In late January of this year, I received an email from the Education Department at my university, detailing an opportunity for educators or those enrolled in education programs across Canada called March of the Living for Educators. This program is subsidized by the Regional Jewish Communities of Ontario. I read over the email and was immediately interested, as the Holocaust was something I’d always meant to learn more about but never had. Also, I had a professor who gave a talk about the Holocaust during one of my education courses and it made me realize how little I knew about it. Thus began the journey that will see me leaving for Berlin, Germany on June 30th, 2008 for what I am certain, will be a powerful, life-changing trip.
Excerpt from the email:
It is my pleasure to announce that a very special March of the Living for Educators program will be taking place this summer. From June 30- July 7, 2008 Canadian educators will be taking part in a March of the Living program designed especially for them. Educators will visit the sites central to understanding the enormity of the Holocaust, that will prepare them to teach about the Holocaust in a meaningful and personal way. This is a unique opportunity for Canadian educators since no other program has prepared or impacted Canadian educators as the March of Living has.
My first “how” came with figuring out how I could make this work financially. Knowing there was an upcoming deadline for the Student Educational Opportunities Fund (SEOF) at the university, I put an application in to them to see if they would be willing to support my participation. I was pleased that my university also saw the value in a program such as this; they were extremely supportive, offering me funding for just over half of what I needed to go on the trip. I knew I would find a way to make it happen with the rest of the cost, so I decided to apply. This involved filling out a very comprehenisve application, writing an essay, getting the required physical papers and reference letters filled out, and sending it off to Toronto by the deadline of March 30th. Some might balk at the length of the application, however, I thought that it spoke to the organisers’ goal of having participants who were truly committed to learning and making the most of this opportunity.
Now, those of you reading who may have had me as a student, or who have been in classes with me may have come to know that waiting for marks or responses can be somewhat of a weak spot for me, so my second “how” came with me wondering how I would make it through the long wait to hear back from the administrator of the program. In mid April, I received the news that I had been accepted. Holly, who is a good pal of mine also from the UNBSJ Education Program, applied at the same time I did and she was accepted. We were pleased that we would have the chance to learn and travel together.
I was very surprised to hear from the administrator of the program that, although the program is open to any teacher or student in an education program in Canada, the applications of Holly and myself were the only two received from New Brunswick. The Regional Jewish Communities of Ontario want to ensure regional representation, so it worked out well for us that we were the only two, I just find it kind of sad that no other NB educators or students decided to apply for this learning experience. How could people pass up such an amazing opportunity to learn about something so profound?
So, I’ve begun this blog as a way of chronicling my participation in the March of the Living program, both as a way to record my own thoughts and feelings and also to share my experience with others who may be interested. To answer the question posed in the post title, the reason I have chosen “How?” as the name of my blog is because, as the program dates draw nearer and I read, watch documentaries and otherwise prepare for this trip, it is the word that most often comes to mind. I realize that may not be the most fulfilling answer to the question but as you read on, I am sure the reasons will become more readily apparent.
Thanks for coming along with me.
