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.

Two Weeks!

I know, I haven't written about the rest of my trips, including Morocco and Granada, but I'm just not going to be a travel blogger. I can't stay interested in uploading pictures, which takes forever for some reason, and then write exciting things about what I did. I'd rather update you guys on life!

I will be flying home in exactly FOURTEEN DAYS. It's so surreal. I'm thrilled, but at the same time, I'm so sad to leave my school, kids and teachers. We've officially started the goodbyes, and it's no fun. I got mobbed by 10 third graders asking me to come back next year, and when I told them I couldn't because I was getting married in November, they asked their teacher for a party in honor of me on that day. Cutest kids ever! I also taught them the Bear Hunt chant, which was hilariously awesome. They were super into it, and I got to be over the top, so I loved it. I'm teaching it to my first graders next week!

Speaking of my first graders, Ana's class gave me a picture frame with a class picture in it! I'm even in the picture! So cute, and I'm going to miss them, and Ana, so much. I help her out with projects a lot, so I think her kids feel possessive of me, and they're sad that I'm leaving already. We're learning about pets for the current English unit, and one of the skills is talking about what animals have tails, fins, ears, wings, or legs. Ana and I made a game to help practice the words, and played it like Simon Says. We gave each word a motion, and they have to do the correct motion when we say the word. We played 3 games since they weren't happy with just playing 1, and Ana and I could barely see what they were doing we were laughing so hard. I'm going to get a video next week, because watching little kids make fins, tails, and whiskers with their hands is awesome.

In real life news, I'm officially on the schedule for Summer Camp! I always get nervous that I won't get invited back, or that I won't get weeks, but I got the email about orientation, so I'll be at my favorite place in the world for at least part of the summer. It's almost Summer Camp Season! This basically sums up my feelings about this time of year, minus the purple hearts and free drinks.

In better real life news, I'm in the process of scheduling my first interview for a teaching job! It's for 3 positions at a school between OKC and Norman, and could be a really good fit for me. Sorry I'm being vague, but since it's not official, and since I still have to interview, I'm keeping details off the internet. If you want to know more, let me know and I'll tell you! I'm really excited, but nervous that it won't work out and I won't get more interviews since I'm still completing certification, so if you could keep your fingers crossed for me, that would be awesome! I'm holding out hope that there's a perfect job for me that would give me a chance to keep working on my Spanish and teach K or 1st, and is a school with a good spirit and joy like I had for my student teaching. It's a lot, but I'm hopeful!

**UPDATE- I'm not getting an interview with the school anytime soon because they'll be on summer vacation by the time. I'll be in the States. So that's that.

Wedding planning is so laid back right now, but it stresses me out because I feel like I should be doing something. We had some drama with people in the wedding or helping us prepare, but it's pretty much all settled now, so hopefully we've moved past the big drama. Although invitations haven't gone out, so I guess we're in for some more when that happens.

Love you all tons and tons and I can't wait to see you very, very soon! In honor of me being terrible with posts, here's a picture of me on a camel. And one of me petting a baby camel.

Precious little baby. We were all fans.

Coolest and scariest moment of the entire trip.

PS- Did you know camels get up and down in stages and that you are either feeling like you'll fall forward off the camel or feeling like you'll fall off backwards? But I did ride without my hands at one point!

Sleeping Beauty Castle!

Tom and I decided to take a guided tour out to see Neuschwanstein Castle, and on the way, we stopped at another castle, Linderhof, built by the same King, Ludwig II. I was not looking forward to the trip since it was grey and rainy in Munich, but it was sunny for us! And I may have had a minor meltdown when we pulled into the town and the side of  Neuschwanstein Castle that we saw was covered in scaffolding and I was worried it would all be like that and I would have terrible pictures of something I've wanted to visit for forever!

Waiting for the tour of Lindehof.

I'm sure this is prettier in summer.

Love him.

I honestly wasn't a fan of the first castle. It was small, and since it was modeled after Versailles, it was really over the top. In a small space, that just doesn't work for me- I ended up feeling closed in. The gardens were pretty, but I'm sure they're a thousand times better in the summer when they're green and the fountains are working!

The outside of Lindehof.

At least I got to see snow!

 I did get to take a picture next to a giant swan, so that was exciting. I should really make an album of all the awkward pictures I have next to animals...it's going to be awesome.

I would have gotten closer, but it was staring me down.

On the way to the castle, we stopped in a small town where the houses are painted with biblical and fairy tale scenes. Thankfully, we were able to find a Christmas ornament store there, so we have 2 small ornaments from Germany! We didn't get to take pictures of some of the really cool houses we saw driving in,  but it was a cute little town that would be fun to visit again!

I think Once Upon A Time could be filmed here.

When we got to the town below Neuschwanstein, we had some time for a quick lunch, then we headed up to the castle. We took a bus and then walked up to the "hanging bridge" (to quote my wonderful boyfriend) to take pictures of the castle. I was freaking out about having to go out on a bridge up that high, especially since I thought it was going to be old and scary. Apparently it's quite sturdy, even if it is old, but the boards still shake when people walk past you, which terrified me. Tom was fairly certain I'd cry and have a panic attack, but I did surprisingly well. Not only did we get some great pictures, I walked all the way across the bridge and back just to prove that I could. If that doesn't sound like a big deal to you, you obviously don't know how much I detest heights and that I get freaked out looking over high balconies sometimes.

After I hiked across the bridge and back. So proud and excited!

My Prince Charming. (You knew that was coming).

See that bridge?

That's where we stood. 

We had some time to wait around in the courtyard before our tour started, so we took some pictures, and I amused myself by watching a little girl count the steps from one courtyard to another. When she got stuck on a number I helped her, and I basically became her counting guide. When she finally made it to the bottom, she turned around to ask me what she'd counted to, then ran off to tell her family. Sorry if I freaked them out, but she was so cute, and so serious about it all that I had to help her!

I like making him smile for pictures.

Perfect for a destination wedding right?

Afterwards, we tried to ride back down in a carriage but apparently you need to buy the tickets for it before you go up, so we hiked all the way down. I did make us stop for ice cream when we got to the bottom since I was denied my carriage ride, but I don't think Tom minded. After that, we headed back to Munich to eat more delicious food and drink some more beer. It was such a long day, but I've finally seen the Sleeping Beauty Castle! I can check it off my life list!

It's the Little Things

I miss so many things about the States, many of them people and food. My dream "welcome home present," which I've just made up, is a big box filled with little things I've mentioned missing when I talk to Tom or anyone else.

I miss:
-Candy for holidays
-Target
-Chick-fil-A and sweet tea
-Slushes from Sonic
-Tabloid magazines
-Kraft mac and cheese
-Spaghettios (yes, I am a 6 year old)
-Driving my car
-Starbucks! I get seriously excited when I see a Starbucks, and usually get something.
-Bookstores where I can read all the covers.
-My kitty
-Good milkshakes! I had a terrible milkshake today and it was depressing.
-Redbox
-Microwave popcorn
-Burt's Bees chapsticks
-The Gap



I will be in a huge shopping mode when I come home. Good thing I won't have any money!

The Hills are Alive...

Tom and I met in Munich, stayed in a hotel close to the bahnhof (train station- the one word I know and I learned it from my mom), and then headed out to Salzberg to spend a day and a night there.

On the train.

I LOVED Salzburg and I didn't expect to. I was excited about the Sound of Music tour that I was hoping to do, but didn't have an interest in the city otherwise. I was so wrong. Our hotel was gorgeous and in the old part of the city, so I loved that.

Tom immediately got us out and exploring the city. We hiked up to the fort on the hill above Salzberg, which was not okay since it was incredibly steep and kept going forever. I demanded that we ride the funicular down, and it was totally worth it, even if it was a little terrifying.

Back of the fortress.

View from the wall.

The fort was cool, and so old and big! On a guided tour, we got to go up to the watch tower on top and see amazing views of Salzberg and the Alps. Slowly but surely, I'm facing my fear of heights and balconies so that I can take amazing pictures and remember where we got to go.

I seriously love this man. 

Salzberg from the lookout tower.

We walked around the old part of town, visited Mozart's cathedral, did some window shopping, found a chocolate store that had delicious champagne truffles, and had the best Italian food for dinner. I desperately missed Italian, so it was great to get some and to have it be so delicious that I ate all my food and a whole dessert, plus a little of Tom's food. Eating will be a theme of the trip, by the way!

Mozart's Cathedral

The next day, Tom graciously indulged my love of musicals and we went on a sing-a-long Sound of Music tour. I felt so bad for Tom at first. Not only did he learn tons of facts about a movie he didn't remember well, but he also had me singing all the songs, and telling him exactly what happened at each location.

We stopped by the house they used for the back of the Von Trapp house and the lake, and it was just as gorgeous in real life!

Then we drove over to see the house that was used for the front of the Von Trapp mansion, and got to see where the gazebo from the movie had been rebuilt! Sadly, they wouldn't let us take pictures inside, but at least we have a picture of us in front of it! Tom wouldn't dance with me, otherwise there would have been a whole photo shoot of me pretending I was Liesl, which I totally did in my head the whole morning anyway.

Avenue from the "I have confidence" song!

This was a surreal moment.

The Von Trapp house!

We drove out into the Lake District where they filmed some of the landscapes and the iconic field in the mountains, and that's when Tom decided the tour was pretty awesome. The views were gorgeous, and the town of Wannsee, where they filmed the wedding in the abbey, was so pretty! We've found a place we could definitely want to go back and spend more time in!

Heaven on earth.

 Also, getting to see where the wedding was filmed was awesome, but since it was Palm Sunday, the front of the church was covered in purple cloth, so it wasn't as I remembered from the movie. but I did get to walk down the aisle like Maria did! (Seriously, this day was basically me pretending I was in the movie. It was glorious.)

Awkward, but good shot from Tom!

The tour ended at the gardens where Maria and the children filmed Do Re Mi, so of course we visited most of the scenes from the garden and the song! Who didn't want to be in that movie when they were a kid? Exactly. 

The gardens.

Pegasus fountain! No, I didn't run around it. I'd have fallen in, and that'd be cold!

The dwarf they pat on the head. Apparently I like this pose for exciting moments...

The covered walkway!

We're adorable.

The statues!

The bridge they run over.

Afterwards, we had a little time until we wanted to catch a train, so we found a Christmas store and proceeded to buy Christmas stockings and ornaments for our Christmas tree!! If you know me at all, you'll know how exciting this was to me. And our stockings look like what I grew up with, and therefore seem more legitimate to me. Hooray! Overall, we loved Salzburg, and I wish we'd had more time there, but we had to get back to Munich for our tours there!

Next time: Munich, and lots about food.

I'm still here!

I've been so busy with traveling for the past month that I usually spend my free time during the week preparing for the next trip, and I completely forgot about the blog! Sorry guys! I have tons to update you on, like my trips to Portugal, Germany, and even Morocco!

I'm 6 weeks away from being home, and it's both incredibly exciting and terribly sad. I'll miss this school. It's become my home now. I feel at home there, I'm always greeted by teachers and kids, and I've even memorized most of the names of the kids I see once a week!

Side note: I saw Joel in the office today and he got all smiley when I greeted him by name. I also had 2 escorts to class after recreo today, along with about a million hugs from my kids. And I still love the whispered comments about how I'm "guapa" or how they get all excited when I say I have "un novio."

But I'm starting the home stretch! I've got a couple trips planned and then I plan on spending all my time packing and relaxing on the beach. Although the beach part depends on the crazy winds dying down. I fear for my sliding door sometimes!

Anyway, I promise I'm working on updates. I just hate uploading pictures because it's so slow!!

Un abrazo fuerte,
B