My Visit to Auschwitz

So, this post is a little different from all my others but I feel like it's important to share.

I was a little apprehensive to post this but I feel like Auschwitz is something in which everyone has to experience and I feel like I should share my experience and also it allows me to reflect on what I saw and learnt.

I was lucky enough to take part in the Lessons From Auschwitz Project which allows two students, from many schools, a 3 part project. This includes a seminar where you meet a survivor of the holocaust, a day trip to Auschwitz and a session after to reflect on the trip.

In the first seminar, we met our educators and our groups and had a talk from Janine Webber. Janine survived the Holocaust and was a child in hiding. She went through so much that I can't even put it into words. She is an amazing women and I feel privileged to have met her.

The trip to Poland was definitely a life changing trip. After almost 7 hours of walking around the camps, with no time to reflect, I found myself on the coach back to the airport speechless and feeling nothing. It was such a weird feeling to have.


Auschwitz

Auschwitz was the first, main camp built by the Nazi's. It held around 16,000 prisoners at a time. However, between 1940 and 1945, the Nazis sent at least 1.3 million people to Auschwitz. About 1.1 million of these people died or were killed.  Upon arriving at Auschwitz, I was shocked at how close to the main road it was. How people would pass it day to day just going to work.  There was this weird atmosphere in the air, no birds flying in the air, just silence.  The first thing you came along in Auschwitz was the infamous sign “ ARBEIT MACH FREIT” –Work will set you free. Less than 10% of those who walked into Auschwitz survived. Walking around and hearing all these facts from my tour guide was so hard to hear, especially when we were stood exactly where they were 80 years prior.


During the whole tour of Auschwitz, I had no emotion.  All that I was thinking was that I was stood in the place where millions of people murdered. Stood in the gas chambers and walking the paths made the reality of what happened sink in. Upon entering a dark room that had home pictures and videos projected onto the wall, I burst into tears. Then leaving the room, again i felt nothing. It was so surreal.

The concentration camp of Auschwitz is unique because each of the barracks is actually a museum which shares the process of the executions, the life at the concentration camps and history lessons in general that will help you to gain a better understanding of what took place here. 

For me, there were two parts that hit me the most. Firstly, the rooms filled with the peoples belongings. It showed the sheer scale of the tragic event. The rooms consisted of peoples Glasses, Suitcases, Shoes (80,000) and personal belongings (including pots and pans) all piled up. But, there was one room which showed the hair of all the people (because when you entered Auschwitz they shaved your head). The exact same hair from the heads of the millions who died. Real human hair piled up.

Secondly, there was a room with the 'Book of Names'. The most physical representation of the amount of people murdered. This book consisted of each persons (of who they found)  first and last name, where they were born and how they were murdered. It has 4.2 million names in. The photo only shows one side of the book, which was several meters long and the pages were very large and very thin. 

Birkenau

Birkenau was a camp just for Jews. It was the largest death and concentration camp. 

Again, I was shocked how close Birkenau was to the main road. I saw two people having driving lessons on the road right outside the camp.  Birkenau has the train track going straight through the centre of the camp. The track that went in, but never went out.

Birkenau was a huge open space which held this atmosphere that's indescribable. There was some wooden barracks where the Jews slept which consisted of a number of wooden, triple bunk beds. The barracks were not water proof, the beds had thin straw mattresses and there could be up to 10 people on each bunk. 

We then saw some gas chambers which were partially destroyed in an attempt to cover up what they had done. 

Walking along the paths,  I still couldn't believe they were the exact same paths the Jew's were walking on. With the exact same grass and trees around me. We finished the tour at the shower block. Jew's would be stripped down and showered with ice cold water before being given their clothes and shoes. Only one set of clothes and only one pair of shoes. 

At the end of the trip, we had a Memorial with a Rabbi. It consisted of poems read by group members and then an inspirational speech from the Rabbi. We then all lit candles and placed them around the train track.  It was a beautiful way to end the trip as a sort of tribute.

Now, there's so much more to say and share about the visit. But,  almost 2 months since i went and it's still hard to put it into words.

I believe a trip to Auschwitz is a must for every one. Hearing is not the same as seeing. With Auschwitz being a dark tourism site it's weird to say i enjoyed it, but I did. Learning about it, seeing it, standing in gas chambers and on the paths of where millions of people did 80 years ago is a surreal feeling but I think it needs to be felt. 

I also think we're forgetting that the liberation of German Nazi concentration and extermination camps were only liberated 73 years ago. This didn't happen hundreds of years ago. Our Grandparents were alive whilst this was going on.

So, if you live in the UK and in year 12 or 13 you can try and get involved in the Lessons from Auschwitz project and get involved in experiencing and sharing what you learn. Or, if you're interested just try and visit Auschwitz!

I know this post won't interest some people but I really wanted to share my experience! Thank you for reading x

My Big Beauty Day Out Experience

I attended Big Beauty Day Out last week in Hawker House in London. Big Beauty Day Out is a new beauty event that had many influencers and brands attending. I attended Beauty Con in 2017 and I was disappointed so I was hoping the same wouldn't happen, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The whole day was so organised, a 'passport' system was in place so you could get a go on each fair ground stall to get a freebie and a free meal all included in original ticket price (£30). Also, the ferris wheel and carousel were free to ride all day! Also included in my ticket, I got a meet and greet slot.  Although I didn't use it, it looked so well organised and everyone seemed happy!

Throughout the day there was so many opportunities to meet influencers. Alongside the planned meet-ups there was meet ups with specific brands and they were just walking around. I went to Jordan Lipscombe's meet up and q&a with Benefit. She was so lovely but unfortunately only 15 people were allowed to meet her which was a bit frustrating as they made it out like it was gonna be a huge meet-up and there was quite a few people there, but it was still good!

The fair ground section was so cute! Loads of little carnival games form each brand to win a freebie (always won something no matter what). I got so many freebies, all full size, from brands such as Nip and Fab, Tangle Teezer and Kiko!

There were so many food choices from burgers to pizza all made fresh in front of you as well as so many places to sit and chill. Such a good venue to have it at! Also, it was a nice little extra that the food was included in the ticket price.

I'll definitely be attending next year (if it's on again, fingers crossed). It was so well organised, so many influencers there as well as so many amazing brands.

xxx

Insta - @sophielorrain3

Twitter - @sophielorrain3

Review | NASV Self-Roating Curling Tongs

I was kindly sent these self-turning curling tongs from Kbeauzon to try! Kbeauzon are a lovely Korean company, established in 2017, who sell Korean beauty products through Amazon. I have naturally curly hair but when I go out I ALWAYS curl my hair because my curls are frizzy and not that defined.

I was intrigued by the fact these had a rotating barrel, especially because I'm super lazy. They also came with hair clips which helps when sectioning the hair which was a nice little extra.

These curling tongs are so easy to use! Admittedly, I didn't have high hopes.  I thought my hair would get tangled in the barrel and it just wouldn't work but if you’re lazy (like me) then the self turning barrel just makes things 100x easier. I did think it might be a pointless luxury but it does work, the speed of it is slow so you can control the curl.

The tongs also have a timer that beeps for how long to hold the hair for - 1, 2 then 3 beeps so you don't have to keep checking the heat of your hair or like me waiting for the steam to appear (oops)

I only curled half my hair but this took around 10 minutes after I got the hang of using them. You have to use small sections of hair but you get amazing, defined curls from minimal effort. They heat up so quick and have four temperature settings so can use on any thickness of hair!

The barrel features ionic technology which is said to prevent frizz (perfect for me) and the barrel is coated in ceramic and tourmaline which preserves hair health. 

I love how the curls came out, defined and not frizzy at all! I added a photo at the end of the post

If you’re interested in these curling tongs they are currently on sale and retail at £48 ($68)  on Amazon (click here)

P.s The cord has an American plug so you will have to get an adaptor but I got one off Amazon for £3

xxx

Insta: @sophielorrain3

Twitter: @sophielorrain3