children. Children with dreams of becoming artists, doctors, firemen, actors, writers, and princesses. But they were not able to walk back outside. As my feet led me out of the small building, my eyes watered for those who were not able to walk out like I so easily had. 

     Our group broke for a quick lunch on the bus even though I'm sure I can speak for us all and say that eating was not exactly on our minds. We then drove about 5 minutes and arrived at Auschwitz II-Birkenau Death Camp. This camp was different because it was formed later on and was primarily an extermination camp rather than a work camp. Moreover, the camp only opened up to the public recently and was not as refurbished as Auschwitz. At Birkenau, we walked through the entire camp, viewing the barracks the prisoners "lived" in, the outhouse, the places where the gas chambers were held and the fields where the prisoners were tortured, beaten and ridiculed. To know that I was standing in these places where such horrific happenings occurred less than 70 years ago was really intense. Honestly, I felt quite uncomfortable, as I did many other times throughout the day at the camp. Why am I here? Is it wrong for me to be touring this place? 

     It was our last stop of the day that responded to my worries. Our group entered a room displaying walls filled with pictures of the victims and their families before the war. Smiling faces. Children playing. Couples holding hands. Stories about families and their lives prior to the chaos. In addition, there were three poems displayed with strong words and meaningful messages. I would like to share one with you today. 

"How can I sing. My world is laid waste.

How can I play with wrung hands?

Where are my dead? O God, I seek them in every dunghill, In every heap of ashes ... O tell me where you are." -Anonymous

     A few last thoughts. First, I feel the need to mention and thank our incredibly informative and considerate tour guide, Sylvia. While I was impressed by her wealth of knowledge about the camp and what happened, I felt that her kind personality and respect for the victims prevailed and really helped me get though the day. 

     Lastly, visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau and seeing the sights first hand was not only eye-opening, but it also renewed my hopes to make a difference in the world today. Discrimination, cruelty, and suffering are not merely happenings of the past and are most definitely present in our world. I am the first to admit that I often overlook matters that I think I cannot do anything about. But I need to remember that the smallest gestures count. Whether it is holding the door for the person behind you, making someone laugh, standing up for people you don't know or even simply being kind--I think it all makes a difference. 

-Sarah

Day 12 - Schindler Museum

Saturday May 25^th Day 12

Today we took a step into Hollywood, well actually history. We went to the Oskar Schindler Museum. This was my favorite museum thus far on the trip; first because of its chronological flow, second because the museum was set up in such a way that we became part of the story, and third because of the sassy British couple that wouldn’t leave us alone adding some comic relief amongst our group later in the day. We began our tour reminiscing the good times had in Poland in August 1939. Then, we saw Poland’s culture, land, and freedom stripped from the Poles partially by Nazi Germany (to the west) and by communistic USSR (to the east). The tour continued by displaying the methodical progression the Nazi’s took in order to change the lifestyle of the Jewish community and the thought of Jews among a nation. Nazi propaganda parades were held, laws were passed, ghettos were formed, camps began to crowd, and then generations were lost. Specifically, Poland lost 3,000,000 Jews and 6,000,000 people (Poland has had a very hard time since the war because they believe they were the main victims of the World War II). However, there are many stories of hope during this heinous period.  The tour culminated with Oskar Schindler’s story. If you’ve seen Schindler’s List prepare yourself! We walked the staircase from the movie, walked around his office, listened to testimonials from some of the people Schindler saved, read Schindler’s “list”, and touched the actual map of Europe that hung behind his desk just to list a few. The tour ended in the Room of Thought. The exhibition was laid out to make you question how you would have acted during this period. Would you have saved a Jew, turned your neighbors into the Nazis, join the Nazi Party, or would you have joined the Polish Resistance? These questions are very hard to answer and hopefully we will never actually find the answer.

            After some free time and a lot of shopping, the group gathered for a discussion of what we saw in Krakow. Krakow did a number on us for sure. Our main focus of this meeting was Auschwitz, The Schindler Museum, and Primo Levi’s poem. Generally we all felt the same way about what we saw; however, as a group, what really stuck with us was the public bathroom POLICY in Europe. I can easily say we dislike with a passion, because hate is a strong word, paying to go to the bathroom in Europe. Please, when you see your kids DON’T ASK ABOUT THE BATHROOM SITUATION IN EUROPE.

            To end the emotional trip in Krakow, the group, Professor Paces, Professor Rosa, and our lovely guide throughout Poland, Alicja, went to a bar for drinks, and we went to what could be described as a cave for karaoke. I’ve actually said too much about that night so I’m going to just end this blog right here with a period.

     

Warren Jagger

P.S. TCNJ loves Krakow!

Holocaust Study Tour: 22.05.2013 (Day 9)

By Joan Hales

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Today, we had a free day in Prague.  It was our last day in the Czech Republic, and we were given the opportunity to visit or revisit any part of Prague that we so chose. My group decided to sleep in a little, and then do some shopping.  After breakfast, we walked to the Charles Bridge to browse the selection of goods that were being sold by all of the vendors.  Not too long into the shopping, it began to drizzle.  We went about our business unfazed by the slight rain, but then it began to pour.  Most of the group wanted to walk briskly off of the bridge to find shelter from the weather, while some of us wanted to jog.  As we regrouped underneath the bridge, it was collectively decided that it was time to start to look for the Lennon Wall.  As we started to try to find the wall, we realized that we were not completely sure where we were or where the wall was.  Instead of asking for directions right away, we ended up wandering for a little bit until we realized that we needed help.  The directions that we got from a woman in a souvenir shop were less than helpful, but eventually we found the wall. 

We ate lunch at a quaint little café just beyond the Charles Bridge, and were able to enjoy the music of a street-performing guitarist covering American songs.  As we crossed back over the Charles Bridge, we did some more shopping and a lot more browsing.  As we continued to walk aimlessly through the city, we stumbled across an ice cream parlor.  We ended up staying in the ice cream parlor for about an hour enjoying the ice cream, avoiding the rain, and talking.  An old man who was sitting by himself actually clapped as we left the parlor, because we were being too loud for his liking.  However, no one seemed to like this old man or have a problem with us, so we dismissed it and went on our way.  From there, we went to the Jewish quarter to do some more shopping.  We ended up talking about how commercialized the synagogues have become, since they charge people to take pictures or don’t let anyone take any pictures at all to avoid losing a sale of one of the pictures in their gift shops.  It honestly shocked me how much money tourists are willing to pay in addition to their admission fees.  I also think that if a place says that it is disrespectful to take photographs of their exhibitions, they should not sell replicas of the pictures children of the holocaust have drawn to cope with their experiences during those difficult times.

After revisiting the Jewish quarter, we went to an outdoor farmer’s market.  Seeing the fruits at the market made people realize how hungry they had become, and we went to a pizzeria for dinner.  After dinner, several of us went to an ice bar, where everything was made of ice from the glasses to the walls and furniture.  We had heard that it was an interesting place to go, and were advised that we should try it since we were in Prague.  Even though it took me personally a while to warm back up, it was so much fun.  After we got back from the bar, we prepared to go to the train station to depart for Krakow.  Even though the sleeper cars on the train did not look exactly like those from Harry Potter, we all enjoyed the experience.

5.21.13

Today, we visited Terezin as our main activity. We arrived around 10am and were given a walking tour by Peter. First, we visited the jail area and museum, which both included a lot of information about the conditions of the holding areas and the motives of the nazis who created them. 

The jail cells included prisoners of war, Czech resisters and some Jews. The conditions were slightly better than some of the other camps because this one was often used as a model camp to hide the nazis' ulterior motives. Each room housed 100 people, often closely spaced together on a long series of bunks. They were given a single sheet of cloth to use as bedding, and only a single tank of hot water was available to around 1500 prisoners. Another accommodation available were solitary confinement cells for prisoners who mistreated the guards or committed another crime within the camp. Still a third possible accommodation was a small 12x12 foot room in which 60 people or less were kept. 

The most shocking part of the horrible accommodations at Terezin was the fact that it was the best situation a prisoner could be in. Because the camp was used to make propaganda films, the conditions were more favorable than those at other camps. The first reason was to appeal to those on the outside who believed the camp to be a pleasant place. The second and most interesting reason is because the nazis feared for their own health and cleanliness. Once a week, the prisoners would shower and debug their uniforms. This was done not for their potential health, but for the sake of those overseeing them. This was a perfect plan to keep the nazis' image positive, their personal health good and still succeed in their mission to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the prisoners. According to Bauer, these people dehumanized themselves by being "demonic force[s] of evil." Therefore, the nazis decided they were justified in treating them so poorly. By giving them minimal human necessities, they stripped the Jews of any remaining humanity and sense of self, while successfully retaining their positive image in the public (Bauer, p. 100). 

After leaving Terezin, our group ate dinner and went to "Ruskala," an opera similar to the children's story, "The Little Mermaid." I found the story to be beautiful, and the dancers and singers and dancers to be extremely talented. I enjoyed how different this opera was from the Disney film, in that it ended in a light tragedy. After the show, many of us went to a cafe, where we ate the most delicious crepes of all time. Overall, it was a entertaining and informative day.

Jessica Gorham

May 18th, 2013 - Ravensbrüke Concentration Camp

MAY 18^th, 2013

Nicole Ferrante

            Today we woke up and left the hotel at 8:30 AM. We all got on a small bus and took a two-hour drive to Ravensbrüke Concentration Camp. This camp was specifically made for women and children during the holocaust. Upon arriving to the camp, we were introduced to our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about studies in the holocaust. He was able to tell us a lot of first hand accounts about the camp. For example, he told us that one of the women who donated photos to the camp exhibits took out pictures of herself. The reason for this was before the picture was taken, the Gestapo interrogated and abused her and she had bruises on her face. This was not the image that she wanted to be remembered by. However, eventually she decided to give the camp al the pictures. It is a very telling photo and shows how much suffering and oppression that women at Ravensbrüke went through at the time.

            When we went into the camp our tour guide was able to tell us more personal stories. For example, he told us one story about a group of women at Ravensbrüke who were brutally punished because a member of their group escaped. The remaining women were told that they had to stand at roll call for over a day. Because of exhaustion, starvation, and overall fatigue many women died during the punishment. Eventually, the escaped woman was returned to the camp and initially handed over to her original group. They were instructed to do with her what they wished. Although they did nothing, this was very telling of how much these women had lost touch with humanity. There were many cases where these women would turn against each other in the midst of all the suffering and hysteria.

He did end the tour with a story of hope. He spoke about a woman who was liberated from the camp. She describes seeing an attractive man come into the camp with a red cross on his jacket. She immediately went to fix her hair. It was at this point that she finally felt like a woman again. The camps had ripped away her identity, womanhood, and hope. The liberation gave them a small glimpse at all of these things, which had been taken from them. After the tour we were allowed to walk through the crematorium, which was separated into rooms, which memorialized various groups of victims in the holocaust. Each room was very unique and did a great job of depicting each group’s struggles. Overall the experience at the concentration camp was very powerful and I learned a lot more about the holocaust then I ever have in a classroom.

            After the tour of the concentration camp we met as a group in the hotel and spoke about our own personal feelings and reflections from the camp. It was really interesting to hear how other members of our group felt at the camp and how they interpreted certain rooms and stories differently. We spoke a lot about the visual representations of women and children during the holocaust and whether or not it is respectful to show them or not. I think that while these representations don’t show these women at their best, the images are important to have because they are the most powerful tool we have to convey the pain and suffering of the holocaust.

            At night we were all able to sit in the hotel lobby and watch Euro-vision, which is like a European version of American Idol. It was interesting that most of the songs were in English. As an American, I feel as though we should be required to know more than one language. English is the only the language that almost everything is translated to, which shows how ignorant Americans are. I think it would be helpful for there to be a greater stress put on the incorporation of foreign languages in American School Curriculum. Regardless, it was nice to see some cultural similarities between Europe and America while watching Eurovision. Like in America, it seemed that Euro-vision is very popular and has become a part of European culture. 

TCNJ Holocaust Study Tour 5-19-13

TCNJ Study Tour 5-19-2013

          After waking up early, checking out of our hotel, and saying auf wiedersehen to Evgeniya, we embarked on our journey to Prague.  Sitting in cars that reminded us of Harry Potter, we wandered from one cabin to another, reflecting on our time in Germany.  In Germany we saw a lot of abstract, relatively new monuments and memorials.  Most of the meanings were, by design, left to the interpretation of the visitors.  This type of memorialization was not expected, as I thought we were going to see the typical statue, with a plaque, telling us exactly what to think about the memorial.  However, what really stood out to the class at all the places we visited in Germany, such as the Jewish Museum Berlin, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and Ravensbrück concentration camp was all the personal artifacts and letters, as well as the stories our tour guides told us.  These things gave identity to the people in the Holocaust, both the survivors and victims, which facts and figures could never do.  It will be interesting to see how Prague chooses to memorialize the Holocaust and the Jewish people, which we can then use as a point of comparison to Germany.  Overall I believe we all enjoyed our time in Berlin, and cannot wait to see what Prague has to offer.

            After we arrived in Prague, struggled to get our luggage out of the compartments, and left the train, we met Petr and checked into the hotel.  Once at the hotel, we were all excited to find out that there were two beds, free in-room Wi-Fi, a shower curtain, and a door to separate the toilets from the sinks.  Clearly we are not accustomed to “roughing it.”  We were also warned about pickpockets and told where not to go at night.  Following this orientation we headed to the bank to exchange our euros and begin our tour of Prague.  After having a minor freak-out at the price of water, and then learning the exchange rate of the koruna, we headed out to explore the city with Professor Paces.  We walked over to the National Museum and the old Soviet parliament building and then to Wenceslas Square where we were given a lot of historical information.  

View of Wenceslaus Square from the National Museum

     We then walked to the Charles Bridge where we had a photo-shoot and enjoyed the view from the river, while we waited to go to the theater to see the Legends of Magic Prague.  Based off Czech legends such as Faust and Golem, this multi-media dance show featured different music and video projections and was something that I don’t think anyone had experienced before.  After watching/napping through the unique show, we left the theater and headed to a restaurant where we sampled some authentic Czech food, such as venison and duck dishes.  After getting a crash course in the public transportation system, due to the unexpected rain, we arrived at our hotel, ready to experience what the Prague still has to offer.

           

-Jennifer Fraunberger