Friday, May 30, 2008
Why can't I be in Austria right now?
I woke up this morning and thought, "Why can't I be in Austria right now?"
I love being home. But there's really nothing like waking up next to the Schloss.
I pretty much passed out when I got home last night. And this morning I woke my mom up and couldn't stop talking about the trip! She practically forced me out of her room: "Tengo sueño!"
Going to Salzburg Global Seminar in Salzburg, Austria has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. And it will still take me some time to process the entire trip.
The seminar was a cultural and academic phenomenon! That sounds very...cheesy. But it's true. I mean, you sit in a room with professors from around the world talking about global issues, and then you look at the view outside and you see the Alps! It was unbelievable.
Being there for only a week, though, I think we got a chance to experience the city, too. Every person I met on this trip has been a lot of fun and easy to talk to. Like Clara said, I was able to relate to and build relationships with our group. And thanks to all of you guys for putting up with my awkwardness for most of the trip. If I'm not going on about religion or morals, I'm usually not saying a word.
I told Reinhold before leaving that I would be back in Salzburg soon, and I intend on making sure I go back...and marry an Austrian boy!
This trip has really been a "blessing," if such a thing exists. I am very fortunate for having experienced everything in the last week and I hope to stay in touch with everyone to share pictures, thoughts, and so that Michelle gives me my Austrian friends' emails. :)
Your friend and the self-proclaimed Global Citizen,
Julissa
I love being home. But there's really nothing like waking up next to the Schloss.
I pretty much passed out when I got home last night. And this morning I woke my mom up and couldn't stop talking about the trip! She practically forced me out of her room: "Tengo sueño!"
Going to Salzburg Global Seminar in Salzburg, Austria has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. And it will still take me some time to process the entire trip.
The seminar was a cultural and academic phenomenon! That sounds very...cheesy. But it's true. I mean, you sit in a room with professors from around the world talking about global issues, and then you look at the view outside and you see the Alps! It was unbelievable.
Being there for only a week, though, I think we got a chance to experience the city, too. Every person I met on this trip has been a lot of fun and easy to talk to. Like Clara said, I was able to relate to and build relationships with our group. And thanks to all of you guys for putting up with my awkwardness for most of the trip. If I'm not going on about religion or morals, I'm usually not saying a word.
I told Reinhold before leaving that I would be back in Salzburg soon, and I intend on making sure I go back...and marry an Austrian boy!
This trip has really been a "blessing," if such a thing exists. I am very fortunate for having experienced everything in the last week and I hope to stay in touch with everyone to share pictures, thoughts, and so that Michelle gives me my Austrian friends' emails. :)
Your friend and the self-proclaimed Global Citizen,
Julissa
Home Sweet Home
I don't, I can't, I won't be able to explain in words and make someone understand how I feel right now. Fulfilled, whole, elated, sad, yet humble. I have awoke every morning for the past week to the crisp, mountain air and fallen asleep to the light of the moon and stars. Here, in Texas I seldom ever see stars and the air is pungent with exhaust fumes and stuffy.
I am a Citizen of the World! Not Black, Not a Woman, No longer just an American! This world has been revolving around me and I had no clue, but now that I know what and who I truly am now, I must become the change that I have made.
Mary Catherine Bateson said, "A home is a place where it is possible to learn and grow, a place where whatever work is done has a meaning." I have a new home in Salzburg, with new life long friends and family. I have learned and grown by leaps and bounds in the last week, I didn't come back the same person and if I go back to being that person, I have cheated myself of the experience. I can no longer look at the world as black or white anymore because, its not.
I was forced out of my box, I was forced to think and grow. I was confronted with the pure reality of life, it came from the sky like a flaming ball of fire. Now as a parent, I must force these new perspectives into the mind of my child. Just think of the advantage that my son will be at learning the things that I know.
Today, I walked to the grocery store and the mall. The changes are small, but they are changes.
New Perspective
Well, I’ve returned home, unpacked and am uploading a ridiculous amount of pictures and videos onto my computer.
The seminar was eye-opening. While I was there, I knew it was special, but I didn’t realize to what extent it impacted me until today and last night after coming home and hearing people talk about world issues. I now have an awareness to look up what they are saying and not just automatically believe what they say. Also I know how to research issues much better thanks to our research project.
One thing I especially enjoyed was hearing Annette Kobak (author of Joe’s War: My Father Decoded) speak about her relationship with her father and hearing his views of WWII and writing a book about it. My father was in the Vietnam War and only recently has he started talking about his experiences. Hearing Annette inspired me to write down everything he says about the war (more so than I had already been). It is important for us to hear from those who witnessed things first-hand...and to remember what they say.
I want to thank those who made this opportunity possible! It was a fantastic journey through Europe as well as intellectual discovery.
Cannot Believe it has come and gone
It is hard to believe that the trip I have been looking forward to and working towards is really a part of my history already. More than that, it is a part of my future, I am forever changed! I had an idea of the purpose of this incredible opportunity to travel, and as usual, there was so much more to it than I could have ever dreamed or imagined. I feel like a part of me that has been sleeping for God only knows long, was reawakened from the moment I spotted the first lilac tree. I was awakened to much in the arena of global citizenship and being a member of the other common association we share, the human species, regardless of the distinctions we impose or have imposed upon us. However, the personal revolution that was begun on this trip will have a greater impact on my life, and that is with the limited, initial understanding I have at this moment.
As a non-traditional student, I was apprehensive about connecting with the majority of students there and in general that are usually half my age. Much to my delight, I was counted as an academic equal, despite my elementary level computer skills. I so enjoyed the small group I was assigned to, that it is hard to imagine that that particular part of the seminar is the part I was, let's just say, least excited about.
Thank you Carol and Dr. Wood for challenging us and being willing to take such a group so far without compensation. I hope we weren't too whiney. And thank each and every one of my travel companions for the insight and caring you imparted to me as we walked, ate and talked. You have made an imprint on my heart. God bless you all!
As a non-traditional student, I was apprehensive about connecting with the majority of students there and in general that are usually half my age. Much to my delight, I was counted as an academic equal, despite my elementary level computer skills. I so enjoyed the small group I was assigned to, that it is hard to imagine that that particular part of the seminar is the part I was, let's just say, least excited about.
Thank you Carol and Dr. Wood for challenging us and being willing to take such a group so far without compensation. I hope we weren't too whiney. And thank each and every one of my travel companions for the insight and caring you imparted to me as we walked, ate and talked. You have made an imprint on my heart. God bless you all!
in media res
I'm back--in the suburban jungle of cookie-cutter brick houses, greasy fast-food conglomerates and multi-lane freeways. Do I want to be here? No, not really. I realized before I left that this was going to be a special week in a magical place...and it was. It felt almost like a dream for me. I had a small taste of everything I want to be connected to in the midst of an old and beautiful environment. I also knew that this seminar was only going to be a week long and I would be returning to my "real life" shortly.
So yes, I am back home in a place where I don't necessarily feel at home, but what keeps me inspired is that I feel like I took a little bit of that dream back with me. I acquired many things from different people and events during this trip.
My options were expanded--both mentally and geographically. I gained an appreciation of what it means to be a global citizen, embracing the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and lifestyles even within my own group of 11. I received realistic advice for my future from those who were a little further down the road. I developed relationships quickly with a wonderful group of people. I had the opportunity to be surrounded by a group that was there not out of obligation but because they cared and really wished to be. I spoke with staff and faculty with whom I would not normally have had a chance to meet, let alone exchange personal life stories with. I made eye contact. I let my imagination be carried away.
We spoke of tipping points during the seminar--an experience or moment that defines your future. I think this trip may have been a small tipping point for me. I know I always get the quiet label (I am!), but there was a lot of internal dialogue going on and I have a lot of things to think about within the next few months.
I would highly recommend this opportunity to anyone considering it. Get out of your comfort zone! Stretch your perspectives and knowledge! Try something new!
I guarantee you won't regret it.
Clara
So yes, I am back home in a place where I don't necessarily feel at home, but what keeps me inspired is that I feel like I took a little bit of that dream back with me. I acquired many things from different people and events during this trip.
My options were expanded--both mentally and geographically. I gained an appreciation of what it means to be a global citizen, embracing the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and lifestyles even within my own group of 11. I received realistic advice for my future from those who were a little further down the road. I developed relationships quickly with a wonderful group of people. I had the opportunity to be surrounded by a group that was there not out of obligation but because they cared and really wished to be. I spoke with staff and faculty with whom I would not normally have had a chance to meet, let alone exchange personal life stories with. I made eye contact. I let my imagination be carried away.
We spoke of tipping points during the seminar--an experience or moment that defines your future. I think this trip may have been a small tipping point for me. I know I always get the quiet label (I am!), but there was a lot of internal dialogue going on and I have a lot of things to think about within the next few months.
I would highly recommend this opportunity to anyone considering it. Get out of your comfort zone! Stretch your perspectives and knowledge! Try something new!
I guarantee you won't regret it.
Clara
So long, farewell, aufwiedersehn, goodnight
Back in Texas, it's is fun to travel but there is nothing like sleeping in your own bed. This past week was such an adventure, filled with new ideas, places, and people. I am so grateful for this opportunity that was given to us that made all these new experiences possible. The entire time I was in the country I never forgot that TCC made this trip available for us. Sometimes while eating in the dining room I would sit back in my chair, and think to myself, this is wonderful, as I looked at the mountains staring back at me through the window. This trip was not a vacation, no mistaking that. Our small group projects had only about 8 hours of planned time in our busy schedules. In spite of the short amount of time all of the groups were able to hammer out ideas into solutions for our given topics. The presentations went great and everyone seemed well spoken and prepared on their topics. What was impressive during the presentations was the fact that some of the students were very nervous about speaking in front of the group. In fact, I think we were all apprehensive with good reason; the faculty there is incredibly bright. The class work we did before the trip prepared me in a way that I didn't understand beforehand. Class work is intense when you have a full college schedule, but I learned that I can handle that kind of load if I was willing to make the sacrifice. The sacrifice of time was worth it, many hours of reading in the library, opting to leave work early to complete assignments on time, and spending less time on the extras of life was well worth it. Thank you Dr. Wood and Carol Hunsberger for doing all the leg work to set up this trip, I cannot say it enough, I know that sacrifices were made on your part too by taking on our extra classes. The lectures, to but it simply, amazing! I learned a whole new way to look at the world in which we live. We need to contribute, even if what we do is insignificant, do it anyways. Our news for the most part is lacking in the world perspective, and people living in other places in the world know more about what is happening in the US than a lot of the people that live here. Which brings up the question, why do they care so much about what we do? For the reason, what we do has an effect worldwide. The rest of the world cares more about America, than America cares about the rest of the world. When I applied for the Salzburg Seminar, my thought was this is once in a lifetime. I hope that it isn't. Before leaving I would hear the question, what is it for? And I would say it is an international relations seminar, it is so much more. This seminar is for the sole purpose of laying the foundation of becoming a global citizen. What is a global citizen? They are participants of the world, who think of not only how decisions made effect their country , but others as well.
Looking Back
I finally made it to bed around 12:30 am this morning and it felt wonderful to be back home. Yes, I also got some rest and slept in till 9 am this morning.
In taking a look back over the past 10 days and trying to write about it is just phenomenal to me. This trip has opened my mind up to new ideas and has planted a questioning and curiosity seed with in me to want to search for answers even if they are not always positive. The lectures and discussions we heard we enlighting to me even if they did not share my own point of view but I respected that fact that it is good for us to hear others for your own sake of growing as a person.
I have enjoyed learning from the seminar but especially from my fellow classmates. As we each brought our own views of life with us, we all respected each other and embraced our differences. I think this allowed us to become in a sense like a family and form relationships based on this incredible experience.
Our instructors prepared us well for what was expected. I was not overcome with anxiety for the work that was required of us there in Salzburg. I would recommend this experience and opportunity to anyone who is wanting to find their own voice and calling in life as well as truly wanting to learing about other people for being people and not just a specific ethnic background.
In taking a look back over the past 10 days and trying to write about it is just phenomenal to me. This trip has opened my mind up to new ideas and has planted a questioning and curiosity seed with in me to want to search for answers even if they are not always positive. The lectures and discussions we heard we enlighting to me even if they did not share my own point of view but I respected that fact that it is good for us to hear others for your own sake of growing as a person.
I have enjoyed learning from the seminar but especially from my fellow classmates. As we each brought our own views of life with us, we all respected each other and embraced our differences. I think this allowed us to become in a sense like a family and form relationships based on this incredible experience.
Our instructors prepared us well for what was expected. I was not overcome with anxiety for the work that was required of us there in Salzburg. I would recommend this experience and opportunity to anyone who is wanting to find their own voice and calling in life as well as truly wanting to learing about other people for being people and not just a specific ethnic background.
Texas my Texas
How can 8 days so profoundly change a person??
I don't know. Let's take it from the top:
In the days before leaving to Salzburg, everyone kept telling me to "have fun." In the back of my mind, though, I was skeptical. Fun? It's going to be a rigorous course of study. "Get smart," maybe, but "Have fun?" I knew there wouldn't be much time for leisure, and I was okay with that. I just had to brace myself for the loads of information that promised to enlighten me. Beyond that, I didn't know what to expect. I mean, could this trip really impact me in the way it was said to do so? What was the meaning of a global citizen? Was it really that important? Would I get along with everyone? Would I like the food?
Despite all these questions, I was ready to expect the unexpected. The only thing I wasn't ready for...was how to leave this new place that I had fallen in love with. Not just the place, but what it stood for. What it meant to be a global citizen. I had no idea just how complete the 7 day course study would be. Have fun? I had a blast. Get smart? I've been transformed. This ISP was no joke. It was a life changing experience.
The Salzburg Seminar embodied the concept of global citizenship down to the very lifestyle we led while we were there. If you think about it, it brought together a variety of students, staff and faculty from all over the world--different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, you name it--and forced us to work together, live together and learn together. We were able to interact with the locals and get to know the different lifestyle and customs of a foreign country. (Even if we didn't like the fact that everything closed at 7, we respected it and tried to rush into town before then.) So while we were learning about collaborating, understanding and communicating on a global level we were able to actively apply the lessons we were learning. And from the sound of it, our ISP group did a particularly good job of overcoming the obstacles that take form when you bring a group of strangers together to pursue a common goal.
If I had to explain my 8 days at the Seminar to someone I would tell them this:
Sometimes in life you come across people who you might deem as "sheltered." The type of person who for one reason or another hasn't been exposed to much of what we call the "real world." And when this person finally steps out of their sheltered cocoon, they're stripped of their naivety and have a "coming out" in which they finally understand how the world really works. But, how much do you really know about the "real world?" Not just the United States and oil prices or the Iraq War, but the global interconnectivity and responsibilities of tending to and embracing these connections. The "real world" not as defined by one specific culture, but on the global scale that involves the real world. If you are like I was, then you might not understand as much as you thought you did. The Salzburg Seminar took me, a sheltered person, and led me to my coming out into the real world.
The day before leaving Salzburg, I was pretty sad. I thought I would cry. It's such a beautiful place and such a beautiful process happens there. I didn't want to leave the people, the city, the castle. I didn't want to go back to a life where I wasn't fed every 3 hours, where bikes weren't as popular or where I couldn't look out my window to see the most magnificent landscape each morning. But most of all, I didn't want to go back to a life where I wouldn't essentially be living with all these brilliant people, the faculty, staff and the students. I miss the community the most.
But by the end of our wrap up session on Wednesday evening, it occurred to me that the Salzburg Seminar was only the tip of the iceberg. Suddenly, I was okay with leaving the Schloss. (Not happy...but okay.) I realized that my induction into global citizenship opened up every door imaginable to me and that if I applied what I learned to every door I walked through, I could eventually end up back on the Schloss terrace with some new stories to tell. (Maybe next time I can stay more than a week!) So now I'm excited to start this journey! I'm ready to be back home so that I can finish building the foundation upon which I can start giving back from what the Seminar has given me. I'm so ready to travel the world.
Thanks to everyone who made this possible. To Dr. Wood and Carol especially for taking us and being wonderful. And to all of you guys Dee, Rusty, Julissa, Audrey, Chandelle, Melissa, Clara, and Katie! I know we'll all always have a special connection after what we've been through together. And we are definitely getting together to share those pictures!
I don't know. Let's take it from the top:
In the days before leaving to Salzburg, everyone kept telling me to "have fun." In the back of my mind, though, I was skeptical. Fun? It's going to be a rigorous course of study. "Get smart," maybe, but "Have fun?" I knew there wouldn't be much time for leisure, and I was okay with that. I just had to brace myself for the loads of information that promised to enlighten me. Beyond that, I didn't know what to expect. I mean, could this trip really impact me in the way it was said to do so? What was the meaning of a global citizen? Was it really that important? Would I get along with everyone? Would I like the food?
Despite all these questions, I was ready to expect the unexpected. The only thing I wasn't ready for...was how to leave this new place that I had fallen in love with. Not just the place, but what it stood for. What it meant to be a global citizen. I had no idea just how complete the 7 day course study would be. Have fun? I had a blast. Get smart? I've been transformed. This ISP was no joke. It was a life changing experience.
The Salzburg Seminar embodied the concept of global citizenship down to the very lifestyle we led while we were there. If you think about it, it brought together a variety of students, staff and faculty from all over the world--different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, you name it--and forced us to work together, live together and learn together. We were able to interact with the locals and get to know the different lifestyle and customs of a foreign country. (Even if we didn't like the fact that everything closed at 7, we respected it and tried to rush into town before then.) So while we were learning about collaborating, understanding and communicating on a global level we were able to actively apply the lessons we were learning. And from the sound of it, our ISP group did a particularly good job of overcoming the obstacles that take form when you bring a group of strangers together to pursue a common goal.
If I had to explain my 8 days at the Seminar to someone I would tell them this:
Sometimes in life you come across people who you might deem as "sheltered." The type of person who for one reason or another hasn't been exposed to much of what we call the "real world." And when this person finally steps out of their sheltered cocoon, they're stripped of their naivety and have a "coming out" in which they finally understand how the world really works. But, how much do you really know about the "real world?" Not just the United States and oil prices or the Iraq War, but the global interconnectivity and responsibilities of tending to and embracing these connections. The "real world" not as defined by one specific culture, but on the global scale that involves the real world. If you are like I was, then you might not understand as much as you thought you did. The Salzburg Seminar took me, a sheltered person, and led me to my coming out into the real world.
The day before leaving Salzburg, I was pretty sad. I thought I would cry. It's such a beautiful place and such a beautiful process happens there. I didn't want to leave the people, the city, the castle. I didn't want to go back to a life where I wasn't fed every 3 hours, where bikes weren't as popular or where I couldn't look out my window to see the most magnificent landscape each morning. But most of all, I didn't want to go back to a life where I wouldn't essentially be living with all these brilliant people, the faculty, staff and the students. I miss the community the most.
But by the end of our wrap up session on Wednesday evening, it occurred to me that the Salzburg Seminar was only the tip of the iceberg. Suddenly, I was okay with leaving the Schloss. (Not happy...but okay.) I realized that my induction into global citizenship opened up every door imaginable to me and that if I applied what I learned to every door I walked through, I could eventually end up back on the Schloss terrace with some new stories to tell. (Maybe next time I can stay more than a week!) So now I'm excited to start this journey! I'm ready to be back home so that I can finish building the foundation upon which I can start giving back from what the Seminar has given me. I'm so ready to travel the world.
Thanks to everyone who made this possible. To Dr. Wood and Carol especially for taking us and being wonderful. And to all of you guys Dee, Rusty, Julissa, Audrey, Chandelle, Melissa, Clara, and Katie! I know we'll all always have a special connection after what we've been through together. And we are definitely getting together to share those pictures!
Reminisces of Salzburg
Well, so much for sleeping all night in my own bed! I woke up at 4:00 am and laid there, trying to will my body back to sleep -- after all, I don't have a meeting to go to nor any homeworke to do and intended to "sleep in!" But my mind started racing in reference to this "last Salzburg blog" not allowing me to rest! So, here are some random thoughts so that I CAN go back to bed and "sleep in!"
This last week in Salzburg has been an eye opening week, a week of affirmation, and a very full week of learning for me. There is so much that I did not know and do not know (hey, don't agree so heartily on what I don't know! :)). Mary Catherine Bates affirmed for me that curiosity and respect for people is of great importance. Indifference causes a wide gulf! The greatest joy for me has been meeting so many people who are interested in other people as people. It has not been a week of indifference, but rather a week wherein a group of students from two different colleges and faculty who have traveled the world were curious about each other and so very respectful of others' life experiences.
This has been a week of questions and thought provoking statements in which we, the learner have to come up with our own answers. We weren't given a manual on how to become a "global citizen." As we started the week with maps I was reminded of "The King and I" (I know it's just a movie) and how young Chulalongkorn brings a map of Siam to Anna as a gift. I really did not know that there were so many different maps printed from so many different perspectives! Looking East to West -- America isn't in the center and neither am I! Being others' minded, curious, kind and respectful -- THAT was the affirmation received this week.
Our TCC Salzburg team has really become like family! Clara, Julissa, Chandelle, Audrey and Katie will be moving on from TCC to change their world little-by-little and with great confidence! Clara has a quiet, confident spirit that translates to great care and concern as she travels internationally. Julissa took the "bull by the horns" with great control as she unexpectedly sat in front of a room full of people leading her groups presentation! Only we from TCC knew she felt she was out of her element -- and she did a marvelous job! Watch out New York!
How Chandelle and Audrey managed on so little sleep I'll never know! Chandelle is a marvelous "global" teacher to her children and will be able to open so many students' eyes when she gets in the classroom! Audrey has been an awesome teacher this week. She is the epitome of curiosity and respect of the people around her. Apple juice and macaroni and cheese are reminders for me of Audrey. Reminders I'm so glad to have as she begins a new journey in her life.
Melissa's world is changing -- it was so fun for me to watch her "discover again" some "loves" she'd forgotten about! Michelle is such a "people person!" There will be no containing her energy for her curiosity about people and the world. Katie is already so "well traveled" at her age. She has such a love for new experiences and is a young lady who will change her world starting with A&M! She changed my view from land to the mountain top and waited for me to catch up! Rusty, our "other" this week has truly been an inspiration and a gentleman. He, too is interested in ... everything! Without really intending to be, he was a magnet this week - meeting new people and answering questions in an unforgettable way!
Our fearless leaders, Dr. Wood and Carol prepared our team to do their best and we did! It was so fun to get to know these two women outside of the classroom. This TCC team of encouragers was such an inspiration to me. What a wonderful way to spend a week -- staying in a "real" castle -- relishing the beauty that God created in Salzburg -- learning from and meeting new people who would become friends from all over the world! This truly has been an experience of a life time and as said before by so many of our "team," a wonderful dream come true!
We've shared a glorious week and as Rusty has said so many times ... "Do you remember the times we went to Austria and spent a week in a castle?" Rusty, What a week to remember!
This last week in Salzburg has been an eye opening week, a week of affirmation, and a very full week of learning for me. There is so much that I did not know and do not know (hey, don't agree so heartily on what I don't know! :)). Mary Catherine Bates affirmed for me that curiosity and respect for people is of great importance. Indifference causes a wide gulf! The greatest joy for me has been meeting so many people who are interested in other people as people. It has not been a week of indifference, but rather a week wherein a group of students from two different colleges and faculty who have traveled the world were curious about each other and so very respectful of others' life experiences.
This has been a week of questions and thought provoking statements in which we, the learner have to come up with our own answers. We weren't given a manual on how to become a "global citizen." As we started the week with maps I was reminded of "The King and I" (I know it's just a movie) and how young Chulalongkorn brings a map of Siam to Anna as a gift. I really did not know that there were so many different maps printed from so many different perspectives! Looking East to West -- America isn't in the center and neither am I! Being others' minded, curious, kind and respectful -- THAT was the affirmation received this week.
Our TCC Salzburg team has really become like family! Clara, Julissa, Chandelle, Audrey and Katie will be moving on from TCC to change their world little-by-little and with great confidence! Clara has a quiet, confident spirit that translates to great care and concern as she travels internationally. Julissa took the "bull by the horns" with great control as she unexpectedly sat in front of a room full of people leading her groups presentation! Only we from TCC knew she felt she was out of her element -- and she did a marvelous job! Watch out New York!
How Chandelle and Audrey managed on so little sleep I'll never know! Chandelle is a marvelous "global" teacher to her children and will be able to open so many students' eyes when she gets in the classroom! Audrey has been an awesome teacher this week. She is the epitome of curiosity and respect of the people around her. Apple juice and macaroni and cheese are reminders for me of Audrey. Reminders I'm so glad to have as she begins a new journey in her life.
Melissa's world is changing -- it was so fun for me to watch her "discover again" some "loves" she'd forgotten about! Michelle is such a "people person!" There will be no containing her energy for her curiosity about people and the world. Katie is already so "well traveled" at her age. She has such a love for new experiences and is a young lady who will change her world starting with A&M! She changed my view from land to the mountain top and waited for me to catch up! Rusty, our "other" this week has truly been an inspiration and a gentleman. He, too is interested in ... everything! Without really intending to be, he was a magnet this week - meeting new people and answering questions in an unforgettable way!
Our fearless leaders, Dr. Wood and Carol prepared our team to do their best and we did! It was so fun to get to know these two women outside of the classroom. This TCC team of encouragers was such an inspiration to me. What a wonderful way to spend a week -- staying in a "real" castle -- relishing the beauty that God created in Salzburg -- learning from and meeting new people who would become friends from all over the world! This truly has been an experience of a life time and as said before by so many of our "team," a wonderful dream come true!
We've shared a glorious week and as Rusty has said so many times ... "Do you remember the times we went to Austria and spent a week in a castle?" Rusty, What a week to remember!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Leaving
This is the last time for me to blog from the Schloss Leopoldskren --- our bus is scheduled to leave for Munich in an hour. The last two days have been very full days.
Tuesday morning we finished our preparations for our research presentation. Our task to "Make up" an organization dealing with immigration between the UK and South Africa proved to be a tough assignment. Wednesday afternoon we presented ourselves as a group from the UK seeking health care professionals from South Africa to immigrate to the UK to help in the UK's need for health care professionals. We emphasized the unrest, lack of safety, and lack of a quality health care system to a group of doctors from South Africa (the other Salzburg Seminar students) and urged them to consider to "Make the Change" to the UK. After asking for a vote as to who would and wouldn't immigrate for a better paying job, family safety, and the ability to practice medicine we then flipped the coin and asked them to consider what the effect would be on South Africa if the health care professional were to leave South Africa -- leaving the country without medical help. It would be devastating to the country. How difficult the decision would be -- to watch a people in need have no medical help or stay in a country that is unsafe, economically challenged and not allow the practice of medicine in a way that is a help to the countries people. Michelle did an awesome job as a South African doctor who had moved to the UK with the help of our organization UKHRA (United Kingdom Health Care Recruitment Agency).
Tuesday afternoon found me breathing hard and my heart racing as I WALKED up the mountain to the Fortress here in Salzburg. Katie was such a good sport to hang with an "old lady" huffing and puffing (very unladylike!) But what a view we were able to take home in our memories and hopefully capture on camera. Another group went back to town later in the evening -- much later -- but my body said ... okay screamed "I know what you've already done today and I think you'd better put me to bed and not try going up the mountain again!" Thank you Katie for such a tremendous adventure!
Yesterday (Wednesday) I found myself on a bicycle -- it must be at least 15 years since I've sat on the seat of a bike! -- cycling into town behind Melissa! What fun it was as we "dashed" into town for a few things and "dashed" back to shower and dress for a concert and banquet that was just too fun! It's been sad to say goodbye to so many new friends in Austria. But, we're on our way "home" and looking forward to seeing you all.
Tuesday morning we finished our preparations for our research presentation. Our task to "Make up" an organization dealing with immigration between the UK and South Africa proved to be a tough assignment. Wednesday afternoon we presented ourselves as a group from the UK seeking health care professionals from South Africa to immigrate to the UK to help in the UK's need for health care professionals. We emphasized the unrest, lack of safety, and lack of a quality health care system to a group of doctors from South Africa (the other Salzburg Seminar students) and urged them to consider to "Make the Change" to the UK. After asking for a vote as to who would and wouldn't immigrate for a better paying job, family safety, and the ability to practice medicine we then flipped the coin and asked them to consider what the effect would be on South Africa if the health care professional were to leave South Africa -- leaving the country without medical help. It would be devastating to the country. How difficult the decision would be -- to watch a people in need have no medical help or stay in a country that is unsafe, economically challenged and not allow the practice of medicine in a way that is a help to the countries people. Michelle did an awesome job as a South African doctor who had moved to the UK with the help of our organization UKHRA (United Kingdom Health Care Recruitment Agency).
Tuesday afternoon found me breathing hard and my heart racing as I WALKED up the mountain to the Fortress here in Salzburg. Katie was such a good sport to hang with an "old lady" huffing and puffing (very unladylike!) But what a view we were able to take home in our memories and hopefully capture on camera. Another group went back to town later in the evening -- much later -- but my body said ... okay screamed "I know what you've already done today and I think you'd better put me to bed and not try going up the mountain again!" Thank you Katie for such a tremendous adventure!
Yesterday (Wednesday) I found myself on a bicycle -- it must be at least 15 years since I've sat on the seat of a bike! -- cycling into town behind Melissa! What fun it was as we "dashed" into town for a few things and "dashed" back to shower and dress for a concert and banquet that was just too fun! It's been sad to say goodbye to so many new friends in Austria. But, we're on our way "home" and looking forward to seeing you all.
Our last full day
I can't believe this trip is over already! I am quite sad to leave this place. It has been so much fun and the topics discussed opened my mind to a new understanding of my country and the world in wich we are a part of. Although, at the begining of the trip I was in a new country among people who I either barely met or never met, I feel after a week I am leaving friends. I have really enjoyed the opportunities to talk with the all the staff and lecturers and to know them in a way other than in a class setting. I felt prepaired for the seminar, but I have learned so much here and hope to be able to apply those things when I return home.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Fact of Life: "gods Lived in The Tower"
The visit to Dachau was very interesting to say the least. For me it was no different than going to see an auction block in Tennessee or an old slave plantation in Louisiana or even a port the east coast where slaves were brought into the United States. I was moved greatly, but not outwardly emotional. Dachau gave the Holocaust tangibility for me, it now is something that I can put my hands on, fill the soil, put my fingers in the holes where bullets entered the walls through the souls of helpless people and it is no longer just a place only in my mind.
Something that really struck me is how, man can become god or why do we allow such power to be given to a man. I know it seems strange but it's in reference to the fact that the Holocaust was senseless in every angle but men took it upon themselves to dictate who would have life and who wouldn’t. In those watch towers were gods in a very literal sense. They decided who worked and who buried their friends and families; who was sent to the infirmary and who was used for experiments.
Everyone got something different, for me it's the power that we allow one to have over our lives and the faith that one has in their God that delivers them. I took a picture of one of the areas that I'm going to have framed for my son and myself. It was of "Barrack #5" my son and I were both born on the fifth day of the month and I will have inscribed in the frame, "Five is a representation of my birth by the grace of my God, but for others that have come before me five represents much more. It represents the pavement of the world for global unification." I don't know it's a working progress....Any suggestions?
This is a walk through the gas chamber. I want to tell everyone about it but I think seeing the walk through would mean more. I recorded it because I never want to forget anything about that walk, I want my son to understand.
Monday, May 26, 2008
I don't sleep anymore
It's 2:28 a.m. and I can't sleep.
We visited Dachau yesterday. It was an enriching opportunity that I might have never experienced had I not come on this trip. I am fortunate that I was able to explore the realities of the Holocaust (by no means actually being able to experience it). It was not, however, a life altering experience for me. I think everything is relative and personal, and a person chooses, consciously or unconsciously, what they feel and how they do things. For me, going to Dachau was an educational opportunity, but not an emotional one. Perhaps I am so far removed from what happened, or I have heard of it so much, that I have becomed desensitized to the idea. It may sound terrible, in a way, but for me personally, I just enjoyed being able to actually go there.
We met some Austrian students today -- a lot of fun. I met Vanessa and Andreas. Both linguistically gifted! It was very fun to have a "formal" discussion" with them about differences in education and then be able to sit down with them and just talk.
I don't want to leave quite yet (it's nearly Thursday),
Julissa
We visited Dachau yesterday. It was an enriching opportunity that I might have never experienced had I not come on this trip. I am fortunate that I was able to explore the realities of the Holocaust (by no means actually being able to experience it). It was not, however, a life altering experience for me. I think everything is relative and personal, and a person chooses, consciously or unconsciously, what they feel and how they do things. For me, going to Dachau was an educational opportunity, but not an emotional one. Perhaps I am so far removed from what happened, or I have heard of it so much, that I have becomed desensitized to the idea. It may sound terrible, in a way, but for me personally, I just enjoyed being able to actually go there.
We met some Austrian students today -- a lot of fun. I met Vanessa and Andreas. Both linguistically gifted! It was very fun to have a "formal" discussion" with them about differences in education and then be able to sit down with them and just talk.
I don't want to leave quite yet (it's nearly Thursday),
Julissa
Making Connections
Today we had the opportunity to meet students from the University of Salzburg. We were able to ask questions and get to know them during our evening dinner. I really enjoy visiting with them to learn that even though we are from different backgrounds how much we seem to share in common as being students. The conversations were great because we each got to learn about each others cultures and sharing stories of our own experiences. I noticed that email addresses were exchanged during the evening amongest students as we are trying to start networks with each other. Today has been a really wonderful and joyful day as our group projects are almost finalized and friends were made.
Full Days!
What a very full day this has been! Breakfast -- always such a treat, so much to choose from so you choose a little of everything! I am SO enjoying the hot tea served five times a day. This morning we had the joy of hearing Champa Patel talk to us about our "roots leading us to our routes." (Joining us this morning were college students from Michigan.) Champa deals with abused youth in Wales and is very energetic, holding all of us in the palm of her hand as she discussed "creating "inclusive societies."
After lunch, again always so delicious, our small group met to continue working on our UK-South Africa project. Michelle is a wonder at Photoshop -- it's been fun working with alongside her designing the pamphlet for our made up organization for our presentation Wednesday. She and I are having a good time working with Kate, Meghan, and Monica from San Francisco. In fact, we didn't want to stop working this afternoon at 4:30 for tea -- we were on a roll! But Dr. Wood came to our rescue and insisted that we stop "work" and enjoy a visit with some Austrian students that were joining us for "tea" and an open discussion.
The students from Salzburg University seem to be impressed with our academic system in the United States. It was very interesting and informative to talk with them. This week, we've used so much of the "learning" from Dr. Wood's class in History and are definitely using the communication skills taught by Carol. After our open discussion, we went to the Schloss Terrace for an Austrian Barbeque which is quite different from our Texas BBQ's back home! Lamb, Turkey, Ribs, Burger, Shrimp, Potato Salad, Aritichokes, Fruit, Cheese, Salad, Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob ... Strawberry Ice Cream! The young man and young lady that Audrey, Chandelle, and I ate and spoke with asked if we taught "American English" or "British English" to our children as they were learning in the states. Our "language" conversation was quite interesting as we demonstrated different accents from Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi! The five of us continued our conversation about college life and found out Salzburg University needs to have an orientation session for new students to help them adapt to their new college surroundings. They don't like wandering around campus not knowing where anything is anymore than we do! TCC, thank you for orientations! It really has been a joy today to meet so many young people.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow afternoon's session by Dennis Jaehne. Dennis and Jill have been with us all week but we've not heard him "present" yet. We've listened, learned, and are applying Carol's lessons on Inter-cultural communication in a global context and it will be interesting to hear Dennis's take on the same subject. In fact, we've really been hearing that subject taught from all of the faculty at Salzburg!
It's time to meet with my group again -- we're getting close to being done so maybe tonight I'll get to bed before 2 am as I have the past two nights! Sweet dreams Texas!
After lunch, again always so delicious, our small group met to continue working on our UK-South Africa project. Michelle is a wonder at Photoshop -- it's been fun working with alongside her designing the pamphlet for our made up organization for our presentation Wednesday. She and I are having a good time working with Kate, Meghan, and Monica from San Francisco. In fact, we didn't want to stop working this afternoon at 4:30 for tea -- we were on a roll! But Dr. Wood came to our rescue and insisted that we stop "work" and enjoy a visit with some Austrian students that were joining us for "tea" and an open discussion.
The students from Salzburg University seem to be impressed with our academic system in the United States. It was very interesting and informative to talk with them. This week, we've used so much of the "learning" from Dr. Wood's class in History and are definitely using the communication skills taught by Carol. After our open discussion, we went to the Schloss Terrace for an Austrian Barbeque which is quite different from our Texas BBQ's back home! Lamb, Turkey, Ribs, Burger, Shrimp, Potato Salad, Aritichokes, Fruit, Cheese, Salad, Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob ... Strawberry Ice Cream! The young man and young lady that Audrey, Chandelle, and I ate and spoke with asked if we taught "American English" or "British English" to our children as they were learning in the states. Our "language" conversation was quite interesting as we demonstrated different accents from Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi! The five of us continued our conversation about college life and found out Salzburg University needs to have an orientation session for new students to help them adapt to their new college surroundings. They don't like wandering around campus not knowing where anything is anymore than we do! TCC, thank you for orientations! It really has been a joy today to meet so many young people.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow afternoon's session by Dennis Jaehne. Dennis and Jill have been with us all week but we've not heard him "present" yet. We've listened, learned, and are applying Carol's lessons on Inter-cultural communication in a global context and it will be interesting to hear Dennis's take on the same subject. In fact, we've really been hearing that subject taught from all of the faculty at Salzburg!
It's time to meet with my group again -- we're getting close to being done so maybe tonight I'll get to bed before 2 am as I have the past two nights! Sweet dreams Texas!
Dachau
Sunday gave for me a realization of the human suffering and how easily one can inflict pain on someone esle through the eyes of ethnocintrism. Dachau was not at all like I invisioned it to be at all. I expected a replica of the actual camp, yet what I found was something so much more profound. The large empty space spoke volumes of the dispair, suffering, and lack of justice the inmates of Dachau felt and recieved. Foundation markers where the former prisioner baracks stood represented to me a grave for those many thousands whos lives were lost. I was a bit suprized on the lack of reverence of a few people who in my opinon treated Dachau more like a park than a memorial, but for the most part it was very quiet and I was able to reflect on and aborb the many thoughts and feelings I had. On a lighter note we have been working in small groups on immirgration from the former states of Yugoslavia into Austria. Our groups works very well together and we are just about finnished. The weather has been absolutely beautiful for the last few days. I just love it here.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Remembering...
Today's visit to the Dachau Memorial was very informative with an overload of information and quite depressing as I walked around trying to imagine what life was like there. Standing on the same grounds that were once stood on by both Nazis and prisioners brought everything I had ever read or seen about the war into perspective for me. I shed many tears while viewing the crematories because it sadden me to know that there was no respect and dignity for those who lost their lives; and not a guilty conscious from those who took the lives. To see two different areas of crematories, the rooms that led to the gas chamber, and the pistol range for excution with a blood ditch was horiffic. Just knowing that the deaths of these prisioners was thought and planned out carefully made me shed even more tears. The lesson from seeing this is that all it takes for the evil to flourish and prosper is for the for the good to do nothing.
Group Work and Dachau
I believe this was the third day that we have had group work...maybe the second... I can't really recall because time is in a strange mood. The work is going well. My group has to discuss how the immigration of Algerians into France and their history together have made an impact politically, socially, economically, etc (as well as discuss a few other things) in France. It has been good to learn about the two countries and how they are interconnected.
Dachau...
We arrived around 11:30am. Some people stayed together but most split up (I was one of the latter). I walked around and took pictures. After visiting everything except the museum, I visited the Crematorium. From the horror of that, a nauseating feeling came over me so I went back to the little bus stop on Karl Reimer Street (named after the prisoner who escaped and told the U.S. troops that there was a concentration camp) and people-watched for about an hour. Then I went back into the site at 2:00pm to see the informative video in English that was playing at that time. I am glad I did!
The thing which got me the most (aside from the Crematorium) was the Jewish Religious Memorial. Dr. Wood put up a picture showing it... it's the one with the light shining from the hole in the top of what felt like a well. It was such a striking view of their perception while in Dachau...the feeling of no escape.
It would be very hard to make this post upbeat, but to end on a positive note...Dachua Concentration Camp Memorial Site was a very rewarding experience and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to visit it.
Dachau...
We arrived around 11:30am. Some people stayed together but most split up (I was one of the latter). I walked around and took pictures. After visiting everything except the museum, I visited the Crematorium. From the horror of that, a nauseating feeling came over me so I went back to the little bus stop on Karl Reimer Street (named after the prisoner who escaped and told the U.S. troops that there was a concentration camp) and people-watched for about an hour. Then I went back into the site at 2:00pm to see the informative video in English that was playing at that time. I am glad I did!
The thing which got me the most (aside from the Crematorium) was the Jewish Religious Memorial. Dr. Wood put up a picture showing it... it's the one with the light shining from the hole in the top of what felt like a well. It was such a striking view of their perception while in Dachau...the feeling of no escape.
It would be very hard to make this post upbeat, but to end on a positive note...Dachua Concentration Camp Memorial Site was a very rewarding experience and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to visit it.
Busy as Bees
There is never a dull moment here. There is always something to do and time goes by WAY too fast. These past few days have been a blur. It feels like we've been here for weeks already...It's hard to believe we're only on day 4.
Our group work is intense. I don't know about anyone else, but my group is definitely hitting it hard. We already finished our research paper last night around 1am. We had to do our research several times and change a few things but thanks to the GLORIOUS Dr. Wood, all our research was not put to waste. Seriously, I don't know where we would've been without her guidance. We were all pretty overwhelmed yesterday...We started convening around lunchtime where we scrapped the research we'd done the night before in favor of a different route on the UK/South Africa situation, then researched from right after lunch around 2 until the coffee break around 4. Then we spent from then until dinner at 6:30 figuring out what we were going to do. You could sort of see our eyes glazed over by the end of our session because we were just thinking too hard. After dinner we had a session and a TCC group meeting, then we met again to finish up at 1ish. I don't think I got to bed until 2, but I felt so great this morning!
I was really energized by the beauty of everything around us, the learning experience and the weight off my shoulders as far as our first part of the project is going. I knew the feeling probably wouldn't last though, since we did have our trip to Dachau.
Wow. We read about the Holocaust in books, watch documentaries and movies, television shows, you name it. But how many people actually can say that they've visited the site of such horrors? It is incomparable to anything that attempts to intangibly describe it. You have to experience it to even come close to fathoming it. I can say this because Dachau is not what I expected. I don't know what I expected, but I do know that since learning about WWII and the Holocaust in 5th grade...I never would have perceived a concentration camp in this way. It was so eerie...it was so huge--and so empty. I just stood there and tried to imagine how this place built to sustain 6,000 but overcrowded with 5x that many people could have at one time harbored such unspeakable horrors.
It was so beautiful outside today...and everything around the camp...it was so picturesque...There was this somber blanket over the grounds...everyone was quiet, deep in thought. And yet this was the site of the deaths, executions, murders and tortures of thousands of innocent people. The Crematorium seemed like a pysichal oxymoron in the middle of it all. It was full of lush trees, peaceful paths and quaint little buildings--a tranquil and lovely place. Yet here was where thousands of corpses were piled up to be burned and thrown into the ash grave...and where people were shot execution style. It didn't fit.
I didn't know what I expected today, but certainly not this. I suppose I expected to seem like something out of a nightmare, but it wasn't. You could see the barbed wire, the watch towers, the gas chamber and furnaces, but none of these stood out as a blatant sign of evil and misery. You could only feel the last remnants of suffering and melancholy that lingered in the aura of the place.
Overall...I'm glad we visited Dachau today. It was an eye opener. It was good to see all the memorials that were set up, like Dr. Wood mentioned...and fulfilling to pay my respects.
Our group work is intense. I don't know about anyone else, but my group is definitely hitting it hard. We already finished our research paper last night around 1am. We had to do our research several times and change a few things but thanks to the GLORIOUS Dr. Wood, all our research was not put to waste. Seriously, I don't know where we would've been without her guidance. We were all pretty overwhelmed yesterday...We started convening around lunchtime where we scrapped the research we'd done the night before in favor of a different route on the UK/South Africa situation, then researched from right after lunch around 2 until the coffee break around 4. Then we spent from then until dinner at 6:30 figuring out what we were going to do. You could sort of see our eyes glazed over by the end of our session because we were just thinking too hard. After dinner we had a session and a TCC group meeting, then we met again to finish up at 1ish. I don't think I got to bed until 2, but I felt so great this morning!
I was really energized by the beauty of everything around us, the learning experience and the weight off my shoulders as far as our first part of the project is going. I knew the feeling probably wouldn't last though, since we did have our trip to Dachau.
Wow. We read about the Holocaust in books, watch documentaries and movies, television shows, you name it. But how many people actually can say that they've visited the site of such horrors? It is incomparable to anything that attempts to intangibly describe it. You have to experience it to even come close to fathoming it. I can say this because Dachau is not what I expected. I don't know what I expected, but I do know that since learning about WWII and the Holocaust in 5th grade...I never would have perceived a concentration camp in this way. It was so eerie...it was so huge--and so empty. I just stood there and tried to imagine how this place built to sustain 6,000 but overcrowded with 5x that many people could have at one time harbored such unspeakable horrors.
It was so beautiful outside today...and everything around the camp...it was so picturesque...There was this somber blanket over the grounds...everyone was quiet, deep in thought. And yet this was the site of the deaths, executions, murders and tortures of thousands of innocent people. The Crematorium seemed like a pysichal oxymoron in the middle of it all. It was full of lush trees, peaceful paths and quaint little buildings--a tranquil and lovely place. Yet here was where thousands of corpses were piled up to be burned and thrown into the ash grave...and where people were shot execution style. It didn't fit.
I didn't know what I expected today, but certainly not this. I suppose I expected to seem like something out of a nightmare, but it wasn't. You could see the barbed wire, the watch towers, the gas chamber and furnaces, but none of these stood out as a blatant sign of evil and misery. You could only feel the last remnants of suffering and melancholy that lingered in the aura of the place.
Overall...I'm glad we visited Dachau today. It was an eye opener. It was good to see all the memorials that were set up, like Dr. Wood mentioned...and fulfilling to pay my respects.
Dachau
I am learning so much here this week. Yesterday was a day of preparation for our visit to Dachau today. We asked a lot of questions then and have still more questions now - though many are ones we are asking of ourselves.
I've learned more about WWII this semester, realizing that the teaching in high school so many years ago was very minimal. As I'm studying with so many "young" college students on this trip, and hear their questions, I have to wonder why I haven't asked more questions along the way. Today, the reality of a concentration camp lay before my eyes in pictures and on film. I've seen some pictures before, but nothing like the magnitude in the museum. I never imagined that Dachau would be so large, and what we saw was just a sixth of the land mass that the concentration camp was composed of!
There were only two bunkhouses rebuilt on the property, but there were rock and conrete footings for the other twenty eight that held whom Germany felt were inferior. To be standing on the ground where 30,000 had died, where over 200,000 people from over 30 countries were held prisoner was difficult. When I first walked through the gate "Arbeit macht frei" (Freedom through work), I could only imagine what the prisoners felt like as they walked through the first time and many for the last time. The gate opens to a very large, open area that leaves much to the imagination and leaves quite a desloate impression. It's not until you see the pictures of sickness, overcrowding, starvation and death in the museum and read the memorials and explanations of the sites, that you begin to get a glimpse of what it must have been like and that's what is so humbling -- our understanding is but a glimpse.
Being here this week has made me realize all the more how devastating war is. We are talking with people this week who have lived where the bombs have been dropped. We are sitting in a palace that suffered damage from those bombs. And we are getting to know people whose lives have been directly affected by war. Getting to know people whose lives have directly affected by war ... Daddy, please forgive me for not asking more questions before now. It's not that I didn't care, I just really never thought it was something you'd want to talk about and you may not! The only story I DO know about the war -- I'm so thankful that you came down that mountain with an infected knee!
My, it's been a day of much thought and much emotion. Our group of eleven has missed Dan so much on this trip, but feel like we're experiencing more than "just a trip to Salzburg" this week. We are learning more about ourselves, getting to know each other and learning about others within and without our United States borders. As I walked back through the gate to the bus, it was with great humility and great thankfulness for freedom - freedom that has been so costly to so many.
I've learned more about WWII this semester, realizing that the teaching in high school so many years ago was very minimal. As I'm studying with so many "young" college students on this trip, and hear their questions, I have to wonder why I haven't asked more questions along the way. Today, the reality of a concentration camp lay before my eyes in pictures and on film. I've seen some pictures before, but nothing like the magnitude in the museum. I never imagined that Dachau would be so large, and what we saw was just a sixth of the land mass that the concentration camp was composed of!
There were only two bunkhouses rebuilt on the property, but there were rock and conrete footings for the other twenty eight that held whom Germany felt were inferior. To be standing on the ground where 30,000 had died, where over 200,000 people from over 30 countries were held prisoner was difficult. When I first walked through the gate "Arbeit macht frei" (Freedom through work), I could only imagine what the prisoners felt like as they walked through the first time and many for the last time. The gate opens to a very large, open area that leaves much to the imagination and leaves quite a desloate impression. It's not until you see the pictures of sickness, overcrowding, starvation and death in the museum and read the memorials and explanations of the sites, that you begin to get a glimpse of what it must have been like and that's what is so humbling -- our understanding is but a glimpse.
Being here this week has made me realize all the more how devastating war is. We are talking with people this week who have lived where the bombs have been dropped. We are sitting in a palace that suffered damage from those bombs. And we are getting to know people whose lives have been directly affected by war. Getting to know people whose lives have directly affected by war ... Daddy, please forgive me for not asking more questions before now. It's not that I didn't care, I just really never thought it was something you'd want to talk about and you may not! The only story I DO know about the war -- I'm so thankful that you came down that mountain with an infected knee!
My, it's been a day of much thought and much emotion. Our group of eleven has missed Dan so much on this trip, but feel like we're experiencing more than "just a trip to Salzburg" this week. We are learning more about ourselves, getting to know each other and learning about others within and without our United States borders. As I walked back through the gate to the bus, it was with great humility and great thankfulness for freedom - freedom that has been so costly to so many.
Time to Remember
Today we visited the Dachau Memorial Site as a group, and it was very moving. Unlike many museums or sites in the US, it is quite stark and leaves it to each visitor to form the picture in their own minds of what had happened there. It is stark in appearance and form, but one always is reminded this is hallowed ground where so many individuals lost their lives. Dachau is a site that forces one to reach into your own mind to try and see how inhumane humans can be sometimes; to find the worst of humankind and yet to read and learn of the great spirit of those who endured this place. So many people from so many backgrounds, faiths and nations suffered together as just humans.
The students had asked questions both before and after, and so many are still not clear about who did what to whom. Dachau was not an extermination camp but a concentration camp where many were killed. The first prisoners were political prisoners -- opponents of National Socialism within Germany. People from all over Europe and from many different backgrounds perished here. I believe this is an important learning opportunity for our students even if it can be difficult.
As one who studies memorials I was intrigued with the various types of memorials and structures throughout the site. I believe it is quite rare to see memorials from so many different faiths at one site together -- Jewish, Protestant, Catholic and Russian Orthodox. There are also plaques given by the 2 US military units who liberated the camp in 1945 -- the Rainbow Division and the 20th Armored Division. The museum contains a stunning wealth of information and photos and it is hard to see it all in a day (although I read through most every plaque and banner.) I have much first-hand information now to share with my future students. Again, what struck me from a memorial standpoint is the sheer starkness of the place and thus the need of the individual visitor to pull the images into one's own mind and to try and grasp the horror and brutality.
Dachau
I have had some incredible experiences on this trip, but this one has marked me. I have read heard about and even seen movies about the events and conditions of the Holocaust. All of that iformation seemed somehow so distant or fantastical until this afternoon. One of the most shocking things I learned was that one in three of the victims in Dachau was a Pole. The very real possibility that someone to whom I was directly related suffered in this horrible way totally overwhelmed me to the point of tears repeatedly. Both of my paternal grandparents were from Poland, and my grandmother was also Jewish. I have always maintained that the worst things that happen to people are the things that humans are capable of doing to one another. There are not adequate words to describe the horror.
Intensity
These last two days have been wonderful and quite intense. I really, really, really feel like I am learning the things I came here to learn. A lot of the lectures that have been presented to us are not necessarily pleasant to hear, especially as Americans (example: how the rest of the world perceives us), but I believe they are necessary. What has inspired me the most, from our first day here, is that though there is a lot of tough education going on, it has always been followed with the idea that there is still hope. If we, as humans with the power of choice, got ourselves into this mess, we also have the power to get ourselves out. With education we can choose better ways of living and interacting with other people, groups and nations--not to mention the planet.
So this helps me. It gives me a drive for the future. These issues that we have been discussing--education, activism, diplomacy, global citizenship--are the things that make me tick. These are things that I want to define my entire life. So I guess it's obvious that I'm having a good time.
I'm also enjoying my group project. My group is discussing the dynamics of immigration between Turkey and Germany. We have to write a paper, construct a pretend agency or body, adopt an issue, design a flier with our stance and present it to the entire seminar--and we have very little time to do so. This means late nights. But it's going well. Learning how to make decisions smoothly with a group of five people takes as much skill as researching and presenting a topic that you knew little to nothing about three days ago. I am pleased with the view from our work room in the palace though. How could that not inspire someone......?
Today we went to the memorial site of Dachau concentration camp. I'm not sure I'm ready to write about that yet. Maybe tomorrow. I have a lot of thoughts (some of them conflicting) that will require some time to sift through. I can say that it is an experience that will not be forgotten.
I felt strange about taking pictures at the camp, so I only took two, but of those two I wanted to share this one. The image struck me instantly, I'm not sure why--I don't really consider myself a religious person specifically. I think the symbolism was comforting; I liked the open gates. It was in the Russian Orthodox memorial.
Off to dinner. What a day!
Clara
So this helps me. It gives me a drive for the future. These issues that we have been discussing--education, activism, diplomacy, global citizenship--are the things that make me tick. These are things that I want to define my entire life. So I guess it's obvious that I'm having a good time.
I'm also enjoying my group project. My group is discussing the dynamics of immigration between Turkey and Germany. We have to write a paper, construct a pretend agency or body, adopt an issue, design a flier with our stance and present it to the entire seminar--and we have very little time to do so. This means late nights. But it's going well. Learning how to make decisions smoothly with a group of five people takes as much skill as researching and presenting a topic that you knew little to nothing about three days ago. I am pleased with the view from our work room in the palace though. How could that not inspire someone......?
Today we went to the memorial site of Dachau concentration camp. I'm not sure I'm ready to write about that yet. Maybe tomorrow. I have a lot of thoughts (some of them conflicting) that will require some time to sift through. I can say that it is an experience that will not be forgotten.
I felt strange about taking pictures at the camp, so I only took two, but of those two I wanted to share this one. The image struck me instantly, I'm not sure why--I don't really consider myself a religious person specifically. I think the symbolism was comforting; I liked the open gates. It was in the Russian Orthodox memorial.
Off to dinner. What a day!
Clara
Saturday, May 24, 2008
I think I'm in love...
I love it here in Salzburg.
It's the end of day three! How could it be? It's gone so faaaassssssstt...
So, yesterday we went into the city. That was a blast. We first went walking around town, nearly getting lost, for about four hours. I bought a Swatch and bought the parents some gifts. Salzburg is beautiful. And though we looked like tourists, I can really say I don't care that much. It's fun to take pictures and be silly and look at your map. We met Liz's (one of the Salzburg Seminar's interns) Austrian friend, Mike, who showed us a really neat, and tiring, way to get to the city and we had a lot of fun. I only got two hours of sleep last night and I'm still wide awake.
Our session this morning was more than interesting. It was a lecture about American society/politics/culture taught by Reinhold, perhaps the "coolest" professor at the seminar. He teaches at the University of Salzburg and wears turtoise RayBan sunglasses!
The seminar is pretty intense, though. We are currently working on a group project: research paper and presentation. It's so much work to do in a few days.
Tomorrow we are going to Dachau. It will definately be an enlightening experience and I am looking forward to it.
Julissa :)
It's the end of day three! How could it be? It's gone so faaaassssssstt...
So, yesterday we went into the city. That was a blast. We first went walking around town, nearly getting lost, for about four hours. I bought a Swatch and bought the parents some gifts. Salzburg is beautiful. And though we looked like tourists, I can really say I don't care that much. It's fun to take pictures and be silly and look at your map. We met Liz's (one of the Salzburg Seminar's interns) Austrian friend, Mike, who showed us a really neat, and tiring, way to get to the city and we had a lot of fun. I only got two hours of sleep last night and I'm still wide awake.
Our session this morning was more than interesting. It was a lecture about American society/politics/culture taught by Reinhold, perhaps the "coolest" professor at the seminar. He teaches at the University of Salzburg and wears turtoise RayBan sunglasses!
The seminar is pretty intense, though. We are currently working on a group project: research paper and presentation. It's so much work to do in a few days.
Tomorrow we are going to Dachau. It will definately be an enlightening experience and I am looking forward to it.
Julissa :)
Working!
Our group is working hard? Yes they actually are working very hard. You can see by their smiles that they are very happy to be in Salzburg. We have had some great morning plenary session speakers who have challenged and informed our students. They also have found time to enjoy this beautiful location while studying as evidenced by Clara reading on the bench.
The weather has turned spectacular today and everyone wants to be outside. They are hard at work on their group projects and will tell you more about this work it the coming posts.
Tomorrow we will be visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp memorial in Munich and I know this will greatly affect our students. As a student of World War II and particularly Germany myself, I am really anticipating this visit. On my first trip to Salzburg I was able to go with a group to the Obersalzburg and Eagle's Nest south of Munich -- this is the location of Hitler's personal home. So this trip will complete the journey. Students will also post their responses to this visit.
A Day in Salzburg
Our morning lecture was about immigration and migration which I was pretty fascinated about since it talked about the different patterns that have affected the U.S. After lunch we were allowed to take a self guided tour of the city of Salzburg and let me tell you it was beautiful. Our group started off around 20 students and slowly dwindled to 5, then 3, and then by myself. The people throughout the city were helpful and most of the ones I encountered spoke English quite well. I was able see Mozart's house, many of the churches, and of course find some traditional clothes for my son and daughter. I was able to take many pictures that I cannot wait to share with my family as well as picked up some postcards to send. I do hope we get another chance to go into the city and see more.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Butter doesn't taste this well in Texas
I have dined in the most beautiful halls, and have breathed the most wonderful and crip air and I have had some of the most wonderful conversations among people that look nothing like myself. I even watched the "Simpsons" in German today!
We went to the gardens today and traveled the city. At the gardens people were laughing and singing, there was even a band. It was wonderful! I saw the home of Mozart and even grabbed a few souvenirs for the family. While at the garden I noticed a little boy straying from his family and my motherly instinct kicked in, I had grabbed the boy from running away before I even knew it. The mother and I had made eye contact and without any common language, we knew that he was going to make a run for it.(That's the kid pre-runaway)
Tonight we sat in front of the fireplace. The professors and staff are so "down to earth" and inviting. We laughed and talked about everything from race relations to being a mother (and great-grandmother in some cases). We started on our small group projects, my group has the France and Algerian immigration. Difficult, be very intriguing. There are so many things that I am learning in this small amount of time and it has only been two days. I was really interessted in speaking with Champa Patel, just listening to her speak at a distance I want to learn more about her. Norman Yetman is amazing too, I've never been so comfortable speaking about my culture to anyone and would have never thought in a million years that I could express my concerns and be understood by him!
The Streets of Salzburg
The Streets of Salzburg What an awesome day it has been! I'm getting ready to begin research about the historical relationship between the UK and South Africa and will share the information tomorrow with my group, which Michelle is a part of and Dr. Wood is facilitating! Then we'll discuss all of our "finds" and how they relate to immigration.
My morning started very early (a little trouble sleeping) so I was in the library about 6:15 am and had a delicious breakfast. Then ... Julissa and Michelle allowed me to tag along and we walked around the lake in the light mist - Julissa and I with umbrella's and our adventurous Michelle braving the mist on her own. How beautiful the scenery was and Julissa and I laughed as Michelle took a picture of fisherman in their tent on the sly. What a picture that was - the Schloss on one side of the lake and a green tent with fishing poles opposite.
I'm very impressed with the faculty here and their "heart" to work with students who want to learn. This morning Norman Yetman introduced us to immigration in the 20th and 21st centuries. After lunch we were able to go into Salzburg. What a beautiful hike that was with Melissa. We had the BEST tour guides - Dennis Jaehne and his wife Jill and Norman and his wife Anne Yetman. Dennis and Norman are both part of the faculty for this seminar - great teachers and encouragers and their wives are SO supportive and just as eager to get to know the students! Mealtimes are an adventure as we sit with different people each time and continue to learn about each other and continue our "discussions." The Jaehne's and the Yetman's have been to Salzburg multiple times and took Melissa and I on the scenic route -- UP and down. We saw Nonnberg Abbey and the Mirabellgarten's and the church bells were ringing from at least seven different churches one right after the other! What a beautiful sound. How wonderful it was for these two couples to take the time to give us our very own "private" tour! After spending two hours with us, they left Michelle and I to search for souvenirs AND our own way back to the Schloss! AND WE MADE IT BACK just in time for dinner, without "wondering" while we were "wandering" where we were. :)
Well ... I guess I should start my research -- it takes me a LONG time to formulate my thoughts and read. When I think back on the day, I've laughed, I've smiled, and I'm making new friends! Sweet dreams to you!
My morning started very early (a little trouble sleeping) so I was in the library about 6:15 am and had a delicious breakfast. Then ... Julissa and Michelle allowed me to tag along and we walked around the lake in the light mist - Julissa and I with umbrella's and our adventurous Michelle braving the mist on her own. How beautiful the scenery was and Julissa and I laughed as Michelle took a picture of fisherman in their tent on the sly. What a picture that was - the Schloss on one side of the lake and a green tent with fishing poles opposite.
I'm very impressed with the faculty here and their "heart" to work with students who want to learn. This morning Norman Yetman introduced us to immigration in the 20th and 21st centuries. After lunch we were able to go into Salzburg. What a beautiful hike that was with Melissa. We had the BEST tour guides - Dennis Jaehne and his wife Jill and Norman and his wife Anne Yetman. Dennis and Norman are both part of the faculty for this seminar - great teachers and encouragers and their wives are SO supportive and just as eager to get to know the students! Mealtimes are an adventure as we sit with different people each time and continue to learn about each other and continue our "discussions." The Jaehne's and the Yetman's have been to Salzburg multiple times and took Melissa and I on the scenic route -- UP and down. We saw Nonnberg Abbey and the Mirabellgarten's and the church bells were ringing from at least seven different churches one right after the other! What a beautiful sound. How wonderful it was for these two couples to take the time to give us our very own "private" tour! After spending two hours with us, they left Michelle and I to search for souvenirs AND our own way back to the Schloss! AND WE MADE IT BACK just in time for dinner, without "wondering" while we were "wandering" where we were. :)
Well ... I guess I should start my research -- it takes me a LONG time to formulate my thoughts and read. When I think back on the day, I've laughed, I've smiled, and I'm making new friends! Sweet dreams to you!
What the difference between a "Scottish-Irish" and a "Scottish"?
Dan would have nailed that question in discussion!Dan! We found a pup! We sure wish your were here!
I am without words, figuratively.
I can't express the gratitude that I am filled with for the opportunity to be here. I have meet so many interesting people in the first day.
I was very interested in the "Mapping Global Ethnocentrism" discussion. One of the students made a remark about the difference in wanting to learn more about other cultures and accidentally learning. I feel some sort of alliance here because all of the students and faculty are obligating themselves to learn more about our different cultures and I don't feel alone.
It was weird the questions and comments that I felt confident about I didn't answer or respond to. I'm just in sensory overload, my pallet has gone crazy. There was a pitcher of brown liquid on the table at lunch. I poured it up and said, "Wow this tea is really sweet." Everyone was lighting up because we though that there would be no sweet tea. Regretfully on a second wind of this brown liquid I sipped again and replied, "This is apple juice."
Travel, Arrival, Expectations
Wow! Hard to believe we are actually here. It is beautiful. Our trip over went so smoothly, no delays, missed connections or rediculous lines. I absolutely love to travel and have endured some pretty trying circumstances in doing so. I am grateful for the stressfree manner in which we traversed the globe. I did however crave a hot shower and even that was granted before dinner and our first session.
I really enjoyed getting to meet the other students and am sooooo excited (and nervous) to work in small groups. My life has always been a little unconventional, and I feel that here with most students way younger and further down the educational path than I am. Oh well, this is where I am and I am going to enjoy every moment and experience.
The first session on Mapping Ethnocentrism was very interesting, although there were times I found it difficult to keep my eyes open. It was a very telling yet comforting thing to understand that each of us has ethnocentrism, it's universal. It is yet another exciting opportunity for learning and growth.
I really enjoyed getting to meet the other students and am sooooo excited (and nervous) to work in small groups. My life has always been a little unconventional, and I feel that here with most students way younger and further down the educational path than I am. Oh well, this is where I am and I am going to enjoy every moment and experience.
The first session on Mapping Ethnocentrism was very interesting, although there were times I found it difficult to keep my eyes open. It was a very telling yet comforting thing to understand that each of us has ethnocentrism, it's universal. It is yet another exciting opportunity for learning and growth.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
WOW!
I will start by saying that I am glad I am still young because I am not sure if my body would be able to handle all of this zombie like walking, thinking, and eating. In probably the past 30 hours of being awake I have only gotten about 2 hours of sleep and even now I am having a hard time trying to get to sleep.
Arriving in Germany was exciting for me because it was something new to experience and with an open mind. As for first impressions it was a really great one. The city was beautiful, the scenery on the drive from Munich to Salzburg was breathtaking, and the little towns in between I just fell in love with.
Our first group meeting about ethnocentrism with our fellow students from the University of San Francisco went really well. I took in as much as I could while trying to stay awake after a very and I mean very long day. This week is going to be great because I see my fellow students who are just as eager as me to not only be here but to learn from each other and gain knowledge.
Arriving in Germany was exciting for me because it was something new to experience and with an open mind. As for first impressions it was a really great one. The city was beautiful, the scenery on the drive from Munich to Salzburg was breathtaking, and the little towns in between I just fell in love with.
Our first group meeting about ethnocentrism with our fellow students from the University of San Francisco went really well. I took in as much as I could while trying to stay awake after a very and I mean very long day. This week is going to be great because I see my fellow students who are just as eager as me to not only be here but to learn from each other and gain knowledge.
OMG JET LAG
These past 24+ hours have been insane. I've never flown outside of the country, much less overseas, so this has definitely been a new experience. I got to the airport early, much to everyone's surprise, and got to say goodbye to my family. The plane trip to Philly wasn't bad...dinner was great. The trip to Europe wasn't as great though. I don't think I slept for more than 30 minutes the entire trip. I'm just not good at sleeping on moving things.
The trip itself wasn't so bad though. I love long trips...and they fed us and had movies and music available. It wasn't too hot or too cold. I just couldn't sleep. But let me tell you...it was all worth it as soon as we stepped off into the Munich airport. As soon as we arrived, I could tell we were in a different country. For starters, it was SO QUIET!! Then of course there were all the German-speaking citizens. So I've designated myself the group documenter...I've been taking so many videos! I can't wait to put them together into something.
So far things are going great. I'm just so tired. The trip through the countryside to get to Salzburg was amazing! It was so green! I'm sure everyone on the planet knows my thoughts on the green-ness by now. The Schloss is beautiful. It feels so twilight zone-ish to know we're staying here...an 18th century building that people pay 30 dollars to take pictures of...yet here we are! Living in this place for a week!
The climate is perfect, the food is soooo good. Especially the dessert. I can't wait to see what breakfast is like. And all the people here are excellent so far. The other group from California is also made up of all females and one guy. I've met most of them so far and have already gotten their stories (they've been here a few days) and their room numbers for future rendezvous. They are all very laid back, friendly people and I'm really relieved! I think the chemistry is perfect for some great discussion, especially since we're such a small group.
So we had our first session tonight at 7:30 (12:30 our time). I think it went well given the fact that it was our first lecture and half of us were the living dead due to the jet lag...I can't wait for tomorrow! Hopefully my youthful body can recover from this jet lag.................quickly!! *crosses fingers* I'm looking forward to more discussion and hopefully some free time in town.
This place is gorgeous! I'm so excited! I feel so blessed to be a part of this =)
The trip itself wasn't so bad though. I love long trips...and they fed us and had movies and music available. It wasn't too hot or too cold. I just couldn't sleep. But let me tell you...it was all worth it as soon as we stepped off into the Munich airport. As soon as we arrived, I could tell we were in a different country. For starters, it was SO QUIET!! Then of course there were all the German-speaking citizens. So I've designated myself the group documenter...I've been taking so many videos! I can't wait to put them together into something.
So far things are going great. I'm just so tired. The trip through the countryside to get to Salzburg was amazing! It was so green! I'm sure everyone on the planet knows my thoughts on the green-ness by now. The Schloss is beautiful. It feels so twilight zone-ish to know we're staying here...an 18th century building that people pay 30 dollars to take pictures of...yet here we are! Living in this place for a week!
The climate is perfect, the food is soooo good. Especially the dessert. I can't wait to see what breakfast is like. And all the people here are excellent so far. The other group from California is also made up of all females and one guy. I've met most of them so far and have already gotten their stories (they've been here a few days) and their room numbers for future rendezvous. They are all very laid back, friendly people and I'm really relieved! I think the chemistry is perfect for some great discussion, especially since we're such a small group.
So we had our first session tonight at 7:30 (12:30 our time). I think it went well given the fact that it was our first lecture and half of us were the living dead due to the jet lag...I can't wait for tomorrow! Hopefully my youthful body can recover from this jet lag.................quickly!! *crosses fingers* I'm looking forward to more discussion and hopefully some free time in town.
This place is gorgeous! I'm so excited! I feel so blessed to be a part of this =)
Sleeptyping
I think I just experienced a small dose of ecstasy and euphoria as I crawled myself into bed. I haven't slept a wink in almost two days and my body is protesting. Of course, to be fair, I should clarify that I'm not climbing into my bed in my room in Fort Worth....I'm climbing into bed in my own little room adjacent to an Austrian palace with mountains straight from "The Sound of Music" in the backyard. So I'm really not complaining.
The trip over here was pleasantly uneventful--no lost luggage or missed flights. I think our biggest crisis was deciding whether to have Japanese, Italian or French food for dinner in Philadelphia. And then we boarded our direct flight to Munich! I couldn't sleep on the epic flight over the Atlantic and was mourning my loss of rest until I realized that in reality, a 7.5 hour flight across the world is pretty revolutionary. This same journey, depending on the specific point in history, could have taken anywhere from days to weeks to months. I had it easy!
My first impression upon landing in Munich was clean. Clean and modern, but with an undertone of loaded history. Like Julissa and Rusty said....I saw not a SINGLE piece of trash on the side of the road. Holy cow! That's so revolutionary to me as an American who is used to seeing the transportation system utilized as a secondary (if not primary) trash can. I was very impressed. Also the drive from Munich to Salzburg was charming, to say the least. Little communities of traditional German houses dotted the hillside the whole way and there were fields of flowers and forests everywhere.
Salzburg is breathtaking, especially Schloss Leopoldskron and the enormous castle overlooking the city. I can't wait to explore the city. I'm also looking forward to spending time in the library in the schloss. How cool is it that it has a hidden staircase built into a bookcase? It's like something straight out of Sherlock Holmes!
The food is delicious. The staff and faculty have already made a big impression on me. I know they are going to have a lot to say that I need to hear.
And now I need to go to sleep, because the words are blurring. Hopefully a more coherent post tomorrow.
The trip over here was pleasantly uneventful--no lost luggage or missed flights. I think our biggest crisis was deciding whether to have Japanese, Italian or French food for dinner in Philadelphia. And then we boarded our direct flight to Munich! I couldn't sleep on the epic flight over the Atlantic and was mourning my loss of rest until I realized that in reality, a 7.5 hour flight across the world is pretty revolutionary. This same journey, depending on the specific point in history, could have taken anywhere from days to weeks to months. I had it easy!
My first impression upon landing in Munich was clean. Clean and modern, but with an undertone of loaded history. Like Julissa and Rusty said....I saw not a SINGLE piece of trash on the side of the road. Holy cow! That's so revolutionary to me as an American who is used to seeing the transportation system utilized as a secondary (if not primary) trash can. I was very impressed. Also the drive from Munich to Salzburg was charming, to say the least. Little communities of traditional German houses dotted the hillside the whole way and there were fields of flowers and forests everywhere.
Salzburg is breathtaking, especially Schloss Leopoldskron and the enormous castle overlooking the city. I can't wait to explore the city. I'm also looking forward to spending time in the library in the schloss. How cool is it that it has a hidden staircase built into a bookcase? It's like something straight out of Sherlock Holmes!
The food is delicious. The staff and faculty have already made a big impression on me. I know they are going to have a lot to say that I need to hear.
And now I need to go to sleep, because the words are blurring. Hopefully a more coherent post tomorrow.
It's Beautiful Here!
Oh my! Salzburg, Austria is breathtakingly beautiful and green! As we drove in our two buses from Munich to Salzburg, the red roofs were a beautiful contrast with the fields of green and yellow. The lake and the mountain view from the veranda of the Schloss is a view I've always dreamed of seeing.
The Schloss Leopoldskren is a history lesson in itself and thus far the food has been wonderful. The main course this evening was Wiener Schnitzel -- nothing like Der Wienerschnietzel (hot dogs) at home! This was a tender, golden fried turkey breast served with cranberry sauce and then we had chicken crepes that were so creamy.
Traveling with this group has been a blast! Rusty is talented at turning the light on the airplane with his hip while he sleeps and Katy has proven to be a stealthy pillow stealer. Dan, there was an empty space in front of me for seven hours ... we miss you, but know that you are where you are supposed to be! Between Michelle and I, this group already hates seeing us come around with the camera (groan)! I am going to get some shots of Julissa to prove that she was in Austria!
Today was a day of introductions and getting to know one another. We have met a tremendous faculty and support faculty and I'm really looking forward to hearing from them throughout the week. This evening Chandelle, Julissa and I had the opportunity to sit with Dennis and Jill Jaehne from San Jose State University in California at dinner. What a special couple that have traveled all over the world and have taken many young people into their lives and hearts. He was such an encourager to the whole group as we introduced ourselves.
Tonight's session was on Ethnocentrism and Maps. How interesting it was to see maps developed of the world from different perspectives - which country was placed in the center, which country was bigger - causing us to consider the perceptions of others and consider the point of view we would use to look at the world.
This is going to be a week of much learning and head spinning for me -- I can tell! A week of introspection.
Dreams do come true! And I'm going to dream tonight sleeping in a horizontal position rather than vertical as we "tried" to sleep last night!
The Schloss Leopoldskren is a history lesson in itself and thus far the food has been wonderful. The main course this evening was Wiener Schnitzel -- nothing like Der Wienerschnietzel (hot dogs) at home! This was a tender, golden fried turkey breast served with cranberry sauce and then we had chicken crepes that were so creamy.
Traveling with this group has been a blast! Rusty is talented at turning the light on the airplane with his hip while he sleeps and Katy has proven to be a stealthy pillow stealer. Dan, there was an empty space in front of me for seven hours ... we miss you, but know that you are where you are supposed to be! Between Michelle and I, this group already hates seeing us come around with the camera (groan)! I am going to get some shots of Julissa to prove that she was in Austria!
Today was a day of introductions and getting to know one another. We have met a tremendous faculty and support faculty and I'm really looking forward to hearing from them throughout the week. This evening Chandelle, Julissa and I had the opportunity to sit with Dennis and Jill Jaehne from San Jose State University in California at dinner. What a special couple that have traveled all over the world and have taken many young people into their lives and hearts. He was such an encourager to the whole group as we introduced ourselves.
Tonight's session was on Ethnocentrism and Maps. How interesting it was to see maps developed of the world from different perspectives - which country was placed in the center, which country was bigger - causing us to consider the perceptions of others and consider the point of view we would use to look at the world.
This is going to be a week of much learning and head spinning for me -- I can tell! A week of introspection.
Dreams do come true! And I'm going to dream tonight sleeping in a horizontal position rather than vertical as we "tried" to sleep last night!
The eagle has landed
We made it! I will say that I am very tired. Before leaving Philidelphia, I was pretty tired and thought sleeping the entire flight would be no problem. Boy was I wrong. For the life of me I could not get comfortable in that chair, and I became a little envious of the people at the front of the coach class the have tons of leg room. Poor Dee, she had to sit next to me and during my siesta on the plane I must have turned on the light a dozzen times! The Munich airport is way nice, they even had a small grocery store inside. The country side is so green and there is very little, if any, litter that I could see from the road. We were able to meet the other Salzburg participants today. The other halve of the group is from the Univeristy of San Fransico. There are not to many of us small so we should be able to get acainted with each other quickly. The food has been great; beat airline food into the dust. I do believe we will have our work cut out for us while we are here, but it will be most rewarding. I hope to not let the jet lag hold me back so I can get the most out of this.
ह्ह्फ़ असद
You would imagine that after spending almost two days now with very little sleep I would run up to my room and pass out. Instead, I am using the computers at the Meierhof, where our very spacious rooms are located across the Schloss, with a few classmates close by, to write about my experiences thus far.
The Munich airport is amazing. That pretty much summed it all up. Modern. Clean. Quiet. Beautiful. I wish we could have had the chance to explore the city of Munchen, or at least drive through it. But after arriving there, we got on two vans and drove about 2 and a half hours to Salzburg. The scenery on the way here was absolutely incredible. Most of the roads looked like they had just been placed in the middle of a forest or farms or local towns. I loved seeing the way the roads are made here. On the way, most of the them were one-lane roads, and there usually sideways for bikes. And they were actually being used!
The people so far have been very nice and polite. Everyone speaks English, which just makes me sad that I haven't picked up a lot of German, because I know I should attempt it.
I haven't had a chance to explore Salzburg yet, but we are doing a "self-paced" walking tour of the city tomorrow and I can't wait! It looks beautiful. Oh. The Schloss is fantastic. The building holds so much history and beauty, and the area around it is luscious green and, dare I say, inspiring. The weather, too, has been refreshing. It was about 55 degrees today. A nice change from Fort Worth.
I just got out of our session on Ethnocentrism, and though at first everyone was a little quiet, the conversation began to get really interesting and engaging. It really woke me up (I'm a little tired, as you can imagine). The session was much more interesting than I expected, and I hope that after we get to know the other students, discussions will be increasingly enjoyable and informative.
Well, I need sleep now.
- Julissa
The Munich airport is amazing. That pretty much summed it all up. Modern. Clean. Quiet. Beautiful. I wish we could have had the chance to explore the city of Munchen, or at least drive through it. But after arriving there, we got on two vans and drove about 2 and a half hours to Salzburg. The scenery on the way here was absolutely incredible. Most of the roads looked like they had just been placed in the middle of a forest or farms or local towns. I loved seeing the way the roads are made here. On the way, most of the them were one-lane roads, and there usually sideways for bikes. And they were actually being used!
The people so far have been very nice and polite. Everyone speaks English, which just makes me sad that I haven't picked up a lot of German, because I know I should attempt it.
I haven't had a chance to explore Salzburg yet, but we are doing a "self-paced" walking tour of the city tomorrow and I can't wait! It looks beautiful. Oh. The Schloss is fantastic. The building holds so much history and beauty, and the area around it is luscious green and, dare I say, inspiring. The weather, too, has been refreshing. It was about 55 degrees today. A nice change from Fort Worth.
I just got out of our session on Ethnocentrism, and though at first everyone was a little quiet, the conversation began to get really interesting and engaging. It really woke me up (I'm a little tired, as you can imagine). The session was much more interesting than I expected, and I hope that after we get to know the other students, discussions will be increasingly enjoyable and informative.
Well, I need sleep now.
- Julissa
First day
We arrived here in Salzburg around 1:00pm. Now it is 9:30pm here. I am a little tired so everything is rather surreal, but Salzburg is GORGEOUS! The Schloss is beautiful. It's older than America!
The trip over went smoothly. Only a 7.5 hour flight from Philly, so not bad at all!
Germany and Austria are extremely clean. I didn't see a single piece of trash on the side of the road for the entire 2 hour drive from Munich to here.
The other group of students here (aside from our group) are from the University of San Francisco and they are very nice. I sat with some of them at dinner and had really interesting conversation.
We just had a group meeting discussing enthocentrism (to explain mildy, it is the view that one's culture is superior to others) and how it effects our worldview. Very interesting!
What I foresee for the week: LOTS OF SLEEP TONIGHT! Also I think that I will learn a lot more "lingo" concerning international relation topics and such (e.g. ethnocentrism!). I am very excited to visit Dachau although I feel it will be a somber trip.
Well I am about to fall onto the keyboard from exhaustion, so I'm going to go now.
Auf wiedersehen!
The trip over went smoothly. Only a 7.5 hour flight from Philly, so not bad at all!
Germany and Austria are extremely clean. I didn't see a single piece of trash on the side of the road for the entire 2 hour drive from Munich to here.
The other group of students here (aside from our group) are from the University of San Francisco and they are very nice. I sat with some of them at dinner and had really interesting conversation.
We just had a group meeting discussing enthocentrism (to explain mildy, it is the view that one's culture is superior to others) and how it effects our worldview. Very interesting!
What I foresee for the week: LOTS OF SLEEP TONIGHT! Also I think that I will learn a lot more "lingo" concerning international relation topics and such (e.g. ethnocentrism!). I am very excited to visit Dachau although I feel it will be a somber trip.
Well I am about to fall onto the keyboard from exhaustion, so I'm going to go now.
Auf wiedersehen!
Arrived!
We have arrived in Salzburg today after a day of traveling. Everyone is excited and a little tired but so happy to be here. We have our first session this afternoon and then this evening they hear the first presentation.
Okay for the students sometime at the end of this first day, you need to write about your first impressions both here in Salzburg, the travel and of the first group meetings! What do you foresee for the week?
Okay for the students sometime at the end of this first day, you need to write about your first impressions both here in Salzburg, the travel and of the first group meetings! What do you foresee for the week?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
First person at the airport!
As you can probably imagine no one is here. I am a whole 4 hours early partly, because I have sent my son to Kansas City to visit relatives while I'm gone and I did not want to be held up at the check in. Check in did go rather well, I was actually shocked that I did not have to go through more security measures on account that I'm going out of the country.
I am really sorry to hear Dan won't be with us but I know how important family is and sometimes you have to make sacrifices. I was really excited to learn to do the "Irish Jig." Poor Rusty, he's going to be stuck with all of the "others" for a whole week. I just finished calling my mother and sending her all the necessary information just in case I get abducted by whom, I don't know. She wants copy of licenses, passports, phone numbers, addresses, a lock of hair, a vial of blood, DNA samples you know how mothers can be, it's endearing, I guess that where I get my feelings about my son from.
I have already had friends here in the airport. It's fairly easy to when the only electrical socket is in front of the mens restroom.
Ich schreibe aus Detroit.
(I will write from Detroit.)
*Gosh I love Google Translator!
(I will write from Detroit.)
*Gosh I love Google Translator!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Here we come
I have been spread very thin lately between work and life and preparing for this trip. Dan, you will be missed but I believe you are making a good choice to stay with your family. I believe when we put aside what we think we want for ourselves and put others needs first we find what we need. It never really hits me that I am leaving my home until I walk in the airport line, I am not sure why that is. As consequence I am a late packer; never fails. I love to fly but I have never been on a flight for more than four hours, so this is a whole new experience. I can't wait to see the Swiss Alps, this is a dream come true.
Leaving a friend behind
Well today we learned that we will be leaving one of our group behind. Dan will be unable to join us on our journey to Salzburg. His father is very, very ill and not improving so Dan made the good choice to stay in the country. We will miss his perspective and Irish humor! We will stay in touch and send Dan our best wishes for him and his family.
I'm Full!
Well, this afternoon at 2:00 pm I realized that I probably wouldn't be eating Mexican food for eight days (sniff, sniff). My sweet hubby took me to Posado's for my Mexican food fix, so I'm ready to go!
I still have to pack the "school" stuff (my communications textbook, the Salzburg preparation papers, communications research and my dictionary).
I'm not sure how much sleep I'm going to get ... I'm really excited about seeing you all tomorrow morning and joining you on this journey.
Sweet dreams!
I still have to pack the "school" stuff (my communications textbook, the Salzburg preparation papers, communications research and my dictionary).
I'm not sure how much sleep I'm going to get ... I'm really excited about seeing you all tomorrow morning and joining you on this journey.
Sweet dreams!
Collection Expansion
Some people collect records, coins or dolls, but I collect places--be it a new street I've never driven down or a new country I've never had stamped in my passport before (that would be most of them). I get so excited to go to new places and see new things and I feel so grateful to have been allowed to go on this adventure with such a great group of people.
Yesterday I was thinking about how long I've been waiting to go to this Salzburg Seminar. It's been almost a year and a half. I first read about it on the TCC website when I was living with my sister in Muscat, Oman in December of 2006. I remember going into her room and saying, "Hey! I think I know where I'm going next....Austria!" She laughed at me, but here I am, 18 months later, packing my suitcase for Salzburg.....
....okay, I admit, I'm not literally packing my suitcase. In all honesty, I probably won't do that until an hour before I go to sleep. I'm one of those last minute packers. I hate laundry and folding things and figuring out what to wear. It's requires way too much brainpower.
And speaking of brainpower, I had to use a lot of it to make it through this oft' harrowing semester. Dr. Wood and Mrs. Hunsberger made absolutely sure to prepare us in every way, shape and form for whatever might be required of us during the next week. I just finished my speech journal and it finished out at 43 pages--practically a small book. (a lot o' fun to grade, I'm sure!) So yes, I feel at least mildly confident in my own abilities as well as the abilities of our group as a whole to do well at whatever surprises we encounter.
I don't actually have a lot of concrete expectations for what my experiences in Salzburg will be like. Whenever I imagine how things will be in the future, it never, ever matches up to reality, so I've adopted a strict policy of surprise. Whatever I encounter will be totally unexpected and new! It's worked well for me so far. I'm completely open to whatever happens. My only real expectation is that I will come away from this trip with some new relationships, new knowledge and new abilities for understanding the world I live in and how to improve it.
My only worry is that I will want to cram as many interesting experiences into one week as possible and we will only be able to do so much. I don't want to miss anything! I suppose I can always use that as an excuse to come back if I feel I've left anything out.
I guess I should also add under the worries category that I am a teensy-weensy-bit nervous to present my accumulated knowledge about listening styles to Carol (I'm definitely bringing my textbook). But, you know, other than me "teaching" an experienced professor about a subject that she is already incredibly familiar with, it shouldn't be a difficult project to research during the seminar. I'll just get to watch people. ; )
Yesterday I was thinking about how long I've been waiting to go to this Salzburg Seminar. It's been almost a year and a half. I first read about it on the TCC website when I was living with my sister in Muscat, Oman in December of 2006. I remember going into her room and saying, "Hey! I think I know where I'm going next....Austria!" She laughed at me, but here I am, 18 months later, packing my suitcase for Salzburg.....
....okay, I admit, I'm not literally packing my suitcase. In all honesty, I probably won't do that until an hour before I go to sleep. I'm one of those last minute packers. I hate laundry and folding things and figuring out what to wear. It's requires way too much brainpower.
And speaking of brainpower, I had to use a lot of it to make it through this oft' harrowing semester. Dr. Wood and Mrs. Hunsberger made absolutely sure to prepare us in every way, shape and form for whatever might be required of us during the next week. I just finished my speech journal and it finished out at 43 pages--practically a small book. (a lot o' fun to grade, I'm sure!) So yes, I feel at least mildly confident in my own abilities as well as the abilities of our group as a whole to do well at whatever surprises we encounter.
I don't actually have a lot of concrete expectations for what my experiences in Salzburg will be like. Whenever I imagine how things will be in the future, it never, ever matches up to reality, so I've adopted a strict policy of surprise. Whatever I encounter will be totally unexpected and new! It's worked well for me so far. I'm completely open to whatever happens. My only real expectation is that I will come away from this trip with some new relationships, new knowledge and new abilities for understanding the world I live in and how to improve it.
My only worry is that I will want to cram as many interesting experiences into one week as possible and we will only be able to do so much. I don't want to miss anything! I suppose I can always use that as an excuse to come back if I feel I've left anything out.
I guess I should also add under the worries category that I am a teensy-weensy-bit nervous to present my accumulated knowledge about listening styles to Carol (I'm definitely bringing my textbook). But, you know, other than me "teaching" an experienced professor about a subject that she is already incredibly familiar with, it shouldn't be a difficult project to research during the seminar. I'll just get to watch people. ; )
Austria, here we come!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sha la la packing!
So I said I would start packing last Wednesday. It is now Monday, and I have not yet found my suitcase…I love packing! I usually end up packing the night before…but then again, I’ve never gone overseas! And not for this long either, without laundry service =/… This is truly going to be a challenge for me…trying to pack only the necessities. I am so excited though!
I’m not sure quite what to expect from this experience except that it is going to be amazing! I imagine it will be very busy and even more thought provoking. I know I’ll be completely engrossed in the lectures given because this sort of thing absolutely fascinates me. I’m so excited to be spending the week and working with everyone from our group and from the other school. I can’t wait to meet the students from Austria either. I’m looking forward to the tea breaks! I think that’s so wonderful…I love tea.
I feel so extremely lucky to have this opportunity…it still blows me away. I know that once I get there, I probably won’t want to leave, but I know that I’ll get so much out of it. I can’t wait to take everything I’ll learn and start applying it to my everyday perspective of things at home and globally. It might even guide me in the rest of my college career.
I’m especially excited to start my experimentations for my final in interpersonal communication. I got the lucky draw of physical space. I can already picture just how much fun I can have with that! I got so many ideas from Dee when we broke apart in groups. There are so many different circumstances involved with physical space and how we use it…whether it be gender, relationship, culture or age. I plan on trying out as many different combinations as possible. So beware, you might be the subject of one of my experiments! I’m also going to be doing a lot of observing to see just how everyone interacts and I want to watch the progression that occurs as the week goes on. I’d like to see how much the use of space alters as everyone gets to know each other and then compare the beginning of the week to the end. I think it’ll be especially fun once the banquet rolls around. It’ll be interesting to see how people in our group interact with each other, with the other group and how our culture will interact with that of the Austrians’. After the Space Invaders assignment we did, I’m sure I can come up with some pretty interesting situations.
Overall I just can’t wait to be on a different continent, walking through some of the oldest, history packed streets, in what I keep hearing is one of the most beautiful countries…I’m anxious to see how I’ll respond to the jet lag. And I can’t wait to see if Carol and I will actually discover who the American Idol is before we land the plane!!
For now…I just found my suitcase…so I’m going to give packing another try. More later…
Not Quite Ready...
As I am counting down these last few days before we leave the country my thoughts are everywhere; from I don't know what clothes to take, are the kids going to miss me, will I be prepared for whatever I am about to experience. My nerves are through the roof and I seem to be having a lot of anxiety. Packing right now consist of me making a list and staring at my suitcase that is in the corner of my living room.
No matter how much I have studied, read, learned, and comprehended, I never actually feel ready for what I am about to do or say. The whole giving a presentation idea, especially in front of strangers, makes me very uneasy. Yes I can get up in front of a room full of people and speak, but it never fails that my thoughts in my head are being processed a hundred times faster than my mouth is able to speak and then everything becomes jumbled. Someone please look and me and give me sign to slowdown and take deep breaths, and don't forget to smile at met to make me feel like I am doing a great job :)
The thing I am looking forward to the most is when I step off of the plane in DFW on May 29 and give myself a great big pat on the back and say, "Chandelle you did it, and it was great!"
As for my final exam in Speech and teaching a teacher a thing or two in their area of expertise is going to be challenging but rewarding. I will truly be able to enjoy being the observer and sometimes the instigator in the great thing we call communication. I hope to become an expert but I also know it takes trials and errors in order to learn.
See everyone Wednesday morning and enjoy your last days before our lives become transformed by this journey we are about to embark on.
No matter how much I have studied, read, learned, and comprehended, I never actually feel ready for what I am about to do or say. The whole giving a presentation idea, especially in front of strangers, makes me very uneasy. Yes I can get up in front of a room full of people and speak, but it never fails that my thoughts in my head are being processed a hundred times faster than my mouth is able to speak and then everything becomes jumbled. Someone please look and me and give me sign to slowdown and take deep breaths, and don't forget to smile at met to make me feel like I am doing a great job :)
The thing I am looking forward to the most is when I step off of the plane in DFW on May 29 and give myself a great big pat on the back and say, "Chandelle you did it, and it was great!"
As for my final exam in Speech and teaching a teacher a thing or two in their area of expertise is going to be challenging but rewarding. I will truly be able to enjoy being the observer and sometimes the instigator in the great thing we call communication. I hope to become an expert but I also know it takes trials and errors in order to learn.
See everyone Wednesday morning and enjoy your last days before our lives become transformed by this journey we are about to embark on.
Preparing for An Austrain Adventure
We'll be going to Austria in less than two days! I literally can't believe it. It's hard to acknowledge the fact that I'm going to be in another continent. It hasn't really hit me yet.
I went to the store yesterday and bought things I'll need: travel-size toothpaste, shampoo, band-aids (just in case). I bought a converter and I hope it works this time. I had bought one before going to France last year and the plug wouldn't fit. I also bought new shoes, and used this trip as my excuse. With all of that, I started to pack today. Just the little things. And I'll finish tomorrow.
I think I've learned a lot both in speech and history, and hope to put that to use at the seminar, but really I'm prepared to learn more while I'm actually there. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway. I'm kind of nervous about the whole experience of meeting everyone and have discussions and whatnot. It's intimidating, though I'll try not to let that affect me so much. I'm also a bit shaky about the airport. I've only been on an airplane once, so I don't really know what I'm supposed to do! I should get through it, though. Can't wait.
Oh. I am also quite terrified about talking to Carol about my topic (Relationship Models of Development). :)
- Julissa
I went to the store yesterday and bought things I'll need: travel-size toothpaste, shampoo, band-aids (just in case). I bought a converter and I hope it works this time. I had bought one before going to France last year and the plug wouldn't fit. I also bought new shoes, and used this trip as my excuse. With all of that, I started to pack today. Just the little things. And I'll finish tomorrow.
I think I've learned a lot both in speech and history, and hope to put that to use at the seminar, but really I'm prepared to learn more while I'm actually there. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway. I'm kind of nervous about the whole experience of meeting everyone and have discussions and whatnot. It's intimidating, though I'll try not to let that affect me so much. I'm also a bit shaky about the airport. I've only been on an airplane once, so I don't really know what I'm supposed to do! I should get through it, though. Can't wait.
Oh. I am also quite terrified about talking to Carol about my topic (Relationship Models of Development). :)
- Julissa
And what is ethnocentrism, anyway?
Carol said, "a phenomenon does not exist if there is not a word for it."
So as I sit here nervous, with butterflies and bucking horses in my stomach I come across the word "ethnocentrism" in our syllabus information for the seminar. So I "googled" it and "wikied" it and based on information learned I have been suffering from this phenomenon of a tendency of looking at the world primarily from the perspective of my own culture.
I was at one of my jobs and a woman asked me a general question in reference to gas prices and my response to her was, "I'm sort of grateful about our gas, other countries have been paying exorbent amounts of money for gas for years, we have been getting over for some time now."
In her instantaneous defense she stated, "I don't like to be compared to other countries, they are nothing like us. Americans should be better than this."
There is was, if I had no knowledge of the word ethnocentrism and it's meaning, would her comment even appeal to me?
There is even a special name that they give "us" Americans that suffer from this, it's called American Exceptionalism. Which basically means that we as Americans think that we differ on a higher degree of subjectivity from other developed nations, because of our national credo, historical evolution, or distinctive political and religious institutions. Generally we Americans think that we are superior based on a rationalization or explanation that may vary greatly depending on the historical period and the political context, essentially our rationalizations could change tomorrow, depending on the situation. The term can also be used in a very negative way referring to a willful nationalistic ignorance of faults committed by the American government.
So how do I convince other people from other cultures other than my own that I am not like this? Conflict Styles? If you examine our government and political ideals we are earnestly "forcers" not necessarily taking into consideration other people or cultures. Take for instance "Manifest Destiny" our idea that in a sense the American government was "destined" to establish uninterrupted political authority across the entire North American continent, from one ocean to the other. Not that we should bond with the existing cultures but, we should take over and conquer.
So using my conflict styles, I'll listen more trying to accommodate and collaborate during discussions. It might even be necessary to even compromise sometimes, yes, I the classroom "shark" is considering compromising. Compromising is a characteristic that benefits everybody and allows both parties to see the perspective of the others and still be respected for your own values.
Auf Wiedersehen. Ich werde sehen, jeden Mittwoch.
(Good bye. I will see everyone Wednesday.)
Audrey
So as I sit here nervous, with butterflies and bucking horses in my stomach I come across the word "ethnocentrism" in our syllabus information for the seminar. So I "googled" it and "wikied" it and based on information learned I have been suffering from this phenomenon of a tendency of looking at the world primarily from the perspective of my own culture.
I was at one of my jobs and a woman asked me a general question in reference to gas prices and my response to her was, "I'm sort of grateful about our gas, other countries have been paying exorbent amounts of money for gas for years, we have been getting over for some time now."
In her instantaneous defense she stated, "I don't like to be compared to other countries, they are nothing like us. Americans should be better than this."
There is was, if I had no knowledge of the word ethnocentrism and it's meaning, would her comment even appeal to me?
There is even a special name that they give "us" Americans that suffer from this, it's called American Exceptionalism. Which basically means that we as Americans think that we differ on a higher degree of subjectivity from other developed nations, because of our national credo, historical evolution, or distinctive political and religious institutions. Generally we Americans think that we are superior based on a rationalization or explanation that may vary greatly depending on the historical period and the political context, essentially our rationalizations could change tomorrow, depending on the situation. The term can also be used in a very negative way referring to a willful nationalistic ignorance of faults committed by the American government.
So how do I convince other people from other cultures other than my own that I am not like this? Conflict Styles? If you examine our government and political ideals we are earnestly "forcers" not necessarily taking into consideration other people or cultures. Take for instance "Manifest Destiny" our idea that in a sense the American government was "destined" to establish uninterrupted political authority across the entire North American continent, from one ocean to the other. Not that we should bond with the existing cultures but, we should take over and conquer.
So using my conflict styles, I'll listen more trying to accommodate and collaborate during discussions. It might even be necessary to even compromise sometimes, yes, I the classroom "shark" is considering compromising. Compromising is a characteristic that benefits everybody and allows both parties to see the perspective of the others and still be respected for your own values.
Auf Wiedersehen. Ich werde sehen, jeden Mittwoch.
(Good bye. I will see everyone Wednesday.)
Audrey
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