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The thought of lives being taken, brutally, harshly, viciously, made us feel so vulnerable. We are all like them, innocent people who do nothing but live our lives. There was a book, a long list of all the names of people who had perished. The Rabbi told us to find a name and remember it, just so one person, one human, would have their life remembered, even if it was only thwas only through a name. In Auschwitz we entered a gas chamber, with a crematorium right beside it. The shocking disregard for human life was emphasised when we heard how it took them only 20 minutes to kill all the people in the chamber, but one hour to burn their bodies. Birkenau, also also referred to as Auschwitz II, was our next visit. A ten minute coach journey to what seems to be a brooding, barbed wire covered rail staon. The infamous images of the track led into an endless rail with watchtowers sursurrounding the inner site. Past the rail, we entered a set of barracks, where hundreds of people slept, somemes over fourteen people shared one bed. Next door, in another building, there were rows of holes in wood, these were toilets for the prisoners. They were only allowed to go into the toilet, twice a day at a specifically alloed me. If they didn’t go then, or bthen, or between these mes, camp guards would beat them. Walking along the train track, we could see a model of the cale carriage. Prisoners were

“Someone who existed, a person not so different from you and me.”

flung into this, in order to deliver them to the dire prison. 75% of people who le the carriage (those who managed to survive the trip) were gassed to death, while the other 25% were forced to work. Further alonFurther along, there appeared ruins of bricked buildings, with what seemed like chimneys. These were the ruins of two gas chambers. We were walking on people’s ashes. The chambers were burnt in a last aempt by the Nazis to destroy any evidence that their atrocies happened. We took a minute to look beneath us and peered over at the places which only represent

dedeath and ruthless disregard for humanity. Aer walking through the enre camp, we came to where real showers were, the last shower for many people who entered it. Across from this building stood ‘Canada’, the nickname for the place whewhere possessions were

sorted and arranged into necessary places. This was a place of luxury to those in the camps, a place of warmth, which is why it was called Canada, as it was a place of refuge. Someone even pointed out that the brick building in front of us was beer than the condions of the buildings the inmates lived in. In the showers, we walked through to a room full of black and white and sepia photographs, with informaon about them and their family, the lives they led before the war. The Rabbi spoThe Rabbi spoke about how he had selected a name

from the book in Auschwitz, and told the story of the Jewish man he chose. He chose a Polish man who moved to Austria where he married. While he was living there, the war began and he was deported back to Poland without his wiwithout his wife. His wife was advised to move away, so she fled to Scotland. She lived in dire poverty while soon discovering she was pregnant. She immediately contacted her husband with the only address she had for him, but he never replied. The woman ggrew old, and the daughter she had borne by her missing husband grew too, having her own children, and eventually in the late 1990s her own

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great-grandchild. To conclude this beauful, tragic story, the Rabbi revealed the Jewish man was his own Grandfather, and the woman who fled to Scotland, his own Grandmother. He explained his faith had given him hope, and not knowing the fate of his grandfather was hard, but he found in his religion a way to accept it, with the belief he went to a bto a beer place. He led us outside, where we lit candles placing them on the railway, represenng every life which set foot in this camp, never to leave.

The trip, for me, bought to life the horrific acts which went on in such deeply troubling mes. But it also gave me a sense of gratude and faith in humanity. We strive to go on, improve, learn from our mistakes, appreciang all we have been given, and recognising how important it is we do. I went to Auschwitz expecng to be distraught, losing all trace of hope. But in truth I of hope. But in truth I came back with more hope, more desires, more aspiraons to strive to be beer, to recognise everything I have, to love people in my life who mean so much to me, and know that I am lucky to have them.

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MMARumouRumours connue to circulate regarding a potenal blockbuster matchup between UFC champion Conor McGregor, right, and rered boxer Floyd Mayweather. Both fighters are stars within their respecve disciplines and have both publicly stated that they want the fight. However, the match is yet to be confirmed and many fans remain scepcal. MeaMeanwhile, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping have agreed to fight later on this year aer meeng backstage at UFC 207

ATHLETICSLondon will hoLondon will host the 2017 IAAF World Championships between August 4th and August 13th. Legendary sprinter Usain Bolt, le, has announced that the event will be his last at elite level. In tribute to Bolt’s 100m world record me of 9.58 seconds, children’s ckets will cost £9.58. The charismac Jamaican will be eager to bow out vicvictorious and perhaps even break another world record. Team GB’s Mo Farah is also set to finish his track career aer the World Championships. However, Farah is yet to rule out connuing his marathon running.

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5. “Gimme a brake!” Less is moLess is more. Nothing irritates me more than when drivers use their brakes for no reason while driving. Just because the road bends slightly does not mean you have to slow down to 5 mph. Let’s face it, you’re not 70, you’re not ready for Horlicks and Emmerdale. Yet.

6. “Steering clear of it” TheThere is a concept on the road I'm sure you are familiar with, called giving way. Unfortunately, it is not known by all…especially taxi drivers. The number of near misses I've had due to them is ridiculous. They appear to think they have a God- given right that allows them to do what they like on the roads, regardless of whose lives they put at risk. Although, lrisk. Although, let’s face it, the prices they charge are killer enough. Advice – give ‘em a wide berth.

7. “It’s ‘bus’ or them” The The worst road user of all is the bus driver. The bald middle aged man with a face like a slapped *** and a score to sele who thinks that just because he drives a bigger vehicle than everyone else, he is somehow more important. You cyclists out there will have met them – less, “if you can’t see me then you I can’t see you” and more, “I’ve seen seen you so I’m gonna get you.” You have been warned.

Well, this should give you an idea of what to expect when you join the motoring world. A world where there are rules, yet nobody on the roads seems to follow them. A world where it’s okay to give people the two fingered salute. A world where size maers. Good luck in your journey to driving and most importantly, ststay out of my way!

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