LA MANCHA  lifestep

ROMANIA - POLAND

              The La Mancha experience was something that I will remember for the rest of my life. On the trip I learned to see the world, history, my heritage and life itself in another perspective. The trip allowed me to become closer to my peer group and have some time for vacation. I learned so much on the trip about Romanian and Polish culture and history: for example Ceausescu’s Communist rule over Romania until 1989 or what life was life in Krakow as a Jewish person during World War 2. More than an educational experience or a vacation time, it gave me a chance to give back to others and see the world and America from another angle. The most powerful and impactful events of the trip for me personally were visiting Auschwitz and the Romanian orphanage.  Jesse K.

La Mancha was a very interesting experience. I had a lot of fun meeting Romanian teens and villagers and looking at all the historical buildings in Poland. And I have to mention going to Auschwitz. I had a really good time in the village, it was so simple there, and it reminded me a lot of my intervention experience without me having to hit the deck, save for one time in fun. I also liked being able to give back. I really enjoyed helping build the retaining walls. Then there were our hosts in the village, they were so kind. Next came our teen hosts—meeting them was really awkward at first, but then as we ate lunch together and spent more time my new Romanian friend and I became very close, talking a lot. I got to see how she and I and other young adults all around the world are similar.  The long train ride to Poland was an experience in itself. I got to talk to a young American, Mike, who had been traveling Europe since December. Then there were all the passport checkers that came at all hours of the night. But once we were in Poland I fell in love with all the wonderful architecture. Every building seemed to have a story and history all its own. Auschwitz was an experience like no other. It was really hard to be there and look at and listen to all the terrible things that happened there, to hear how cruel and sadistic people can be to one another and how something like that could happen so easily. I was also really mad at how disrespectful so many of the kids touring with other groups were, for example posing for goofy pictures in front of the gallows, where the head of the camp had been hung, and all the graffiti that covered the walls. It was really sad because it seemed like this generation doesn’t even really care. And that means that it will just be that much easier for stuff like that to happen again. But, over all it was a really good experience. I liked a lot more than I disliked. And I am really happy that I went with the group I did, because everyone was great, both staff and students.  Amy K.

Eve Schroeder

I thought that it was interesting seeing a Romanian high school.  I learned that high school kids in Romania work very hard and the school requirements seem harder than the ones in the United States.  The students don’t get an hour lunch break and their school hours are longer than ours.  In Romania you have to get a certain score to go to the school of your choice.  It’s very competitive, and very different from our public schools.

Poland looked a lot different than Romania.  The economy in Poland seems to be doing better.  It is more modernized, the buildings are pretty, and everything seems more developed and “touristy.”

When we first arrived at Auschwitz, it was not what I expected.  At first I was a little disturbed that it was such a big tourist attraction, and I thought that it was sort of disrespectful to the victims.  I learned however that people were there to learn more about it and to see where this horrific event took place.  Seeing all the pictures and the hair, shoes, clothes, dishware, glasses, etc. was really sad.  When I saw all the baby clothes and shoes I really started to tear up.  It made me sad seeing the firing wall, cells, and the gas chamber.  It made me really upset and angry because I just couldn’t imagine how anyone could think about doing these kinds of things.

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