Amizade

This program is simply a must for people who want an intimate learning experience about wartime Poland, and the history of the culture there pre/post WWII. Our site coordinator, Anna, made the experience seamless; everything ran smoothly under her watch. This project is heavier on the learning versus hands on volunteering, but I understood that going into it. The lodging was as I anticipated it to be, and meals were uniformly better than expected. I am thrilled we participated in this, and I feel like the program exceeded my expectations.

A once in a lifetime experience that everyone should take advantage of.

Amizade organized an exceptional trip centered around holocaust history and the memory of European Jewish life.
There were no issues with the trip and the itinerary was packed with meaningful learning opportunities.
The guides were experienced and helpful.
The accommodations were excellent.

My trip to Poland was an absolutely amazing learning experience. You may think you know about the Holocaust, but actually being where it took place and talking to local members of the community really gives you a brand new perspective and understanding on the atrocities that took place.

Completing service work for the Auschwitz museum included cleaning cauldrons that will later go into a kitchen exhibit, and retagging the baskets the Jews brought with them during deportation later to be confiscated upon arrival to the camp. It was a surreal experience handling such artifacts, and working in the camp is a once in a lifetime experience.

You wont regret this trip!

Virtually everyone of our hosts for the various events except while at the school were various members of Melissa's family. I was very glad that our concluding speaker had his own agenda and presented a view somewhat at contrast with the rest. Highlights for me were:
1. Eating and sharing at Melissa's 'Mothers'
2. Hearing about the language
3. Sacrificing and later eating the lamb.
4. The "sweat lodge" experience
5. Having time with my teacher's husband during which I learned that they had lost three of their four children.
6. Safety day with the class
7. The concluding lecture by the former member of the tribal council.

I had a wonderful time on this trip. Much of this was due to the arrangement we had to live in the homes of people who live in Petersfield. There we ate dinner with our host family, shared stories, opinions, and goals, and really formed a bond with each other. I also enjoyed playing tourist meaning going shopping, going to the beach, and going cliff jumping (I only jumped 10 feet but you can jump 85 feet. Be warned, jumping from 85 feet can hurt as it did some of my fellow volunteers) at one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The actual volunteering was much less underwhelming, though it was fun to have direct contact with local kids who we raced with and talked to. We help to run a local sports competition that everyone from the school participated in and we helped clean up a park for a wedding which we were invited to. We always seemed to have more time then things to do (this is part of being in Jamacia. I recommend always have cards or a Frisbee). Overall the trip was amazing I don't regret for an instant going on it for my spring break.