Chelsea: The Long Journey

Preparing for take-off with Air Berlin at JFK on Friday March 9th

Oswiecim (more infamously known by its German name Auschwitz) is where we will be staying and spending much of our time

After many long and grueling hours of travel we have finally made it to Oswiecim, Poland (pronounce it like "Oshviensheem" - that's my best guess at Polish phonetics)! We left JFK airport on the evening of Friday March 9th and after about seven hours of air travel, two hours of poor sleep, and a six hour time difference, we arrived in Berlin, Germany to connect to our flight to Krakow, Poland. The airport was extremely busy and crowded and we had to rush to connect - unfortunately there was no time to purchase any German souvenirs! - but we eventually made it and here I am now, writing you all from Poland!

The forty-five minute drive from Krakow to Oswiecim provided a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Polish landscape and culture. We were driven by a local retired policeman named Andre; he does not speak English but is a very kind man nonetheless, and what a lead-foot! I realized that in Poland they drive on the same side of the road as we do in the States, contrary to my previous belief. People also drive REALLY FAST! The landscape is fairly flat in this region with a few hills and a great deal of farmland dotted with small communities. However, Poland is not free from the grips of American commercialism- there is a KFC right down the road in Oswiecim! The architecture here is very interesting; what seems like a stucco exterior often with tile roofing. Some houses are brightly colored and adorned with beautiful glass work and iron fencing, while others are more simple. Either way, it seems like a unique and charming place and I am looking forward to exploring it further.

The drive to the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer in Oswiecim (where we will be staying and learning for the next week) also reminded me of why we are here. Along the route from Krakow to Oswiecim there are many bus stops. I do not speak or read Polish, but I did not need any knowledge of the language to understand what I saw spray-painted on one of these bus stops: a Star of David covered over by a big and threatening X. From our readings and class time in preparation from this trip I have learned that there are still many anti-Semitic feelings present in Poland even after the war, but seeing this with my own eyes really drove the message home.

We had a very warm welcome to the Centre from the reception staff as well as Sister Mary from the Centre's education department. The building itself is absolutely beautiful and provides a peaceful and relaxing environment which I anticipate will help us absorb all that we are about to learn in the next week. We learned a bit about why the Centre is here and what its mission is and were also given a respite from any further work so we could rest as we were all weary from our travels. So far we have had two meals here - lunch and dinner - and both were really delicious. I must admit I was a bit skeptical about whether or not I would enjoy the local cuisine. So the day is finally winding down after many long hours of struggling to stay awake. But may we rest up so that we may continue onward with our journey! Tomorrow it is off to Wadowice (the former home of Pope John Paul II) and the town of Oswiecim.