Making History

                                         

There are things in life that pass by so quickly they seem like a blur. Like it didn't even happen. You reminisce on the memories like the movie you saw last week. There are things you did, moments you lived, that were at one time a dream and a distant hope and now, at this moment, you can say that you achieved those. You accomplished those dreams. 

Many times a dream remains just that: a dream. Only a few times life hands you the tools to go out and achieve what YOU want. 

        

Europe. Seriously, people! I traveled EUROPE. The Europeans that read this are going to be like 'Why is she making a big deal about about it?' I'm going to explain this to you (Americans) the was I had it explained to me by a European. It's like this: Take Europe and place it over America. Europe basically fits inside the continental United States. Traveling within countries in Europe is almost the same as traveling between states in America. (Other than they can ask for your passport at anytime and kick you out of the country part) In the US alone, you can see mountains, oceans, seas, prairies, etc. just by driving across the country, where in Europe, you may have to travel through four or five countries to get the the ocean or the mountains. To them (Europeans), we have it all. 

Now to my European friends, there is one major part the is missing from the wonderful land of the U, S, of A. History. I know, I know, we have some history. SOME. About enough to fit in the palm of my hand. The last war the was fought on American soil was the American Civil War which was Americans vs. Americans. The last foreign war was the War of 1812. (I googled that so don't dog me if I'm wrong.) Europe eat, sleeps, and breathes its history. The natives may not realize it, but as an outsider looking in, it's overwhelming. Every building had its own story, every person has a family that has been through who-knows-what. The building your standing in may have held captives during a war or the room you are sleeping in may have been the rooms of troops as the fought in the war. Good or bad. You never know. 

I've learned that while people grow and new generations form, history shapes us. Trust me, I HATE history. Ask anyone. History and Cassie have a long 'history' and it's not pretty. However, knowing ones history shapes a person. Learning the history of the people before me, people I have zero ties to, has changed me in ways I didn't know I wanted to be changed. I could only imagine what it would have done if I had known my family had been through what some had to go through. Unfortunately, my family isn't really into family history. I don't even know when my family came to America. Maybe that is the reason I struggle with history. I don't know. 

There are many things that happened in Europe that have left me a different person. Many I cannot put into words. Emotions that I will probably never feel again; emotions I never want to feel again; emotions that I will long to feel again.  

                                   

Time To Say Goodbye

                                     

The last week as a group. The last week. It’s really crazy to say because it feels like we all just met at the airport in Prague last week.  These last two months have flown by, but at the same time have felt like forever.  

The Czech Republic is “split” into two parts: Bohemia (west) and Moravia (east).  Olomouc is on the Moravian side.  The last week we spent the traveling around Bohemia. Our first two days were spent visiting little towns that were less touristy. It was nice to go somewhere that wasn’t completely filled with people, but at the same time, it becomes complicated because many times the people of those small towns see no reason to know English.  While communicating with people that do not speak English has become easier, it is always nice to know a little of what they are saying.  

Litomysl was the first small town we visited.  It was a secluded town about two hours away from Olomouc.  We had a guide that lead us through a church and gave us a presentation about the town.  We then went to go see a little art garden with many different statues that included a bus with a giant whole in it and a large wooden chair. (Pictured below feat urging a lovely selfie from the one and only Kathy Smith). Litomysl also introduced me the best spaghetti I have ever had in my life.  I don’t know what the Czechs do to their spaghetti and lasagna, but oh my word.  The. BEST. (Huge shoutout to Kathy for telling us about this place.)

                                                 

  

The next day was spent in Kutna Hora. We spent time in beautiful St. Barbara’s Cathedral.  Like many, this one was very lavish and exquisite.  However, my favorite part of Kutna Hora was our tour of the silver mines.  Unlike the salt mines, it wasn’t dug out and set up for tours.  The little tunnels that we went through were actually used by mines and were not widen, which meant that, in places, you had to crouch and walk sideways.  The best part was that we got to dress up like real miners.  The worst part was when they showed us what it was like to mine in the medieval days by having us all turn off our lights so it was pitch black.  So dark that our eyes would never adjust. 

       

Our last days were spent in Česky Krumlov. Česky Krumlov is a beautiful little town built around the river. We stayed at a hostel in the middle of town and in the bottom was a bar.  One of the best things that happened on this was having this bar full of people for the Czech vs. United States hockey game and being one of the only American’s in there when America won in a shoot out.  How many people can say that they were in the Czech when the U.S. defeated the Czech in their favorite sport?! I CAN!! 

This is the end.  We ended everything with one last dinner.  It was time to say goodbye: a bittersweet moment.  I had to say goodbye to these people that I had grown to love, but it was also time to go back to the place and the people I love. I miss home, but I will also miss the freedom of the European land.

Rant OVER

                                   

This week I am going to rant a little about things that are different between America and Europe.  These are going to go both ways as in some are pro-American ways and some are pro-European ways.  I have found that I love different parts of each and I would love to have a little of both in my life.

Language

                            

       

This is my main frustration with America.  Many people that we have met here (I will not say all) have had languages other than English as their primary language.  Many people I have met here know their primary language (whether it be Czech, Italian, Slovak, etc.) and at least a little bit of English.  Many people I have met know their primary language, English, and others.  I understand that many times it is necessary to learn other languages because most countries in Europe have their own language, and since it is so easily to travel between them, it makes communicating with those foreigners easier. However, in America we have many different languages that are spoke around us everyday.  I understand that it is impossible to learn every language, but, if you think about it, we have a primary language (other than English) that is spoke throughout the country and that’s Spanish.  This is a lot of uproar when people Bing up the idea of learning Spanish in school earlier than what it is being taught at now (usually around 7th grade). Learning another language is more than thrusting another culture on someone.  It is about being able to communicate with other and furthering oneself.  A person that is bilingual has ample more opportunities than someone that only knows one language.  It’s not about culture or language at this point; it’s about opportunities.

Okay, on to the next.

Transportation

       

European’s rely mostly on public transportation.  This could be really handy or really annoying based on how you look at it. On the one hand, Olomouc is a big city (compared to Kearney) and it would be a hassle to try to get around town without having a way of transportation other than walking.  It already takes us about 25 minutes to get to class with taking the tram into town.  On the other hand, we are so used to having our own cars and being able to go anywhere we please whenever we want.  The trams stop at midnight and don't start again until 5 am. (This may sound like no big deal, but it is.) I now know where the term “lazy Americans” comes from.  Going on a “short walk” with a European often leads to me hitting my 10,000 steps before eleven in the morning. We are so used to driving right up to the building and even driving around the parking lot a couple of times just to find one closer to the entrance.  I am now used to taking a tram for twenty minutes and then having to walk another thirty just to get where I want (this often involves getting lost a couple of times).  

The metro (or subway) is used in the bigger cities that we often visit. I have one question: WHY DOES OMAHA NOT HAVE ONE!?! I know that many HUGE cities in America have them, but they are so useful in cities that are not walkable.  America needs more public transportation in general.  It makes it so much easier for the everyday user and for the tourist that needs a way of getting around.  Of course there are taxis, but taxis are expensive. Buying a 48-hour pass for the metro was less than $5.  Easy enough.  America get on it.

Last one

Education

Of course I am going to open the debate about free education.  Would you expect anything else?  Everyone knows that the members of the EU have the opportunity to go to school for free.  But did you know that they also have the opportunity to go to a school in another country for free?  Did you know that they can go through a program that sends them to up to THREE different countries within a two year program? FOR FREE! We live in a country full a “freedoms” that I am forever grateful for.  Without them, I would no be able to write how much I HATE that my education costs $20,000 a year. I know some of you are thinking, “Cass, why are you complaining? You have scholarships. Your college is free.” BECAUSE WHAT IF I DIDN’T? What if I lived in a different town where less than 20% of my high school went onto college because of the lack of opportunities or the lack of money or the lack of hope.  Fortunately, I grew up in a town that had a lot of support when it comes to college and secondary education.  Why should someone that is equally (or more) qualified than me feel as though they cannot go on to achieve their goals, whatever they might be, because they cannot afford it.  Many of you know that this is my passion: helping people in their adolescence. However, this, I feel, should be everyone’s passion.  Free education could change the face of our country.  Who says that our next president, “Albert Einstein,” or the one to cure cancer isn’t sitting in a school with minimum funding and frantically looking for any hope that they will be able to, somehow, make it to college?  Free secondary education would allow those with the drive to continue and make a difference.

That is what I'm going to leave you with.

Licked Some Walls

I know that many of you are waiting for my “Part 2” of “Part2” about Spring Break, but I'm not finished with it yet.  I am sorry, but you know finals are coming up and so you will have to give me a break.  On the bright side we did go to Kraków this weekend.  This is how it went.

                                 

Kraków sits on top of a salt mine. Miles and miles of salt mines.  We were allowed the opportunity to explore part of the mines.  When we arrived, they told us that once we got down there it was going to be cold. “Cold.”  It ended up being around 65 degrees (which for us non-Europeans, is pretty perfect). The mines are always kept between 15 17 degrees Celsius for preservation purposes.  They took many different steps to preserve the museum beside the temperature factor.  One example is that all the corridors were sealed.  Each corridor had an air supply that was specific to the type of salt that was within that section of the mine.  Between each corridor was a section resembling a mini hallway that was used to separate the different corridors.  The door from the corridor that we had just left had to be shut and sealed before thee next one could be opened.  We even had a little trouble with the elevator.  The elevator wouldn’t go up and let us out because the last door we went through had not been shut.  This would have released the pressure that this corridor had been holding and would have through the whole system off.  My guess is that they had had this problem before and stopping the elevator was the solution.

Enough about the system, the salt mines were my favorite part of the weekend.  When asked what I did this weekend, my answer would be “licked some walls,” because that is exactly what I did.  The tour began with 53 flights consisting of over 350 stairs.  Down. Once we got down, of course, walls were to be licked. 

                                                             How’d they taste exactly?

                                                                           Salty.

The structures they have built down there were amazing.  There were exhibits (obviously) for the museum and then there were creations from the past hundreds of years.  There was a fully functioning chapel that was carved from the walls and the salt complete with a balcony, a carving of “The Last Supper,” and baby Jesus in a manger.  It was built entirely by three men, one whom is still alive; it took them 70 years to complete it.  There was also a party hall that had been there for a couple hundred years.  It took 100 years to take all the salt out of the room that it had been constructed in.  It used to host balls, dinners, and other formal gatherings.  A wall within the salt mine had been turned into a screen for a cinema.  The creativity they had to construct some of these things is way above my level. The beauty.  

                       I can honestly say that I will never be so excited to lick some walls.

      

Part 2: Spring Break Part 1

                         

  

So, ‘Part 2’ is going to be about my Spring Break.  You’re probably thinking “Oh great.  Another wild Spring Break story from a minor on a beach who really can’t remember what happened because they were too drunk the whole time.” You are WRONG. One, I’m not a minor in Europe and TWO, there were no beaches involved. Anywho, Spring Break included trips to Venice, Rome, Florence, Milan, and Prague.

While we may have started in Venice, not much happened there.  After we separated from the group, we packed up and went onto our next hostel.  Or should I say “Bungalow.”  That’s right, we went camping.  When we got to the camp site, ready for our tents, the kind lady at the front told us that we were going to be upgraded to bungalows that also sported electricity.  We were really roughing it.  The rest of Venice consisted of dinner and breakfast at the campsite and it was off to Rome.

To say the least, Rome was not exactly what I expected.  The Rome that is in pictures is a beautiful and majestic place.  The place I arrived in was dirty and full of trash. It seemed as though the city seriously did not care about places other than those that were “touristy.”  As disappointing as this was, it did not take away from the fact that for those three days in Rome I would be camping once again! Let me tell you, the camping experience I had in Rome will be one of my favorite memories from this whole European trip.  The four of us stayed in two tents next two each other. (The tents did have electricity and lighting even though we did not expect it.) We originally decided on camping because they had a hug outdoor pool, but when we got there they told us it was closed. BOOO. It was just another expectation we had to get over in Rome.  Quickly we found out that the people of the camp site were going to make it worth every broken expectation.  The first night we had dinner at the restaurant/bar that was on the camp grounds.  The food was absolutely delicious.  We, also, noticed that almost everyone that was working was around our age.  After a walk around the grounds and some down time, we went back to the restaurant to hang out for the night.  As much as we loved the crew, they loved us! We immediately became friends with the whole staff and had a great night.  With the pool being closed, we had to find something else to do for our late night adventure.  The playground right across the pool was a great spot, however, it is supposed to close at 11 pm.  I may or may not have got kicked off of the choo-choo train at 1 am.  BUUUUT that lead to me becoming friends with the security guards, which scored me a free blanket and free drinks.  

We did venture off the camp site as well.  The first day in Rome was spent at the Vatican. We ended up getting a tour to lead us through it.  Since we were the last tour of the day, there was only one other person with us which made it basically a private tour.  I am so happy we did this.  I think if we didn’t have a tour guide, we would have got lost and not got through it.  The Vatican is made up of over 1,000 rooms.  She lead us through the most important and most interesting rooms.  I also believe that we wouldn't have made it into the Sistine Chapel if it wasn’t for her.  We began our tour at 4 in the afternoon and the Chapel closed at 6.  She told us that she was rushing, but it was okay because we were such a small group.  She made sure that we got through the chapel and also got to see the tombs of the Popes, which was an interesting experience. I found it weird that we were basically walking through a cemetery of the Holy people.  

                                            

      

Our second day in Rome was spent at the Colosseum.  We opted to tour the place by ourselves.  Although the tours got access to the downstairs portion, I think that it was good to go by ourselves.  The Colosseum was beautiful.  It was a really unique experience because you could literally see everything from the main floor.  Since the floor had caved in, you could see all the of underground tunnels and rooms that kept the animals.  There were actually two floors to the “basement.” To think that people came for entertainment to see people fight to the death or try to survive in the same room as a hungry lion, it seems too crazy to imagine.  I get wheezy at the site of blood let alone watching someone literally get ripped apart by a wild animal.  

                                             

                                             

Anywho, we decided that we need a little taste of home, so we attempted to go to the Hardrock.  After they told us that it would be over an hour and a half wait, we decided that tasting home wasn’t that important.  A man approached us and told us about the restaurant across the street.  It was worth a shot.  The restaurant was owned by a man that had studied the “art” of American cuisine in the United States and had brought it back to Italy.  The food was AMAZING! We had a waiter that understood the American lifestyle.  He gave us FREE KETCHUP!  He also gave us extra because he knew that we were going to take it. The best part was when he told us that he wasn’t judging us for pulling ranch out of my purse and using it for our salads. He understood.

Our last night at the campsite, we got new neighbors and guess what?  THEY WERE AUSTRALIAN!  These Australians were some of the best people I have met in my life.  We may have only had a few hours to get to know them, but they were some great hours.  

I know this was a long post and it was only about Rome.  That’s why I stopped.  I guess I am going to have to have a “Part 2: Part 2” later this week. If you made it through this whole thing just remember, I appreciate you.

Part 1

                                           

Coming into this program, it was understood that the world was going to be seen.  However, I didn’t know how nonchalant it would be.  In the last two weeks I put two more countries under my belt:  Austria and Italy.  This is going to be ‘Part 1’ of my excursions from the last two weeks.  ‘Part 1’ is going to consist of our “class field trip” to Vienna and Venice.

First up: Vienna.  A quick three hour bus ride and one McDonald’s stop later, we arrive outside a beautiful hotel.  Once we gather all our things (luggage and whatnot), Jan tells us to come on; our hostel is around the corner (*eye roll* OKAY Jan).  Well, while the first day in Vienna was filled with panic, frustration, guilt, and then a nap (this is a story for another day), our second day was full of beauty.  The destination of the first excursion was the Habsburg’s castle.  The Habsburg’s were forced out of Austria, had to leave everything behind, and exiled for good (except for those that swore that they would not attempt to regain power/any possessions that were left).  Walking outside the castle was breathtaking.  It wrapped around about a four block area with a wonderful courtyard in the middle.  Inside, a museum was created.  Room after room, items from the Habsburg collection were displayed.  It was overwhelming.  In a short hour, I stood in rooms with items that all the money in the world could not buy. Literally. 

                                         

Once we left the mansion, we got to take our pick of museums we wanted to visit.  One word and my mind was made up:  DINOSAURS! Not real ones, of course, but the bones of the real ones makes it close enough.  There were dinosaurs, and cavemen, and RHINOS!! (If you don’t know me, I LOVE rhinos.)  The rest of Vienna was filled with shopping and meeting Americans outside of our group.  We went out for a drink and the whole place was filled with Americans.  I don’t think I met a single Austrian.

       

                                        

Next stop: Venice.  Seven hours in a bus, three stops, and a meal at Burger King looking over the water, we were there.  Jan took us on a (European style) quick trip across some of the islands.  In typical fashion, they got us there and then left us to find our way back.  The problem with Venice is that it is made up of over 180 islands; it took us over an hour and a half to get back to the hostel.  BUUUUT the best part about Venice is getting lost.  The next day, we had plans of visiting the Duke’s castle and the basilica.  The Duke’s castle awesome! There were so many weapons and armor that were so different than all the other museums and castles we had been through.  The day came to a halt when we reached the basilica.  First, we were the last four and were split off from the rest of the group. Second, we were told before that we had to have our shoulders covered, so we did, but they said that I wasn’t allowed to go in because I had shorts on.  WHAAAAAT?! So, we left.   

                           

                                       

THE NEXT DAY WE WENT ON A REALLY LONG WALK!! (I know this is not excited and did not to be capitalized, but I need to keep you on your toes) Jan decided that he was going to take us to a museum that could have taken 20 minutes to get to, but he took us the way that took an hour.  But hey, I had 10,000 steps before 10:30 am. :D

                 After the museum, we were officially on our own for SPRING BREAK.

                                                      Stay Tuned for Part 2!

Saturday.

I put off writing this blog because I didn’t want to relive the events of Saturday.  I didn’t want to write this blog at all because explaining the emotions of the experience of Saturday is impossible.  I'm going to do my best.

After we arrived at our destination, my anxiety surpassed.  At first, I was okay.  I thought “okay, this isn’t going to be as bad as I thought. I’m going to be okay.”  We approached the building and it slowly became real.  Pictures.  Giant Pictures.  Men, women, children flowing off of the trains.  People lined up to learn their fate. 

Left: Gas chambers. Right: Working to their death. 

A fate that was decided in less than 10 seconds. Of course those in the pictures had no idea the future that lie in front of them.  Some were seen smiling, thinking that they were there to work towards a better future; a better life.  Smiling. Minutes before their lives ended.  

It hadn’t set in quite yet.  

The second building. That’s what got me. That is what haunts me. 

They told us that there is only one room that we were not allowed to take photos in.  I didn’t understand that this was THE room.  This room changed me.  To the left and to the right were piles of hair.  MOUNTAINS of hair.  Hair from thousands and thousands of people.  Thousands and thousands of people that were no longer alive.  Thousands and thousands of people that were defenseless and still beaten and forced to work for the people that were beating them.  Thousands and thousands of people that were told that were brutally murdered for the country they lived in or the religion they were born into.

It wasn’t just hair. One FULL room of hair.  Ten foot tall and at least twenty feet wide.  Hair. Another room filled with shoes.  

Another with pots and pans.

Another with luggage.

It went on and on.

Then, there was a box. A box with baby clothes, baby shoes, and certificates for those said babies.  Babies that were gone.  Babies that are in heaven.

My body hated me.  My body was in shock.  The tears stopped at my eyes.  Unable to cry, unable to let it out. I physically felt 50 pounds heavier. My stomach was in knots.  Knots that were ready to come out.  Fighting back the urge to let the McDonald’s I had ate just hours before onto the floor, I continued to walk. Blankly, I walked. 

I said I didn’t want to write this.  I still don’t.  This is the hardest blog I’ve had to write.  

But I’m going to keep going.

A little later, we went into the building with the cells of the prisoners. Pictures of all the prisoners lined the walls.  Men and Women.  Twin sized mattresses lined the floor.  Maybe thirty of them.  Thirty mattresses for one to two THOUSAND people.  Two thousand people per room.  That was for those that were lucky.  “Standing Rooms.”  In a 3 feet by 3 feet “room” four people would have to stand all night.  They would have to stand all night and then have to go work 11 hour days just to have to go right back into the standing rooms.

People had to go through this. 

People did this to other people.  

I was there. Right where they had once stood.

There are people still living in this world that had to go through this.

There are people still living in this world that did this to other people.

A lot more was learned on Saturday.  I could go on, but I’m not going to. Saturday was a day that I will forever remember.

I am changed.

Saturday.  Saturday I walked into a place that unspeakable things happened.  Saturday I stood where thousands of people died.  Saturday I went to Auschwitz.