Snow Day #6

So tired of ice storms canceling school, but thankful for the time to catch up on work and get ahead on making some math centers. Here's what's been going on here:

I finished my first half marathon in just under 3 hours! I officially accomplished my goal, and can't believe I did it! Sadly, Tom had some medical issues and couldn't run with me, but he was officially the best supporter/encourager ever. Loved getting to see family, but bummed that we didn't have a lot of free time there to do more. We wanted to stop by the place we got our wedding cake and get something, but it didn't work out. I'm still not sure I'd ever run another half marathon, but I am thinking about running the OKC memorial marathon relay. I still don't love running, but I do enjoy feeling like I'm getting stronger and faster.

We're just two weeks away from the end of my first short course swim team season! I had some kids make age group time cuts, and quite a few move up to the more intense level group. I've officially gotten back into the pool too. I'm trying to go to a few more master's swim practices and get back into competition shape, but it is seriously hard.

I was thinking about this last year. I was not a fan of moving to Norman to live, especially after having a great job in Houston, and I spent most of last year hoping Tom would get transferred somewhere new. I love being married, and I love Tom, but I just wasn't happy with my professional life. It was even worse after one of my close friends moved to Austin. This year, I feel like I've started to make a life for myself here beyond my marriage to Tom. I'm working jobs I love, I'm starting to make more friends, and I feel like I'm somewhere I can keep growing. (But if Tom got an offer to move to Europe, I'd be over there in a heartbeat.)

Life is finally starting to come together, which means that it's going to change somehow....

Why do I never remember to blog?

Probably because between both jobs, attempting to train for the half marathon and life at home, I have no free time!

I've been looking for teacher style blogs and can't seem to find very many. I'd love to see what other elementary teachers are wearing to school and use that for some much needed inspiration for my look.

Maybe I'll just start posting what I wear when I feel like I've pulled a really cute outfit together. Today is definitely not that day though. We have a day off, so I've been lesson-planning in sweatpants and a t-shirt all day.

My swim team kids have a meet next weekend and it's going to be the first meet for quite a few of them! Cross your fingers we don't have too many DQ's and that no one cries! I'm so excited to see how my Dolphins do in the water, because they are a great group and really love swimming. I surprisingly love my 11 year old boys more than I thought I would. It helps that they're sweet kids who want to succeed and know that I'm helping them get there. I also have some awesome girls ranging from 8 to 13 in my group. I don't love that I can shock them when I leave practice in "nice" clothes, but I do love that most of them want to talk to me about their lives.

Let's hope I remember to post more!

I am the worst at blogging.

And I actually do things...so it's not like I don't have things to talk about. But the fact that those things are TWO jobs, and attempting to get back into shape through a boot camp, and wanting to hang out with my husband and kitty means that I have no desire to write anything.

But about those jobs. Last time I wrote here, I'm pretty sure I was jobless after turning down a kindergarten job at the school from last year. Up until the beginning of August, I had no prospects. It was stressful. I cried, a lot, about being a failure and how I was just using all Tom's money and not contributing to our life. Then, I got a random call about a 2nd grade opening at a school in a small town south of Norman. I'd heard nothing but good things about the principal while in undergrad, and so I agreed to interview on a Friday morning. I didn't prepare for the interview, but I did wear my favorite interview outfit. (Clearly, I am nothing but professional when it comes to job interviews.) Let me point out that this school started classes in a week. SEVEN DAYS. In fact, back to school night was on Tuesday, so I'd have to have a room ready by then. So I knew I'd hear soon. 2 hours later, I was back in that town signing a contract to be their newest second grade teacher, then spent the rest of the day and weekend at my school preparing my amazing, beautiful classroom. I am in love with my school, the staff, my students, the culture of working hard and playing hard that everyone has, and I feel like I finally fit into a place. I am totally exhausted, but it's the good kind, where I know I'm working for good and putting everything into it.

This is before I added decorations. Let's just all admire how big it is and that I have windows.

My cubby area. Because I somehow lucked out in the classroom department and get these too.

I have no pictures of classroom/school life right now, but it is going well. If I've done anything, I've taught my kids to greet me and each other by names with handshakes, fist bumps, and hugs. We celebrate each other, and take time to talk about how we make others feel good. We learn, we play games, and we smile tons. I am beyond blessed with the 13 boys and 8 girls I get the privilege of teaching, and I cannot wait to see how far these kids go. I don't know what I'd do without my daily hugs from my boys who aren't too cool to hug a teacher, the compliments from my girls comparing me to Barbie, and the announcements that I am the best teacher EVER. 

Although, these kids somehow assumed that their teacher wasn't game to play like they do, so when we had our Rock and Run obstacle course with a giant slip-n-slide, they were SHOCKED that I was up for it. I ended up covered in mud, soap suds and grass, but I made their day. Evidence below:

muddy shoes, dirty legs, and soaking wet shorts

You can't see the dirt, but it's there.

Dirt/Grass and our neon yellow school shirts.

And as for my other job, I'm now coaching a USS club swim team 5 days a week. I'm head coach for the Dolphins group, which is both terrifying and awesome. I've learned a lot, and my kids are getting better. I co-coach the begining Minnows group which is mostly a group of 6 year olds who are more excited to play in the water than swim. It's chaotic all the time in both groups, but pretty awesome. I'm waiting on a certification card to come in so we can send it off to the state people, and then I'm officially a USA certified swim coach. Oh, and I should probably mention that I started coaching 5 days and working on my certification the same time as I started teaching. It was insane and I have no idea how I did it.

Tom and I love our new house, and Liz Lemon (the kitty) loves it too. She's currently the boss of everything, and we spend way too much time laughing at her "tricks." I highly recommend a kitty to everyone who needs a laugh. Our is still obsessed with golf balls, has become strongly attached to her fabric mouse Mousey, and FINALLY learned the joys of jumping in and out of boxes. She's still a cuddly kitty, but mostly when she wants food.

I put my kitty in a playpen. It was a brilliant idea.

LL + scratching post = TL4E

Somebody doesn't quite fit.

Tom is good. He's still the rational one in the family, which was confirmed when we went to look at cars and I almost fell for every sales pitch ever because I want people to be happy. Thank god for someone who can be strong and not fall for that. He's also the best cook I know, which is probably the reason I've gained way too much weight in 10 months of marriage.

Tom grew a beard, and I learned to wear pink lipstick. 

Finally, I feel like I am where I'm supposed to be. I am so happy with this life we've made here, and all I could ask for would be more people to play board games with us. Seriously people, why do you all hate board games? They are wonderful and so much fun.

Oh, and the workout program I'm doing? Bootcamp lead 3 days a week after school by our custodian. He made us run hills one day and I died. But he's awesome and supportive and tough and knows what he's doing, so I'll keep going. I've already noticed my work ethic is getting better, and I'm able to tough it out through all of a circuit interval.

Oh hey....I forgot I exist.

Dear blog,

Apparently I forgot you exist. The more likely scenario is that I knew you existed but couldn't find the energy to update you on things that have happened since July.

So, I survived job searching. I am currently teaching 2 half-day PreK classes in a school that is the polar opposite of the preschool I taught in in Texas. We have homeless kids, kids from broken homes, kids who've dealt with more bad things happening in their lives by age 10 than I have ever. It's both heartbreaking and inspiring. Which means I am totally exhausted. First year teaching is hard anyway, but I accepted this job a week before teachers reported back to work, and in that time I moved to Oklahoma, so my prep time for it was pretty much nonexistent  It's March and I'm just starting to get into the swing of things, which speaks volumes about how this year is going. BUT, I will survive, and I will send my 35 kids into the world familiar with school, routines, and how to get along with others and hopefully with recognition of all their letters, colors, and shapes. So hopefully they'll all be a little further ahead in Kindergarten than they would otherwise.

 Boyfriend and I are FINALLY married.

And married life in our apartment is pretty much exactly what I hoped for. We (I mean Boyfriend) cook, and I try to bake, and we watch way too many seasons of TV shows the whole way through. Eureka and Warehouse 13, I'm looking at you! And we've developed a love of board games and game nights. I'm so proud of our Tabletop inspired collection, and we've made both of our families play at least 1 game from the show. Also, GO WATCH TABLETOP. I heart it so much.

The wedding was beyond awesome. From the beginning, I wanted it to feel like a family reunion, and it totally did. Everything, and everyone, came together so well and we had the most fun we've ever had. I ripped my wedding dress multiple times, ended up barefoot and covered in sweat from head to toe and loved it all. Seriously, I highly recommend getting an awesome DJ and amazing photographers to capture what happens. I've never been to a wedding with SO MANY PEOPLE dancing all night.

I owe you a post about how everything came together, but all you need to know is how happy I am to have ended up with this life. And how incredibly lucky it feels.

U-S-A!!! U-S-A!!

The Olympics start tomorrow night (Finally!!!) and I will be as glued to my TV as I possibly can be with all the crazy changes happening in my life right now.

In summary, since I don't want to jinx things, I applied for my dream job, got passing grades for my certification tests, and got called about interviewing for a teaching job that would start SO SOON. It's been a crazy five days.

But, to get all of you who aren't already completely stoked about USA swimming excited for the Games, here's my new favorite video EVER.

Brendan Hansen and Lochte are my new crushes. Phelps, sadly, wasn't in the video enough :( On a side note, I can't decide if I want Phelps to dominate at the Games or if I want Lochte to kick his ass in everything. This is totally normal right?

If you do decide to watch all these awesome swimmers show the world how awesome the team is, I will be here ready to cheer with you! After all, I need to put all those years of training for swim meets to use somehow.

PS: I have a major obsession with the Olympics suits you can order. I have one from the 08 Games and I love it. Who wants to get me Team USA swim gear this time around?

PPS: I'm totally excited for the relays. I usually watch them while jumping up and down and screaming.

Two weeks and two days....

I move to Norman on August 4th! I am so excited and ready to start our lives together, but it's surreal that this summer is almost over.

To date, I have:
-Worked 4 weeks of camp with 20 kids each week. That's 4 weeks of learning astronomy, petting animals, 4 trips to see the insects and butterflies, 12 million rationales for why we don't have magic in the US daily life,   getting nipped by an iguana, holding a prickly stick bug, making "potions" and troll boogers until I've memorized the best ratios for success and no mess, and some of the cutest kids I've ever seen. So blessed to have this as my job.
-Put 1000 miles on my car in 2 months. (Houston to Norman and back, Houston to Dallas to Athens to Houston, Houston to Austin and back, and my daily commute downtown)
-Met with the hotel wedding coordinator, planned the reception menu, met with the florist and DJ, taken bridal pictures, had 2 cake tastings, decided on a bakery and flavors, and gotten my hair and makeup trial done.
-Been to my couples and bridal shower! So fun and I can't wait to move all our wonderful presents into our place!
-Moved a carload of my stuff to Tom's place.
-Taken all 3 certification tests.
-Had absolutely zero luck with the job search.

I still haven't:
-Seen the museum's Titanic exhibit
-Gone out downtown
-Seen the new baby giraffe (OMG!!!!) at the zoo
-Figured out what exactly I'm taking to Norman
-Booked a UHaul

I should probably do those things....when I'm not doing everything else. Blogging will resume when I move to Norman, especially if I am jobless. If I get a job, blogging will resume after the wedding and I recover from the inevitable mental breakdown.

Staying Alive...

I apparently forgot all about this blog with everything else going on this summer!

I've been home just over a month and in that time I have:

• Started my summer job teaching summer camps. Hooray for Harry Potter camp all summer for the 2nd year in a row.
• Taken all 3 certification tests for my OK teaching certificate in a week! Now I'm just waiting to see if I passed them all.
• Had a couples shower and a bridal shower thrown for me!! They were both wonderful, and I need to post pictures of them!
• Gotten 2 fittings for my wedding dress done!
• Moved a carload of stuff to Tom's apartment.
• Had way too much American food to eat.

I'll try to update this more next week since it's a break from camp and I'm not super busy everyday!

It's the final countdown..

...until I go home! I've made it through all my classes without losing it, and gotten some pretty awesome goodbye cards and presents from my classes. I even got my first "teacher pen" from Ana so that I can remember her, but there's no way I can forget her, or this year. I've had some amazing teachers, and some not-so-amazing teachers, one of whom told me that I wouldn't be able to give kids the same grade if I was an actual teacher. (That's a whole other post, but I am so frustrated with how she ignored my explanation of why and tried to tell me I couldn't do that if I was a teacher. I've tried, and succeeded with never saying things like that to teachers here because I understand there's a difference in how we teach, and she apparently doesn't get that.)

6th grade bilingual science

I've gotten to know some really awesome teachers and staff who care about my life outside of school and Spain, so I can't wait to keep in touch with them and keep updated on what's going on in Las Marinas. Hopefully I'll be able to send them some good job news, and they're all excited about seeing wedding pictures.

First grade art class. How precious are they?

I finally got my very own Indalo today! It's a symbol that was found in a prehistoric cave, and is now the symbol of the Almeria region. He brings you luck, prosperity and happiness if he's given as a gift, and I got one from my teachers!! So excited, and I hope he brings me lots of luck with everything I've got going on. I also got a sweet card from them, a memory book of the classes/school, and a card from the secretary, Elli, for her daughter's class. I love it!!

Second grade science

Goodbye Las Marinas!!

Going on a bear hunt....

I taught my first grade English the words and motions to We're Going on a Bear Hunt, and it took them a while to get used to it, but they like it. I think they mostly like watching me make a fool out of myself, but I'm fine with that if they love it. This would be such a fun unit to do in preschool, especially if you start off with the book like we did!

To go along with it, their teacher found some awesome activities, including a time line that they can use as we tell the story! I definitely want to do this in my classroom- now I just need a learning skill to match with it!

The beautiful example I made. I love my bear- he's so cute and not scary!

Maestra Ana, my first grade teacher, y yo at my goodbye lunch.

Goodbyes are harder when it really does mean goodbye.

Today was my last day with my 6th grade science class. When I started here, I wasn't really thrilled about having lots of classes with the sixth graders since I have no experience with them, but I am so glad that I got the chance to get to know all of them. I've been to the Sierra Nevadas with them, toured their instituto (high school) with them, and practiced pronunciation of so many new vocabulary words that I'm sure they're tired of hearing me talk. But they have been so much fun. They're definitely not afraid to say what they think, which can be hilarious, especially with the questions they have for me.

Love these kids, and their teacher. I've learned so much from them, and I'm pretty sure they've learned something from me...even if it is just how to pronounce vocabulary.

My second grade science class had their last class with me, and I think they've been the class that's taken it the hardest. I'm not sure what it is about this class, but they really do not want me to leave. I've been getting mobbed for the past few weeks with group hugs, which is both awesome and terrifying since I'm worried someone will get hurt. But they blew me away with the cards they made me. They wrote and drew whatever they wanted, and the cards are the best ego boost I could ever get.

"Becca you are the best in the world and I am going to miss you. With hugs."

"You are my best teacher in the world."

"Thank you for teaching us so many things. We are going to miss you. With love, Blanca"

"Becca is a star." I should frame this somewhere I'll always see it so I can't have a bad day.

"Calendar: I love you a lot. You are my best teacher in the world."

 I have quite a few cards of swans with hearts for my future wedding (I think) and they're all from my boys in the class. I love them. New wedding decorations?

Maestra, estas llorando?!

"Teacher, you're crying!" I'll admit, I teared up quite a bit today during my classes. My first third grade class was super sad to see me go, especially after I gave them candy as a goodbye gift (yes, I'm bribing them to miss me, and yes it's working.), so after lots of hugs, I left them and went to my other third grade class. This class, and teacher, are awesome, and the kids had all made drawings or cards for me. They came up one by one to give me them, and they obviously spent a ton of time and effort on them, which means more to me then anything. When I started reading them, that's when I started tearing up. All of them, including the boys, which is adorable, said they loved me and were going to miss me, and there were pictures of me with them. What really touched me were the ones who made cards for my wedding. It's just awesome that they cared enough to make a card for something in the future.

Me in my wedding dress with some of my students.

Tom and I flying with geese. So cute.

Best marriage advice ever. I have such smart kids.

Later, my first class of third graders came and surprised me with pictures they'd drawn for me, and most of them had written notes on the back of them. So adorable, especially the one who begged me to move my wedding to Las Marinas and to not leave them.

"Seno (short for senorita), no te vayas por fa (por favor). porque no celebras la boda aqui en esta ciudad por fa casarte aqui con Tomas." (Miss, don't go please. Why can't you celebrate the wedding in this city? Please get married here with Tom. And a whole bunch more I need to translate....reading kid writing in Spanish is super hard.)

"For you Rebecca. I love you. You are a best teacher! And you are going to be a GREAT TEACHER! I will miss you!" (Also, I love that we're snorkeling together...I love this girl.)

So, here are some of the cards, mostly the wedding related ones, with one that just makes me laugh because it's from one of my boys who I was unware of having a crush on me. Wonder how Tom will feel about it?

From Jose. "Good bye, have a good trip", and on the inside, another heart exactly like it.

I guess I should add the pictures of my classes huh? I love that there's always a mad scramble to be standing next to me. Poor Joel  really wanted to be right next to me, but he's too short to be in the back, so he got pushed to the front. I feel so loved today.

Third graders are silly, and adorable, and awesome.

Another class, just as silly. 

Why Are You Going to the States?

I'm leaving Spain for good in eight days! I've been counting down to this for a long time, and now that it's here, I wish it would all just slow down and I could have more time with the students here. Preparing my kids for me leaving has been tough. To them, I may be American, but I live in Spain. Why would I want to go back to the States? We've explained that I've got my family there, and I'm getting married, but then they want to know when I'm coming back. I must be soft-hearted, because I am incapable of telling my sweet little kids that I don't forsee me coming back to Spain to live anytime soon, if ever. So I just tell them I won't be back next year.

I think my favorite has been Loles, a first grader, who kept asking questions about it. I told her I was going to be a teacher, and that I hoped I'd be teaching first grade. She thought about that, and then asked if I'd be teaching in English and was shocked that I said yes. I explained, again, that we speak English in the States, which was mind-blowing to her. She processed that, thought about it, and then wanted to know if my boyfriend (they say novio here for boyfriend/fiance, so it's not like they don't know that I'm getting married) spoke English. She was astonished that he could. So Tom is super cool now, which I'm sure he loves...being discussed by unknown first graders.

Today, in another first grade class, we explained that I was leaving, and where I was going and why, which was enough for most of them. Hugo, who is always thinking/participating/involved, had a question. I heard it in Spanish, but didn't think I'd heard it right, but the teacher translated, and he wanted to know if I knew Scooby Doo, because he loves Scooby Doo. I said yes, I knew the show, and then he wanted to know if it was in English in the States. I love what they associate with me and the States, especially when it seems so random.

My 6th grade English class had a treasure hunt today for something special since it was my last day with them, and they loved it! They got to run around outside, find tickets and redeem tickets for candy- who doesn't love that? Afterwards, when we told them it was my goodbye "present" for them, I got a huge round of applause, led by some the boys. I'm alternately exasperated and pleased with those boys, but I know we've made a connection because they'll always stop and say hi in the halls, and aren't too cool for that, even if they're with friends, so it meant a lot to me. It kept going, and the whole class was applauding, which was both awesome and awkward. I'm not sure if they're applauding because of me and the work I did with them or because I brought them candy today, but I'll take it either way.

I'm so lucky to have made such good relationships with the teachers and students here, and I'm grateful that I've gotten to do more then just teach from books, and have been able to put my interests and personality into the activities, because those are what are the most fun for us. I can't wait to do that for a full-time job in the States! But mostly, I'm so thankful that my kids are so hilarious, smart, adorable, fun, sweet and awesome. I've gotten to spend this year with the coolest kids ever, and they're all going to do great next year! Wish I could be there to see them graduate and move on to the next grade!

For your entertainment...

....I present my first grade art class singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider. They just learned it, so they aren't great with the words, but they're getting the motions! Also, please ignore my terrible voice! I had a sore throat last week, and they don't know the words well enough to do it without me!

This might be my favorite class. These boys have crushes on me, and they are so adorable. They want to say hi to me all the time. The whole class, especially those boys, loves to tell me how pretty I look that day...I'll miss that! I look forward to their classes every week because I get to talk to them as they work, so we know each other pretty well.

Tom: This is Abi, Yulan, Carlos, Alex and Jose's class....the boys who I always have stories about!!

Dachau Memorial Site

This is not going to be a happy post. There is no way to explain what it felt like to be there and walk where people died and were buried as if they were subhuman. I'll try to keep it from being too detailed and graphic, but we did go inside the torture bunker, along with a gas chamber and crematoriums. I'm not trying to upset people, but I've been impacted by this, and I think everyone should educate themselves.

Not going to lie, the second thing I knew I wanted to do when we decided on Munich was visit Dachau. One of my favorite (weird word choice, but so true) classes at OU was my class on the Holocaust. We learned about the treatment of Jews in Europe before the 20th century, studied Hitler's rise to power and legislation, the planning of the Holocaust, and then discussed how Jews, Germany and the world are dealing with, and learning from, it. It was one of the hardest classes I took, but I got to learn so much about human nature. After that class, I really wanted to visit, and learn, about a former camp.

Walking to "Welcome Square"

Godforsaken. Those are replicas of barracks. We didn't go to them.

We did a guided tour, which was the best decision we made that week. Our tour guide is working on her Master's degree related to educating visitors about the camp and the atrocities that happened there, so she was incredibly passionate about it all. The first thing she asked us was why we were there and what we wanted to get from it. Which is a really good question...why was I there? For me, I went there to honor those who suffered and died there, to educate myself about what intolerance and hate can do, and so that I can teach the next generation about it.

Entrance to the Torture Bunker. See how long it is? It's just as long on the other side. 

The torture bunker is on the right, entrance building on the left.

Dachau is officially called a memorial site, or a former concentration camp. It was the first camp Hitler opened, and since it was liberated in 1945, it was open for the entirety of the Third Reich. I didn't know that 3/4 of the camp was surrounded by a Nazi training school for those men who would eventually work in other camps. Apparently the "Dachau method" was considered the best, and men were sent there to learn how to physically, and mentally, break people.

Guard Tower

If you tried to escape, you'd have to make it in and out of the ditch, across the grass without being shot,
through the electric fence and barbed wire, and then through a river. And in most places,
you'd end up in a Nazi training camp

When Dachau opened, it had mostly political prisoners. The barracks were made to hold 100 people originally (the camp was originally supposed to hold around 5000 people), but when it was liberated, people were sleeping 6-7 people per bunk, and there were 32,000. Walking into the camp and viewing Roll Call Square, it is so incredibly huge, empty and lifeless. I can't imagine 32,000 prisoners there.

It was interesting to walk through the museum and have our guide give us more information about things there. I had never known about how the Nazis arranged everything to present themselves as humans and high above the prisoners (inhuman). The prison buildings are one story, while the Nazi buildings and watchtowers are 2 or more. Even the pictures the Nazis took are above eye level. She stopped us in front of a picture of men waiting to be processed into the camp, which was placed next to a picture of prisoners during roll call. The prisoners have no individuality left, and cannot stand with their hands in their pockets, or look the Nazis in the eye, while the men waiting to go in still have their normal clothes and are standing however they want. The picture of the prisoners is from above, while the one of the men waiting is from eye level.

Beams used to be here. They used to hang prisoners from them and torture them.

Where you'd shower when you came into the camp.

Walking through the torture bunker was so mournful. Once you walk in the door, there are hallways to your left and right, and they seem to go on forever. All you can see are doors into cells. Looking into the tiny rooms, I can't imagine being left there for a day, let alone totured over and over for months. Apparently the Nazis would leave a rusty knife with the prisoners and tell them they could decide when to end it. What would you have done?

Blurry, but the door to a cell.

Inside a cell

At the end of the tour, we walked over to the crematorium and gas chamber. The chamber at Dachau wasn't used for mass killings like the ones at Auschwitz, but it was used to kill small groups, which is still disgusting. Walking in, the room felt completely different. It was dark in many of the small rooms already, but it was somehow worse then any other room. Walking out into the crematorium and looking at the ovens, some stil with the stretchers pulled out, was so surreal. How could people willingly do this?

Crematorium/gas chambers. The Nazis wanted it to look "homey". That's disgusting.

"Showers" and the entrance to the gas chamber. This makes me sick.

Disturbing on so many levels. That hole on the bright wall is where the Krylon B was put from the outside.

Where the poison gas went.

Oven.

I can't imagine having to work these when the camps were functional.

So sad.

As we were leaving the camp, the Catholic memorial's bell started tollling. It rings at the hour Christ is supposed to have died, and it was the only sound we could hear in the camp as we walked past the spots where all the barracks used to be. It was so desolate and still, and hearing only a bell toll seemed so fitting. In memory of those who lived, died and survived there, I want to educate the next generation about what hate can do. This should not happen again, but it still is, in different forms, with different names. We need to be the ones who make it stop everywhere. I'll be teaching my students to respect the lives of all they meet, regardless of similarities and differences, in the hopes that I'll teach them that no one is more important than another, and that all life is sacred.

I don't remember what this says, but it has a former prisoner on it. How can you tell?

The memorial. Never Again.

Every bed with stones was a foundation for a barrack. This is only a part of one side

Catholic and Jewish memorials. That's the bell we heard.