Day 3: Auschwitz Birkenau
On Day 3 we visited Auschwitz Birkenau where we were joined again by our tour guides from yesterday.
Students were able to see the insides of prisoner living quarters and the toilet and washing facilities.
We then visited the remains of the two gas chambers that the Nazis burnt down upon Auschwitz being liberated.
Students then held a short memorial service where prayers were offered from the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Students then lit a candle and laid it on the train tracks in memory of all those who lost their lives at Birkenau.
We finished our visit to Birkenau by remembering the victims with dignity how they would wish to be remembered by reading their stories from before the Holocaust and looking at their family photographs.
After lunch we returned to Auschwitz 1 where some students attended an art workshop and others attended a philosophy workshop.
Those at the art workshop looked at art work created by inmates of Auschwitz, some created illegally, others commissioned by the Nazi generals themselves.
At the philosophy workshop students used interactive media to discuss important philosophical and historical questions arising from the Holocaust and then gain the perspectives of survivors, academics, historians and philosophers.
Some of the questions we considered where:
After another emotional and thought provoking day we will have some down time back at the hotel before hitting the town again tonight for some dinner.
Students were able to see the insides of prisoner living quarters and the toilet and washing facilities.
We then visited the remains of the two gas chambers that the Nazis burnt down upon Auschwitz being liberated.
Students then held a short memorial service where prayers were offered from the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Students then lit a candle and laid it on the train tracks in memory of all those who lost their lives at Birkenau.
We finished our visit to Birkenau by remembering the victims with dignity how they would wish to be remembered by reading their stories from before the Holocaust and looking at their family photographs.
After lunch we returned to Auschwitz 1 where some students attended an art workshop and others attended a philosophy workshop.
Those at the art workshop looked at art work created by inmates of Auschwitz, some created illegally, others commissioned by the Nazi generals themselves.
At the philosophy workshop students used interactive media to discuss important philosophical and historical questions arising from the Holocaust and then gain the perspectives of survivors, academics, historians and philosophers.
Some of the questions we considered where:
- Has the notion of good and evil changed after the Holocaust?
- Could the Holocaust have happened without Hitler?
- Can you be a bystander or a perpetrator but also a victim?
- Where was God during the Shoah?
After another emotional and thought provoking day we will have some down time back at the hotel before hitting the town again tonight for some dinner.
Day 4 in Poland: Salt Mine and Free Time
On our last day in Poland we had an early breakfast and checked out of the hotel for 7:30 am. From there we went straight to the Weiliczka Salt Mine. Here students were taken on a guided tour of the beautiful mine and Poland's history of mining salt. Highlights included the chance to buy some salt of their own and the huge carved Cathedral that still houses a Catholic Mass service every Sunday as well as several concerts throughout the year.
After leaving the Salt Mine we headed back to Krakow city centre for one last time. Students had some free time to get lunch and use up the last of their zloty. Some students chose to go along with Imran, Miss Pickard and Miss McKay to look round the Castle whilst others preferred to go and explore the city one last time.
We then said our goodbyes to Krakow and headed to the airport.
Throughout the whole trip students have been a credit to themselves, their families and Titus Salt School. We have not had a minute's bother from any of them and many have chosen to spend their free time on an evening discussing philosophical issues relating to the Holocaust with staff and our tour leader, Imran.
Both Imran and the Airline staff have taken the time to compliment the students on their attitude, positive relationships and behaviour. As staff we are very proud of our students and hope they have enjoyed the trip as much as we have enjoyed taking them.
After leaving the Salt Mine we headed back to Krakow city centre for one last time. Students had some free time to get lunch and use up the last of their zloty. Some students chose to go along with Imran, Miss Pickard and Miss McKay to look round the Castle whilst others preferred to go and explore the city one last time.
We then said our goodbyes to Krakow and headed to the airport.
Throughout the whole trip students have been a credit to themselves, their families and Titus Salt School. We have not had a minute's bother from any of them and many have chosen to spend their free time on an evening discussing philosophical issues relating to the Holocaust with staff and our tour leader, Imran.
Both Imran and the Airline staff have taken the time to compliment the students on their attitude, positive relationships and behaviour. As staff we are very proud of our students and hope they have enjoyed the trip as much as we have enjoyed taking them.