Hanging out in Munster, Germany....

Hey y'all. Sorry (once again) that's it's been so long...



We're now in Munster with our host families. A lot has been going on in the last few days, although we've been more relaxed since we've been here. We've been rehearsing a lot to get ready for a concert that we're giving at Martin's parents' home (which is SO beautiful) on Sunday, as well as for three masses at which we're singing. There's a chance we might get to sing at one of the biggest cathedrals in the world in Cologne if Martin can get in touch with some people...



So last time I updated I told you about some of the things we did in Munich. Let me revisit that portion of the trip since I didn't get to properly describe it to all of you guys at home.



Munich is the largest place we've been in Germany. It's very industrial, yet still maintains that old European feel to it in some aspects. Correct me if I'm wrong Martin, but I believe that about 70% of Munich was destroyed in WWII so it doesn't look as small and quaint as some of the other places we've been to in Europe. It has a subway and reminds me somewhat of Montreal, Canada. We stayed in a youth hostel in the urban part of town, which was convenient because it was right by a subway station. It was a busy time in Munich because we just so happened to be there when the presentation of some big soccer award was going at city hall --- I mean, this soccer business is huge over here ---there were people EVERYWHERE. We also got to go to the Hofbrauhaus, which is a restaurant with traditional Bavarian food and drink, namely beer, and they do traditional Bavarian singing, dancing and other performances. It's a pretty famous place to go in Munich for tourists and there were a lot of groups from many different countries there. Sam and Chris J. got to go up on stage and dance with the performers -- it was pretty hilarious. They brought out the American flag and started playing Battle Hymn of the Republic and of course our table went wild. The Koreans were looking at us like we were mad. :-)



We also got to visit Dachau, one of the first (if not the first) concentration camps in Germany. This was one of the most horrifying, eye-opening, harrowing, and yet still amazing experiences of my life. I got an eerie feeling just walking up to the gate -- it's as if the earth on which Dachau stands emanates some kind of impression of the past on you as you enter. Visitors come in the same way that Dachau's "inmates" did -- huge wrought iron doors inscribed with the words "Abrei macht frei" creak open to let people pass through just as they did all those years ago. The words written there on the door bring a message of impending doom -- translated into English, it means "Works makes freedom", which is sadistic because work only killed those at Dachau -- it could never bring freedom to those who entered through those gates. Many of the original buildings have since been demolished. I asked Martin why and he said that those buildings were useless because they could never truly be clean again. At first I didn't know whether he meant physically or metaphorically -- but when I stopped to think about it, I realized that what had happened there could never be erased in either capacity. We went through the area where the cells for "special" inmates were -- these cells were for religious and political activists who were expressly against the Nazi party. We also saw what are called "standing cells". These were cells that were intended to hold about 50 people, but the guards at Dachau would squeeze over 400 men into one cell so that there was no room to move about at all. Sometimes the floors would have drains in them to act as a built in urinal. Seeing these cells still fully intact just as they were during those times really hit home the reality of the situation for me. It's almost impossible to fathom what it must have been like to be in this dreadful place. I got the creeps just visiting it -- I can't imagine what being trapped there must have been like.

Then we went into the museum area, which is housed where the guards used to live and work. That building also served as a "processing" area for new inmates -- we saw the room where the guards would strip them of their clothes, possessions, and ultimately, their identity outside of Dachau. This is also where they were assigned a number and profiled by reason for arrest.



Then we went over to the most harrowing part of the tour -- the crematorium and gas chambers. The gas chambers were not usedat Dachau for mass execution like they were at Auschwitz, but they were used to kill smaller groups from time to time. The crematorium burned day and night to accomodate all the bodies that either died from malnutrition and exhaustion or at the hands of the guards. There is a holding room where the victims would stand to disrobe before going into the "shower" as they were told -- I got a feeling of panic standing in that room. As I stepped across the threshold into the the "shower" or gas chamber as it were, I got very nervous and almost a little sick to my stomach. What must it have felt like to stand in this stark, cold room naked and waiting for what you think is going to be a shower? They even had fake shower heads installed so that they would believe it was true. How awful and sadistic can people be to do that to another human being? Then walking through the crematorium...even more awful. Those jobs were delegated out to inmates in the camp. What must it have been like to shovel bodies all day? Inevitably they came across people they knew -- and they had to shove them into the fire to burn or else face awful penalties. Not to mention the smell of burning flesh that must have permeated the camp day and night--- a constant reminder of the fate that many would soon suffer.



We also got to see the barracks where they slept. Everything looked almost brand new because the inmates were forced to keep everything spotless. The barracks were tiny and cramped and conditions worsened as the camps took in more and more people.



We visited a chapel that was erected later to serve as a worship place for visitors. There was a wall of letters written by visitors in all languages as well as a book of prayers and wishes. I got a little teary eyed reading some of the comments people left, and I decided to leave one on behalf of our choir. It went something like this:

May all who enter this hallowed place remember what it stood for; may all who leave take away a message of peace and acceptance for all people. Let us a remember that despite our differences we all share the commonality of what it means to be human.

"All nations shall come and worship before you.

For your mighty and holy acts have been revealed.

Great and marvelous are your deeds

Lord God Almighty."

Love, The University of Alabama at Birmingham Concert Choir

Birmingham, AL USA







Sorry to write so extensively on such a depressing topic -- it was a very moving experience.





Now we're with our home-stay families in Munster. Jackie and I ended up staying together due to some mix ups in the plans. It actually worked out for the best and we're having a great time. We have 4 host brothers and really nice host parents. Our host dad is a lawyer (perfect for me) and our host mom is in public administration. She is also a pretty fantastic cook. :-) I was very afraid of staying with people I don't know at first, but I've gotten used to it and they are super nice. I'm so glad Jackie is here --- I would have been lost without her. We've been watching a lot of Heroes on our laptops and taking some glorious pictures. It's been a good time so far. We're going to Cologne on Saturday and possibly Amsterdam on Monday. But before then we have to get through our performances. Sunday we are singing the following:

Ave Maria--Biebel

Song of Triumph

If ye Love ME

So far ich hin

David of the White Rock

JEsus Loves Me

Nunc Dimittis

Pie Jesu --Webber (Duet with Sam and me)

Irish Blessing

The Prayer -- duet with sam and Daniel