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Sophomore Andrew Taylor of Concord
- What was your favorite experience on this trip?
"As I was standing to the side of the Chamber Singers with the rest of the Catawba Singers at Notre Dame Cathedral, I realized how very fortunate I was to be singing in such a place. I thought to myself about how many people never leave or venture out of their state or city/county in America in some instances. I recognized just how fortunate I was to be outside of my own country and to witness the things that I had and would continue to witness. The Chamber Singers were singing "In Remembrance" and with the power of that song and the cathedral we were standing in, I became overwhelmed with emotion. I looked out in the audience and saw an older woman in the front row sobbing from the beauty of our music. At this point, tears began rolling down my face because of what I was experiencing. I was very proud of the hard work I had put in to get myself in a college such as Catawba and have opportunities like this be presented to me. At the same time, I felt very blessed and lucky to have an opportunity like this trip be presented to me."
- How has your perspective changed on this trip?
"I believe that people outside of my country can either be just as rude and narcissistic as the rudest people in America or warm and considerate as the most hospitable people in America. For the most part, I found the people that I have encountered were caring and generous. My host family from Wangen was some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met."
- What have you learned through your experiences?
"I would definitely have to say experiencing the concentration camp at Dachau was one of those things that hearing stories and learning about it in school was nothing like witnessing the actual grounds where it took place. As I walked around the camp, I wept in certain places just thinking about everything the prisoners endured. I thought about my life and the hardships that I’ve endured and how they are not even comparable to the things they endured. I felt very fortunate for the things I do have and the quality of life I have lived."
