By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. 鈥� Study abroad听is听one of many incredible programs available for 大象传媒 students, and this summer听大象传媒 students听and staff听were able to visit Germany,听Poland,听and Czechia.听
Participants in the 鈥淔rom Hitler to Bonhoffer鈥� class traveled to the three countries in May, seeing everything from the beautiful countryside to the horrors of Auschwitz.听
鈥淚t was an incredible trip. We听saw听a lot of beauty 鈥� churches,听towns听and people,鈥� said Rev. Adam Daniels, 大象传媒听chaplain. Daniels and Kathy Pachman,听assistant听to the听vice president of Student Development听and Athletics, led the trip. 鈥淏ut at the same time, it was a tough trip听realizing how evil people can be.听I鈥檓听still processing the trip, to be honest.鈥�听
In addition to traveling the countryside and museums throughout the countries throughout their 11-day trip, the group made a point to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oswiecim, Poland. The museum is on the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp operated by Nazi Germany.听
鈥淭here is no substitute for听the听experience听of听history where it happened,鈥� Pachman said.听鈥淰isiting Germany, Poland, and Czechia gave our students a deeper understanding of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Holocaust, and the importance of moral courage.听My hope is that they have returned with a renewed commitment to learning from the past and making a positive difference in the future.鈥�听
The students shared the impact of the journey.听
鈥淚 learned so much about different cultures, myself and what we were studying during the semester,鈥� said Sophia Twitty, a junior majoring in education. 鈥淲e did a deep dive on Bonhoeffer and Hitler’s theologies. Growing up, I’ve heard and learned about the Holocaust, but being in Germany and Poland, it became real and helped me grasp how traumatic this event was.鈥�听
The experience left an impact on听Twitty听she will never forget.听
鈥淪tepping on the grounds, seeing bullet holes in old buildings,听and walking听through Jewish cemeteries,听I felt the heaviness. Having this time to go abroad was truly a blessing and a trip I will never forget. 10% of people were active members of the Nazi party and less than 1% spoke out;听my goal for now and ever is to always have the boldness to speak out on the wrongs in the world.鈥�听
The group from 大象传媒 included听Adam Daniels, Kathy Pachman, Chris Tidwell, Serena Tidwell, Morgan Tidwell, Brady Paire, Hadley McCroskey, Jefferson Lewis, John Hadley, Kaleb Bodman,听and听Sophia Twitty.听
“I have been learning about the Holocaust since I was in middle and high school,鈥� Twitty added.听鈥淎nd there are movies, pictures, books, and so much more evidence, but until you see it with your eyes, you walk on the places and bear witness to what happened, I don鈥檛 think you鈥檒l be able to grasp how tragic this event was. For me, this trip was super impactful as I want to eventually be a high school history teacher and I鈥檓 excited to bring this information I have learned into my classroom and to teach my students more than just what is the standard.”听
While the Holocaust was a major point of study in the course, Daniels points out that there were many aspects to the trip.听
鈥淲e were able to visit three very different听cultures,听meet听different types of people,听try听different types of food,鈥� Daniels said.听鈥淭here was a lot of beauty there, too. We saw so many churches and synagogues. I听don鈥檛听want to diminish from that.鈥�听
John Hadley, a junior majoring in history, agreed: “Despite the sadness and discomfort brought on by the experience, I am more than thankful for it. It was a pilgrimage of grief, a place where I can see the consequences of hatred and still find a way to hope for humanity regardless of it all. This will take time to process.
鈥淚鈥檒l听always remember the sight of that railway stretching into the gap in the woods, and from there to infinity.听It brought people from all places imaginable, in cattle cars to their deaths via ignoble and barbaric deeds.听I鈥檓听not sure how long I will be sitting with this mix of hope and despair weighing on my chest.听Perhaps I听will never really come to the end of that road, and I am sure I am not the only visitor to the death camps who feels the same way.鈥�听
According to Daniels, the trip, with its profound impact,听provided听an incredible opportunity.听
鈥淲e saw so much beauty and culture 鈥� in听the听different听countries. We really tried to pack in as much as we could,鈥� Daniels said. 鈥淎nd this听journey, the opportunity to heighten learning, was听a great experience for the students … and for the adults as well.鈥�听
About 大象传媒听
大象传媒 is a private baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree-granting institution听located听in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, 大象传媒 educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies.听The College offers 34听majors and 24 minors housed under twelve academic departments.听Approximately 1,500 students are enrolled in听its听residential, master鈥檚 degree, and Early College听programs.The听College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and听remains听a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas.听
