So I know it's been way too long since the last time I blogged and I apologize for that! But in my defense I've been super busy with final projects in Berlin, returning to Vermont, and now starting classes at SMC ... needless to say my life has been pretty crazy these past few weeks.
I don't even know where to begin, there are so many things I never got the chance to blog about during my last few weeks in Germany - I mean, I went to Denmark, I finished my final project (the blog about German Turkish Relations), I had to say good-bye to all my friends and host family, and now I'm back in Vermont at St. Mike's.
It's definitely been a surreal experience - to be honest, half the time I feel like I wasn't even in Berlin at all - like it was all a dream or something! It's crazy to think about!!! But something that I wouldn't give up for for the world. I mean, don't get me wrong I love Vermont and SMC and I'm so happy to be back, but I really do miss Berlin. I miss the people, the food, the city, traveling - I miss just about everything!!! And I would give anything to go back there one day - I mean, I know I'm going to go back one day, I just don't know when. Regardless of that though, it really was a once in a lifetime experience that I highly suggest to everyone and anyone. It doesn't even matter where you go, the point, is that you go!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sachsenhausen
Last week our entire program went to Sachsenhausen, a former forced-labor concentration camp just outside of Berlin. While this one was very similar to the other one we went to in Weimar, it held more importance during the Nazis reign, as it was the administrative center for all concentration camps and where many SS men were trained.
This particular camp was known for housing political prisoners, but there were, of course, others there as well - Jews, criminals, homeless people - basically anyone who was different was at risk of winding up at one of these camps.
Like the other camp, many of the buildings at this one were no longer standing - but there was a replica of one of the barracks, and we were actually able to see where/how the prisoners lived.
This particular barrack was for Jewish prisoners, and was actually almost burned down about 20 years ago. A group of Neo-Nazis came to the camp and attempted to burn down this particular part of it, because they didn't want people to remember or memorialize the Jews that had lived there.
In this particular camp, as well as many others, certain prisoners were assigned to higher positions. For example, one prisoner would oversee a barrack and get their own bed, and special privileges. This was one way for the Nazis to keep the prisoners divided and prevent them from rising up in defiance - because many of those assigned to these special positions, weren't very nice to the other prisoners at all. They would beat them, pick on them, basically just do mean, spiteful things, because they could. However, that doesn't mean there weren't those who were nice, in fact some of them did all they could to help out the other prisoners - they would provide secret German lessons, so foreign prisoners could understand the Nazis' commands, or help them switch jobs, if theirs was especially difficult.
However, sometimes it was hard to save people, as many were in fact killed either while working or just because a Nazi felt like it. At this particular camp, many, many Soviet Soldiers were killed - the Nazis gave the impression that they were just going to admit the prisoners of war into the camp, and took them, one by one, into a building and killed them.
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| Camp Entrance |
This particular camp was known for housing political prisoners, but there were, of course, others there as well - Jews, criminals, homeless people - basically anyone who was different was at risk of winding up at one of these camps.
Like the other camp, many of the buildings at this one were no longer standing - but there was a replica of one of the barracks, and we were actually able to see where/how the prisoners lived.
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| Bunk beds, where prisoners slept, often sharing a bed with many others. |
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| Common Area |
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| Wash Room |
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| Bathroom |
This particular barrack was for Jewish prisoners, and was actually almost burned down about 20 years ago. A group of Neo-Nazis came to the camp and attempted to burn down this particular part of it, because they didn't want people to remember or memorialize the Jews that had lived there.
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| The fire caused the paint to peel, but wasn't repaired, because the people at the camp wanted it to stand as a remembrance for what the Neo-Nazis tried to do |
In this particular camp, as well as many others, certain prisoners were assigned to higher positions. For example, one prisoner would oversee a barrack and get their own bed, and special privileges. This was one way for the Nazis to keep the prisoners divided and prevent them from rising up in defiance - because many of those assigned to these special positions, weren't very nice to the other prisoners at all. They would beat them, pick on them, basically just do mean, spiteful things, because they could. However, that doesn't mean there weren't those who were nice, in fact some of them did all they could to help out the other prisoners - they would provide secret German lessons, so foreign prisoners could understand the Nazis' commands, or help them switch jobs, if theirs was especially difficult.
However, sometimes it was hard to save people, as many were in fact killed either while working or just because a Nazi felt like it. At this particular camp, many, many Soviet Soldiers were killed - the Nazis gave the impression that they were just going to admit the prisoners of war into the camp, and took them, one by one, into a building and killed them.
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| Flowers in remembrance of those who died |
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| What remains of the Crematorium |
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| Memorial at Crematorium |
It was definitely an intense experience, I mean, I did kind of know what it was going to be like, since I'd already been to one. But it didn't really change the effect it had on me. These memorials are definitely sad places, but it's important that we honor those who died, and remember what took place in these camps, so we can prevent it from happening again in the future.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
European Reunion and X-Mas Markets
The week of Thanksgiving I had some pretty awesome visitors!! My friend, Carola, from Munich - the one I went to Oktoberfest with - came up for the weekend before, and my friends from high school, Phillip and Jess came up for the whole week!!!
It was so much fun to see everyone and just explore Berlin! I was able to take them to the sights, and we went to the Christmas Markets (did a lot of Christmas shopping there), we ate bratwurst and döner, went on a pub crawl! It was just an awesome time and I'm really glad that we were all able to hang out - Phil and Jess hadn't seen Carola since she left VT a few years ago - so I actually didn't tell them that she was coming and we surprised them at the airport! It was great!!! :-)
It was so much fun to see everyone and just explore Berlin! I was able to take them to the sights, and we went to the Christmas Markets (did a lot of Christmas shopping there), we ate bratwurst and döner, went on a pub crawl! It was just an awesome time and I'm really glad that we were all able to hang out - Phil and Jess hadn't seen Carola since she left VT a few years ago - so I actually didn't tell them that she was coming and we surprised them at the airport! It was great!!! :-)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Visiting My German Roots
A few weekends ago, I got to do something that I've always wanted to do, something that a lot of people never have the chance to do. I was able to meet my family, my German family, and visit the city where my oma (grandmother) grew up - Mannheim.
As I've probably said before in previous blogs, my grandmother, on my mother's side, is originally from Germany. She met my grandfather, who was stationed in Mannheim following WWII, during the Allies occupation of Germany, married him, had my uncle, moved to Vermont, and had my mom. Therefore, like all of my grandmother's family is still in Germany, well at least 5 of her brothers are and I was actually able to meet one of them, my Uncle Albert and his family (his wife and 2 daughters).
It was an absolutely awesome experience - they were super nice, took me everywhere, cooked delicious food (my aunt is a great cook), and just totally and completely accepted me into their family! It was awesome!! I really am glad that I was able to visit them and meet them, to see where my grandmother lived growing up, where she was married to my grandfather, and where my uncle was baptized. It was just really, really cool and I know it made my grandmother (who hasn't been back to Germany in a very long time) really happy.
As I've probably said before in previous blogs, my grandmother, on my mother's side, is originally from Germany. She met my grandfather, who was stationed in Mannheim following WWII, during the Allies occupation of Germany, married him, had my uncle, moved to Vermont, and had my mom. Therefore, like all of my grandmother's family is still in Germany, well at least 5 of her brothers are and I was actually able to meet one of them, my Uncle Albert and his family (his wife and 2 daughters).
It was an absolutely awesome experience - they were super nice, took me everywhere, cooked delicious food (my aunt is a great cook), and just totally and completely accepted me into their family! It was awesome!! I really am glad that I was able to visit them and meet them, to see where my grandmother lived growing up, where she was married to my grandfather, and where my uncle was baptized. It was just really, really cool and I know it made my grandmother (who hasn't been back to Germany in a very long time) really happy.
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| With my Aunt and Uncle :-) |
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| The church where my Grandparents were married and my Uncle baptized. |
While I was visiting them they also took me, via the Autobahn!!!, to Heidelberg to see the famous castle, which was pretty cool, even if it is in ruins.
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| The Castle |
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| View of the City from the Castle |
The whole weekend, was just absolutely awesome and something that I'm really happy I was able to do. I mean how many people can say that they've actually had the chance to meet their extended family abroad? Not many that I know of, and I'm super happy that I had this amazing opportunity!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Project Update
So if it seems like I've been a little behind on my blog - it's because I am. I've actually been very occupied with my German/Turkish Relations project, which is no longer a paper, but a blog! I've discovered that I actually really enjoy blogging, and seeing how it is a new form of journalism, I figured, why not skip the boring, same old paper and try something new? So I did!
So far I've only done research based blog posts - but will be getting into the interviews and personal information soon. Since last blogging about my project, I've done tons of research, interviewed more people, and have set up even more interviews! It's been a long process, but a lot of fun! I'm really glad that I decided to go with the blog, because I can have a little more fun with it, and I can use not only words, but also pictures and videos!
I won't talk about it too much, because I've been writing about it like all week. But if anyone wants to check out the blog I made for my final project, it's called German Turkish Relations.
So far I've only done research based blog posts - but will be getting into the interviews and personal information soon. Since last blogging about my project, I've done tons of research, interviewed more people, and have set up even more interviews! It's been a long process, but a lot of fun! I'm really glad that I decided to go with the blog, because I can have a little more fun with it, and I can use not only words, but also pictures and videos!
I won't talk about it too much, because I've been writing about it like all week. But if anyone wants to check out the blog I made for my final project, it's called German Turkish Relations.
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