Tuesday, May 6, 2014

The Excitement Builds!

7:41 PM EthanS
Hey everyone!

It sounds like everyone’s just as excited as me to fly off to Europe! Just wanted to share a little tad about myself. My name is Ethan Sellers and I’m a senior at CC this year. I thought this trip would be a great way to cap my undergraduate career, but as it turns out, you’ll see my face around campus once again this fall! I’m a political science major with a minor in legal studies and I’m planning to go to law school in the future, maybe international law. I’m currently taking Central European Politics with Dr. Kessel in conjunction with our trip. We've been studying the political transition from WWII through the Cold War to the collapse of Central European Communism and the integration with Western Europe.

Studying politics in the region has peaked my interest in some areas that were significant to the 1989 revolutions. The closer historical ties a country had the West, the faster they loosened the grip of the Communist Party. The revolutions started in Poland and snowballed to stir protest in Hungary, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia and so on. The protests overtook their respective communist governments more rapidly as inspiration from the other movements flowed from nation to nation.


So far for the Central and Eastern Europe course, a main focus of mine has been that of Czechoslovakia. The revolution here is known as the “Velvet Revolution” for its peaceful methods. The protesters sufficiently dethroned the communist party there in a matter of days starting in mid-November of 1989. Massive protests were held in the famous Wenceslas Square in the capital, Prague, and modern festivals and gatherings take place there today.


On January 16th, 1969, a 20 year-old Jan Palach set himself on fire enraged at the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in Wenceslas Square. Almost twenty-one years later the site blew up again and forced the administration there to resign. 

The site is huge and serves the icon of the city! It’s filled with shops, hotels, restaurants, and memorials and will make a great stop in our tour.

I’m excited to see you all there!
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Monday, May 5, 2014

So Close But Yet So Far

11:00 AM Justin Davis
Hello Columbia College Travelers!

My name is Justin Davis and I am a Political Science major with Criminal Justice and Administration, Legal Studies and a Philosophy minors. I am taking a 3-credit hour course, Politics of Central Europe, which focuses on the rise and fall of communism in Eastern Europe. For this class I have researched the city of Budapest and located a few landmarks/places/monuments that are of significance to communism.


(Cells in House of Terror)
(House of Terror Museum)
I have come to find that Hungary took a very unique path during the rise and fall of communism after WWII. Immediately after the war ended, the Soviet Union’s influence and strength over Hungary, Budapest in particular, was too strong to fight. Before the Soviets controlled the city of Budapest, Nazi Germany had a secret police headquarters in which those who opposed communism would be tortured and interrogated. The Soviets later took over the secret police headquarters and began to practice the same techniques that the Nazi’s did. The building is now called the House of Terror and the holding cells in the basement have been left in the same condition the Soviets left them in.


(The Budapest Ghetto)
Budapest had one of the largest remaining Jewish populations in Eastern Europe at the end of WWII. Although Hungary remained friendly with Germany, Hungarian Jews in Budapest were largely left alone until the concluding years of Nazi control. The Jewish community in Hungary began to be grouped in the Budapest Ghetto where they were separated and killed or shipped to a concentration camp.




(Statue on top of Gellért Hill)
After the revolutions of 1989, the Hungarian people tore down almost all of the Soviet/communist icons in Budapest. One of the icons that was not destroyed is the statue that sits upon Gellért Hill. Gellért Hill is one of the tallest locations in downtown Budapest that looks over many historic sites. This location would be a great place to visit as the sun goes down because of the great view it offers over the city. The statue was originally erected by the Soviets but when the Soviets began to give more freedom to the Eastern European states under Gorbachev, the meaning of the statue changed to honor the Hungarians that fought for the freedom of Hungary.

Hungary was one of the first countries that had a large opposition to communism before Gorbachev allowed more freedom and one of the first countries that had begun implementing economic changes. After the revolutions of 1989, Hungary experienced what is known as shock therapy. Shock therapy is when a country rapidly changes its economy. Hungary’s transition to a capitalist system was a great success, although it did experience some hard times. One of the main reasons for Hungary’s success was its willingness to allow foreign direct investment.

(1956 Uprising - Statue of General József Bem)
The uprisings that occurred in Budapest in 1956 marked the beginning of the fight against Soviet rule. Hungary was far more educated than many of the Eastern European countries and the Students of Hungary took to the streets to protest Soviet control. The protests were crushed by the Soviet Union but the uprising showed that there may be enough opposition to Soviet control to gain independence in the future. The uprising began around the statue of Polish General József Bem, which would be another great site to visit.

The official separation from Soviet control began when the 150-mile long fence that separated Hungary from Austria was removed. This allowed many East Germans to escape to the west. The following year Socialism took hold of the government and after the first free elections, Hungary rapidly embraced the western market and government. The soviet model of government was left behind and Hungary began its path to be a successful European country.
(Soviets leaving Hungary)
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Friday, May 2, 2014

Holocaust Remembrance

3:34 PM Anonymous
Greetings, friends and fellow travelers!

Yes, we are getting close to our departure time.  Meanwhile, on the home campus, Study Abroad and the History/Political Science Dept. sponsored a related event, a Holocaust Remembrance.  During the trip, we will be visiting the Auschwitz camp, an important part of understanding this region and its long history.

The Remembrance event featured a history overview by David Karr, a video of a Holocaust survivor, and a talk by Rabbi Feintuch of Congregation Beth Shalom here in Columbia.  Two survivors were planning to come speak, but could not make the trip.  We wish them good health.

David Karr, a CC history professor, stressed that it is important for us to learn the history of both the Holocaust and Anti-Semitism, as soon the witnesses to these events will be "passing from the realm of living memory." Although the Holocaust "can't really be talked about," the "unspeakable," yet we "absolutely need to remember."

David began with a history of the Jewish people in Europe in the 1300s, when the plague arrived in Europe via the trade routes from the far east.  In those days before germ theory, "Christians sought scapegoats," and often the blame fell to the Jews.  One effect of this was a great migration of Jewish people to the more welcoming kingdom of Poland.  There, a successful and prosperous Jewish community established itself and lasted for 600 years.


In the 1800s, several strands of ideology began to join--biologically based racism, new, exclusionary forms of nationalism (e.g., Germans began to think of themselves as Aryan, and a genetically distinct people), and various conspiracy theories about both wealthy financiers and "disruptive" labor movements.  In all these, the Jewish people were labeled as causes of problems, impurity, etc.  This rather clearly sets the stage for the growing anti-Semitism of the 20th century, which David labeled a "toxic, fit-anything, ideology."  And in this framework, the Nazis came to power.

David stressed how the Nazi approach to the "Jewish problem" was "improvised"--that is, it developed in stages, from the early camps in 1938, shifted with the invasions of Poland and then Russia, and congealed into a government-planned "final solution" in 1942.  In that year, 1942-3, the majority of the  Holocaust victims were murdered.  [David read several powerful passages from C. Browning's Ordinary Men.] [Here a review of Ordinary Men from the New York Times.]



For more, or more complete information, you can reach David Karr at dskarr@ccis.edu

Next at the Remembrance, we watched a video interview of a survivor of the Nazi roundup of Jews in Hungary.  The video is archived at the USC Shoah Foundation .  The survivor described in detail how her family and community were taken captive, thrown, literally, on the cattle cars and transported to the camp in Poland, where they were quickly separated, a few to the barracks, but most to immediate death.  The video is unsettling, her unflinching account of the process.  Try to see some of these interviews for yourself.  [Tonia Compton, at tmcompton@ccis.edu , could supply you with the exact information about this video, and answer more questions about this Foundation.]

Finally, Rabbi Feintuch helped us think about how to approach both these memories and the site.  He stressed the need to not be distracted by those who would lessen the enormity of this crime, that even if we "will never understand what happened there," yet "we must believe it" and come to know that "each of us is the other man's brother."



Later, bob
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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

One month until we're in Berlin!

5:43 PM Unknown

Tour Of Central Europe - One Month Until Departure!



Hi! My name is Brooke Leisinger and I'm a senior undergraduate history major (and women's studies minor) at Columbia College. 

Like Melissa, I'm also traveling to Eastern Europe in just under a month as part of the History of the Holocaust class and tour. We're almost done with the semester, and the sheer amount of things of learned about the places we'll be visiting (Berlin, Prague, Krakow, and Budapest) makes me both excited and a little nervous! This is also my first adventure outside of the United States and as I'm on my senior year I am incredibly thrilled to have been given the opportunity. 
The beautiful city of Krakow, Poland!
As part of the course attached to the trip, we each are responsible for researching one of the cities we will be visiting and sharing how that city has memorialized the Holocaust. I have Krakow, and will upload what I find out about it before we depart so everyone is a little more familiar with what we're hoping to see while over there!


I can't wait!


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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Navigating Nihon

8:16 AM Anonymous
On March 24th I began my almost 20-hour journey to Hikone-shi and the University of Shiga Prefecture. The couple of weeks prior to my departure had been hazy with everything being finalized, what seemed like, all-at-once. Evening courses were completed, visa obtained, and the flights-booked. The 3 flights went well, and any uneasiness I had was dissipated by the kindness of several strangers along the way. About 17-hours in I found myself in Osaka during the evening, where I was to meet with and be escorted to my apartment by a student from the University. I will take this moment to say there is a certain type of relief brought-on by the site of seeing one's name in big, bold print when they exit into the arrival lobby of an airport. This is when I met Julio, a fellow exchange student from California State University, Monterey Bay. While on our way out of Osaka I distinctly remember the gorgeous cityscape and booming night activity. I have never been surrounded by so many people who weren't congregating for a common event like a concert or ball game. Together, Julio and I made our way to Hikone Station first by monorail, and then by the JR (Japanese Railway). He made sure I understood how to properly read the railway maps and purchase a ticket for the right destination. With his help, and the generosity of Yamakawa-san and Iwama-san (two of the amazing staff members at USP which helped make this trip happen for me) I was able to safely settle into my apartment, soon collapsing onto my wonderful futon (bed).

Drug Yutaka
Meena is a fellow classmate of mine from Columbia College studying abroad at USP this semester. She is originally from Singapore, so this is her second study abroad experience. Our first two weeks were spent with orientation, placement testing, city hall registration, and an abundant amount of shopping. We are now pretty familiar with the immediate area and have come to know little intricacies like the Heiwado in Viva City having a wider selection of produce than the one on Bell Road. There is a dollar store called the 100 Yen Shop which has been a solid go-to place for a majority of the items which now occupy my apartment. Lastly, less than a block away is my favorite little drug store called Drug Yutaka. It carries pretty much anything one would need for day-to-day living. Meena and I have become regulars there, and the prospect of obtaining a point card is quickly becoming favorable.

Photo of Administration Building (spire, left) and Library (dome, right)
School began this past week. This being said, class sign-up is April 8th-16th. The way registration works here is very interesting. For starters, classes are typically 90-minutes and 1-day a week. During the registration period, students are welcome to sit-in on a class before they register. Classes are usually 2-credit hours and most students I know are taking around 10 classes. Me, you ask? I am only taking 6: Beginning Japanese I-III, Medieval Japanese History, Discussion and Debate, and Environmental Science in Japan. The latter three are taught in English.
Moat surrounding USP





Local park
Hikone is a beautiful city, with a population size similar to Columbia's. It is considered to be rural by many. Apart from traveling to school and various grocery stores, I have been to a few local parks, a western-style restaurant named Coco's, a shopping mall called Viva City, and perhaps the biggest attraction in all of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone Castle. In fact, yesterday was spent with my new friends Ryuhei and Daiki going to Viva City, where they helped me shop for some gym shoes. Sad to say, my decision was made easy when there was only one pair between two stores which came in my size. Next, we went to the arcade section and took Purikura. Imagine a high-tech and fully customizable photo booth. Daiki had to depart for work soon after, but Ryuhei and I stayed behind and played an intense game of air hockey and attempted to master some of the grab-claw machines.


On my walk to school

Hikone Castle



The weather was beautiful, and after some discussion we decided it would be a good day to go and visit Hikone Castle. Now THIS is what I came to see. Hikone Castle is officially one of Japan's National Treasures and was completed around 1607. If you measure the birth of the U.S. by the signing of the Declaration of Independence, then this castle is almost 170 years older than the United States. The massive architectural elements and shear sturdiness of the building are almost overwhelming. I have never been inside anything more unyielding. And as it turns out, interior castle stairs are no small matter. I am 1.9 meters-tall (sorry, it's a habit now) and these stairs are challenging for someone of my height to climb. What a tiny price to pay for the view of the city and Lake Biwa which waits at the top. On the castle grounds I was able to enjoy some genuine Japanese "junk food" as Ryuhei put it. Anko flavored taiyaki is a simple yet delicious red-bean flavored treat and a personal recommendation of mine. Takoyaki is equally fantastic and conceptually would be related to the chili-cheese hot dog in the United States. It is a round snack consisting of a wheat-flour batter, octopus, green onion, ginger, some special takoyaki sauce, optional mayonnaise and a few other ingredients I was unable to determine. I will definitely be ordering this one again. (Click the links to see examples.)
Ceiling structure at the very top.  Can't tell you how massive those beams really are

And how could I forget the sakura! They started blooming about a week after I arrived and will only be around for about another week or two. I have been sure to have a couple of o-hanami, where I eat outside underneath the sakura and admire their beauty. In Japanese, hana means flower, -mi is a conjugation of miru which is to see or to look, and o- is used as an honorific and is a polite way to refer to certain nouns, phrases, and actions.
Beautiful walk home from school

Strolling around campus
Greetings from USP

Wow--all of these astonishing sights and I haven't even made it out of the prefecture yet!  Thank you for reading! Until next time,
MB
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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

42 Days Until Departure!

9:37 AM Melissa B.
Hello!  I am Melissa, a history major and typically a student in the Evening Campus.  In relation to the Central Europe tour, I am taking the History of the Holocaust class with Dr. Compton, who has been my catalyst and source of encouragement for embarking on this journey.  Four weeks into the class, I am learning so much.  While many of the things we learn reflect one of the darkest periods in human history, the knowledge we gain is of vital importance, lest we forget what happens when mankind becomes complacent.

 At posting, it is 42 days until departure.  I just realized that our flights have been booked, which is exciting!  This will be my first trip outside of the continental United States, and while I am nervous, I can't wait to see another part of the world.  I am still in shock that I am about to experience something this amazing.  I don't want to waste a minute of this wonderful opportunity!
 
Of all the things we will see, I most look forward to cathedrals done in the elaborate neogothic style, and real, legitimate castles.  I don't know what to expect, other than wonderment!
I am so, so grateful for a chance to venture out beyond my own little corner of the world.  I can't wait to post pictures and tell stories of all the incredible things we'll see.  I am ready for my greatest adventure!  





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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Italy

10:55 AM Anni
The next weekend we went to the famous Perugina Chocolate Factory in Perugia. It is home of the Bacio chocolate. We were able to tour the entire factory, learn how chocolate is made, and even were able to sample the different chocolate that they made.


This is the largest piece of chocolate made and even made the Guinness World Record Book as being the largest. When it was made for the Eurochocolate festival, the last day, it was broken up into pieces and handed out to the people at the festival. According to our tour guide, this year in Perugia, Baci will have some other interesting event.






On October 13th, my friends and I decided to go to a Perugian soccer match. We mainly went because we met one of the players who said to come to watch a match. The match was against Pisa. It was very fun and interesting going to the match because the entire time, we did not sit down. Italians are very passionate about soccer, even though the team lost. They would yell every time something happened to their players. They had chants throughout the game and we even joined in on them, once we figure out what they were saying.



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