Got to stay awake!!!!

[shelley bda]

I have to take my son to school for 1.45 am!!! got to be at Luton for 5.30 am as he's flying to Berlin tomorrow for a history trip...

Can't wait to sleep! got work at 7.30 lol

Sorry. I know it's random... Just bored and thinking of things to do lol

[GoNz0]

pretend your a spammer and post some random crap on every thread replied to today

http://forums.hexus.net/search.php?do=getdaily

[TAKTAK]

Aaah is this his Auschwitz trip?

Would be interesting to hear what he takes from the experience

[shelley bda]

Aaah is this his Auschwitz trip?

Would be interesting to hear what he takes from the experience

Yep, this is it!.... Not much rest for him! they are due to arrive in Berlin at 11.15! and there's no time to rest before they get stuck in to their adventure.

He will gain lots from the Auschwitz experience i'm sure. Very interesting yet bizarre place i've heard, He's a bit apprehensive after reading Spectator In Hell about british POW who was imprisoned there. But he knows it's a lesson that needs to be learnt, especially by the young... Not Many Auschwitz survivors left in the world so the message needs spreading. And i'm very proud that He's decided he wants to lay flowers down somewhere in memory of the victims

Fabulous trip, they are in Berlin visiting Gestapo Headquarters, Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie museums. Then Sunday off in to Poland to visit Karkow where they'll visit the Jewish Ghetto, Auschwitz - Birkenau and the Museum of Martyrdom....Plus some other fun stuff for them, which I think they'll need.

[Zak33]

Fabulous trip, they are in Berlin visiting Gestapo Headquarters, Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie museums. Then Sunday off in to Poland to visit Karkow where they'll visit the Jewish Ghetto, Auschwitz - Birkenau and the Museum of Martyrdom....Plus some other fun stuff for them, which I think they'll need.

I'm very glad he's going Shelley, cos you're right...kids need to remember. I should go myself some time and show my respects. But you're right.. those kids are gonna need something a bit light hearted after that.

Will be very interested to know how he feels and if he portrays it to you on his return.

[Brucelles]

It's kind of weird, but the last time I was there, there were a load of drunken Israeli kids there laughing and messing about. The woman at the entry kiosk was saying that the only kids that behave badly there seem to be Israeli.

I wonder if it's that they get it drummed into them all of the time, what happened to other Jews there, that they begin to react against it, thus giving the impression that they care less than other nations. Either way, it's a bit poor.

[scaryjim]

... those kids are gonna need something a bit light hearted after that.

Yeah, I'd echo that. When I was 18 I went to Prague / Budapest with the county band, and one of our day trips was to the Jewish cemetry. The land level inside the cemetry is ~ 2m higher than outside, because it got to the point where they couldn't dig down any more so they started piling upwards. It was an amazing experience, but very sombre. You need a pick-me-up after something like that...

EDIT: I should say, I imagine the Auschwitz experience is like that but much more so.

[ajones]

Auschwitz is a truly wierd place. Took the family there last year and you do leave on a real downer.

And yes, he will see groups of folks parading around with Star of David flags as if they're the only people who were killed there - bit tasteless in my opinion but there you go.

[shaithis]

Would be interesting to hear what he takes from the experience

Hopefully, not the Auschwitz sign, they only just got it back!

[shelley bda]

Hopefully, not the Auschwitz sign, they only just got it back!

Is it back above the gate then? they had a replica sign didn't they, as the original was cut into 3 pieces.

Will be very interested to know how he feels and if he portrays it to you on his return

Thanks Zak, i'm sure he'll portray his feelings, i'm interested to hear his thoughts on the experience. He's not one to hide how he feels about things which is good. I'm just glad he's going with good teachers and best friends so there will be plenty of support for them all.

I was talking to the history teacher that arranged the trip and she said she visited when she was studying history GCSE.... She said she was fine whilst there, she said it was afterwards when she was home she had nightmares for months.

I havent heard from him since they checked in at the airport early this morning... Said he was bored of waiting lol... I bet he's exhausted now.

[Tumble]

Not been to Poland, but I'd imagine it's a similar sort of experience as places like Vimy Ridge in northern France - you're still not allowed in the woods there as there's literally tonnes of unexploded ordnance in them. The place looks like the moon with grass, utterly awesome, totally moving place......

[shelley bda]

Not been to Poland, but I'd imagine it's a similar sort of experience as places like Vimy Ridge in northern France - you're still not allowed in the woods there as there's literally tonnes of unexploded ordnance in them. The place looks like the moon with grass, utterly awesome, totally moving place......

Everyone comments on how eerily quiet these places are. My Father In Law said the same about Bergen Belsen, he visited the place while he was a soldier based near there years ago. Said there's no grass, nothing grows there and no sound of wildlife. Birds wouldn't go near these places as the smoke from the pyres kept them away.

Mike should be on his way to Krakow now. A 10 hour bus journey from Berlin apparently. I havent heard from him, his phone won't work abroad, and he hasn't been on Facebook.

[Elkie]

somewhere ive always wanted to visit. must be VERY powerful, im a bit embarrassed by my own ignorance about the holocaust, feel like i should know more about it.

[0iD]

Not part of the history syllabus any more then?

[shelley bda]

Not part of the history syllabus any more then?

The holocaust is a big part of the History GCSE, Michael has been studying it all year more or less....Though not sure how much if any is taught in the lower years.

Thanks Elkie. I too would like to visit there one day, The facebook group is interesting, they update regularly with facts about camp life, and events on the specific days they happened.

I can remember studying the Holocaust at school! Not in depth like nowadays but we were taught enough to appreciate the atrocities that went on. Though my Brothers ignorance appalled me recently, with "Auschwitz? what's that??" then he responded to the reply with "Oh my god! are they still banging on about it?"

[Tumble]

Everyone comments on how eerily quiet these places are. My Father In Law said the same about Bergen Belsen, he visited the place while he was a soldier based near there years ago. Said there's no grass, nothing grows there and no sound of wildlife. Birds wouldn't go near these places as the smoke from the pyres kept them away.

You know, it's just occurred to me that there are hardly any birds to be heard at places like that - Newfoundland park on the Somme is like that - quite a small, but intense battle field (heard of X-Y Ravine?).. grass has grown back, but yu can still see the trench lines, and the shell holes.... and very quiet and still, as if the place is being reverent or something... Funny how the lack of birds didn't register when I went there....