In the past few weeks we have visited both the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and a holocaust museum, both of which were very eye opening. When walking through the holocaust museum and reading all the stories I learned alot that I didn’t know before. In my head the holocaust was a long time ago but seeing that there are lots of survivors still alive made me realize that it was really not that long ago. I found it very interesting to listen to survivors stories and to read what the camps were like. As I walked into Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp I could feel the weight that the place held. I was surprised by the amount of thought and planning that went into the layout of the camp. Everything had been thought through to ensure that nobody got out and that the purpose of the camp was achieved. It made me wonder if the people that designed the camp were proud of what they did. While listening to the info of the camp and walking around it sunk in how bad the conditions were. I learned about the concentration camps in school but it was completely different to be in one and see everything. Between the holocaust museum and Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp I learned a ton about the holocaust and the events that took place in that time. I could see that Germany was ashamed of their past but not trying to hide and more learn from it.
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Sam Sands – Q3
Over the past few weeks, we’ve visited both the holocaust museum and Sachsenhausen Concentration camp. Both were extremely sobering experiences, and I was really struck by the recency of everything. I’ve always felt like all of that was so long ago, but in reality it was still fairly recent. Being at Sachsenhausen also gave me a new view into the scale of the holocaust. The size and even the planning that went into creating the “perfect” concentration camp really gave me new eyes to it all.
At the holocaust museum, what really hit me was all of the personal stories of so many victims. It was so sobering to read story after story of families torn apart.
Another thing I’ve noticed is how these things are treated here. At home, it is treated as history – something that happened a while ago- but here it is far more, and is still really touchy and hard. There are signs of it all over – such as brass plates in the side walk where those killed in the concentration camps used to live. Overall, these experiences have been very sobering, but has been a good perspective to experience.
Sam Klaassen – blogQ2
After finishing our first statics test this morning, we’re done with our first week of class in Germany. So far it’s been an amazing experience to live in a culture different than ours, specifically a country where many people don’t speak our language. I didn’t expect their public transportation system to be so expansive and to be used by the majority of locals. I’ve also discovered how good their street food is (currywurst, doners, and bratwurst). Things from home that I’m missing are my family, friends, and my own car. One German thing I would bring back to the United States are the windows that open both from the top and from the side. It’s a great example of German engineering.
Ava Q3
Visiting Sachsenhausen and the Holocaust Museum was an experience. While looking around and reading the information provided was interesting, the thing that struck me the most was how recently this occurred. In my head, the Holocaust happened a really long time ago, and so it was surprising to hear about the stories of people that are still alive or died only recently. I was stunned by the vast collection of personal stories shared in the camp and the museum. These events affected so many people, and it is so cool that they could share their stories for people to hear about years after these events happened.
Additionally, something that struck me was that many of the guards were the same age as I am. I read that the average age of the concentration camp guards was about 20. It is crazy to think of myself or my friends in a situation similar to the one they experienced and what drove those guards to act in the ways that they did. It was also interesting yet saddening to read stories about children in particular who experienced in the concentration camps. Their stories are more tragic than others because it is hard to imagine any child having to go through that.
What I learned most from this is the importance of sharing stories to help others to empathize and understand the events that occurred and greatly affected so many people.
Jude Q2
Okay so this is the longest I have ever been in another country in my life and to be completely honest, it’s not nearly as bad as I thought. Before this trip I was quite anxious and had figured I would experience some mild levels of homesickness, and yet I have not encountered it. I like to think it’s due to Germany’s inviting demeanor. Everything here is so clean and especially the public transportation. The level of cleanliness just adds to the already positive atmosphere. Having experienced the subway systems in the US, I can say Germany knows what they are doing. Along with that, most people are inviting. Thankfully, I have not received too many harsh looks for being American. Despite the welcoming attitudes and relatively hygienic public transport, I will say I miss being able to drive my own car. That is a luxury I am now really beginning to value and miss. For example, getting to a place that is only 4 miles away can take up to 45 minutes through public transportation. It makes every outing feel very draining.
Another plus to living in Europe is the food. The fresh baked pastries here are unmatched to anything I have ever had. Adding to that, I am also intolerant to gluten, but due to the way European countries process their wheat, I am able to, um mostly, handle the gluten here. I’ve had some incidents but it’s worth it. Being able to bite into fresh, baked bread that doesn’t taste like gluten free gravel, is a luxury I could get used to. It’s safe to say I’ve been taking advantage of the croissants here. Overall, I look forward to exploring Germany, learning more about their rich history and unique culture.
Ava Q2
Adjusting to Germany has been a lot of fun. It is always interesting to learn how another culture functions, and because we are staying longer than your average vacation, I have been enjoying learning to navigate it as if I was a local. It has been very interesting to learn to navigate public transportation – previous to this I had used busses or trains a couple times, but we can’t get anywhere here without them. Learning which bus lines take you where and how to connect to your destination was tricky at first. The biggest thing I didn’t expect about Germany was all the trees. Berlin is a big city but it has way more trees than big cities in the US do. The trees are interspersed in between building and along streets and help to give a less industrial feeling to the city. I also did not expect all the bike infrastructure. Germans clearly utilize bikes to go places frequently, and unlike in the US where I feel like I might be hit by a car when I bike, Germany has bike lanes built into all roads and sidewalks that cars and buses respect. The US could benefit from a system like that. The thing I miss most from home is the convenience of driving myself places and being able to communicate with everyone and read all the signs. I’ve noticed the German I know is decent for getting around but not good enough to fully understand what’s going on. However, when I go home I think I will miss the Nutella and Brötchen for breakfast every day.
Elyse Q2
Now that I have lived in Germany for about a week, there are some things I miss from home but also some things I want to bring home. Some thing I miss from home is air conditioning. It has now cooled off, but in the first few days of us living here it was high 80’s. Our hostel has not air and the trains, if packed, have very little air circulation. I also miss not being able to drive. The trains and bus system is a great way to get around, but I have to run on their time, not my own. I would love to bring home their food. I can tell from just a week that I feel better from not eating artificial flavors or the other bad things America puts in their food. It has also been fun living in a city. I don’t know what I expected Berlin to look like, but I have been pleased with what it has been. It seems like a relatively clean city with a lot of green infrastructure. I am excited to keep exploring Germany and see what it has in store for me!
Elyse Q3
Going through the Holocaust museum and Sachsenhausen really opened my eyes to what happened in the camps. Going through Sachsenhausen I had a heavy heart knowing not even 100 years ago millions of people died right where I was standing. Seeing the camp in person and walking though it, I tried to put myself in the shoes of those who live through it, but I could not imagine the fear and pain they felt everyday.
Being able to read/hear stories in both the Museum and camp I was able to learn more about what happened in the camps than what I had previously known. I learned that they tested children with diseases to see if they were immune to them. I was also able to learn about some of the jobs the prisoners had to do. Some where Manuel labor, some had to walk all day through different types of ground to test out shoes for the Nazi soldiers, but your foot size did not matter, so some men walked miles in shoe sizes 3 times smaller. Prisoners that were too weak to work had to stand all day not moving, and if they moved they were shot and killed. The ways people died in camp are gruesome, but the Nazis only marked death in few categories so the outside world would not know the cruelty of the camp.
Overall, I am glad I was able to experience what camps were like. Although they are terrible, I now have even more respect for the people who lived through them. I can feel more sorrow and pain now that I have seen the living conditions and heard more stories of what Jews went to. You can see in the German culture that the war and the camps are still touchy subjects. There are many monuments and memorials to those who have lost their lives to the wickedness of Hitler and the Nazis.
Kailee Q3
Our visit to Sachsenhausen was an eye-opening experience. Going through the camp, we got to listen to recounts of the horrific events that happened there. It’s hard to picture that something so awful could happen so recent in history. It feels like the holocaust was so long ago, but the reality is that some of our grandparents lived through WWII. In hearing the things that happened at Sachsenhausen, it was hard to picture that any of it was real, as it seemed that horrible. We walked through ruins of what once was, but with each step you could feel the weight of what had happened there.
In addition, one thing the little group I was walking with and I learned was that the average age of soldiers in concentration camps was 20.2. Putting that into perspective, people our age were running pieces of concentration camps and dehumanizing Jews. I couldn’t imagine getting recruited for something like that at my age, and I can only guess how terrified some of them felt. Alongside this, we learned a lot about how kids in general were treated. It’s so sad to think that some of them were exploited for their innocence by adults in the same situation.
The visit to the holocaust museum hit hard as well. It didn’t have the same heavy feeling as the concentration camp, where things had actually happened, but it had the personal testimony of survivors and victims. We listened to stories of mothers who had sent their kids away unknowingly to their death, letters of despair, and families ripped apart. It was hard to read, but at the same time, it was hard to acknowledge that it was real. Germany does a great job of recognizing that this was a real part of their history, and they make a huge effort to honor the victims.
Kailee Q2
I have really enjoyed my time in Germany thus far. I find it convenient that everything is within a reasonable walking distance or can be accessed by public transportation. I didn’t expect the trains to be as easily accessible as they are, as I thought bussing would be more common. One thing I’ve definitely taken note of is how wonderful the food is here. I didn’t expect bakeries to be such a casual, common thing, but I am quite enjoying that experience. Many of my breakfasts and lunches have been supplied from a local or chain bakery, and I wish that was more common in the states. I have not had a croissant that tastes like the ones here, and I will miss them a lot when we return home. I do, however, miss my car. One downside of public transportation is that you don’t run on your time, you run on theirs. I miss the accessibility of my car. I also miss cereal quite a bit. Ava and I had a conversation about having a bowl of Froot Loops the other day, and it made me miss my sugary cereals that I eat for breakfast every day at home. I miss my family and friends too, of course.