Poland is one of those places that it's easy to be judgemental of, at least for me. There are so many things that I don't like, that I'd love to change, that drive me absolutely bonkers. So, I've decided to come up with some things I love about Poland. I figured there has got to be something.
The fresh farmers markets
Every Thursday, my grandfather gets on his bike and goes to the farmers market for our weekly fruit and vegetables. Sometimes when I have time off work, I join him, especially in the spring and summer time. The colours of the tomatoes, cucumbers, apples and strawberries make my mouth water immediately. Usually we end up getting a bit of everything.
Strawberries
Come the end of spring, around the 1st of June, and the strawberries are in full season. I'm not talking about strawberries that have been genetically modified or ones that have been imported. These are fresh and deliciously sweet strawberries from Poland. Everyday, hundreds of people, sell them from the back of the cars, at the markets and on the side of the street in extra large punnet of about 2kg for 4-5 zloty per kilo. That's about $3 for a kilogram of strawberries. I can spend the season eating strawberries with everything – on my breakfast cereal, in my salad, and with noodles as a sweet dish, or in dumplings mixed with white cheese. Yum, yum, and yum again.
Spring time
This has to be the best season of the year. My grandma's garden blossoms with flowers, tulips, forget me nots, daisies, roses, and many more. It's a pleasure just to sit on the balcony and look out at the beauty. She can spend ten hours a day, grooming and tending to the flowers and shrugs she adores, they are like her little babies. The effects are clear, just one look, hers is the most gorgeous garden in the street, if not the town.
Poland's' EU Entry
OK, so the country is yet to see the full positive effect of being a part of the European Union, the best thing is that people can travel freely in between the countries without worrying about passport checks and border control. This has given people who wouldn't normally travel the opportunity to see more of the world, at a lower cost.
Opportunities & Potential
Poland is still far behind other EU countries and the rest of the world. There are so many opportunities here for new business ventures and expansions. I've noticed that many people here lack the initiative to do something, to make things work, and instead much of the country is being privatized. While privatization is healthy, the Polish government is going to extremes. Here, there are growth opportunities in the health and fitness sectors, services, education and retirement sector. With the right people, the right funds, the country and the people have a chance to really prosper. If only someone was willing to lead them in the right direction, and they were willing to listen.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Another side of Warsaw
This morning on my way to work in Central Warsaw a man lay passed out at the bus stop. Crutches leaning against the bus stop wall, while he was sprawled on the cold concrete.
I did not see his face. Didn't know who he was.
This isn't a rare sight. Rather, an every day occurrence. A continuing problem in Warsaw.
Sitting on the bus 517, passing Ochota, an older woman, maybe in her sixties, maybe older, it's difficult to tell these days. Kneeling on the hard ground, a tin for money placed at her knees, hands held in front in prayer position, eyes shut, begging for a few measly groszy. Where was her family? Where were her friends? Her brothers, her sisters, sons and daughters, grandchildren. How did she happen to end up in this position, on the side of a busy street at 8am.
This is reality. It's not a one off. There are hundreds of homeless people on the streets of Warsaw, passed out drunks old begger's dropped off in flashy cars, and mothers with babies scouting the trams for generous and naive souls. It's big business, and I'm wondering who's raking in the profits from these innocent individuals who have lost their way in life.
I did not see his face. Didn't know who he was.
This isn't a rare sight. Rather, an every day occurrence. A continuing problem in Warsaw.
Sitting on the bus 517, passing Ochota, an older woman, maybe in her sixties, maybe older, it's difficult to tell these days. Kneeling on the hard ground, a tin for money placed at her knees, hands held in front in prayer position, eyes shut, begging for a few measly groszy. Where was her family? Where were her friends? Her brothers, her sisters, sons and daughters, grandchildren. How did she happen to end up in this position, on the side of a busy street at 8am.
This is reality. It's not a one off. There are hundreds of homeless people on the streets of Warsaw, passed out drunks old begger's dropped off in flashy cars, and mothers with babies scouting the trams for generous and naive souls. It's big business, and I'm wondering who's raking in the profits from these innocent individuals who have lost their way in life.
Monday, May 25, 2009
54th International Book Fair in Warsaw
For the 54th time, the Palace of Culture & Science. Four days of books from over 30 different natinoalities, authors signings and much more. We stood in line for about twenty minutes as the weather experience PMS, rain, shine, rain and blowing wind, until finally we were up the stairs, paying for our tickets and inside to check out all the books on offer. Fiction and non fiction, cooking and politics, English, Polish, French, Russian, Spanish and Estonian, and everything in between. There's something for everyone and it's easier for book lovers to spend most of the day browsing through the tens of thousands of books on offer at discounted prices. I even had the pleasure of seeing a writer and travel journalist Wojciech Cejrowski whose show I watch most Sunday morning as he travels barefoot and in his Hawaiian shirts throughout the world. There he was signing his books, barefoot and wearing a Hawaiian shirt. Unfortunately there was a crowd of people around him most of the day and it was impossible to ask him any questions about his journeys. Maybe another time.
I heard a rumour that this will be the last book fair held at the Palace of Culture and Science. I hope that this is not true, as this is a fantastic event for both adults and children alike. People of all ages are present, and it's something that is well organised. Warsaw needs more events like these, they are educational and interesting, they offer something to the city that appears to be disintegrating instead of improving. We need culture. We need books. Education. Togetherness. Just by looking at the queues outside the Palace of Culture & Science, the turnout was extraordinary, this is an event that should continue for a long time to come.
I hope it's just a rumour, and next year we will all be able to enjoy the book fair once again and have the pleasure of meeting many fantastic authors and journalists. And if not, I've got the details of another book fair in Krakow, a good excuse for a weekend away.
I heard a rumour that this will be the last book fair held at the Palace of Culture and Science. I hope that this is not true, as this is a fantastic event for both adults and children alike. People of all ages are present, and it's something that is well organised. Warsaw needs more events like these, they are educational and interesting, they offer something to the city that appears to be disintegrating instead of improving. We need culture. We need books. Education. Togetherness. Just by looking at the queues outside the Palace of Culture & Science, the turnout was extraordinary, this is an event that should continue for a long time to come.
I hope it's just a rumour, and next year we will all be able to enjoy the book fair once again and have the pleasure of meeting many fantastic authors and journalists. And if not, I've got the details of another book fair in Krakow, a good excuse for a weekend away.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Polish Weddings
This weekend I went up to Biala Podlaska for a wedding. It was a two and half hour drive from Warsaw, and we just made in time for the church ceremony. Walking in we realised we didn't recognise anyone in the church. Oh well, we thought and took a seat somewhere in the middle, not sure which side was for the bride and which one for the groom. Trying to be conspicuous we glanced around at all the faces around us. Nothing. Not one familiar face.
'Are we in the right church?' Jarek asks.
I give him a worried glance.
'I don't know anyone here.' I said.
It was a distant cousin who was getting married, and I had no idea how he looked like, let alone how the bride looked like. We just had their names from the wedding invitation.
We were about to walk out again, when we saw my uncle walk passed. Breathing a sigh of relief we smiled. We hadn't walked in on a strangers wedding. Next time however I'm getting out the photo album so I know who's wedding I am going to. When they dropped off the invite, I was not home.
Polish weddings are a little different to Aussie weddings. Ok, their a lot different. In Australia, the party closes before midnight, when the bride and groom leave their guests and head to a hotel to spend their first night together as a married couple. At a Polish wedding, the bride and groom are the last ones to leave, and that's usually at around five in the morning when the sun is starting to rise.
It's not a Polish wedding without a Wiejski Stół filled with home made sausages, hams, patte, smalec and litres of Bimber (moonshine). There was plenty of that at this wedding, and a never-ending flow of vodka which the guests were enjoying in between dancing stints on the dancing floor and the constant supply of food, hot and cold.
I made it till 2am. My stomach full and my feet sore from dancing. Luckily we managed to stay and get a good nights sleep at the venue in one of its hotel rooms. A lovely place called 'Jolanta'.
Weddings don't finish after just one night of dancing, drinking, eating and celebrating. No that wouldn't be fun at all. The next day, usually around noon, the party continues, or for some weddings it 's just starting. 'Poprawiny' are sometimes much better than the wedding itself, people are more relaxed, the alcohol has a quicker effect, and well, someone's got to finish all those left over bottles of vodka.
These 'poprawiny' are sometimes known to last for even a week. This was more popular a few decades ago, in villages, however some people still like to celebrate the joining of two people for a little longer then just a few hours on Saturday evening. Any excuse to have a few too many drinks and a hit the dancefloor. I'm all for it.
Glossary
Bimber – home made vodka, this is made from yeast and sugar over a long period of time.
Poprawiny – the after party for a wedding reception, which starts at around noon the next day with the bride and grooms family and friends. The number of guests range from the closest family and friends to most of the people who attended the reception.
Smalec – lard with a little pieces of meat, apple or mushroom.
Wiejski Stół – a table covered with bimber, smalec and a range of home made meats, sausages, patte, marinated mushrooms and much more.
'Are we in the right church?' Jarek asks.
I give him a worried glance.
'I don't know anyone here.' I said.
It was a distant cousin who was getting married, and I had no idea how he looked like, let alone how the bride looked like. We just had their names from the wedding invitation.
We were about to walk out again, when we saw my uncle walk passed. Breathing a sigh of relief we smiled. We hadn't walked in on a strangers wedding. Next time however I'm getting out the photo album so I know who's wedding I am going to. When they dropped off the invite, I was not home.
Polish weddings are a little different to Aussie weddings. Ok, their a lot different. In Australia, the party closes before midnight, when the bride and groom leave their guests and head to a hotel to spend their first night together as a married couple. At a Polish wedding, the bride and groom are the last ones to leave, and that's usually at around five in the morning when the sun is starting to rise.
It's not a Polish wedding without a Wiejski Stół filled with home made sausages, hams, patte, smalec and litres of Bimber (moonshine). There was plenty of that at this wedding, and a never-ending flow of vodka which the guests were enjoying in between dancing stints on the dancing floor and the constant supply of food, hot and cold.
I made it till 2am. My stomach full and my feet sore from dancing. Luckily we managed to stay and get a good nights sleep at the venue in one of its hotel rooms. A lovely place called 'Jolanta'.
Weddings don't finish after just one night of dancing, drinking, eating and celebrating. No that wouldn't be fun at all. The next day, usually around noon, the party continues, or for some weddings it 's just starting. 'Poprawiny' are sometimes much better than the wedding itself, people are more relaxed, the alcohol has a quicker effect, and well, someone's got to finish all those left over bottles of vodka.
These 'poprawiny' are sometimes known to last for even a week. This was more popular a few decades ago, in villages, however some people still like to celebrate the joining of two people for a little longer then just a few hours on Saturday evening. Any excuse to have a few too many drinks and a hit the dancefloor. I'm all for it.
Glossary
Bimber – home made vodka, this is made from yeast and sugar over a long period of time.
Poprawiny – the after party for a wedding reception, which starts at around noon the next day with the bride and grooms family and friends. The number of guests range from the closest family and friends to most of the people who attended the reception.
Smalec – lard with a little pieces of meat, apple or mushroom.
Wiejski Stół – a table covered with bimber, smalec and a range of home made meats, sausages, patte, marinated mushrooms and much more.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Army is Calling
Today, I received another confirmation of Poland's place in the world. They are more prehistoric then I thought. I mean seriously, who sends a request to show up to qualify for the army when they haven't been in the country for almost twenty years?
My brother was 5 when he left Poland but he remained registered under my grandparents address (zameldowanie). Everyone has to be registered somewhere in order to be able to do pretty much anything. If you're not zameldowany then you can't get a job, get a national id card and without these things, well you're stuck. However zameldowanie is not an easy process, but that's another story.
Until recently, I think this year, all men over the age of 18 who were not studying at university, had to spend 9 months in the army. This was compulsory. As of 2009, the army has become an option, a job, if one is interested.
When my brother turned 18, my grandparents received letters requesting his presence at the council to qualify for army service. They were informed that he has been living overseas. A few weeks later another notice arrived. My grandparents sent them a formal letter advising them that my brother is living overseas. That quietened them down a little bit.
A year later, the officials came to my grandparents house to personally pick up my brother and take him with them to spend 9 months in the army. To their disappointment, they left empty handed, maybe they forgot to read the letter that advised them of my brothers whereabouts. I'm surprised they didn't send a plane over to Australia to pick him up.
I understand some people are patriotic and will do anything to get into the army. However this should be a choice. Luckily from now on it will be, however most men still have to be in the Reserves. Why? It's not like they are going to learn anything other then how to consume alcohol in excess because there is nothing to do.
Yesterday another registered letter came, addressed to my brother. Another request for him to stand in front of the qualifying commission for the army. He hasn't been in Poland since 93/94. I phoned the people responsible and was pleasantly advised that they don't believe me and need more documents to verify the fact.
Shouldn't they have a database to have all the information? What is the point of identity cards if they can't have all our information stored on some database? Wouldn't this make the entire process easier and reduce the amount of bureaucracy Poles have to go through?
My brother was 5 when he left Poland but he remained registered under my grandparents address (zameldowanie). Everyone has to be registered somewhere in order to be able to do pretty much anything. If you're not zameldowany then you can't get a job, get a national id card and without these things, well you're stuck. However zameldowanie is not an easy process, but that's another story.
Until recently, I think this year, all men over the age of 18 who were not studying at university, had to spend 9 months in the army. This was compulsory. As of 2009, the army has become an option, a job, if one is interested.
When my brother turned 18, my grandparents received letters requesting his presence at the council to qualify for army service. They were informed that he has been living overseas. A few weeks later another notice arrived. My grandparents sent them a formal letter advising them that my brother is living overseas. That quietened them down a little bit.
A year later, the officials came to my grandparents house to personally pick up my brother and take him with them to spend 9 months in the army. To their disappointment, they left empty handed, maybe they forgot to read the letter that advised them of my brothers whereabouts. I'm surprised they didn't send a plane over to Australia to pick him up.
I understand some people are patriotic and will do anything to get into the army. However this should be a choice. Luckily from now on it will be, however most men still have to be in the Reserves. Why? It's not like they are going to learn anything other then how to consume alcohol in excess because there is nothing to do.
Yesterday another registered letter came, addressed to my brother. Another request for him to stand in front of the qualifying commission for the army. He hasn't been in Poland since 93/94. I phoned the people responsible and was pleasantly advised that they don't believe me and need more documents to verify the fact.
Shouldn't they have a database to have all the information? What is the point of identity cards if they can't have all our information stored on some database? Wouldn't this make the entire process easier and reduce the amount of bureaucracy Poles have to go through?
Monday, May 11, 2009
Holidays
Holidays, everyone is talking about them. Planning, booking, paying, departing and talking about what a great time they had.
Mm, maybe it's time to plan my own.
Jarek has informed me that he is going for nine days to his annual Krav Maga training camp. I'm not welcome. No girlfriends allowed. I'm not offended. That's nine days I can spend the way I want to, and while it's still a few months away, I plan to travel.
The great thing about living in Warsaw is that I can catch a train or bus and be in another European city within hours. Since 2004, this has become much easier and stress free. No visas or passport required.
So if he's off to Ustka on the Baltic Sea for nine days of being put through hell with all day training, followed by all day drinking. I won't be sitting around at home waiting.
At this point I'm thinking Vienna. The return train ticket is fairly cheap and it takes only a few hours to get there. I might get a friend to join me and it will be double the fun. Or there's the weekend spa I've been thinking about. So many things to do, so little time.
The best thing to do is to book your winter holidays in the summer and your summer holidays in the winter. By booking so far in advance you can take the opportunity of huge savings, even up to fifty per cent. No point in waiting around for the holidays to roll around.
Of course there's also the last minute choice with great deals offered if you're not much of a planner.
Mm, maybe it's time to plan my own.
Jarek has informed me that he is going for nine days to his annual Krav Maga training camp. I'm not welcome. No girlfriends allowed. I'm not offended. That's nine days I can spend the way I want to, and while it's still a few months away, I plan to travel.
The great thing about living in Warsaw is that I can catch a train or bus and be in another European city within hours. Since 2004, this has become much easier and stress free. No visas or passport required.
So if he's off to Ustka on the Baltic Sea for nine days of being put through hell with all day training, followed by all day drinking. I won't be sitting around at home waiting.
At this point I'm thinking Vienna. The return train ticket is fairly cheap and it takes only a few hours to get there. I might get a friend to join me and it will be double the fun. Or there's the weekend spa I've been thinking about. So many things to do, so little time.
The best thing to do is to book your winter holidays in the summer and your summer holidays in the winter. By booking so far in advance you can take the opportunity of huge savings, even up to fifty per cent. No point in waiting around for the holidays to roll around.
Of course there's also the last minute choice with great deals offered if you're not much of a planner.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Feeling Down
I'm feeling down, depressed and ready to sneak myself into a dark hole and not come out for a few days, weeks, or months. This is how I woke up, looked out the window and saw the grey in the sky. It's been perfect the past few weeks, and now it's dull, raining, and grey. Luckily I am stuck inside today, but unfortunately most of my TEFL lessons have been cancelled. Not good at all because my income at the end of the month will be lower. But the good side is that I get more time to write and work on my novel. I should be happy about that.
The problem is I miss Australia. I could say home, but home is where I am at a given moment. Lately I've been thinking more and more about the people and places I've left behind. Wondering, and asking myself why I chose to come to Europe? Why I chose to leave an awesome job? An flat near the beach? Why am I here and will it all be worth it?
I don't have regrets but days I wonder, what if? What if I stayed? How would my life look like? Where would I be if I had made different choices?
My life in Poland is good. It's mostly comfortable even though I don't have my own room or private space, but I do what I want, never stuck in one place during the day, always moving around. There's enough money for bills and simple pleasures and I've had more time to write. No reason for me to feel down at all.
I suppose with the lack of optimism in Poland, it should be no surprise that I feel this way. However I have always tried to keep a smile on my face, sometimes because that's how I feel, and sometimes to get on the nerves of people who refuse to smile and enjoy life for what it is.
Today, it is difficult to even force a smile and I can't wait till the feeling passes. Right now I am going to blame the Polish weather and lack of sunlight coming through the window.
Blame, complaints, pessimism. That pretty much covers this place. Around every corner you will find someone with a pessimistic outlook on life, complaining about everything and blaming someone else for their problems. Ok I know I'm generalising but that's just what I've seen over the past two years. Or maybe I'm spending way too much time with the older generation. Time to get out a little bit more.
The problem is I miss Australia. I could say home, but home is where I am at a given moment. Lately I've been thinking more and more about the people and places I've left behind. Wondering, and asking myself why I chose to come to Europe? Why I chose to leave an awesome job? An flat near the beach? Why am I here and will it all be worth it?
I don't have regrets but days I wonder, what if? What if I stayed? How would my life look like? Where would I be if I had made different choices?
My life in Poland is good. It's mostly comfortable even though I don't have my own room or private space, but I do what I want, never stuck in one place during the day, always moving around. There's enough money for bills and simple pleasures and I've had more time to write. No reason for me to feel down at all.
I suppose with the lack of optimism in Poland, it should be no surprise that I feel this way. However I have always tried to keep a smile on my face, sometimes because that's how I feel, and sometimes to get on the nerves of people who refuse to smile and enjoy life for what it is.
Today, it is difficult to even force a smile and I can't wait till the feeling passes. Right now I am going to blame the Polish weather and lack of sunlight coming through the window.
Blame, complaints, pessimism. That pretty much covers this place. Around every corner you will find someone with a pessimistic outlook on life, complaining about everything and blaming someone else for their problems. Ok I know I'm generalising but that's just what I've seen over the past two years. Or maybe I'm spending way too much time with the older generation. Time to get out a little bit more.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
May Long Weekend (Majowka)
The May long weekend, which includes Labour Day (Swieto Pracy) on the first and Constitution Day (Dzien Konstytucji) on third fell on Friday and Sunday. Which means only a three day weekend. Last year it worked out to five days.
Fortunately Poland is a small country and you can drive from one end to the other in about 10 + hours depending on your speed and persistence. Though I wouldn't advise on breaking speed limits or making records, the roads are ridiculously dangerous, and highways lack good conditions to drive faster then 80km (though many might disagree here). There are crosses and flowers every couple of hundred metres or so reminding drivers of people who have lost their lives, this is enough to cause me to slow down.
But what this short distance across the country means is that it only takes a few hours to get to your favourite weekend away destination. The popular hot spots are Zakopany, Mazury, Gdansk and its surroundings. Mountainside, lakeside, seaside, whatever tickles you fancy. Relax or be active, dance the night away at a disco or settle down on a blanket and read a good book, the choice is yours.
Many Poles were lucky this year to to soak up the spring sun, which is the best, and has been with us for a good few weeks allowing a nice tan to form. The past couple of days it actually feels like summer which is even better for me as I miss the hot Australian sun. Right now I am writing this on outside, on the stairs of my boyfriends house, the birds are chirping in the background, the roosters are singing cock-a-doodle-doo, and the sun is getting hotter and hotter.
This year Jarek and I decided to stay home. Warsaw that is, or a couple of kilometres outside the city which is much better, clearer air, more birds and green grass. On the Friday we did a 30km round trip on our bikes to visit our families and recover from a hangover caused by our birthday and namesday (imieniny) BBQ where we downed five or six bottles of vodka the night before.
Saturday we spent visiting Nowy Swiat and Foksal Street (great restaurants, fashions and exorbitant prices), soaking up the sun, browsing through stores and moving on to Stare Miasto (the Old Town), enjoying a delicious vanilla swiderek (swiderek is an ice cream sold during the warmer months, yummy).
We were lucky as the main street was closed from traffic and only pedestrians, cyclists and skaters were allowed. Sometimes it's nice to stay put and discover the place you live and work in.
Fortunately Poland is a small country and you can drive from one end to the other in about 10 + hours depending on your speed and persistence. Though I wouldn't advise on breaking speed limits or making records, the roads are ridiculously dangerous, and highways lack good conditions to drive faster then 80km (though many might disagree here). There are crosses and flowers every couple of hundred metres or so reminding drivers of people who have lost their lives, this is enough to cause me to slow down.
But what this short distance across the country means is that it only takes a few hours to get to your favourite weekend away destination. The popular hot spots are Zakopany, Mazury, Gdansk and its surroundings. Mountainside, lakeside, seaside, whatever tickles you fancy. Relax or be active, dance the night away at a disco or settle down on a blanket and read a good book, the choice is yours.
Many Poles were lucky this year to to soak up the spring sun, which is the best, and has been with us for a good few weeks allowing a nice tan to form. The past couple of days it actually feels like summer which is even better for me as I miss the hot Australian sun. Right now I am writing this on outside, on the stairs of my boyfriends house, the birds are chirping in the background, the roosters are singing cock-a-doodle-doo, and the sun is getting hotter and hotter.
This year Jarek and I decided to stay home. Warsaw that is, or a couple of kilometres outside the city which is much better, clearer air, more birds and green grass. On the Friday we did a 30km round trip on our bikes to visit our families and recover from a hangover caused by our birthday and namesday (imieniny) BBQ where we downed five or six bottles of vodka the night before.
Saturday we spent visiting Nowy Swiat and Foksal Street (great restaurants, fashions and exorbitant prices), soaking up the sun, browsing through stores and moving on to Stare Miasto (the Old Town), enjoying a delicious vanilla swiderek (swiderek is an ice cream sold during the warmer months, yummy).
We were lucky as the main street was closed from traffic and only pedestrians, cyclists and skaters were allowed. Sometimes it's nice to stay put and discover the place you live and work in.
Easter 2009
Tartar with egg, onion and pickle - a holiday favourite
Stuffed eggs with mayonaise - an Easter tradition
Mozarella, tomato and basil - something different for the table
Swieconka - filled with hard boiled eggs, sausage, salt, pepper - it goes to the church to get sprinkled with holy water on Saturday, then before breakfast on Easter Sunday is shared with the family.An Aussie in Warsaw
Why would a 20 something year old from the sunny Gold Coast in Australia want to leave her fantastic job, a flat near the beach and great lifestyle for dreary, sad and 20 years behind Poland?
Firstly, let me make one thing clear. I am both an Aussie and a Pole, however I don't like to label myself as either or. I was born in Poland, and raised in Australia. But I feel at home wherever I choose to go or travel to. I still remember bawling my eyes out on the train platform with the news that I was leaving my grandparents behind and everything I'd ever known to go to a place I'd never heard of.
Sixteen years later I'm back. Not intentionally. Back in 2007 I came to Warsaw to visit my grandparents and get some paperwork sorted before moving on to live in London for awhile. Well no one was kind enough to inform me that due to the ridiculous amount of bureaucracy my stay would have to be extended.
Stuck. Unemployed. Low on money and with no ability to work legally and nothing to do but write. I think there was a time where I reached a really low point in my existence. I didn't know what to do.
Cheer myself up of course.
An opportunity arose for me to go on holiday to a popular seaside destination. No thinking needed there. I was off, with people I didn't know and the intention to have a fantastic time in order to leave my worries behind, at least for a week. Needless to say, halfway through my week away, I fell in love, and as they say the rest is history.
Two years later many things still drive me insane.
I'm a freelance writer, TEFL teacher, traveller, friend and a huge optimist. Throughout this blog I will attempt to include travel stories, experiences, jokes, photos, news and views on politics, on people, on just about anything I feel like. But be warned I tend to get opinionated, however I try to have your best interest at heart. A small incident brought me here, a chance encounter, and the a wonderful man who has taught me to love, to enjoy the smaller things in life, and to laugh every chance I get.
This blog has begun in the hopes of gaining an understanding of the Polish culture and coming to terms with the fact that I have decided to stay here indefinitely. I welcome you, and hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Please feel free to comment or debate if you disagree with my opinionated soul.
Firstly, let me make one thing clear. I am both an Aussie and a Pole, however I don't like to label myself as either or. I was born in Poland, and raised in Australia. But I feel at home wherever I choose to go or travel to. I still remember bawling my eyes out on the train platform with the news that I was leaving my grandparents behind and everything I'd ever known to go to a place I'd never heard of.
Sixteen years later I'm back. Not intentionally. Back in 2007 I came to Warsaw to visit my grandparents and get some paperwork sorted before moving on to live in London for awhile. Well no one was kind enough to inform me that due to the ridiculous amount of bureaucracy my stay would have to be extended.
Stuck. Unemployed. Low on money and with no ability to work legally and nothing to do but write. I think there was a time where I reached a really low point in my existence. I didn't know what to do.
Cheer myself up of course.
An opportunity arose for me to go on holiday to a popular seaside destination. No thinking needed there. I was off, with people I didn't know and the intention to have a fantastic time in order to leave my worries behind, at least for a week. Needless to say, halfway through my week away, I fell in love, and as they say the rest is history.
Two years later many things still drive me insane.
I'm a freelance writer, TEFL teacher, traveller, friend and a huge optimist. Throughout this blog I will attempt to include travel stories, experiences, jokes, photos, news and views on politics, on people, on just about anything I feel like. But be warned I tend to get opinionated, however I try to have your best interest at heart. A small incident brought me here, a chance encounter, and the a wonderful man who has taught me to love, to enjoy the smaller things in life, and to laugh every chance I get.
This blog has begun in the hopes of gaining an understanding of the Polish culture and coming to terms with the fact that I have decided to stay here indefinitely. I welcome you, and hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Please feel free to comment or debate if you disagree with my opinionated soul.
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