Amazing year!

I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to be part of such a great class. I give thanks to the English Department, specially Mr. Calderón and Ms. Lydia for their support in everything. Debate was an excellent chance for improving my skills, making me feel proud of having participated in it, and also, making friends. Also, I liked very much how do the classes focused the literature, teaching the historical context of the novels and how to read between the lines. Of course, everything ended with the History Channel event, that was really awesome. It was a pleasure to participate so many activities during this year, and hopefully I can repeat this during the next year and learn as much as possible. As Ms. Pizarro said once, "Heaven is the limit". And I won't stop, till I reach it.

Fatelessness - Chapters 8 & 9

Now, I'll answer some few questions about these two chapters, the final ones.

1. What was the setting in this Chapter ?
A Revier (similar to a hospital) in Buchenwald. The mood could be caring/taking care of the people in there.

2. How was  George’s treatment  when  he was recuperating ?Were the medics and nurses kind to the prisoners?
They treated him as if he wasn't a prisoner. They were kind with most of the patients, I'd say.

3. Why do you think that the author concentrated this Chapter in George’s treatment?
It must have been an important part for the author, during his life. He might have realized things that he hadn't realized before.

4. What were George’s feelings when the camp was liberated?
He felt free - for the first time in all his life.


5. What were the people reactions in George’s hometown when he came back ?
Mainly, curiosity. They asked about the exterminations and all the bad stuff that they knew that had happened in there.

6. When  the journalist offered George a job of  confessing what he had seen  in the concentration camp, how does it relate to the authors life ?
The author ended in writing a book, telling his story to the world, just the same as what the journalist wanted to do.

7. What did  George  realize at the end of the story? 
That it wasn't a bad experience to be in the camps. He made his best friends in there, and probably, it was one of the best moments of his life, at least, until then.


I really enjoyed this book, altough it was much more difficult than the last novel we read ("To Kill a Mockingbird"). But the difficulties are just part of the reading, but the important thing is to enjoy the book, and keep reading. And that's what I made, so I'm very pleased with it. It was a great experience to internalize some aspects of the Holocaust that I'd never thought before.

Fatelessness - Chapters 5 & 6

As usual, I'll start analyzing these chapters, with some quotes and a brief explanation of them:

1. "We'll soon be getting some hot soup" (Page 103). 
This was a rumour that circulated through the concentration camp, in which we can clearly appreciate the sense of hope that people still had.

2. "Clothes do not make the man" (Page 103). 
This was said because Georg saw a guy that, at first sight, was clearly a well-dressed guy, probably a person that was taking care of people, but then he realized that he was there just because of his way of thinking.

3. "We learn from life not school" (Page 113).
Georg said this, when he realized that nothing that he was taught in the school was necessary in real life.

4. "It's obvious that you must have been tied to Mummy's string up till now" (Page 134). 
Bandi Citrom told Georg this, after a naive question that he made about a particular object. This means that he was never left alone to do things by himself.

5. "We are becoming split up all split up" (Page 142).
Bandi Citrom also said this, in allusion to what he felt: there were no recognizable faces for him in Zeitz. They were all being split up, as he said, perhaps, because big groups may cause some trouble.

And now, I'll answer a couple of questions, also very brief answers, to help you to have an idea of what happened in this chapters.

1. What are the settings in these two chapters?
At first, he was at Auschwitz-Birkenau, then was transferred into Buchenwald, and finally, into Zeitz. Of course, the mood wasn't a happy one, but I could say that in the first one, he was probably better, in some sense only, because he knew some people in there. But when he was transferred, he had to "start" all again, and then had to make new friends.

2. What were the feelings of the main character when he arrived in the extermination camp?
He was shocked because of the gas showers that killed some people. He felt that school hadn't taught him anything of real importance.

3. What was his reaction when he found out what was done to the prisoners in the camp?
He felt sadness and astonished for people that he had saw some minutes ago alive, and now were dead; people of his own religion and culture.

4. How was Georg's relation with his companions in the camp?
I'd said that it was mainly a good relation with the people that he knew. But when he was transferred, he wasn't that sociable with everyone.

5. Was there a twist of mood when they changed concentration camps?
Yes. First, in Auschwitz-Birkenau, he felt hopeless. In Buchenwald, comfortable, and in Zeitz, lonely.

6. What was Georg's reaction when he was rejected for not speaking Yiddish?
He felt as a nonperson, as thin air, and nothing more. He tried to get accepted, but they didn't let him. 

7. What evidence of discrimination can you find between the groups of prisoners in the concentration camp?
When he didn't speak Yiddish, or the Muslims' discrimination.

8. Explain, from what you read, if Georg had the capacity to overcome the hardships, for example, hunger or when a guard beat him.
When he dropped the sack, he was beaten by the guard. But he realized this mistake, and never committed it again. Also with hunger, he saved a piece of bread, in case he didn't have food afterwards. 

9. Why do you think the Rabbi did The Kaddish (Prayer for the dread)? What kind of emotions arose in Georg after hearing this prayer?
Because, often people in situations like this, are too vulnerable to anything that happens, and they need to trust in God, that He will save them. For Georg, in one part of him, he felt the necessity of praying, perhaps because of the emptiness he had. But, in the other hand, he said that no matter any prayers, they couldn't do something: to provide him food.

10. Explain in your own words what "values" did the character and prisoners learned in the concentration camps.
I'd say that he was perseverant, as when he was alone, he had to continue living and working. He is a great example of a person that doesn't surrender never.

Fatelessness - Book Trailer

We did it! It was a tough day, but finally we could record and edit magnificently the Fatelessness video trailer we wanted to do! I want to thank Mr. Gré and Mr. Reynolds for their performances and ability to edit the tapes. It was really an incredible experience, and a better result!

Mankind: The Story of All of Us

That's right, the title you can see above is the name of a History Channel show. But I'm not trying to steal the name or something like that. I just want to post that it was an incredible job the live show they did. Ghana and Pakistan where just a couple of all the countries they video-taped. And of course, Chile! And not any place in Chile, but our school, The Mackay School! It was really marvelous to be in the show in live, with Miss Lydia, and my friends Thomas Reynolds and Mingi Park. It was something very fun to prepare, even if I got a little nervous. Having contact with real, specialist people that were the ones that practised and helped us to do a perfect job, was really entertaining. Finally, I think we did a great job, and for that, I wanted to thank everyone that was present, specially the people of History Channel that made all this possible, and of course, Miss Lydia and my friends!

P.S.: In the next link, you can check the Mackayzine post, that will allow you to comment and also it will lead you to the History Channel webpage, were you can watch the show!

                             Mackayzine - History Channel

Rationale

I chose to write a diary, because it's the best way to acknowledge how a character really is. As Georg is quite an insensitive and not expressive boy, he would have never told his feeling to another person. That's why the best type of text to analyse this particular character, is through diary entries.

About the context, I wrote about the yellow star that Jews were compelled to wear, the Nazi soldiers walking through the strees, providing "security" to the city, and also I mentioned very briefly about some Jewish traditions. In what I wanted to focus, is the personal idea I've got about Nazism. They are shown in History books as the worst of the worst, the most evil regime in thousands of years...But what I believe is that their leaders must have had magnificent oratorical skills. Their power of persuasion was probably the best they had. I propose this because such a powerful country needs to have the maximum support possible. And for that, the leaders must be charismatic and very persuasive. Their success is mainly based in approbation and backup of their people. As during the war, people stopped their support, Germany finally lost. For all of this, I decided to explore this aspect in the written task: how would a boy like Georg interpret the situation about Nazism; how would this affect him and what would he want to do. 

People who like to read about the Holocaust, but don't like those structured and always-the-same texts, should be really interested in reading what I've wrote. The purpose isn't and would never be to support Nazism, but just to give a different perspective of what could have happened

About the title, "Georg Kovés: Naive Nazi", it means that he's really an innocent boy who was trapped by the forces of the Nazi persuasion.

Georg Kovés: Naive Nazi

                                                      Diary Entry 1:  "Nazis aren't that bad"

On my way home, after showing a note on the school that let me go out earlier, I saw a strange-looking guy wearing an uniform and a symbol that I've seen in many other parts...how do they call it? Nevermind. That morning, I forgot to wear my yellow star, even though its use was compulsory for us, the Jews. While I was walking towards my home, this officer approached me and asked me for my papers. I got scared, I have to say it. All I could think in that moment, was to take out some papers out of my school bag. When I was doing this, I threw them to the soldier, and then just run for my life. I knew those streets better than anyone, so it wasn't too difficult to deceive him. I entered some dark passages, untill I lost him. It was really a tense moment for me, but when I arrived home, I didn't tell Father, so that he doesn't worry more than how he is. It's really weird, because he is acting awkwardly with me since he received the letter that notified him that he must go to the labor camp. He tells me that he loves me and all that girlish stuff. I don't care really what he says, but he's bothering me a lot. In the other hand, Mother is, as usual, telling me that she doesn't care if I don't love her, and that she will love me no matter what. But I can see in her eyes that she's not happy about me. I've had bad marks at the school, and a worse behaviour. But that kind of thing are not important. As a matter of fact, life is a lost of time. That's why I'm starting to agree with Nazis: they are really doing a big favour to all of us, to all the people, to mankind in general.

Other thing that I dislike are visitors. Today, many friends and relatives of Father and stepmother came by to farewell him. Uncle Lajos, brother of stepmother, is really annoying. He started talking with me about the importance of myself in the family, for his sister specially, when Father goes away. He spoke about religion and faith, but I wasn't really listening nor interested in the conversation. Why should I care about Yahvé or Jehová? Why should someone compel my beliefs? Nevermind, it's not important. 

I'm tired now. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. Thanks for nothing Father, you better go...

Diary Entry 2:  "What's happening to me?"

Father has already gone and I have to write about something that happened to me today a few days ago. From the moment he left, I kind of...kind of miss him. But the weird thing was something that I've never felt before. Something that hurted me, deep down in the chest. So I looked at my body, searching for scars and bruises, but I didn't have anything! It was a huge pain I couldn't stand for anymore. I just rested till I was used to it, but I have to say that I was really scared that it could have been, perhaps, a heart attack or something even worse. Nevermind, it wasn't something important, even though I got frightened because of it. Maybe pain is necessary after all...

Diary Entry 3:  "Aryan Force"

I don't remember very well why I stopped writing in this diary. As a matter of fact, the last entry was about two or three months ago. Maybe I didn't continue on writing because people told me that it was girlish to have a diary, and they bothered me for that; though they stopped doing it when I beated them. I gave them what they deserved. Stupid Jews...Who do they think they are? I'm in fact a Jew, but I dont share with them anyone of those useless traditions like Hannukah or if something is or not Kosher. In fact, I'd say I only continue the tradition (in my way, of course) of the Sabbath: the day for resting. Apart from that great day, I'd prefer to be Aryan. Look at them! They are doing an amazing job in controlling the entire continent.

Today, I had a discussion with one of the Steiner's daughters. It was about being Jewish and all that stuff. I didn't want to fight with her because I like Nazis, so I prefered to stay quiet. But that doesn't mean I'm not supporting them. What I like more of them, is their power. If they move a finger, the whole World trembles. Homosexuals, negroes and mainly Jews should be extreminated from the Earth's surface. I've listened many times that we are all here for something; that everyone of us has got a goal in his life: and that objective, in my case, is to help the World by cleaning it. 

All what I want to do, is to get quickly out of my house and start this divine work I've been assigned. 

Diary Entry 4:  "Auschwitz: a cool place"

Everything is going according to the plan. I've been sent to a labor camp, one of the best centres in Europe to clean this whole dirt: Auschwitz-Birkenau. In here, I'll be able to fulfill my desire. It will be tough, but the reward will be worth it. From now on, I'll not write anymore in this diary. So this will be my last entry...

From now on, History will be written with blood...

End of year: Debate

Last Friday, as usual, we met with Ms. Lydia for the debate class. But this wasn't a common class, as we were supposed to bring some food, to have a good time. This was very fun, as we talked and talked more even than while debating! That's why I want to thank Ms. Lydia for cooking a United States popular reddish cake, which was really delicious, and of course for spending time with us during the whole year. I had a great time!