Author: Emma

PW #3 Vorfreude

Going to an international school and being surrounded by people from such diverse backgrounds and cultures has made me realize how important and valuable languages are. Growing up, I never realized what a gift and privilege it was, to be able to communicate in such a variety of languages. I’m very grateful for my parents, to whom I owe my ability of speaking Czech. Being born in Switzerland meant that German immediately became my second language, helping me communicate with everybody on a daily basis. And while I must admit that German is definitely not my favourite language (considering my personal preference for French, Italian and English), mainly because of how complex it is, I still believe that it should be admired for it’s beauty. Its literature, poetry, and rich history reflect a depth of thought and emotion that deserves greater appreciation.

One of my favorite aspects of German is its ability to capture complex emotions in unique ways. A great example is the word Vorfreude. This word, which translates to the joyful anticipation of something yet to come, has no direct English equivalent. It perfectly describes the spark of excitement and happiness before an anticipated event. Vorfreude is something we all experience daily, whether it’s the thrill of planning a trip, the anticipation of a celebration, or the joy of knowing you’ll see a friend after a long day at school. Vorfreude can always be found in the simple moments.

The word ‘Vorfreude’ always reminds me to savor the build-up and not just focus on the outcome. These layers of excitement to ordinary moments have made me look for joy in the everyday.

Reflection on “The Moral Equivalent of War” & “Can real men live in a peaceful society?”

In ”The Moral Equivalent of War” William James talks about how humanity’s natural drive for aggression and bravery could be redirected into positive and productive activities rather than violence. He points out that traits like courage and discipline – which might often be associated with military and war- are still valuable, but that our society should find ways to encourage these qualities in peaceful ways. I agree with his statement because I believe that the army/military – as seen in our WW1 literature and poetry unit – encouraged a sense of belonging for many young men. The strong bonds and friendships might have been formed during unpleasant circumstances, but they still led to lifelong companionships. This feeling of collectivity was what many of the young soldiers felt they needed; feeling confused and lost after entering adulthood. I believe that these values, which the army represents, can be continued, by giving young men the chance to willingly enlist or serve in the army.

The essay  ”Can real men live in a peaceful society?” discusses how middle-class values in the 19th and early 20th centuries reshaped ideas about masculinity. Back then, instead of focusing on war and physical strength, men were expected to work regular jobs, provide for their families, and live quiet, stable lives. While this shift created a more peaceful society, some people felt it took away a sense of toughness and excitement, which led men to seek these qualities through sports or fitness. I believe that this image began shaping strong male stereotypes but at the same time began to spread negative female stereotypes and the image of a ”weak woman”.

Both of these essays made me rethink these male and female stereotypes/roles which have been around for a long time and how these concepts of ‘manhood’, ‘chivalry’ or ‘hyper-masculinity’ might have emerged and shaped our modern day society.

PW #2 ‘Carpe diem’

A few days ago, I decided to rewatch one of my all-time favorite movies: ‘The Dead Poets Society’ and rediscovered a quote that has stuck with me since. ‘Carpe diem’ which translates to ‘’seize the day’’, is a quote which plays an important role in the storyline and represents one of the main messages and central themes that the movie wants to deliver.

The Dead Poets Society is a story which follows a group of boys at a strict, elite boarding school, who, under the guidance of their ‘unorthodox’ English Teacher Mr. Keating, learn how to think for themselves. The phrase that Mr. Keating repeats throughout the movie ‘carpe diem’ had a big impact on me as well as the group of the boys in the movie. They began to learn how to break free from expectations, follow their true passions and most importantly, how to make the most of their lives. This made me think about my own life and how often I hesitate to take risks. Do I do what makes me happy or do I hold back because I’m scared? I strongly believe in ‘’living in the moment’’ even though it often gets lost or forgotten in the busyness and chaos of life. ‘Carpe diem’ or ‘living in the moment’ aren’t about being reckless but more about doing what makes you happy with confidence. I wish that more people could hear this and begin embracing each moment and memory they get to experience. Life is beautiful.

IRJE #1: ”Freedom to and freedom from”

In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the story is set in the dystopian society of Gilead, a totalitarian regime that has overthrown the United States government. Gilead enforces strict social hierarchies and severely restricts women’s rights, reducing them to their one and only purpose: bearing children.  The protagonist, Offred, is a ‘Handmaid’ whose sole purpose is to bear children for the ruling class. Through her eyes, we witness the oppressive nature of the regime and how her mentality is slowly manipulated by the conservative views and laws. In one moment, Aunt Lydia speaks to the Handmaids, explaining Gilead’s view on freedom and control. Offred reflects on Aunt Lydia’s teachings about how society has shifted from one of dangerous choices to one of supposed safety.

I remember the rules, rules that were never spelled out but that every woman knew: don’t open your door to a stranger, even if he says he is the police. Make him slide his ID under the door. Don’t stop on the road to help a motorist pretending to be in trouble. Keep the locks on and keep going. If anyone whistles, don’t turn to look. Don’t go into a laundromat, by yourself, at night. (…)

Now we walk along the same street, in red pairs, and no man shouts obscenities at us, speaks to us, touches us. No one whistles. There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don’t underrate it.  (p.27-28)

This quotation really stands out to me because it shows how Gilead twists the idea of freedom. Aunt Lydia’s words make it seem like the strict rules are for women’s protection, but they really take away their choices and freedom. She thinks that in the past the ”freedom to” act and make choices based on ones own interests/desires led to chaos and that the current ”freedom from” focuses on the absence of threats against women and makes everybody feel safe and protected. In ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, Gilead promotes this ”freedom from” danger as a justification for its oppressive rules (trying to get rid of the ‘freedom to make personal choices’ mindset, that women used to have).

This passage highlights how the regime uses fear to control people, but they hide it behind a guise of supposed ‘safety’ and a strict set of laws which everybody has to follow. This passage really emphasizes the idea that when safety comes at the cost of freedom, it isn’t true safety at all.

Personal Reflection: WW1 Literature

Reading All Quiet on the Western Front and other excerpts from books written by WW1 soldiers has drastically changed my perspective about war and life on the front. I had never heard stories about war from the soldier’s perspective, which left me biased against them. How could they have ‘willingly’ enlisted? How were they capable of killing their enemies so cold-bloodedly? Were they truly fighting for their country and willing to die for it? After reading the stories written by soldiers, I understand what war was actually like. What stood out the most to me was the deep relationships and bonds formed between the soldiers. These bonds, formed under the worst possible circumstances, became essential for their survival, both mental and physical. Knowing that the person lying next to you in the trenches could one day save your life, created a sense of incredible trust and dependence.

This feeling of camaraderie really stood out to me in the excerpts from Barthas and Herbert, as well as in All Quiet on the Western Front. Despite the chaos and horror surrounding them, the soldiers looked out for one another. The connection wasn’t just about surviving together but also about the shared trauma and suffering and providing each other support in times of fear and pain.

In the paragraphs from Fear and Diary of a Dead Officer, the bonds formed were a way to find moments of humanity in an inhumane situation. These stories showed me that the soldiers weren’t just fighting for their country, they were also fighting for each other. The friendships and connections gave them the strength to endure the most horrible things a human could possibly endure and this completely changed my understanding of what war meant to those who lived through it. It was so much more then countries and governments fighting against each other, purely for territorial gain, fueled by hate. The soldiers weren’t just figures in a game, they were humans with lives and families that didn’t understand why they had to fight humans just like them.

 

 

PW #1 – My first month in Canada

Yesterday marked the end of my first month here at Brookes and I can confidently say that these past four weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings for me. From the overwhelming feeling of homesickness and longing to go back home during the first few days, to the nervousness and excitement of the first week, to the constant feeling of happiness and joy.

I am happy because I’m able to fulfill my childhood dream of living in a foreign country during my teenage years. I am happy because I get to make unforgettable memories. I am happy because I get to meet amazing people from all over the world and form lifelong connections. I am happy because I’m stepping out of my comfort zone every day and challenging myself to grow and thrive towards becoming a better person.

Trips to downtown Victoria, visiting the sunflower fields, joining the volleyball team and playing my first game, going on walks in the forest, camping trips, going to the fair; these are just a few of the unforgettable memories I have made during my first month here. But even the simple things which I wouldn’t have considered as special back home, are memorable for me: constantly being surrounded by my friends and spending every waking minute together  (which I would’ve considered as quite tiring before coming here), visiting Walmart for the first time, walking through ‘the typical Canadian’ suburbs  (it’s just like in the movies), trying my first corndog and caramel apple, running to ‘save-on foods’ after school, just to name a few. Living here sometimes still feels so surreal to me.

I can confidently say that these past four weeks have been everything I have dreamt of and more, and it would be an understatement to say that I can’t wait for the rest of the year!

 

 

Introduction Emma

Hi, my name is Emma Hanek! I joined Brookes this summer as an exchange student and I’ll be staying until next June. I’m from Zurich, Switzerland, where I was born and have been living ever since. Both of my parents are originally from Czech Republic but moved to Switzerland 20 years ago due to work. So even though I’m 100% Czech, I feel very connected to Switzerland and consider myself Swiss. I also have a younger brother who I love and miss very much.

I love living in Switzerland, the nature is stunning! Me and my friends love to go hiking together or go swimming in the Zurich lake after school during summer.  Zurich also has a very vibrant food and art scene, so I visit a lot of galleries and museums during my free time.

Otherwise I do kickboxing three times a week, take piano lessons twice a week, singing lessons and when I have some spare time left I love to go on runs! I fell in love with running two years ago and have improved so much since then! I ran my first half marathon this April in Prague with both of my parents and I loved it. Even though I mostly run on the streets of Zurich, I enjoy trail running much more. Running in the mountains is such an indescribable feeling! After climbing several hundred meters in altitude, you are always rewarded with running back to the valley and sometimes when the trail is very steep and you’ve lost all control over your legs because you’re running so fast, it feels like you’re flying!

Otherwise I also enjoy baking, cooking, reading, watching movies and hanging out with my friends. During winter, me and my family spend every weekend in our cabin in the Alps and we go skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing, it’s my favourite time of the year. I’m looking forward to going snowboarding here in Canada!

Doing an exchange year has been my dream since I was 7 and being here is still such a surreal feeling to me. The past few weeks have been the craziest mixture of happiness, nervousness, excitement and a lot of bittersweet homesickness. But I’m extremely grateful to be here at Brookes and I’m very excited to spend this year on Vancouver Island!

xx Emma H.