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Taylor Woods
Dr. Josh Armstrong
LDRS 375 – Letter to Ausland
6 November 2017
Letter to Ausland on My Time in Poland

Dear Mr. Ausland,

First and foremost, thank you. Thank you for the risks you have taken, the strength you

have shown, and the love you have spread. Thank you for sharing your voice and your message

with the world, as it has offered me a fresh and bright perspective on a topic with which I often

find myself in the dark.

It is so easy to believe the words of the majority. It is so easy to do what is said to be the

“best option,” while in actuality, it is only the easiest. If there is one thing I have learned while I

have been abroad, it is that nothing that is great, or even good, comes as a result of taking the

easy way out.

When I first read your article, I immediately recognized that your method of leadership in

regard to community volunteerism is not only values-based, but methodical, intentional, and

oriented toward the betterment of humanity. With the rise in popularity for global activism, it

seems that the intentions of the volunteer can often become blurred in the process. In fact, Ivan

Illich, who speaks admittedly pessimistic on the topic, says that an individual believes that “any

true American must share Gods blessings with his poorer fellow men,” along with the idea that

“every American has something to give, and at all times may, can and should give it,” as he

believes that volunteerism has turned into more of a selfish act than one of service (Illich).

However, after reading your article, Staying for Tea, you offered such a beautiful perspective and

proposal to resolve a prominent and pressing issue involved with volunteerism. In fact, I believe
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your five points could be applied to the values I learned from my weekend in Poland, at which I

sought to operate at eye-level with the affected community.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to accompany some of my classmates on a recent

school trip to Poland, where we visited the cities of Krakow and Oświęcim. Admittedly, my

initial interest in this trip sparked from the opportunity to be able to visit the Auschwitz and

Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps that were present during World War II, but this

opportunity proved to be far more impactful than I would have ever anticipated—not from what I

saw, but from what it enabled me to take away.

The camp itself was so unsettling that my very presence there just felt wrong; it felt

erroneous that I could freely walk around this camp where so many feared for their lives.

However, amidst the array of emotions my classmates and I felt in solidarity with one another, I

was soon able to recognize why the school organizes this trip every semester. I realized that I

was missing the purpose entirely: from my aloof perspective, I could not acknowledge that my

purpose for being there was not for my own awareness, but for the understanding of this as a

reality for millions. It spoke volumes as far as what the power of this as a tool of education could

do for humanity as a whole.

As it is posted at Auschwitz, a quote by George Santayana has remained me since my

departure from Poland: “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” As

hard as it may be to relive, the education of a tragedy such as this is the best thing we as a society

can do to honor the victims of the Holocaust. In fact, the initiative to begin this memorial was

conducted by former inmates of the camp, who understood that this reality must be shared so the

world can create and promote a society that honors the dignity of the whole person. The power of

education can lead us to prevail over cruelty and unjust actions in our world.
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Had I not attended Gonzaga-in-Florence, I may not have had the privilege or ability to

experience such a poignant and emotionally-moving weekend—one that has already motivated

me down a path of activism for social justice. While I cannot argue that I am the perfect citizen

embodying all five of your instructed values of volunteerism, I am certain that I am here with

intention and purpose. This program is not simply a placement in another country or an excuse to

travel; it truly has been a cultivation of my ability to connect with others in a way that is

meaningful and authentic, with an intentional lens and thoughtful heart. Gonzaga-in-Florence has

provided me with the resources to broaden my understanding of the cultures around me so that I

may deepen my own appreciation and consideration for others.

Upon returning home, I know that my experiences abroad, in particular my weekend in

Poland, will shape how I lead and serve in the communities of which I am apart. While at times I

have felt vulnerable or uncomfortable in this environment, in retrospect, I know that those are the

times that I truly grew the most as an individual. Those moments are what will allow me to be a

better leader upon my return from studying abroad; no matter what environment I am placed in, I

will be able to handle situations with a better comprehension of the importance of awareness,

difference, and appreciation for others.

I know that my intentions of being here may be have been selfish in the beginning, but I

truly believe that while I have been abroad, my motives have been positively challenged. In

regard to the article by Ligaya Beebe, similarly, I may have a privileged background, but that

does not mean that the connections I have made with Italian locals are untrue or irrelevant.

Further, it does not mean that my experience at Auschwitz is not meaningful because I was not a

victim of the Holocaust. Although Illich preaches our abilities as powerless, I would argue that
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the power of education about the concentration camps provides more power for the victims than

the oppressors could accumulate collectively.

My experience at the concentration camps aligns with the five values you prescribe for

your audience, and I hope to continue to enlist those values in every emersion trip in which I

participate. I may only be halfway through the semester, but this program has already taught me

more about myself than I had ever known. I hope to continue to cultivate genuine relationships,

experiences and memories throughout my time at Gonzaga-in-Florence, while living out the

values in Staying for Tea. No matter where I go, I know that a piece of my heart will forever

remain in this beautiful city I have learned to call home.