Poland=sketchhhh.

Had our train not been late two hours arriving in Auschwitz, we had planned to go to Krakow after leaving the concentration camps. However, we decided that was not the best idea because we didn't want to miss our overnight train back to Vienna. Therefore, from 630-11pm, we had time to kill. Like I previously said, Auschwitz is a ghost town if I've ever seen one. I legitimately feel pain for anyone who lives there. The city appeared completely desolate, run-down, and gloomy. We ate dinner at a local restaurant by the train station, then headed to the convenience store to stock up on chocolate/junk food that we could snack on for the rest of the night while waiting for our train. We spent a good 4 hours inside the Auschwitz train station, talking about our families, past relationships, Lipscomb, etc. Although it was all-around good conversation, we were all so ready and extremely anxious to get out of Poland because of how sketchy the whole situation was. I'm sure the woman attendant in the station thought we were absolutely CRAZY for spending so many hours inside the vacant train station, but we honestly had no where else to go. Getting on the train later that night was such a relief, because we knew we would soon be exiting Poland and heading straight HOME. This is the first weekend I've genuinely felt scared and paranoid the majority of the time. I'm sure Poland is a beautiful country with lots to offer, but because we were contained in Auschwitz, I did not get that vibe. We all knew going into this weekend that it would certainly not be the most fun or enjoyable we would have while studying abroad, but seeing these historic sites was a top priority for us during our time in Europe. I am glad I was able to see many of these places/areas surrounding WWII, but Poland is not a country I anticipate traveling back to in the future. One thing I know without a doubt:  God protected us the whole time.