Arbeit Macht Frei

During our time in Eastern Europe we jaunted to Poland for a 3 day look at Krakow. We began our journey across the chilly landscape in another train ride where we had a great time with our "cabin mates" - the Chladek Family from the Czech Republic. They practiced their English with us and taught us a few words in Czech...it was nice to be around a family. Following that train ride, we hopped aboard another to finish off the rest of our route. Aboard this train we met Jennifer, a grad student from Seattle studying sustainability in Sweden (sounds like a tongue twister). It was a great trip over to Poland - we made some friends!

We made it to Krakow and were welcomed by the Polish Policie...they spotted us jay walking across a quiet street and asked to see our passports (we have jaywalked in every city thus far). Fortunately we weren't ticketed due to the fact that one of the officers had a relative in Chicago, which was his slim connection to us being Americans. We later heard that the Polish cops are often pretty strict and rough, so we were glad to get out of that ticket.

We got to our place, a sweet, old one room flat that was used by the building's doorman. Our shower was built around the "check in window". Fun! Once we settled into our place, we headed out with Jennifer, Sustainable Seattle Gal:), and dined on fabulous Polish food - dumplings, sauerkraut soup, sausage and beer. Then we headed back to bed, feeling the effects of the long train ride.

We woke up early the next morning and went to Auschwitz. Auschwitz was, of course, one of the many concentration camps used by the Nazis during WWII. How can we adequately describe our experience? This quote caught our attention, "Few place names have more impact than Auschwitz, which is seared into public consciousness as the location of history's most extensive experiment with genocide". It was overwhelming and surreal arriving at this place that we have studied in school and heard about for years - the largest Nazi death camp. It was chilling to walk the streets of a place where millions suffered and died - to read details about the mockery of the prisoners, the torture, and the intentional misery the Nazis put the people through. Walking under the camp entrance gate which read in German Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Will Make You Free), was the beginning of our intense experiences at Auschwitz I. We continued to Auschwitz II, called Birkenau, where we were most surprised by the shear size of the camp; it was enormous. We were shocked. There are actually three different parts of Auschwitz, which are situated a couple kilometers away from each other. The part of Auschwitz, called Birkenau, is what I normally picture a concentration camp to look like. Birkenau was a mile long by a .6 of a mile wide; the property was filled with 300 barracks, each of which held 400-700 people. The devastation was incredible. Our words really can't do justice to what we experienced, nor to the gravity of Auschwitz itself. This was an incredible example for us of the brokenness of humanity and of the capacity we have to be so cruel. I can't imagine walking in the shoes of those that suffered this cruelty, the cold, frigid temperatures, the loss of loved ones and the loss of dignity. It is a memory that will never leave us...

We returned to Krakow seeing the city in a different light after having been to Auschwitz. We couldn't help but think about the city and how it looked 65 years ago under the Nazis. We discovered a little while we were there about the Polish people, and how they suffered much doing those years. The Nazis were racist against them as well; and after talking to a local woman there, the affects of WWII and the Holocaust still linger in the culture.

The next day we spent our time strolling around the streets of Krakow, which is beautiful city. Probably a lot more beautiful during the summer with green trees and flowers, and without the super cold temps. And did you know that it is the home of the bagel? Yep, rumor has it that it began with the local Jewish community years, years ago as a way to keep pregnant women healthy. We aren't so sure about the health thing, but we thank them for the bagel!

The highlight of our time here, apart from Auschwitz, were our evenings spent with a beautiful young polish woman named Joanna (Asia) and her son, Schmek (Simon in English). She was our hostess more or less, and was eager to practice her English. This gave us the opportunity to learn more about Poland. Her bright and wise perspective on life was a welcomed change to the cold, gray weather in Krakow and the inhumanities we learned of at Auschwitz. We hope to see her and spunky little Schmek again some day:) There is something about a 4 year old speaking Polish that is super cute!

Do widzenia and do zobaczenia wkrótce!

tim&cor

Pics of Krakow (here)
Pics of Auschwitz (here)
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