I am currently pursuing my major in German and a minor in secondary education. Since I was a Junior in high school I have known I wanted to be a German teacher. It only makes sense that as a German teacher I spend time in Germany. Next December, I will be in my Senior year and a term away from student teaching. I knew that if I did not get out and experience Germany now I may never have another opportunity.
I have had an interest in Germany my entire life because my parents and sister lived in Germany 1985-1988. My Dad was in the Army and stationed at Panzer Kaserne in southern Germany near Stuttgart. Even though we will not be traveling to this area my families time in Germany is because of Germany's history. Panzer Kaserne was used in WWII and it is where the Germans stored their tanks. While my dad was there it was during the Cold War and the Americans were their to protect Germany and Europe.
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| Panzer Kaserne Main Gate |
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Most Americans only associate Germany with WWII, Nazis, and the Holocaust. I attended public school and through my education what I learned about Germany was solely related to the Holocaust. I was always fascinated by the Holocaust and I am not sure where this fascination stemmed from. Maybe it is from my Grandmother's family Jewish heritage; their last name is Lieberstein. I remember reading many stories about the Holocaust; Milkweed, Night, and The Diary of Anne Frank to name a few. Since I have been studying I have learned so much more about the Holocaust from more than just books. I have analyzed first hand accounts, read books, viewed films, and really focused on the lives of Germans during this time period. The chance to visit a concentration camp this December is going to be a very sobering experience, something that is giving me mixed emotions. I look forward to the experience, but at the same time I feel saddened by what I will be walking into.
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| Saschenhausen Main Gate |
Overall, I am eagerly awaiting for this coming December. I am going to be fulfilling a life-long dream of mine; visiting Germany. I will be getting to experience so much more than I thought I would. I am going abroad, somewhere that isn't Cancun. I am going abroad with people I do not know that well. This is going way out of the comfort zone and I cannot wait for what I am going to experience and what I am going to learn about myself.
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