S2 English

In English class at the moment, we are reading the book 'Faraway Home' by Marilyn Taylor.

Based on a true story, the book describes karl and Rosa's life in Austria before the outbreak of the World War II. Following the incidents of 1938, Karl and Rosa's parents decide to send them out of the country on one of the Kindertransports. The children end up staying at Millisle farm in Ards in Northern Ireland.

Last week, students brought in a number of items to present scenes in the book.

Several students brought in rings. The rings relate to Oma story. Oma, like many other Austrians, donated her gold jewellery to help Austria during the First World War.

One student brought in a Bible. His Bible reminds him of the Sabbath scene in the story.

Another student chose her Dirndl. A Dirndl is a transitional dress worn in Austria and Southern Germany. The dress reminded her of the scene in the book where Rosa as a proud Austrian girl wanted to wear her Dirndl to the parade. Her parents had to tell her that as she was Jewish, she was no longer allowed to wear it.

A number of students brought in toothbrushes. Following the Anschluss, Jewish citizens of Vienna were forced to clean the streets with toothbrushes.

Having read and discussed the Anschluss in 1938 and the implications for Jews in Austria, students were asked to draw a scene to represent this chapter in the book.

Hitler's arrival in Vienna