Before last summer, I didn’t know much about the Eastern Front in World War II; I learned about Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union extensively in high school, but our education was limited to the West. If it hadn’t been for a friend who roped me into going to Harbin, or my out-of-character decision to go on a trip knowing virtually nobody, I might have never learned about the atrocities committed within my own country.

 

My expectations for this trip were, frankly, quite low; I had just wanted to add another city to my list of visited places and meet new people. However, going to Harbin turned out to be one of the most rewarding and educational experiences I have ever had. Not only did I get the opportunity to make wonderful friends, but I also got to learn about the long-buried atrocities committed in Northeastern China. I visited the Unit 731 Museum, in which the remains of the humanitarian crimes committed by members of the Japanese military were exhibited. I also got the rare opportunity to go to the exact spots where outdoor experimentation on humans was conducted. These experiences were extremely thought-provoking, and they left me pondering just how much of history has been covered up by greed and selfishness.

 

On a lighter note, I also got to explore Harbin with the new friends I made on this trip. We visited many different places, ranging from food markets to amusement parks. I think these activities were very effective in giving us a break from the darkness of what we were learning about.

 

Overall, this trip was extremely rewarding and I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to go on it.