Italia: Day Two

After taking a nap yesterday, we meet Loredana who is a master’s student that goes to school in the area. I’m not sure how we came in contact with her, but she had arranged a tour for us. We ended up walking to a cobblestone park area with many fountains to meet some other high school students from Lanzo, a town we will be visiting soon. The fountain park area seemed to be the center of the city with many street salesmen targeting the small tourist population.

The students took us to a cinema museum. Somehow half of the group (me included) ended up buying the wrong ticket to the museum though and while we were exchanging them, the rest of the group went up in a lift to see a panoramic view of Torino. Once we got the correct tickets, we walked around a portion of the museum that was really weird. We were just getting to the cool part when the other part of our group showed up and told us we needed to get in line for the lift if we wanted to go. It was annoying that we barely got to see any of the cool part of the museum. Lesson learned, always make sure you're buying the correct ticket when there's a language barrier.

Views from the top of the lift

We met Dr. Fink and Kimberlie back at the hotel once we were done with the museum and walked to a small pizzeria for dinner. The pizza was alright, but it was thin crust, so definitely not my favorite. Before our meal, they gave us complimentary fried dough. It was actually really good. I’m not sure how to describe what it tasted like but it was both crusty and salty. We got desert at a gelato shop called Grom afterwards. I had the giandju, a specialty of this region, which we’ve decided is like a chocolate with hazelnut. I liked it alright, but I wouldn’t get it again. I think the hazelnut made it taste kind of funky.

I was really tired, but the group wanted to keep going, so annoyingly we returned to the same fountain park area as before because a woman Dr. Fink knows really wanted us to see it. She apparently didn’t know that we had already gone. I led the group who went back to the hotel though and the minute we got back, I passed out. Jet lag sucks.

This morning, I got up early to go for a run with some of the group. The route took us alongside the river that runs through the center of the city, so the views were gorgeous, and being a Sunday morning, there weren't many people out wandering the streets. I felt as if we had a private viewing of the city. I love running in a new place early in the morning, it's like a breath of fresh air. Too bad I'm not a morning person in the slightest.

We had breakfast at the hotel and I realized their milk tastes rather weird. I was surprised to find cereal on the complimentary table because I know it's not very popular here, but I don’t think I’ll be getting it again during our time here. The flavors are very dull and you can tell the Italians haven't really branched out with their cereal selection like Americans have. It's probably a lot less sugary and somewhat better for you though. I did have these really yummy pound cake type sweets called Plum Cakes. They remind me of something I used to eat a lot as a child, but I’m not sure what.

Loredana came back to the hotel and took us on a shopping/walking tour of the city and surrounding park afterwards. We ate lunch at a sandwich shop in the park that sold ham, turkey, and vegetable sandwiches. It was alright, but not really my type of ideal place. It didn’t help that we had to eat outside and it felt really buggy. I hate when I can’t eat without shooing stuff away from my face.

Dumpters near the outdoor clubbing district along the river

Picturesque view of Torino's city park

The afternoon was full of shopping, but sadly I didn’t buy anything because it always seemed like people walked right on by the stores that I wanted to go in. I don’t get why they want to spend a fortune on chocolate and not clothes or shoes. There are more interesting and lasting things that can be purchased in Italy other than food.

The whole day seemed like kind of a waste to me because there was a lot of waiting around. Our group of sixteen plus a guide is too big to travel together with, but they insist on it so we end up constantly waiting on people, whether it’s because someone needs to go to the bathroom or someone ended up stopping in a shop that no one else was interested in. Kind of aggravating.

For dinner, our Italian guide Loridana took us to a funky bar that served appetizers and alcohol. This is apparently quite common in Italy and normally takes place before the traditional meal time of 8-10. We went around six and all ordered a drink, I got a sex on the beach, and then we indulged in the bad tasting appetizers. I had a pizza tasting thing and some bread. There were some chicken bit looking things though that tasted the best. Sadly, after my first small helping there weren’t any left. I got a little bit tipsy off the one drink because of the lack of food. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at a hole in the wall gelato shop and I ordered a milk chocolate flavor. It was pretty good, but still not my favorite.

Italia: Up in the Air

Yesterday, I boarded the plane from the Columbus airport to fly to Atlanta. I didn’t even finish a magazine and the flight was over. We wasted time at Atlanta eating lunch. I was really impressed by the fact that they had a Qdoba in their airport. I can barely find a Qdoba in Columbus, yet here we walked right past one when we were trying to find our gate. Of course I had to have some. It was probably the most expensive Qdoba that I’ve ever eaten. I paid just over $7 for my burrito (chicken and cheese only) and a mandatory side of chips and salsa.

The plane ride over to Italy was really long – just over nine hours. The food wasn’t very good either so it’s a good thing that I indulged in Qdoba. I sat between two blonde girls on the flight over, neither of them said much. I tried to sleep during the flight, but it wasn’t happening so I ended up working on a journal entry that I needed to make for Ohio Wesleyan's PE 200.9: Obesity and Prevention in Italy and the United States. Right before we left the States, professor Fink gave us a huge packet of reading materials and a notebook for us to reflect in. I didn’t realize we would be doing work beyond our presentations during the trip...

My first thoughts regarding Italy though are that it isn’t exactly my cup of tea. It seems a lot more rustic than Ireland was - something I definitely wasn't expecting from all the praise people have put upon it. Even though we’re staying in an actual hotel with twin beds, an elevator, and private bath, it seems as if the buildings are closer to falling apart and the people are less friendly. Maybe it’s just the fashionista edge they give off, but everyone seems to be looking at us and I would say our travel group looks a lot less American than the Girl Scouts group did in Ireland.

Stairway of the elegant Hotel Dock Milano in Torino

I slept on most of the bus ride to Turin though, so I might have missed some key details between here and Milan. All I know is that I saw some rice fields and was thoroughly disappointed to find that they don’t drive on the other side of the road here like they do in the United Kingdom. I thought that was all of Europe, but I guess I’m wrong. Their steering wheels are even on the same side of the car. The only difference was the kilometer reading instead of miles, the manual transmission instead of automatic, and the diesel fuel instead of regular.

The town of Turin or Torino seems fairly nice though. There’s a pizza place on even corner and a lot of bars that look like little casual restaurants, the trattorias that Italia is famous for.

The Proposal

As part of Ohio Wesleyan University's curriculum, students are encouraged to participate in travel-learning opportunities or, through a grant program called TIPIT (Theory-into-Practice-into-Theory), they may create their own project. During the Spring 2011 grant cycle, I submitted the following proposal for a trip to Europe. The proposal was accepted and I will be embarking on a journey with three classmates this August.

Here's a copy of the main proposal:

An Examination and Analysis of the Holocaust

Introduction

German high school students are required to visit a former concentration camp as part of their education, according to the The Times Online. However, due to the distance between the United States and many of the concentration camp sites, U.S. students lack this hands-on experience with the Holocaust. The following proposed trip would allow four Ohio Wesleyan students the opportunity to deal with the emotions and prejudice behind the Holocaust first hand, providing them with the opportunity to reflect upon the tragedy and accurately inform others of the suffering endured under Nazi reign.

Itinerary

Tuesday, August 2nd:
• Travel to LaGuardia from hometowns.
• Board plane to Amsterdam.

Wednesday, August 3rd:
• Early morning, arrive in Amsterdam.
• Visit Anne Frank’s “Secret Annex”.
• Visit the Waterlooplein flea market.
• Go on the Highlights of Amsterdam Sightseeing Cruise.
• Check-in to Inner Amsterdam hostel.
• Sample local music at the free evening concert in Vondelpark.
• Go on the Red Light District Walking Tour.

In Amsterdam, students with begin to understand the kind of suffering Jews were forced to endure during World War II if they choose to go into hiding to escape the Nazis. Viewing Anne Frank’s “Secret Annex”, where she hid with her family and friends for numerous years, along with the rest of the old-world city will allow students to take a step back in time and imagine they too are fleeing the Nazi rule. By venturing on a sightseeing cruise, students will be able to see what Frank may have seen every day of her life. As the day wears on, students will enjoy a free outdoor concert of local music near their hostel before venturing outside the tourist region of the city to where the locals spend their time.

Thursday, August 4th:
• Depart Amsterdam and arrive in Hamburg.
• Check-in to A&O Hamburg Hauptbahnhof.

Friday, August 5th:
• Visit Neuengamme Concentration Camp.

In Hamburg, students will learn to navigate the public transportation system in German while traveling to Neuengamme Concentration Camp, a labor camp. At the camp, they will learn about the facilities and the labor performed by the marginalized peoples via an audio-guided tour. On-site exhibitions will also allow students to expand their knowledge of the inner-workings of a concentration camp.

Saturday, August 6th:
• Depart Hamburg and arrive in Berlin.
• Visit Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.
• Check-in to Grand Hostel Berlin.

Sunday, August 7th:
• Visit Humbolt University grounds.
• Visit Bebelplatz, the site of the first Nazi book burning.
• Visit Brandenburg Gate.
• Visit Holocaust Memorial.
• Dine in the Reichstag, home of the German Parliament.
• Go on Berlin Flak Towers Walking Tour.

Monday, August 8th:
• Go on Jewish Life Walking Tour.
• Visit Neue Synagogue.
• Visit the Jewish Museum.
• Depart Berlin.

Berlin, the center of much of the persecution that occurred during World War II, will allow students to delve into the Jewish culture. After visiting the labor concentration camp nearest to Berlin, students will visit various sites relevant to the Nazi reign, such as Bebelplatz and Humbolt University. Students will participate in a Jewish Life walking tour and visit various museums and synagogues to gage how wide spread the Jewish population of Berlin was prior to World War II. While dining at Reichstag, students will be able to look over the city and connect all the places they have visited. Finally, students will venture on an underground tour of the bunkers used during the war.

Tuesday, August 9th:
• Arrive in Warsaw.
• Visit the Jewish Historical Institute.
• Visit Mila 18, the Ghetto Uprising monument.
• Visit Umschlagplatz, the Treblinka monument.
• Visit the Jewish Cemetery.
• Visit remains of Warsaw ghetto.
• Depart Warsaw and arrive in Oswiecim.
• Check-in to Hotel Olecki.

A day-trip to Warsaw will allow students to explore the Jewish presence in Poland’s capital. After viewing the various monuments around the city, students will follow the “ghetto trail”, which outlines the former Warsaw Ghetto boundaries and form mental pictures of the corral Jews and supporters were forced to live in.

Wednesday, August 10th:
• Visit Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp.
• Depart Oswiecim.

A guided tour through Auschwitz-Birkenau will allow students to explore the powerhouse concentration camps located is Oswiecim. Whereas other camps are broken down based on what occurs behind their gates, Auschwitz-Birkenau and their satellite camps serve as labor, collection, and extermination sites.

Thursday, August 11th:
• Arrive in Prague.
• Sunrise at Charles Bridge.
• Visit Wenceslas Square.
• Go on the Terezin Memorial Sightseeing Tour.
• Visit Old Town Square.
• Visit Old-New Synagogue.
• Check-in to Hostel ELF.

Friday, August 12th:
• Visit the Dancing House.
• Visit Petrin Hill.
• Visit Prague Castle.

In Prague, students will have the opportunity to see not only Terezin Concentration Camp, a transit and ghetto camp, but also to see pieces of history. Students will visit the Prague Castle and Petrin Hill, some of the oldest sites in Europe, to aid in their understanding of the town’s foundation and culture. Visiting the Old-New Synagogue, a place destroyed by the Nazis and then rebuilt, will also give students an understanding of the city’s Jewish past.

Saturday, August 13th:
• Depart Prague and arrive in Munich.
• Check-in to Jaeger’s Hostel.

Sunday, August 14th:
• Go on the Dachau Concentration Camp tour.

Monday, August 15th:
• Go on the Munich City Hop-On Hop-Off Express Tour.
• Depart Munich and arrive in Weimar.
• Check-in to Labyrinth Hostel Weimar.

Students will have the opportunity to tour the Dachau Labor Camp with a knowledgeable English guide during their stay in Munich. The guide will be able to answer any questions the students have from this and previous camp visits. Following the camp, students will explore Munich through a tour bus company who allows them to leave the bus at interesting sites and spend time engaging with the town’s culture.

Tuesday, August 16th:
• Visit Buchenwald Concentration Camp.
• Depart Weimar and arrive in Amsterdam.
• Check-in to Ibis Amsterdam Airport.

As the journey comes to a close students will visit Buchenwald, a labor camp referenced to in Elie Wiesel’s Night. This visit will allow students to compare the real remnants of the concentration camp to the mental image they created while reading the real-life account.

Wednesday, August 17th:
• Depart Amsterdam and return to LaGuardia.
• Board planes to hometowns.

Conclusion

The proposed trip will allow students to examine the Holocaust’s affects on both the Jewish people and those who lived in Europe during the time of World War II. It will allow students to explore the aspects of prosecution and determine how the Nazi’s were able to gain and stay in power. Through these hands-on experiences in the camps and the cities they reside in, students will build a cultural background that allows them to analyze the use of concentration camps during World War II and other remnants of the Holocaust. This experience will allow students to bring their developed analytical reflections back to the Ohio Wesleyan community to further student body open-mindedness, cultural acceptance, and knowledge of the Holocaust.

Goal Costs

TOTAL: $14,561.66
TOTAL PER PERSON: $3,640.42
TOTAL PER PERSON PER DAY: $242.69