With such heavy topics discussed on our trip, one of the things that I was most pleasantly surprised about was the flowers I saw at the Treblinka, Majdanek, and Auschwitz I and II. I came to learn that white the grass, and greenery at each location was not something that was present during the active time of the camps. It was hard to imagine the little bits of life and greenery we did see was not something that the victims also got to experience. The tall grass, small yellow, white, and purple flowers were one of the few grounding visuals that contrasted with the harsh, cold built environment of the camps and memorials. I distinctly remember walking through Treblinka and inhaling the surprising scent of lavender. A small patch of red poppies also surprised me in a corner near the women’s camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau. These little elements of life in a landscape so clearly focused on death is a needed balance for those of us learning and bearing witness. I hope all those who come here take away essential lessons for the future, but also see the hope that life can continue and grow, even after times of great darkness.
