| News from the outbound Poland team member Renee Sedlacek |
District 5970, SAM_0609_CustomFirst of all I would like to give a sincere thank you for allowing me the opportunity to travel to Poland as part of the Rotary Group Study Exchange. This was definitely a once in a lifetime experience that I will carry with me forever. The GSE was not only an opportunity to learn about the history of Poland, it's people and culture, but also myself and my team mates. I would recommend the GSE to any young professional looking to have a deep cultural learning experience. Up to this point, and probably never again, have I as a traveler been welcomed with open arms in to multiple strangers' homes. There is no better way to get to know a country's culture and it's people than living with them and participating in their way of life. If there is one thing I can say about the  SAM_0533_CustomPolish it is that they do not lack in hospitality!Poland is a 1,000 year old country laden with a history of much struggle and strife. One of the most vivid parts of my trip to Poland brings with it a bag of mixed emotions.  SAM_0413_Custom My visit to the Majdanek concentration camp in Lublin was as much depressing as it was educational. Prior to the GSE my knowledge of WWII was very limited to the direct involvement of the American military and of course the Holocaust. I'm embarrassed to admit that I really had no clue the extent to which Poland had been raped of it's people, pride and dignity. Majdanek was the 4th concentration camp built by the Germans, originally as a work camp and later in the war as an extermination camp. More than 78,000 people died at Majdanek with only 211 successfully escaping. Jews were the most numerous group held prison in the camp but not the only ones. Anyone who was a Jehovah's Witness, politically outspoken, considered a-social, homosexual, or a criminal was detained. We saw where people were brought in, forced to shower, sleep and eveSAM_0609_Customntually be cremated. There really are no words to describe the feelings, thoughts and emotions one experiences as a tourist to this place. It blatantly exposes the evil nature that human's are capable of and makes one want to work as hard as possible to make sure something like this never happens again. The images of the camp will forever be in my memory and I hope to use my experience to educate others about this horrific human tragedy.Thank you once again for allowing me this opportunity. Rotary is certainly doing amazing things in this world and I'm blessed to have been a part of this team. Dziękuję! (Thank you!) Check out Renee's blog at http://www.gsepoland2010.blogspot.com/
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