It's day three and trying to put together thoughts on everything we've experienced presents a challege. There is the history that surrounds you at every turn here, and you try to process for example the loss of those 40,000 who once occupied the Jewish quarter of Berlin. The synagogue that has but few who worship or the plaques to mark those murdered. Yesterday when we visited the sites of the wall remains you try to imagine the separation and the oppression. The memories remain palpable and will only continue to be as we finish our time together.
But we also have discussed at length changing identities: borders disappearing, voluntary reassignment of religion, of feeling torn between different worlds. This is a great connection to many of my students who think of themselves as may identities such as American, Muslim, and Arab, etc. Who am I and how does the world see me are incredibly powerful questions to explore with students.
Finally, especially the last two days, we've met many times to collaborate as colleagues. What can you do in your classroom? How would your students perceive this? Can you find a way to coordinate with another country's school using Centropa materials? I think not only interesting lessons have been presented but opportunities to learn how people teach and students learn across the globe. Excited by the opportunities that have been discussed and look forward to putting something together over the next year.