WJU and Classrooms without Borders

Next week, four WJU history students and one faculty member will have the opportunity to travel to Poland and visit the sites of the Holocaust. The Pittsburgh-based organization Classrooms without Borders has been bringing students and educators to Poland for several years now, in an attempt to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are transmitted on to future generations, and it graciously invited WJU to participate. We will be updating the blog during our week in Poland, so be sure to check back with us next week.

WJU Students, Berlin & its History: An Appraisal, Part III

The Kaiser Wilhelm Gedaechtniskirche

Our next post comes from Marque Marry, class of '15.

As a country, Germany has gone through many incarnations during its existence. While being fortunate enough to attend a Jesuit University that recognizes the importance that culture plays on shaping an individuals mind, body, and spirit, I along with other WJU students received the opportunity to see the many different rebirths that Germany has gone through, as reflected in its political leaders, architecture, and history. Two periods that were portrayed vastly differently from one another while we toured lush and vibrant palaces or dug through the hidden and secretive histories of Germany during World War II, were the Prussian/Imperial Period and the era of the Third Reich (the Second World War and the Holocaust).

WJU Students, Berlin & its History: An Appraisal, Part II

The next post in our continuing series on WJU's Berlin trip comes from Falon Weidman, another member of the class of '17.

Gendarmentmarkt

One of the most valuable experiences of traveling to a foreign country is the opportunity to gain a better understanding of how that country views its past. By understanding the past, it is possible to realize why events occurred, and how better decisions can be made now and in the future. Germany is no exception to this, and the way Germans view their history is especially interesting. The country has a rich cultural, political, and historical background, full of events of both great pride and shame for the country. 

WJU Students, Berlin & its History: An Appraisal

Over the next few weeks, Wheeling Jesuit University students will be posting on how they perceived Germany, its history, and how the German state portrays its history based on our wonderful visit to the German capital in May. Berlin is our favorite city to visit due to its rich and, at times, overwhelming history, as well as the energy and vitality that pulsates throughout its streets and neighborhoods.

These observations will be written by all levels of WJU history majors, from those who just completed their freshman year to graduating seniors. Our first author is Rebekah Valentine, class of 2017.

Berlin Day 9: The Return Home

After having one of the best nights together in Berlin, we all woke up the following morning very early in order to start our journey back home. While nothing too exciting happened during our flight or in the airport, the time was spent reliving the best moments of the trip, which made it so much more enjoyable!

Berlin is such a fun, exciting, and unique city, which makes it difficult for one to not have a great time. It is also filled with such an important and intriguing history that is easy to see while simply walking through the streets. Berlin was an excellent choice for this trip because the information that we learned at the numerous museums, monuments, and sites we visited throughout our stay in Germany complemented what we have learned in our various history classes at WJU.

During our flight home, we spent our time recalling stories from the trip. These stories made it clear that we all learned so much about the long history of the city while also having a great time filled with excitement and laughter. We joked about our tour guide from the Olympic Stadium, discussed our favorite food from the city as well as our favorite meals, laughed about Dr. Liedel being run over by a bicycle, and, of course, spent time playing the official game of the trip: charades. While reminiscing made leaving even more difficult, it made us realize how much fun we had and how many memories we created!

During the trip, we all grew closer and became friends with people we didn’t know well before. It was exciting to meet and learn about one another throughout the week and share some great moments together. As students, we all learned innumerable things about Berlin's unique history as well as those of other city's such as Potsdam and Dresden. Overall, the trip was an amazing and rewarding experience that we are all thankful to have had!