No, I'm not actually dead

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I'm just extremely busy.

Sorry for the long break in blogs, but a combination of having a packed schedule and not having internet in my flat have prevented me from writing for a while now. I've moved in to Edinburgh now and am starting to be settled, but am ridiculously busy right now with what's called Freshers' Week here. It's like a week long orientation that's packed with events to help you get accustomed to University here and meet new people from about 9am to 3am each day. I'm definitely not going to be able to catch up everything in one blog, but hopefully over the next few days I might be able to. After that I probably won't blog as often since I'll be mostly in one location, but I'll still update every once in a while.

Ooooook, so on to catching up. The trip that we went on to Normandy and the D-Day beaches was an awesome experience, and probably worth the money. We started off by going to the Caen Memorial Museum, which is definitely one of the best museums I've ever been to. Our time there included two films, a guided tour through part of the museum, and then some time to wander around it on our own. One film was an amazingly well-done documentary/silent film (it was actually a documentary with pretty much no dialogue, so it's hard to categorize) of D-Day and the events that lead up to it, while the other was a sweeping and thoughtful movie on conflict of the 20th century in general. The museum itself was about more than just D-Day too - it covered pretty much all of the 1900s and also served as a promotion of peace. The exhibits were really in depth, including a special exhibition on 9/11 which was very appropriate as we saw it on Sept. 10th. There was also a really cool garden and a gallery about past Nobel Peace Prize winners, which unfortunately I didn't get to see much of. Everything about the museum was very thought-provoking and really made you think about war and all its causes and consequences. One of the most moving and best examples isn't even actually an experience of mine, but something I read in my the tour of the museum in my France guidebook. Here's a copy:

"The finale is a walk through the US Armed Forces Memorial Garden. I was bothered by the mindless laughing of lighthearted children unable to appreciate their blessings. Then I read on the pavement: 'From the heart of land flows the blood of our youth, given to you in the name of freedom.' Then their laughter made me happy."

After our morning in the museum we set off for the rest of the day among the beaches. We focused mostly on the American sector of the invasion - the total area covered by the Allies was about 70 miles of beach, so you can't come close to seeing everything in a day. We saw Omaha Beach, Point du Hoc, and the American Memorial Cemetery. It felt like it was straight out of a WWII movie... It was kind of surreal to think that we were looking at the real locations it took place. This was especially true at Omaha Beach - imagining getting off a boat and staring at 500ft of beach leading up to heavily defended cliffs. Kind of chilling.

The American Memorial Cemetery was pretty overwhelming as well. It's the burial sight for every American that died in Normandy during WWII, unless they were requested to be brought home to be buried. It's actually American soil - France gave the land to America in order to build the cemetery there, which I thought was cool. Overall I think there's over 10,000 graves. It reminded me quite a bit of Arlington, both in the style of the cemetery and in the unbelievable amount of sadness contained in one place. I think of the pain caused by just one person's death at any time, and am completely blown away by the tragedy of 10,000 young men's graves. War is stupid.

One more thought from the trip came from a guy who was in our tour group - an older guy who was also from America who didn't leave me with the best impression. He spoke to French people on the train and would get frustrated when they didn't speak English and just continue to speak English to them anyway in a really condescending voice. He acted as if everyone should speak his language. The whole scene was just ridiculous to me... would it be his fault if someone from China came up to him in America and treated him like that if he didn't speak Chinese? I think sometimes a little more perspective and empathy is needed... Like how there's a stereotype in the US that people in France are really rude to Americans. First of all, I didn't really find that to be true at all - I don't really have a single memory I can recall where I thought someone was particularly rude to me. Second, I'm pretty sure we're just as guilty in the US about a lack of patience for someone not speaking our language.

Anyway, it was an excellent trip overall and a welcome change from the hectic self-guided tourism we had done so far. Next time hopefully I can fit in Paris, and maybe even some photos. Right now it's a little too late here, so I'm opting for sleep instead.

Oh - and a postscript. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all the comments/messages I've received over the course of my travels. I loved hearing from people, and I'm sorry I was never really able to properly respond to anything, but I just didn't have enough time. But once again thanks, it's good to hear what's happening back in the States.

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Photos

Near Arromanches
View of the place where the Allies constructed artificial harbors after they landed.

Near Arromanches
The remains of the artificial harbor.

Near Arromanches
One of the German bunkers in place on D-Day

Near Arromanches
Josh checking out the gun.

American Memorial Cemetary
Soldiers buried who received the Congressional Medal of Honor had their gravestones written in gold script.

Omaha Beach
The present day view of the infamous Omaha Beach.

Omaha Beach
Nowadays the beach is a popular resort for the French. Apparently some people feel that it's disrespectful to use it as a resort, and that it should be blocked off. I disagree... I think the very reason so many people died there is so that it CAN be used as a resort.

Omaha Beach
The view from the water's edge to the top of the hill. In reality there was about 400ft more of beach when D-Day began because the tide was that much further out. That's a pretty intimidating distance.

Point du Hoc
A key point taken by about 200 rangers on D-Day.

Comments

[Rachel]

Yay!!
You are alive!!!! Yay!!!! :)