DÓNAL KENNEDY
At 4am on a February morning, twelve groggy, cranky CBC students assembled along the Patten Flyer route with Mrs. Ryan with a view to getting to the airport for an early flight. The mood was subdued as we met Mr. O’Sullivan and went through check-in and security, only easing as we finally had the opportunity to cram ourselves with a greasy early breakfast in the food hall. Much of the time waiting for our plane was spent trekking from the Duty Free to our faraway departure gate (D67), thought by many Airport Authority employees to exist only in myth. Yet make it there we did, and we proceeded to board our flight to Krakow.
Our first sight of Poland was a typically heavy fall of snow, almost concealing recognisably Soviet-esque antique aeroplanes. No sooner were we herded to the airport than we were packed into our mini-bus, driven by the friendly and dedicated bus driver who stuck with us through the whole trip. At this stage we were beginning to feel the sharp difference in temperature from our homeland and many took this opportunity to put on boots and an extra jacket. We took a route through the newer area of Krakow, the echoes of Communism evident in the economical, often poorly maintained high-rise buildings. However, we soon reached the old town and split up to have lunch. My friend Ronan and I were surprised and delighted to find a full Big Mac meal with dessert cost a mere 15 złotych (the equivalent of €3), and realised our currency would go a lot further than we expected. With this thought in mind we proceeded to scour all the shops in the area for presents, souvenirs and useless paraphernalia. A fine destination for this was the Cloth Hall, Europe’s best-preserved roofed market, where among stalls selling jewellery, crafts and Wisła Krakow jerseys, Ronan purchased a ‘bargain’ antique model pistol. It was then time for our guided tour with an enthusiastic native Kracowiak. We took in all the sights, from the jaw-dropping ceilings of St. Mary’s Basilica to the Royal Castle on snow-capped Wawel Hill.
By now, we were exhausted, and were glad to finally reach our accommodation, the brilliantly named Hotel Apis, where we had a tasteless, but appreciated meal. We then retired to our comfortable lodgings for a much-needed night’s sleep. As you can imagine, with four lads to a room, this proved to be nearly impossible. One discussion of how a stomachache should be classified as a “stomache” lasting until the small hours of the morning – interesting as it was to debate such matters of science, I think we all came to regret it when 7am arrived and we were obliged to return downstairs for breakfast.
Our first stop on Thursday morning was the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp – divided into three main camps, we first visited the main administrative base, Auschwitz I. Here we met our guide, and set off. As we were the first tour group of the morning, the camp was practically deserted. With February snow falling softly around us our surroundings took on a very haunting air. Even bundled in our hats, gloves and winter jackets the sub-zero temperatures were uncomfortable. It was impossible to image how thousands of people had worked out here all day in nothing more than thin cotton pyjamas. Many of the old prison blocks had been filled with information boards and cases containing documents and uniforms. Some cells were recreated as they would have been sixty years ago. Effective as all of this was, nothing was more shocking than what we encountered in Block 5. Unprepared, we entered a room where, housed behind massive glass panes, was the hair of 140,000 Jews. Every prisoner was completely shaven upon entering the camp. It was a sight I’m sure none of us will ever forget. In addition, there were tonnes of shoes, spectacles, hairbrushes and, chillingly, suitcases with hand-written names, ages and dates. Our next and final stop on the tour was a ten minute drive away – Auschwitz Birkenau, the most infamous and horrific of the Nazi death camps. To say there was an uneasy atmosphere would be a gross understatement. We were walking the very same route which over a million men, women and children took to their deaths a mere sixty years ago. We were shown the entire complex by our well-informed, fluent guide. After paying our respects at the large memorial statue, we returned to our bus, sobered, but enlightened.
We soon arrived at one of Poland’s most famous and spectacular attractions, the Krakow Salt Mines. Our descent down seemingly endless identical flights of plywood stairs, betrayed our senses. When we finally reached the bottom we were five hundred feet underground. After inhaling a few lungfuls of the air there, it came as no surprise to hear that there is an asthma treatment centre in the mines. This was the purest air I had ever breathed. In stark contrast to coalminers, our guide pointed out, the salt miners tended to have fantastic respiration! As we wound our way through the labyrinth, through chambers excavated as long ago as the 13th century up to as recently as ten years ago, we witnessed breathtaking salt lakes, secret passages, chapels, innumerable sculptures and even a colossal cathedral made entirely of salt. Before you ask, yes, we did lick the walls, and yes, they were indeed salty. Incredibly, after hours of trekking we were informed that we had only seen 1% of the entire mine. With intentions to return at a later stage to conquer the other 99%, we whizzed back to the surface in a rickety elevator and made our way to the hotel.
After dinner we ventured into Krakow’s shopping district to the Galeria Kazimierz. The size of the place was staggering and, needless to say, those of us with a few złotych to spare had no trouble in finding bargains. Our main reason for coming was the multiplex cinema and Ronan and I chose to see the fantastic Frost/Nixon film (which thankfully was in English with Polish subtitles). Once again we were in awe of the prices, our tickets a mere €3 each. It was then time to recharge our batteries at the Hotel Apis before our last farewell to Krakow. We clambered into our bus and set off for Warsaw. Fortunately the bus was equipped with a DVD player so we were accompanied on our journey by the comedic talents of Tommy Tiernan and Dara O’Brien and the five hours flew by.
After checking into our hotel (Novotel, right in the city centre), we found our way to the Old Town for our first tour of the day. We heard the story of Warsaw’s many misfortunes (not least of all, that nearly 90% of it was destroyed in World War II) and that the ‘Old Town’ we were walking around wasn’t old at all. It is a complete reconstruction of how it was pre-war, something of a miracle for the Polish who had little or no finance for the operation in the 50s. We then scoured the city for museums, the most impressive by far being the Warsaw Uprising Museum. I don’t think I’ve ever been in one as authentic or interesting. There were recreated underground passages, informational movies and masses of guns, uniforms, field radios and every type of memorabilia you can imagine. After a tasty traditional meal in the restaurant adjacent to our hotel it was time to revisit the Old Town – this time at night for our ‘Ghost Tour’. Our animated guide showed us the supernatural, eerie side of Warsaw, from the Sad Bell that never got a chance to toll to the ‘skulls’ embedded in stone walls and the dozens of WWII battle markers dotted around. Thoroughly chilled to the bone, thermally and spiritually, we returned to collapse in our hotel.
Our final day was a chilly one with temperatures as low as -7 °C as we began our tour looking at the influence of Communism on Warsaw. We walked past scores of tall, utilitarian-style buildings before we encountered one of the city’s most striking landmarks, The Palace of Culture and Science, Poland’s tallest building. Benevolently given as a ‘gift’ (for which the people of Warsaw had to pay) by Josef Stalin in 1952, the Palace is essentially a tall tower, beautiful in its own geometrical, ordered way. We paid in and ascended 800 feet in an elevator designed for people without ears. When ours finally popped we were treated to stunning views from all angles of Poland’s capital, a bustling sea of greys, greens and blues. Ten minutes later we were let loose upon the shopping district, feverishly buying souvenirs and gimmicks for those dear ones we had forgotten about until now. Time flies when you’re bargain hunting, and before we knew it we were checking in at Warsaw airport, our Polish adventure almost behind us.
I think I speak on behalf of the whole group when I say we had a fantastic time, and we may even have learned a thing or two about history. Mr. O’Sullivan and Mrs. Ryan were great teachers to have with us. They were endlessly helpful and patient and they deserve huge thanks. I myself am heading back to Krakow in August I was so fascinated by the city. We gained a whole new perspective on Poland, its people and its history, so it is safe to say that the 2009 History Trip was a great success.
This year in CBC Seachtain na Gaeilge took off. For the first time the two week national celebration of the Irish language was embraced by the school. Seachtain na Gaeilge 2010 took place between the 2nd and 15th of March and its aim is to create an awareness of the Irish language and to show that it has a role in our lives. The Irish department felt that events should revolve around ‘craic agus spraoi’ (fun and games) and that it should move away from the classroom as much as possible.
‘Scannán an Lae’, which took place in Mr. Finnegan’s room every lunchtime, showcased the best of Irish-language short films. Amongst them were ‘Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom’, ‘Filleann an Feall’ and ‘Clare sa Spéir’. Also shown were two short films produced in CBC Monkstown as part of transition year, ‘Rotha an tSaoil’, which finished second in the TG4 Comórtas Scannánaíochta Náisiúnta 2006 and ‘Certa Bonum Certamen’, the overall winner in 2005.
Mr. Tierney’s Rang Idirbhliana organised its own comórtas díospóireachta (debating competition) and the final took place in front of the rest of the transition year students. The judges were very impressed with the effort and preparation displayed. This also prepares the student for the díospóireacht question on Paper 1 of the Ardteist (Leaving Cert).
The first year Tráth na gCeist (Table Quiz) was also a success. Ms Dwayne’s questions proved tough but fair and all the first year groups proved themselves very capable.
On the final day a ‘Poc Fada’ (Long Puck) competition took place for second years. Past student David McGwane and David Nestor, both members of the Kilmacud Crokes panel that would go onto glory on La Fhéile Pádraig, presented the prizes. Great things are expected from winner Ros O’Tiarnaigh, who represented Dublin this year in hurling.
In addition to the above events, all classes also had different in-class events.
Roinn na Gaeilge will be looking for new and interesting ideas for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2010!
Go n-eiri an t-ádh libh.
Exchanges are a vital part of any language learner’s experience. It enables them to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom. They can see that it is a living language and more than just scribbling on a blackboard or abstract grammar tables.
The fifth year German exchange with the Lichtenberg Gymnasium Grammar School in Kassel, Hessen, is now in its second year. It has proven to be a popular new addition to what the German department offers. The Lichtenberg School is quite different from ours. It works in innovating teaching with the local university and is coeducational, which has meant that many of our lads have welcomed with customary charm young Fräuleins on the corridors of CBC.
The Germans arrived last April and stayed for one week. Whilst here they undertook a number of activities as well as attending normal classes with their exchange partners. They also undertook an epic and quite damp walking tour of Dublin with myself and Mr. McMahon, who injected the day with a bit of sunshine, with merry tales of intrigue, torture and espionage during the War of Independence, and what Jonathan Swift had against Georg Friedrich Händel.
At the time of writing, we are planning our return trip to Kassel in August. Kassel is an interesting and vibrant city with a rich history. It was home to the Brothers Grimm and Napoleon’s Brother Jerome, known to locals as “König Lustig” (“king funny”). For more info on Kassel and our partner school, go to http://www.kassel.de and http://www.lg-kassel.de/
The hope is that the experiences of this year’s group and the previous year’s group will filter down to younger students. As fifth year German students, they can in turn benefit from what will hopefully prove to be a self-sustaining and enduring partnership between our school and the Lichtenberg School, who have taken us to their hearts.
