to the norm or to a set plan and Europe). Even to this day, when expect from Poland, and I could
being unwilling to change if my friends ask me about my have easily let my fear got the
needs arise. I too was once like travels and all the adventures I better of me, and thus stop me
this, but not anymore. As the had, and about any advice that I from visiting Auschwitz - the
saying goes, “to achieve change, can give them, none want to go infamous concentration camp, an
we must let go of fear,” and this on their own. They think it’s experience which I found to be
was certainly true. either too dangerous, too foolish, deeply moving, disturbing and
or would “feel lonely because surreal.
One of the highlights of they would have no one to
travelling is meeting new people. converse with”. When I entered the camp, I was
In my life I thought I had met glad that I had taken the risk and
a diverse range of individuals, They are afraid. Scared. And not been afraid. I could have easily
but nothing prepared me for the there’s no other way to describe gone straight to Czechoslovakia,
characters I met whilst travelling. it. Going solo makes you hold noted for being the new hot
I had the pleasure of debating only yourself accountable; all the spot for western European
existentialism and nationalism good ideas and right moves are holiday makers, especially those
with a French-Algerian for you to take full credit, but all going on a stag do. But visiting
conservative academic and a Auschwitz gave me something
hippie chef from Wisconsin, that nothing else in my travels
USA; I learnt about the Too many could, something which I hadn’t
oppression felt under the socialist
people view
felt since I went to Tanzania
parties in Poland from a couple
looking to re-educate children in
making
when I was a teenager – a sense
of appreciation. When you walk
Krakow; and I argued about the
mistakes as a
through the same gas chambers
differences in business practices
with two Americans travelling
negative thing
that gassed over a million men,
women and children, regardless
through Eastern Europe. I will of their age, you appreciate the
never meet these people again; the wrong moves, lost money and times we live in.
we crossed each others’ paths stupid mistakes are yours too.
for barely an evening, and yet I You, and you alone will feel the In the current climate, gap years
know how important meeting effects of them. are becoming more and more
these people and hearing their popular, with many students
views were. And not just their But that’s a good thing. Too many working on temporary jobs
views! Regardless of how left people view making mistakes as throughout the year, so they can
or right wing we are, we will all a negative thing. Don’t get me have spending money. However,
display some traits of the country wrong, I didn’t spend my entire you have to think, even though this
we live in, and this insight gives travels looking for mistakes to may help you in certain areas, can
you an unbelievable advantage make and taking pleasure from you be certain that you will have
in the business world. Anyone them! But I also didn’t want to developed all the skills that you
wanting to work with the biggest spend the entire journey not doing require. This current economic
fi rms needs to realise the depth of what I wanted, simply because I climate may be the perfect
understanding one must have of was afraid of the repercussions. opportunity to go travelling,
different cultures, and textbook For example, I could have easily even if it’s only for a couple of
knowledge simply won’t do. not gone to Krakow, in Poland, months. In the short term, it may
because I was afraid that they seem like an unnecessary cost,
Before I set about on my journey, may not be able to communicate but in the long run, it will prove
I was told again and again to delay with me, because I wasn’t Polish to be one of the most important
it until I could fi nd somebody to (for the record, they speak skills building activities you’ll
come with me (generally from perfect English, and everybody undertake. But don’t take my
elder generations, seemingly is willing to help you, whether or word for it, experience it, live it.
lacking confi dence in my ability not they can communicate with If you’re like me, it’ll be one of
to manoeuvre my way around you). I had no idea of what to the greatest things you’ll do..
28
HPD Sept ‘09 - Feb ‘10