Text and photos by Alex Brouhard except where noted.
When I reflect on our week in Kraków, I think about all the historical and culturally relevant places we toured. I’m exhausted, both physically and emotionally, from the experiences I had, and I am thankful for the opportunity.
For me, the most impactful day was our tour at Auschwitz-Birkenau. It was horrifying. I take with me the many photos, the stories from our wonderful guide, Patricia, and the memories of walking in the footsteps of the 1.1 million who were murdered there. The place was emotional, gut-wrenching, and tragic. I was struck by the intentionality of the place, with trees planted perfectly in line and the camp laid out efficiently and effectively. I was also taken aback by the scale of the place—it was larger and more vast than I could have ever imagined. It’s a place I am glad to have seen, and it profoundly moved me. I’m grateful to have had this experience that has provided me with a better perspective to teach my students.
As I think about it, though, I’m struck by the words of Dr. Anes when he said, “It amazes me that people travel to Poland and Auschwitz is all they see.” While Auschwitz is such a deeply significant place, I’m glad our trip dives deeper into the history and culture of Poland.
In Kraków I was able to better understand Jewish life by walking through Kazimierz and touring the Galicia Jewish Museum. I was able to see historic Kraków during our tour of Wawel Castle. I was able to see the amazing architecture of the Rynek and eat a delicious meal in the basement of an old goldsmith shop that first opened its doors in the 1200s. The tour of the Schindler Museum took us through the timeline of World War II and showed how Kraków, a beautiful and historic city, was transformed into a Nazi-occupied territory.
As I sit in Zakopane writing this now, I feel a world away from Kraków. The mountains, highlander fashion, and the Tatra-style architecture couldn’t be more different than anything I’ve seen in Poland thus far. I appreciate the diversity and perspective of these different places, and I’m excited for this journey to continue!
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