It’s a small world.  That’s what 2013 BHS graduate J.R. Scott found out while collecting stamps on his passport as he traveled through Europe for the second time in two years.  While there, he ran in to Wheeling Jesuit University alumni, now his alma mater.  He also met people from all over the world who embraced the very history that drew him to Europe in the first place.

 

“I am a history buff,” said Scott.  “I had the opportunity to travel with the Wheeling Jesuit University History Club twice over the last two years, first to Germany and Austria and this year to the Czech Republic and Poland.  I love learning all about WWII and seeing the sights in person made the history come alive.”

 

The trip abroad was immediately after he earned his B.S. degree in Athletic Training and learned that he had passed his BOC exam, certifying him as an Athletic Trainer. The long journey from Wheeling to Canada to Germany to the Czech Republic gave him ample time to savor all the milestones he had met while attending Wheeling Jesuit University and also gave him time to weigh his post-graduate options.

 

Scott and the WJU History Club arrived in Prague with professors who professors who had great knowledge of the historical landmarks they toured.  The Czech Republic’s Capitol city offered plenty of tourist attractions, including the famous Old Town Square that features statues, memorials and markets that encompass both the past and present culture of the country.  The Charles Bridge, built in 1357, linked the Old Town to trade routes which contributed to the areas growth economically and as a tourist area.

 

Next, the group traveled to Terezin to tour the Holocaust memorial that pays homage to over 150,000 Jews who were sent to the concentration camp there. Next, they visited the Sedlec Ossuary, one of the most impactful sites of the trip.

 

“The chapel is artistically decorated with over 40,000 human bones and skulls,” said Scott.  “The chandelier contains at least one of every human bone.  It was fascinating and interesting to hear that those bones belonged to people who requested they be buried there from the 11^th to the 14^th centuries as it was considered holy land.”

 

Castles, monasteries, and cathedrals were all key features of the city, but Scott was particularly drawn to the John Lennon Wall.  

Originally painted as a symbol of rebellion after Lennon’s death, the wall has been covered many times with lyrics, quotes and graffiti that now represent global peace. 

 

After arriving in Poland, the WJU History Club embarked on a journey to Schindler’s Factory, one of the inspirations for Scott’s 

participation on the trip.  Made famous in the 1993 movie, “Schindler’s List,” it is the site where Oskar Schindler saved the lives of over 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust. 

 

“It was very depressing touring Auschwitz and the Plaszow Concentration Camps.  I kept picturing the horrific things that went on there from 1939-45,” said Scott.  “The experience was valuable, however. It raised awareness and compassion for the victims and it allowed me to link information I have heard in books and documentaries to an actual place.”

 

 

The next stop for Scott and his classmates was more uplifting.  The Wieliczka Salt Mine is an elaborate attraction housed underground throughout the city of Krakow.  Handmade sculptures, four chapels, and statues, all made from rock salt, are supplemented with more contemporary carvings throughout the site.   Over one million visitors tour the mines, which produced salt from the 13^th century until 2007, making it the oldest salt mine in the world. It also houses a wellness complex and private rehabilitation center as well as an underground lake and 378 steps.

 

“Traveling has allowed me to grow as a person and learn about other cultures,” said Scott.  “It gives you a different perspective to be the outsider and to see ancient landmarks come to life.  Next, I hope to visit Spain and Portugal since I come from a Portuguese-American family.  It will be neat to meet distant relatives and walk where my ancestors did.”