*Washington Monument in DC
We just had our first trip of the Study Tour group. We left the Stockton campus today on a charter bus to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in Washington, DC. Whether our students visited the museum many times or it was a first visit, there is always new information, perspectives and insights to be gained. While we went through the entire exhibit and some special exhibits, most of us were now especially interested in material on the Holocaust in Western Europe, since that is where we will be traveling in March.
*Wall of Remembrance
Preparing by visiting here is probably the most enriching experience we can have here in America before visiting the Netherlands and France. We learned more about Anne Frank, who was hidden in Amsterdam, discovered more about rescuers such as Marion Pritchard and Miep Gies (both Netherlands) and the Trocmé family of Le Chambon (France), and much more. We are more prepared. Watch out Europe, because here comes Stockton!
*Group photo at the USHMM
Cool. I'm Michael Hayse's son. I'll be looking at this every morning. Looks good so far!
ReplyDeleteMy students will be commenting on this blog as well.
ReplyDeleteI remember my first time I went to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in high school. I was really shaken as to how horrifying the experience must have been to live in Nazi Germany as a persecuted Jew.
ReplyDeleteI am currently in a Women and Genocide class and would love to visit the Holocaust museum. We recently were able to Skype Dr. Susan Spatz and interview her on her life before, during, and after the Holocaust. For my groups final project we are going to actually center it on Dr. Spatz. My friends and I are also planning a trip to D.C. so I am really excited at the prospect of visiting the museum that I have been hearing so much about.
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ReplyDeleteSara and Sam,
ReplyDeleteIt is awesome that you guys got to visit the Holocaust Museum before your trip. Not sure if it is your first time or not, but I agree that you can learn so much by visiting. I remember my first time visiting. Even though I was young, I remember being interested and fascinated by all the exhibits. To learn about the experiences these people went through and to see everything from their perspective was very enriching. Great place to go before your trip.
I had no idea this was in Washington D.C. , this is inspiring me to have a reason to go visit D.C. now. I must add that I think it is great that you visited this Museum before your trip, I'm sure it helped you think about what you want to get out of your trip to Western Europe before you arrived there.
ReplyDeleteIt is always great that these places exist since most of the knowledge of that time is lost or forgotten nowadays and can help those interested in learning about these times the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great way to start your trip before going overseas! This is something that I knew was in D.C. but have never made the time to go see it. Now I know for sure its something to go check out. Its amazing how informative a museum can be before you go see the actual thing.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an awesome way to start the trip before exploring abroad. To be able to gather raw, interesting insights and experience the culture aspects along with feeling as close as you could before your trip began is so beneficial. I always found it so incredibly interesting, heartbreaking, yet inspirational hearing about what had happened, how people felt, and how their courage of remembrance for those who were lost during the Holocaust share their stories.
ReplyDeleteThe Wall of Remembrance must have had strong emotional ties, I could only imagine how I would feel once I would arrive to the actual location or countries that hold even more artifacts and monumental values.
Thank you for sharing the pictures and what DC had to offer!
Cori
I didn't know this is held in Washington D.C. It's so great that you guys had the chance to experience a one and a life time study tour group there. I hope you had awesome time learning and gasping new background information about all the people that where talked about in the museum. Now that I know, I can check it out one day to see it out myself as well when I get the time.
ReplyDeleteHi Sara, and Sam!
ReplyDeleteI think it was a great opportunity for you to be able to visit the Holocaust museum in D.C. prior to traveling overseas to France, and the Netherlands. By going to the museum first, your group was ensuring that everyone had a general background on what sort of experiences you would be learning about overseas. For some, the Holocaust may not have been something they were entirely familiar with, and this ensured that they were appropriately prepared for what they would see/learn overseas.
This is something that I wanted to do for sometime. While I have been to Washington DC on more than one occasion I have never been to been to the Holocaust Memorial Museum. This seems like a really cool experience and something that I would definitely want to do if I ever get the chance too.
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I'm so glad that you guys got to experience this museum! In high school, this was one of our stops for our senior trip. I enjoyed the museum. I learned a lot, cried a few times, and got to experience a real side of the holocaust that you just can't get from reading a book in middle school. Unfortunately our museum visit was cut short thanks to a couple jokers in my class that got us removed from the building. I plan on going back this summer and finishing where I left off. I can't wait to read about the rest of your trip!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I visit DC, this is on top of my list of places to visit. However, I never had time to go. It is so great you guys had time to visit the museum. Next time I am in DC, this is going to be my main priority to visit.
ReplyDeleteThis memorial museum in DC has been on my bucket list for years. I never thought about how going to it first could be a good preparation for traveling abroad and seeing the real places where the Holocaust horrors occurred. Being that I have also always wanted to travel abroad to be further educated about the Holocaust, I think that I might plan to follow your model and go to the museum then travel abroad almost back to back.
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