Author: Jose Kajatt

Jose Kajatt is a first generation Peruvian immigrant currently attending Florida International University. Following his six years of service in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, he began work on earning an undergraduate degree in Biology with the aim of pursing his goal to become a practicing physician. While generally reserved in nature, he enjoys the diversity and change in perspective that meeting new people and cultures brings and is excited to experience more of the world outside of the United States. Traveling, photography, film, and hiking are passions that he has carried with him throughout his adult life.

Encounter as Text

“Limitations” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Modesto A. Maidique Campus, January 26^th, 2023

Grief can be powerful. I’ve been fortunate in my own life, in that I have never lost anyone that’s been dear and close to me through death. That facet of life is still foreign. But alongside the ultimate loss of a loved one, there are other reasons, other types of loss that can open a door for grief to walk through. I met grief for the first time when I truly learned what it meant to be heartbroken. This loss was unlike anything I ever felt before. She was in my life for three significant years. We had a dream of what our future looked like together, we had our apartment, our puppy, our daily routine, our love. But love alone isn’t enough to keep two people together and happy. It’s been four months since. And as I’ve carried the weight of this loss, as I’ve experienced the breadth of the emotional spectrum, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect. It was painful to realize how much of myself I lost, with every heavy compromise made, every resignation, every imposed limitation, I lost sense of who I was. Of what made me unique as an individual. But there is power in grief. While I’ve allowed myself to sit with this unwelcome but necessary friend, I realized there were many lessons it offered. One of them being that through this kind of loss there is opportunity.

Since I started attending FIU, I’d see our school’s study abroad program advertised through flyers and emails. The opportunities and breadth of experiences each program could offer always called out to me. In my life, I’ve found joy in traveling, in being enriched by a new destination, a place filled with the potential for new and unique experiences. And Europe is a part of the world I’ve always wanted to have a lived experience in. But each time I saw them, I felt limited. Constrained even. It had been present in my adult life for the past eight years. And at times, it could be an incredibly frustrating feeling to experience. You see, I spent six years serving our Navy and with that came obvious limitations in that regard. Then, to still feel limited, constrained, two years past my separation from the Navy, certainly wasn’t pleasant. When November came around last year, I received an email advertising the final spots left in each study abroad program and I knew I couldn’t hesitate.

Now truth be told, I didn’t really have any specific reason for choosing France beyond knowing that it was a European nation with rich history and world class cuisine. I remember looking at the list and thinking, “Well… France it is!”. So, with my paperwork processed and dues paid, I knew this program was an experience that would be right for me. I’m incredibly excited as I look forward to the future. When I think about being in France, of being given the opportunity to be enriched by the history and culture of each location through the walking lectures and the hiking that will be done in the French Alps, I recognize experiences that I know will be meaningful and that will leave an  impact on me. They will be the antithesis of the limitations I felt before.

Enlightenment As Text

” Je Pense, Donce Je Suis” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Modesto A. Maidique Campus, February 10^th, 2023

“I think, therefore I am”, written by René Descartes, was a brilliant way of alluding to the idea that nothing is exempt from doubt. That all beliefs can be subject to questioning. While I’ve read that historians have come to the consensus that the Enlightenment period began with the death of King Louis XIV (1715), it is interesting to note that Descartes published that declaration in his autobiographical work, Discourse on the Method, in 1637. That is close to a century of separation between the two events! It is quite fascinating as it can be seen as a cultural root for one of the pillars of the Enlightenment, which was rationalism. A profound emergence of the idea that beliefs and behaviors should have the weight of justifiable reason behind them. That they not merely be based off religion or clouded with emotional judgement. To me, this resonates deeply with the way I view the world and how I approach my own held beliefs and ideas of the world and people.

Something that I often struggle with myself, is holding deep and strong opinions on subjects that I feel I do not know enough about. There are always variables, questions, and history that I feel needs to be known and contextualized in order to be properly understood. Problems, ideas, they are often times rather nuanced. Not simply black and white. It’s often the shades of grey that need to be recognize within the scope of the bigger picture. Justifiable belief is the basis of the epistemology behind the Enlightenment. And I appreciate that greatly. That justification is crucial to have in one’s own beliefs. For the opinions and ideas that I know I do hold strongly, I find it helpful to often question and challenge them much in the way Descartes alluded to in his writing.

I look forward to engrossing myself more behind the men and women who embodied this movement. How did they think? What was the justification behind the beliefs and ideas that they held? How did they impact the world around them? And of course, there are two other pillars attributed to the Enlightenment period. The pillars of Science and Individualism. How was scientific advancement impacted during this time? The idea of individualism, personal liberties and rights was at odds with the traditional authority and power structures that existed during that time. Could violent revolutions have been avoided? Or were they a necessity?

Being honest, before this course, I did not know or pay much attention to the Enlightenment or the people who were a part of this movement. But having read Candide by Voltaire, having listened to the discussions held in class by Professor Bailly, and doing a bit of my own research on the time period and the movement, I see exciting times ahead of me. I see how I will not only be given the opportunity to contextualize this when I’ll be spending time in France but also as an opportunity to learn how I can apply these philosophical ideas into my own form thinking and the way I perceive the world.  

Historic Miami as Text

“Right Under My Nose” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Modesto A. Maidique Campus, March 10^th, 2023

Something that has begun to stand out to me, more and more with each lecture and excursion, is just how much history is always surrounding us here in Miami. It’s hard to see this city in the same light that I did before. It’s all been here. It’s always been here, right under my nose. Aspects of our culture, behaviors of the people that call this city home and even something as simple as a street name are all rooted deep within the origin of this city. It was not a boom, sudden and immediate, that has made Miami what it is today. It was an array of seeds that were planted many many years ago, that have given rise to trees that have helped slowly grow our city, our culture, our people into who they are in this present day. Call it naivete, call it short sightedness, most certainly call it lacking perspective. But I am ignorant no more. Or at the very least, slightly less so.

Standing by the Flagler monument that sits outside the courthouse, I was captivated by the story of a man whose name I had seen so many times before but realized I knew nothing about. Henry Flagler was pivotal in the incorporation of the City of Miami and without his efforts, and those of Julia Tuttle and Mary Brickell, this area could not be what we know it as today. At the same time, Henry Flagler also introduced segregation down here after relying on the people of color who made his railroad and thus his wealth, a reality. One outcome, seen as a positive. Another, rightfully seen as a negative. And there has been a recurring pattern like this, where people have suffered or where taken advantage to give us what we have today (such as the Native American people who originally called this land their home). How does one reconcile this besides acknowledging that it happened? It’s difficult for me to do so without it feeling shallow. While my perspective is limited, I have traveled and lived in many different areas of this country, north and south, coast to coast. I’ve yet to find another place that is quite like Miami. There is something inherently unique about living in this region of South Florida. We have such rich cultural diversity. You can eat food from almost any region of the world. Drive around for an hour and you’ll see the buildings inspired by Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and Miami Modern architectural styles. Talk to people, make friends, and you’ll see how many different cultures you’ll be exposed to. I’m grateful for the city I’ve grown up in (though I do have a love, hate relationship with it at times as I believe most people do).

So I go back, how does one reconcile with the negative aspects of our history? Should I just accept that this is another facet of life? I know life isn’t fair. It’s a fluid amalgamation of “good” and “bad”, “okay” and “random”. Maybe that’s where religion and spirituality can come into play? For now, I think educating myself more is the key. With time, comes more clarity. Becoming less and less ignorant of our complicated past is a step forward in the right direction in my eyes. One of the questions for this reflection asked me where I could place myself in the history of Miami. I’m another immigrant, whose family brought him here and sacrificed so much to give him an opportunity at a life they could not have. And within the context of what I’ve learned about this city I’ve called home since the moment I arrived as a child, I want to place myself as a future resident who understands and acknowledges the sacrifices, struggles, and injustices that other immigrants and native people who lived here went through to make what I have experienced in my life here, possible. It doesn’t erase what has happened. It doesn’t make it okay. But I know how important it is to remember. Otherwise, how could it mean anything? And maybe, one day, I’ll understand a better way of addressing this aspect of Miami. Not just for myself, but for my children in the future so they don’t lack perspective quite as I did for so long.

Revolution as Text

“Nature of Man” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Modesto A. Maidique Campus, March 10^th, 2023

Hope, progression, freedom, equality, peace. Suffering, stagnation, slavery, oppression, war. Two diametrically opposed sets of words. Each evoking emotions that lay on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. Why is it that it seems like one must always be present to give way to the other? When thinking of the Revolution, it is hard for me to not tie this aspect, of the Reign of Terror, to how I view our own history here in our home city of Miami as I wrote in my previous reflection. How do you accept the French Revolution and its principles of liberty and equality and fraternity as a good thing when the events of the Reign of Terror occurred? Is this reconcilable?

I think my mind goes to this because for me, thinking of how human suffering and pain is an unfortunately common occurrence and regular facet of life (on a global scale), I know it is a heavy burden to experience and witness. I’ve had the misfortune of seeing people pass away, through the nature of working in medicine. I was a medic for a period of time in the Navy and I remember what it was like for me to see a Marine, who was shot in the head as a result of a training accident, pass away in front of me. That was roughly eight years ago and it’s something I still think about today. Now I imagine what it would be like to be a common person, a noble person, or even a member of the French military or revolutionary and having that level of violence, or greater, executed on a daily basis. Not to mention the other forms of atrocities, neglect, and abuse that could have been occurring alongside it. But I realize I’m viewing this from an emotional perspective tied to my own experiences and upbringing. Maybe, and it is unfortunate, but given the nature of us as a species (the dark and primal and viscerally repulsive side of us that is hard to acknowledge and talk about) it was an inevitable and necessary step to move forward. To make progress for the people of France. If that’s the case, then the next question really, would be if it was justifiable.

I would say that it was. It sounds incredibly utilitarian, but considering the conditions and quality of life that the common people of France had prior to the Revolution, it created a path forward for a better system and way of life for a majority of its citizens. It was an overall net positive. And it can almost be seen as a natural course of action that they would revolt the way they did. I don’t want this statement to be seen as my way of condoning the violence, abuse, and other atrocities committed by some of the revolutionaries. Especially that which was done to the Dauphin of France, Louis XVII, who was a child. In no world could I see any level of abuse on a child as a justifiable course of action to prove a point or advance any kind of political agenda. I’m speaking within the context of the Revolution as a whole, Reign of Terror included. And I think I see things this way right now because from what I’ve experienced and seen in this world, difficult choices are always being made, all choices have consequences, good and bad, and when you sprinkle in the unpredictability of people and the general course life takes, it is impossible to get everything right and perfect without hurting anyone. Collateral damage, and I don’t mean to sound reductionist saying this, is unfortunately difficult to avoid.

Vizcaya as Text

“Dichotomy” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Modesto A. Maidique Campus, March 19^th, 2023

The early spirit of the Miami we know today lives in Vizcaya. You can see it as you walk up the north staircase, inscribed on a section of stained glass, J’ai Dit. In the music room, full of instruments that never had the chance to fulfill their purpose. In the boldness required to split a 17^th century painting of the Virgin Mary in half. And most interestingly to me, in the admiral carpet hanging in the living room, born from the work of Islamic artists in Spain who worked for the monarchy and nobility. I believe these accurately reflect an aspect of our culture here in Miami that I have referenced before. I’ve always noticed the air of wealth, of status, of appearance that is seemingly ever present wherever you go. People can also appear to lack the awareness required to express a bit of empathy with their fellow neighbor. You can most certainly feel that on the road. And I look at Vizcaya, what I saw in all its grandeur and what I learned about its history and I still couldn’t help but feel impressed. Amazed even, by the vision James Deering must have had to build the place. Isolate the estate from the man and its history, and it is quite the marvel to stand in. To look at. To explore. But then I think of the instruments that never got the chance to bellow out the kind of music only an impassioned musician could bring out and that painting, of the Virgin Mary, that someone must have poured hours and hours of work into that was cut in half for the sake of convenience. I think why? Very much similar to what I ask myself when I see the gaudiness present in parts of our city. And this isn’t even touching on how all of it was made possible by the blood and sweat of Bahamian laborers who must have worked under strenuous and unsafe conditions. Any recognition or respect for them, their culture, and what they accomplished is hauntingly absent within Vizcaya.

Vizcaya itself is an amazing work of art. Much how I view Miami as a city with amazing composition made possible by the rich diversity of the people that inhabit it. But what’s always present at the surface is clearly illuminated, it wants to be seen. And we can see it in the architecture of our buildings, the local art we can find, and even the entrepreneurial spirit that gives us so many different experiences and options and never leaves us bored. And in the shadows that are cast, we find what’s ugly and what no one wants to see. There in lies the exploitation, pain, suffering, bloodshed, corruption, the sexism and racism. The words are raw and uncomfortable to write, a visceral punch to the gut, but they can’t be ignored once you see it. Segregation was brought to this city for the sake of its growth by Henry Flagler. Blood was spilled to drive the native people who inhabited these lands before us out of it. Much of the early city was built through the exploitation of the labor of people of color. Even our own county is named in honor of a man who died, alongside a majority of his men, after leading them into an ambush during the Second Seminole War. It’s an odd dichotomy to contend with and it certainly leaves me with much to think about.

WWII as Text

“For Those Who Came Before” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Modesto A. Maidique Campus, April 12^th, 2023

Growing up through my adolescence, I would see movies about war depicting brave men living and fighting in austere conditions. It was almost always portrayed in a way that romanticized the violence, the bloodshed, the death that’d be depicted on screen to my young mind. The acts of valor portrayed were always brave and honorable and heroic. What I didn’t understand, and how could I at that age, was the horrifying reality of the events that were being depicted. How do you understand what it means to take a life, to see a life taken, to know that every soldier and civilian on screen was more than just a depiction of a character from a historical event. The full weight of life didn’t really dawn on me back then. And that is a testament to the privilege of my own life, growing up in a world were there is no threat of war on our own soil here in the US to contend with.

World War II is one of the few wars where it’s very easy to see a morally righteous reason for the war effort. The men and women who served to fight against the Axis powers were doing so justly. And the trials endured by The Greatest Generation is truly a testament to their resolve in the face of the worst humanity has to offer.

Now I had seen Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers in my teens. The shift in perspective having seen it now, a decade later and with more life experience, was staggering. I connected the most with the bonds of brotherhood and camaraderie depicted between the men of Easy Company and Captain Miller and his troops. I think that’s because it reminded me of the same sense of brotherhood I experienced during my time in the service. It’s one of the aspects of being in the military that I miss and reflect back on the most. But alongside that, I also felt genuine horror as I watched how these men died, how it affected their brothers, and how callous and cold the loss of human life could be. I’ve seen the effect war can have on people who have lived through it. I have friends and met people who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. Each carry with them trauma from their experiences that comes to surface in different ways, whether it is PTSD, an anxiety disorder, sleep disturbances. What is universal, however, is that it’s ever present within them and has had an adverse effect on them. It’s a weight they must now carry on their shoulders, something they have had to learn to contend with.    

The suffering and sacrifices of those who came before will lay heavy on my mind when we find ourselves at the Normandy American Cemetery in France. I was assigned to write about the revered Major Thomas Howie, the man who Captain Miller from Saving Private Ryan was based on. I’ll be thinking of how he paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of his nation and of how he exemplified what it meant to not only lead men into battle but fight alongside them.

Departure as Text

“Limitless” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Modesto A. Maidique Campus, April 23^rd, 2023

Time within our own minds, as a concept, is so easily separated from the objectivity of measured time. I know it has been three months since the start of this semester, but it feels like it has only been three weeks. Time can be funny like that. As the months have flown by, I have found the perspective I had not just concerning my trip to France, but how I view the world here in Miami has already changed so much. Maturity and growth, two things that we should always welcome as we go through the experiences of our lives, have come to me as a result of this course. And for that, I am truly grateful.

Having learned so much about the history of the city I have called home for most of my life has not only been a pleasure, but I realize a necessary experience. I have seen the power history can have on the brush and paint you use to color your surroundings. How it can help you understand the in between of our world. I understand Miami, as a city and the people that inhabit it, so much better than I did before the start of this semester. I understand why we find the architecture we do in areas like Coral Gables and why our roads and towns are named the way they are. I see that the culture that permeates every inch of this city has its roots in its origins. I understand that in order to see this, I have to open my mind up to the history and actions of the generations that came before. I know my recognition of this will help me better appreciate and take in France, its history, and its culture so much better than I could have imagined before. I feel prepared and ready. Excited even. Not just for the novelty of being in a European nation but to be immersed in it. To truly have a lived experience, one that I knew I always wanted but didn’t quite understand how.

I look forward now, in time, to when I’ll find myself landing in Barcelona for a week before making the trek to Paris. To when I’ll find myself walking the streets of the city I’ll call home for a month and be enriched in its history and culture through the walking lectures Professor Bailly will take our class on. To the time we will spend hiking the French Alps and the moment we will all have to speak about a special person from history buried at the Normandy American Cemetery. All of these are experiences I will be given the opportunity to have, not just on my own but shared with my fellow classmates. How will it be when I find myself on my return home? I’m excited to find that out. I welcome this next step of my journey with open arms, I’ll embrace it. While I know I felt limited only a few months ago, today I feel limitless.

Jose Kajatt is a first generation Peruvian immigrant currently attending Florida International University. Following his six years of service in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, he began work on earning an undergraduate degree in Biology with the aim of pursing his goal to become a practicing physician. While generally reserved in nature, he enjoys the diversity and change in perspective that meeting new people and cultures brings and is excited to experience more of the world outside of the United States. Traveling, photography, film, and hiking are passions that he has carried with him throughout his adult life.

Over Under Paris as Text

“Bonjour Paris!” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Saint Paul, France, July 8^th, 2023

There has been a sense of admiration that I have been feeling  for the people of Paris. The longer I stay here, the stronger that grows. It is almost unavoidable to have the city’s old buildings and rich history strike you. The metro stop I had chosen was Saint Paul along Metro 1. When I look at the streets, I see the old integrated with the new. Buildings that are hundreds of years old with modern 21st century shops allocated within them. Walking appears to be the preferred way to travel. Families and groups of friends casually lounging at the park, with either a few bottles of wine or food to enjoy together. Dogs, unleashed, laying down and enjoying the train ride or obediently following their owners on the street. All of this is foreign to me but the impression it gives me is one of a culture that appreciates its people and in turn its people appreciate it.

 Upon walking up the stairs to exit the metro, the Saint Paul quarter offers a carousel, a litter of bakeries and coffee shops, some restaurants, and many stores that you can stop at to make purchases. The buildings give me the impression they’ve been there for many generations of people to inhabit. Paris has much of what Miami has to offer in terms of streets filled with these stores and restaurants and parks but the way that people interact with them and the way they are utilized is much different. The most striking example of this is the way people interact with the parks. Jardin des Rosiers Joseph Migneret is a park nestled within busy blocks of the streets of Paris. Vintage stores, bakeries, restaurants, and shops surround it. It is almost hidden. If you don’t look you’d miss it. A few minutes down the road from its entrance is a street with a few restaurants selling Israeli food. I grabbed a pita shawarma and took it to the park and found myself sitting on the grass surrounded by many other like-minded people taking time out of there day to enjoy the nature and sun the park had to offer. I could see families with kids playing with water guns, groups of friends laying on the grass talking and enjoying each other’s company, lone individuals taking in the ambience sitting on a bench. It appeared to me that this was a normal part of being in Paris. It is an everyday occurrence to enjoy the green space afforded to the people by the city. There is a sense of focus on connection. A social aspect that I now feel the absence of back home in Miami.

Reflecting on this, I think about how politically engaged the people of France have been in the past with their government. To me it adds a layer of context regarding why so much blood has been shed in the past for change. Why so much violence could be found. There is a sense of beauty and admiration for the place the French people call home that makes it worth fighting for. When it is so hard to feel disconnected from the people, buildings, and history that surrounds you here, it is difficult to be apathetic towards it. I look forward to further enriching myself in the culture and history of not just Paris but France as I continue to live here and slowly call this city home.

Versailles as Text

“Shades” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, July 13^th, 2023

A flourish of ecstasy, a sensation that overwhelms one’s mind and body. A rapid rhythm, beat of the heart. An overstimulation of the senses, the feeling that it is all too much to take in. The Stendhal effect is something that I recently learned about. To say that the Chateau de Versailles fails to evoke such an effect would simply be a lie. The feat of human ingenuity that was the construction of Versailles and its surrounding gardens, fountains, and structures is a testament to what we, as humans, are capable of. To the beauty, the glory, the greatness that is within us. To the spirit and soul that can be traced thousands of years before its construction. And I say this while factoring in the troubling context and history that lays alongside its origin. To me, it is a perfect representation of the spirit of human nature. Good and evil. Ying and Yang. The desire for the betterment of mankind and the selfishness that surrounds self-preservation and consolidation of power over others.

It is difficult to put myself into the mind of King Louis XIV. The man saw himself as France. The good of France was the good of King Louis XIV. What I can understand is the pursuit of doing what is believed to be for the best. Being a leader comes with a burden that must be shouldered. The weight of that burden comes with the choices one must make. An acceptance that there is no perfect choice. That difficult decisions must be made that one must accept will cause harm, but hope will cost the least amount of harm. But his perspective was obviously centered around himself. His right to rule. His believe that what was best for himself is what was best for France. The neglect his people faced was the price that was paid in order to elevate France’s place in the world. The walls of Versailles lack any sort of subtly for this matter. The Sun King’s face can be found everywhere along the Rococo style decorations and art found in every chamber of the chateau. The most striking to me was seeing King Louis XIV’s face painted over historical and mythological people and characters in paintings. The ego. But if King Louis XIV did truly believe what he was doing was for the betterment of France, is there room for justification? The point has been made that even today, in 2023, people from all over the world still come to France to visit the chateau and its grounds. It is easy to see that the people of France are benefitting from its construction to this day.

When I was standing in those halls, walking around the gardens, taking in the fountains, and thinking about the engineering and logistics behind it all, I was overwhelmed. How something so magnificent could be built. And then I thought of the man behind its construction. And the countless amount of lives that it must have cost to focus on building it and how many suffered under the rule of the Sun King. There is no black and white in this world but many shades of grey that shroud it all. It is a struggle to see where the Chateau de Versailles lays on this spectrum. Perhaps another visit will help clear this up for me.   

Paris as Text

“Inspiration” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France, July 16^th, 2023

It is difficult for me to imagine a more apt introduction to Europe than Paris. During my two week stay here, I’ve come to love the simplicity of calling this land home. I’m one to observe, I like to take note of the world and people around me. There’s a sense I get that the people here don’t wait to live their lives. They sit down at cafes in the mornings and afternoons for a coffee and chat. The parks are always occupied by couples, families, and groups of friends enjoying the weather and good company.  There’s no sense of rush, business close shops at early hours, vendors open and close at their desire, the streets are filled with people going about their day to day. I see the people here connected to the city, a part of it and what makes Paris, Paris instead of simply being inhabitants. It’s a stark contrast to what I have become accustomed to back home in Miami. 

An aspect of this city that I love is how easy it is to traverse without a car. Never in my adult life had I considered owning a car not being essential. But as I’ve learned to navigate the city by transit, I have a newfound appreciation for it. There is no need to feel the pressure and aggression of other drivers to make it to your destination. While intimidating at first, the metros are designed to make it very simple to figure out a path forward onto your destination. Navigating the city by scooter or bike is just as simple and fun.  There is an ease and convenience to it that I will sorely miss when I return back to my life in Miami. 

But Paris has also evoked a sense of growth within me. I’ve found a deeper understanding of how much there is to still see and learn about the world. I’ve spent my entire live living in different parts of the United States and can recognize how little I know of the rest. Even focusing back at home, I feel I understand more about French history and culture now than I do about my own country. And that is inspiring me to seek out more knowledge. To better understand the different cultures and the history tied behind the people and places in my own backyard. I got a taste of that during our spring semester class. And I want that to continue beyond this study abroad trip. I am grateful for this new mindset that I’ve been developing. Traveling to me now isn’t just about visiting the most notable places a google search will yield me when visiting a new city or state. To me it is now about feeling more connected to the people and land that I find myself in. To better understand the how and why. The richness of the history, art, and culture that I come across. To feel a part of the going ons around me. A truly deeper connection to the human experience that is being alive here on earth.

Resistance as Text

“May We Find Courage” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France, July 21^st, 2023

Since my separation from the Navy three years ago, I’ve struggled with finding the same sense of purpose and belonging that I felt while serving. To have a sense of being a part of something that was bigger than myself. I filled a role that allowed me to provide aide for others, that gave me countless opportunities to put my brothers or sisters before myself, to show solidarity for others who suffered or paid a price that I had not or would not have to. While I could not, nor would I even want to attempt to, compare my experience serving to those who did during World War II, I found myself wondering what being a part of the French Resistance was like during my stay in Chez Constance on the Plateau des Glières. What kind of leader was Lieutenant Tom Morel? What mindset were the men in as they made the choice to organize and fight as a unit? Did it make it easier to risk or lay their lives down knowing the enemy was a repressor of freedom, a reaper of universal human rights and liberties?

It takes me back to thoughts I would have about why we fight. I was young, eighteen year old boy when I enlisted in the Navy. The harsh realities of war never really settled in mind before I committed myself to six years of service that could have me putting my life on the line fighting in a conflict overseas. I had a romanticized idea of what it be like to be in a war. I remember a specific point in training when I was with instructors who had deployed and saw combat overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. They spoke to us about what they saw and did. They hid nothing. And to accompany the talk, they played a video compilation for us, filmed by one instructor showing the aftermath of many different enemy engagements. Lifeless bodies of enemy and friendly combatants, IED explosions taking out US and other friendly forces, detached limbs, missing arms and legs, blood and gore. It was explicit. Leaving me with this visceral feeling of fear deep within. It shook me. But as I continued on through training, I realized the power of the brotherhood I formed with me fellow sailors and marines. The role of a medic is to serve as a lifeline. A beacon of hope and the offering of chance to continue living. The bonds I formed gave me the confidence to be willing to fight. To risk laying down my own life if it meant saving the people I grew to care deeply about.  

When I reflect on why the second world war was a necessary war, I can see how it would be an easy choice to want to fight the Nazi regime. It wouldn’t be a fearless choice. I believe if I put myself in that place and time, I would want to do my part to fight, just as the allies and French Resistance did. The only thing I could hope for is that I could find the courage within me to go through with it. They fought for their brothers and sisters, their country and for universal human rights. I have taken much of what I’ve learned this past week and found inspiration from it. I realized there is always a need to combat those who would seek to commit similar atrocities of the past. I have a voice and that itself can be used as another means of fighting. There is purpose in doing that. I hope to never see a day where our generation has to go through what they went through, but if we do, may we find the courage to fight just as they did. To risk everything for the good of our people, and all people in this world. As Lieutenant Tom Morel would say, live free or die.  

Normandy American Cemetery as Text

“The Major of St. Lo ” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at the Normandy American Cemetery, France, July 25^th, 2023

Major Thomas Dry Howie,

The Major of St. Lo,

Was killed in action on July 17th, 1944.

Thomas Howie was born in Abbeville, SC on April 12^th, 1908.

He was the fifth child born of seven to Torrance and Cory Dry Howie.

He was a star athlete at Abbeville High School.

President of his class, a Dean’s List English major, All-state Halfback on the football team and captain of the baseball team.

He was voted “Most versatile, popular and best all around” by his classmates.

He led a hunger strike with the Corps of Cadets to protest the poor-quality food found in the mess hall. 

It was evident early on that Thomas D. Howie was an individual of great character, capability, and leadership ability.

Major Thomas D. Howie was there at Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6^th, 1944.

On July 16^th, Major Howie, acting as a newly appointed commander of 3^rd Battalion, 116^th Infantry Regiment, 29^th Infantry Division, was given the order of rescuing 2^nd Battalion which had been cut off and surrounded by enemy forces to the northeast of St. Lo.

2^nd Battalion was running low on ammunition and food, they were in a dire and desperate situation.

Death would be knocking at their doorstep soon.

Major Howie’s final words to his commanders before his initial departure were “See you in Saint-Lo!”

They set off at 0430 hours, on a foggy day that would render their rifles useless.

The Major and his men, courageously led a charge at the Martinsville Line on the German forces there, using only hand grenades and their bayonets for the assault.

Major Howie himself was able to personally take out two machine gun nests as he fought alongside the men he was leading,

2 hours after initial contact, 2^nd Battalion was surrounded by the enemy no more.

Both battalions had orders to follow through with an assault on Saint-Lo for its liberation,

But Major Howie recognized how bloody, beaten, and cut up 2^nd Battalion was.

They were in no shape to fight.

But that didn’t stop the Major from carrying out his orders,

Speaking to his commanders, he told them “Yes, we can make it” acknowledging 3^rd Battalion would be going in alone.

He once again signed of enthusiastically saying, “See you in Saint-Lo!”

It was only a mere few moments later that German artillery would rain down on their position.

The Major bravely remained standing up to ensure that all of his men were taking cover and remained safe during the barrage.

He put the lives of his men before his own, and as he did this, a mortar shell struck the ground near him. Shrapnel flew. And Pierced the Major through his back and sliced up his lung. He died roughly two minutes later.

It was a devastating loss for his men and the entire Regiment.

The following day, 3^rd Battalion followed through with the liberation of Saint-Lo.

By order of General Charles Gearhart, they placed Major Howie’s body on the hood of the leading Jeep draped in a U.S flag, so that he may be the first American to enter Saint-Lo.

Upon entering the city, his body was placed on the rubble of the Saint Croix Cathedral, creating an impromptu shrine for the dead Major.

It was a symbolic gesture worthy of a man who went above and beyond the call of duty. Whose outstanding character, leadership skills, and military capabilities were used to serve a purpose beyond himself, for the greater good.

Andy Rooney, a 60 minutes commentator, witnessed this event and in a speech a few years later, said this about Major Howie, “I guess there never was an American soldier more honored by what the people who loved him did for him after he died. There can be no doubt that Thomas Howie was a charismatic leader, a courageous soldier and a man of outstanding character”

It should be of no surprise to anyone who reads about Major Thomas D. Howie’s life, that he was so beloved and respected by his men.

I feel fortunate to have served with men and women who remind me of Major Thomas D. Howie,

A man who was selfless in nature, who put the lives of his men before him, who led with inspiration, from the front and not the rear.

Major Howie and his men are an exemplification of what it means to fight, of why we fight.

There is evil in this world, and we must always be ready to fight it.

Not for the glory of battle, or medals, or recognition

But for our loved ones, our brothers and sisters, our children, and to preserve the richness in this world that we are all entitled to, just by being alive.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s words perfectly capture this, when he said

“For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace

They fight not for the lust of conquest

They fight to end conquest

They fight to liberate

They yearn but for the end of battle,

For their return to the haven of home”

For me,

I also can’t help but think,

I think about how it must have felt for his men to see him die before them.

I think about the time I witnessed the death of a marine, a brother, and how helpless I felt knowing there was little I could do.

The fear, the pain, the shock, seeing another man die wearing the same uniform you wear ripped at my soul in a sombering way.

It is difficult to process, difficult not to see the faces of the people you love, care, respect, and admire in that moment, and difficult not see yourself.

Witnessing death firsthand was a sobering moment for me, and yet it didn’t take place on the battlefield in my case. There was no Just war being fought for as was the case for 3^rd Battalion.

And so, to put myself in the shoes of the men that Major Howie led is viscerally painful for me to imagine.

The terror they must have felt to see a great leader fall must have weighed heavy in their hearts.

But I recognize the Major’s character and actions still lived on as inspiration for his men to continue fighting. A beautiful encapsulation of what a great warrior’s spirit can do.

From a sailor to this soldier, it would have been an honor in my eyes to have served alongside Major Howie, and even today, as I have learned about his life and his actions while fighting the German war machine, I feel inspired to strive to be the kind of man and leader he was during his lifetime.

There now stands a granite monument dedicated to Major Howie in Abbeville with an inscription that reads, “Dead in France, Deathless in Fame”.

He left behind a wife, Elizabeth Payne, and a daughter named Sally.

Major Thomas D. Howie’s physical body was killed in action on July 17^th, 1944

But his spirit lives on today, providing courage and inspiration for those men and women who may one day be asked to go above and beyond the call of duty, just as he did.

Pere Lachaise as Text

“Georges-Eugène Haussmann” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France, July 27^th, 2023

Georges-Eugène Haussmann was born on March 27^th, 1809.

He was the son of Nicolas-Valentin Haussmann and of Ève-Marie-Henriette-Caroline Dentzel.

In his early years, Haussmann would go on to study law at the college Henri-IV while simultaneously studying music at the Paris Conservatory.

Come 1830, as an insurgent and fighting alongside his father, he would help to overturn the rule of King Charles X, helping place his cousin Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans on the throne.

Come 1831, he would begin his career working in public administration and hold the title of Secretary-General of the Prefecture of the Department of Vienne at Poitiers

Come 1832, he would become the deputy prefect of Yssingeaux.

Yet he would fail to be promoted to Prefecture because of stark habit of impeding his superiors and arrogance, despite being a strong worker and capable government representative.

The following years, he would go on to continue to hold the title of deputy prefecture at various different locations in France.

Come 1838, while in Bordeaux, Haussmann would marry Octavie de Laharpe and eventually go on to have two daughters, Henriette, and Valentine.

It was not until 1848 would come that the tides of his fortune would change.

That year saw a revolution in which the monarchy would be dispelled, and the Second Republic established under the rule of newly elected President, Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte.

After traveling to Paris in 1849, he would meet with the new president and be seen as a loyal civil servant from the ousted monarchy.

From 1850 to 1851, he would finally see his promotion to Prefect. The Prefect of the Var Department of Draguignan, Yonne, and Gironde.

1852 was a tumultuous year, President Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte was forbidden from running for reelection under the constitution at the time. He was well supported during that period and staged a coup d’état, declaring himself Emperor Napoleon III.

Emperor Napoleon III was seeking a new Prefect to take over the Paris reconstruction program and Haussmann who he was most impressed with. He was the right choice. Haussmann would be given the position of Prefect of Seine on June 22, 1853.

We can thank much of what we see around us, here in Paris, to Haussmann and his grandiose vision of Paris that he sought to accomplish.

From 1853 to 1870, he sought to improve public health and sanitation, reduce overcrowding and congestion, enhance the infrastructure of the city, and make Paris more aesthetic and pleasing to the eye.

We can thank Haussmann for many of the parks and green spaces that are found in Paris,

For the many of the tree lined boulevards that we walked such as the ones found around the Arc de Triomphe, Gare Saint-Lazare, and around the Pantheon.

We can thank him for his contribution to iconic buildings and areas such as the Paris Opera House, the gardens around Champs-Élysées, and the Gardens of Luxembourg.

Haussmann was responsible for the demolition of much of medieval Paris, and in its place, replaced it with his grandiose vision of Paris.

The Paris we see today is an incredibly beautiful and aesthetic city that is quite walkable. But it did come at a price. His reconstruction projects would unfortunately displace thousands of people, particularly of lower social and income status, and would draw heavy criticism towards him, justifiably.

In the same vein as the construction of Palace of Versailles, it makes one wonder if it was worth it?

I’m not certain Paris could be the city that it is today, without the work of Haussmann.

Haussmann was a visionary, he was strong-willed and determined, he was controversial and had an authoritarian aspect to himself.

While I do see myself as an individual who is strong-willed and determined, I question whether I have the same traits that made Haussmann so successful during his time as Prefecture.

Truth be told, I see myself as a very simple individual, I have a preference for simplicity, I tend to have a more linear focus on where I see myself headed in life, and I enjoy sharing experiences with the people I’m closest to. That is how I have come to appreciate my own life and those around me.

I’m not sure I could have had the visionary mindset that Haussmann had to have to accomplish what we see around us right now.

To me, Paris has been truly magnificent.

Could I have made the choice to demolish and displace the lives of thousands of French citizens during that period of time?

Again, I’m not sure. There’s been a handful of times in my life were I’ve had to make difficult choices, choices that have hurt myself and those around me. To leave, to tell the truth, to lie, to discipline. But none that would ever have to cause pain or suffering on the scale that Haussmann had to have. I know that would weigh heavy in my heart, I wonder if it did for him.

Haussmann was an influential figure in the history of Paris, his work would go on to influence the city’s urban planning and architecture for many generations after. His work inspires us even today. From the moment we all landed here in Paris and went on our first walking lecture with Professor Bailly, we were captivated by the beauty of our surroundings. And we can thank Haussmann for part of that.

France Departure as Text

“Merci, France” by Jose Kajatt of FIU at Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France, July 25^th, 2023

It wasn’t that long ago that I found myself feeling like I was thrown into the middle of the ocean. I was struggling to stay afloat. I had lost all sense of direction. I was uncertain about the direction I could swim in to find dry land. That was the end of a relationship. When I did find the confidence I need within myself to begin swimming, I spotted a coastline. Part of that coastline was studying abroad in France. Swimming was difficult at first. But the more I did it, the better I got. The more comfortable I became and the closer the coastline came into view. Sometimes the water was calm, making it easy to progress forward. Other times, the water was choppy and rough and it feel as though I’d lost a significant amount of progress. But I kept swimming. And just as I could start making out a clear line of sand, with waves crashing onto the shore, I suddenly felt as though I had lost all motivation for pushing myself to swim. That was a loss of purpose I experienced prior to my departure to Paris.

A few months ago, I almost found myself re-enlisting into the Navy, as part of a reserve component. While I would have been able to continue my studies in Miami, it would have also jeopardized them as I ran the risk of being activated for deployment at any moment. I wanted to reenlist because I felt as though I missed the sense of purpose that I believed at that time, only the military could give me. I realize now that I was wrong, and I am glad that I held back on that choice.

I made it to dry land and a facet of the earth that my feet now touch is this opportunity I had to experience Paris, Lyon, Annecy, Normandy, and other regions of France with my class. I have experienced a sense of purpose and fulfillment here, just as I did during my time in service and for that, I am grateful.

I have realized the power that art, history, and culture hold in a way that I was never able to quite grasp before. I have realized the power and importance acknowledgment holds, and how we should remember and we should share stories, good and bad so that we do not forget. So that we do not allow atrocities of the past be recommitted. I have realized that there are other ways of fighting beyond the physical. Words hold power. I have realized the importance and value of culture, the roots that generations have planted firmly before us so that we may all stand tall and firm in the face of whatever the world may throw at us.

I realized early on that I was living in a bubble. And am I glad that bubble did burst. Limited at first, limitless now. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity, for all of the experiences I’ve had on this trip and how they have helped shape me into a better version of myself.