As I sit here at my workplace waiting for another file for transcription, tired of irrelevantly stupid facebook quizzes (I still take them, height of un-creativity!!), I am thinking about the innumerable people I have met through these interviews who fought horrible atrocities and survived, my job here at the library and how it all started.
Well the project ends on 30th (and Thursday for me :() giving me another reason to look back and reflect on what I have gained.
My initial reaction to the interview call for the job was euphoria. I had not cared what the job was going to be. I was more than happy to work for the library for Voices of the Holocaust project. It was after my supervisor told me that the work could be disturbing and stressful, that I realized, he may have a point. Another thing I have noticed about work is, sometimes if you don't have any idea about what you are doing, you end up doing a really good job. You look at it objectively, without getting involved. But can any work be complete without 100% involvement ? if's and buts ...
Anyways the point is this work has been interesting, at times depressing and unnerving, but most of the times educative. Our generation learnt about evolution of man, civilizations, struggle for freedom and world wars as part of history. The next generation will have to learn about some more cruel stuff. To come to think of it, we are making history for them!
So much for modern history!
P.S. I still think most of this stuff is research level and very few hands will ever touch these interviews. (I am just being realistic.)
But this work has given me an opportunity to learn various languages like Yiddish (I know!!), German, French, Spanish, Russian (!!!) and lastly English. I had the opportunity to work under an awesome supervisor who was damn cool, helping and fun! I have learnt to laugh over the helplessness one feels at times after reading such stuff. Plus this work also gave me an opportunity to read up history books (one of my favorite school subjects) and has also increased my hands on geographical knowledge of Europe (a subject I sucked at, in school) and lastly psychology (which I could never officially learn).
You wont believe it but I am equally sad even while leaving my second job, which is strange. There are some feelings which you can never grow immune to. :|
(I am glad for that in a way :))
If you guys find time then do visit this.
The project is still under upgrade and hence the look of the site will keep on changing.
To many more such innings to come,
~nightflier!