Expectations

For as long as I can remember, the Holocaust and the Nazis have fascinated me. I love reading books about all aspects of World War II and its impact on Europe, but the Holocaust is especially interesting to me as it hits close to home. Two of my grandparents were forced to flee Germany in the 1930s, and some of my other relatives ended up in concentration camps or were killed by the Nazis. I even had a great uncle who was captured on Kristallnacht  and ended up in Dachau. He was able to escape and lived long enough for me to meet him; I remember at dinner parties when he would tell stories about his experience at Dachau and show us the branded number on his arm. For this reason, I am really excited but nervous to visit Dachau on this trip. I have heard that visiting a concentration camp is often a life-changing experience even if the Holocaust is not part of your family background. The Nuremburg Trials and the Nazi officials who escaped Germany after the war is one aspect of the Holocaust that I have not studied in depth, and I am really excited for the opportunity to learn more about it.

The Holocaust aside, European history is one of my favorite subject to study. This will be my first experience travelling to Europe, and I have always wanted to visit Germany, Austria, and Italy. I am really excited to visit the Renaissance towns in Italy and attend mass at the Duomo in Milan. I have also heard that the Cinque Terre is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable places in the world. This trip will be the opportunity of a lifetime! I can't wait!