Message of the day (by Edmund): A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats its least fortunate amongst them.

On our final day of teaching, we started off the day with a magnificent breakfast of eggs w/ tomatoes, red peppers and onions in addition to the other stuff that is available to us daily. Jim had his usual portion of bran with yogurt saying that he's going to eat light for breakfast today to make room for all of the goodies that we'll be getting during our coffee/tea breaks in the schools.

Cisie school was something else today. All of us were well prepared with our usual lesson plans but there was just something different in the school. My 4th graders were acting rather strangely during the first hour. They were whispering more than usual, writing things on paper with different colored crayons, sneaking items to each other thinking I can't see them, you know, the usual stuff that goes on in the Polish classroom.

Well, after our coffee/tea break, I returned to my classroom to a wonderful surprise. When I entered the room, all of the children rose from their chairs and said, "Thank you, Pan Ed!" On the blackboard were beautiful messages like, "Thanks, Pan Ed!"..."We love you, Pan Ed!" Then, while still standing they sang "Sto lat!" It was so beautiful...and, let me tell you, it was tough keeping back the tears.

The children then presented me with assorted hand-written notes of thanks, a plastic electric clock, candy, and other cute little things. I couldn't dare ruin the rest of the morning for these kids and start teaching again! We just chit-chatted after that, and that was okay. I got hugs...and yeah, I hugged back.

I know that I wasn't alone in being on the receiving end of cute little gifts, personal notes of thanks from the students, hugs from the little ones, and so on. All of the volunteers were surprised by the genuine love and gratitude of these poor children. As one of the volunteers said last week, "You know, we're learning a lot more than the kids," and, as a result, we've become better people from our interactions with the Polish people and children.

Then Andrzej whisked-us-away in his taxi enroute to Spoleczna. We saw the same green houses, a stork's nest on the telephone pole, farming fields on the left and on the right, that we saw during our daily trips to the semi-private school. The farms and fields are absolutely beautiful! We are so lucky to be here. After a brief get-together in the faculty room, we entered our classrooms.

The first hour was pretty much routine...reading, writing, pronunciation ("th"), math, days of the week, etc. Then we took our coffee/tea break, had our caffeine fix, ate a couple of cookies, and returned to class. When I walked into the classroom, both of my 4th grade classes greeted me with a "Thank you, Pan Ed!" They then presented me with a book about the area around which my grandmother was born in Poland (Downary), a Chopin CD, chocolate cookies, pictures of students from both classes (dressed in costume), and more thank you notes than I care to mention in this Journal entry. As at my other morning school, it was hard to hold back the tears. Every student wanted me to see his/her picture in the class photo...every student thanked me for helping them with conversational English...every 10 year old student made me feel like I was making a positive change in their lives. It felt good. It felt real good.

Then it was back to Reymontowka. I don't think I said too much on our taxi-ride back. I was that emotionally drained.

I forgot what we had for lunch...oopps, it was a breaded sole w/ tartar sauce that was outstanding! Now, for those of you who know me, I like to eat. I looked around the table for some leftovers that I usually get from a couple of the volunteers who don't eat that much, but there was nothing left on their plates! I have to talk to Dorota about serving an extra setting next time of the fish dinner.

We went to our rooms and four (4) of us started packing for our return trip home to the States and making last minute changes to our itineraries. I can't wait to get an email from Rita and Jim as they venture through the highways and byways of Poland during the next week. I wish them much luck on their adventures.

We just finished a wonderful dinner in the fireplace room...what a fitting location for our final dinner at Reymontowka! A couple of teachers from Cisie and Spoleczna as well as the Pani Dyrektor from Spoleczna joined us for dinner. We talked and laughed...that's the way it should be.

Thanks for all of your help and support fellow volunteers. I had a wonderful time with all of you. I hope you share my feelings.


By Edmund.

Message of the day (Jim):

No one has the right to take for granted his own disadvantages over others in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a happy childhood or congenial home conditions. One must pay a price for all these boons. What one owes in return is a special responsibility for other lives. (Albert Schweitzer, author of Teaching Reverence for Life.)

Today we experienced the “going to work” and “construction” traffic jam on the way to the Spoleczna Middle School in Siedlce. I liked the way Andrzej weaved his way around traffic and roundabouts, driving down side roads to get us to school on time.

At Cisie Elementary we had a wonderful celebration in honor of past, present, and hopefully future volunteers. Poland was the first country to request that volunteers teach English and now it’s an option in the Global Volunteer Program for all countries. The celebration began with the 4th grade children, in costume, dancing the Mazur beautifully. Then Iza and Jola led their Scouts in the Belgium dance, followed by songs or performances by several groups of children. The local dignitaries extended words of welcome and thanksgiving to the volunteers and hosts, commending them for their cooperation and efforts to improve the opportunities of the children through sharing language and culture. Afterward the hosts, dignitaries and volunteers gathered for coffee, cake and more conversation.

But that’s not the end of our unusual day. The staff at Cisie Elementary invited us for an evening picnic. It was quite a sight when everyone was roasting kielbasa over a roaring bonfire. We chatted, sang and danced. A special performance was given by Jim and Ed to the song “Pretty Woman” which delighted everyone. I think we have all learned to appreciate and enjoy the people of Poland and their customs!

Message of the Day (shared by Rita):

I will never understand all the good that a simple smile can accomplish. (Mother Teresa)

Plates of aromatic crepes greeted us for breakfast. Is there a better way to start the day?
Schedules were announced, amended by the Wednesday Cisie program from 10 to 12 noon. Our taxi driver, Andrzej, would pick us up Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. and take us to Spoleczna Middle School and return us to Cisie by 10:00 a.m.

Pat tells us that rehearsals have been underway for a while and she suspects that her third graders trot out the same song each year. But then, why not?

A beautiful sunny afternoon walk brought us close to several handsome horses changing pastures. Further down the dirt road were two virtually hidden bunkers, left over from the Russian occupation following WWII.

Again the kitchen outdid themselves. At supper Polish Pizza appeared on two large plates. Amazingly the 12 inch long open faced sandwiches discreetly disappeared. The combination of mushrooms, pickles, meat and melted cheese was a unanimous winner. Off to prepare for tomorrow; days are now speeding by as we accept and return party invitations with our host teachers. May the beautiful weather linger a bit longer.

By Carol.

Message of the day (by Pat): You have brains in your head and shoes on your feet you can go anywhere. Dr. Seuss (paraphrased)

After a restful night’s sleep, the volunteers were ready for another hearty breakfast comprised of apple fritters, various cold cuts, veggies, coffee and tea. Um, um, GOOD!

The Cisie drivers arrived on time, as usual, and we were driven to our teaching assignments. The Cisie children were anxiously awaiting our arrival greeting us with “Good morning!” at every turn. The classes went smoothly, and before long we were taken in Andrzej’s taxi to Spoleczna, the semi-private school in Siedlce.

After spending a week with my fellow volunteers, I get a kick out of the various pronunciations of Siedlce. Don’t worry volunteers, there will be many more after us who will have difficulty pronouncing Siedlce. Maybe we should consider changing it to Shuttletown or something.
In my estimation, the children at Spoleczna appear to be a little more advanced than the children I taught in other schools in the past. The majority of my fourth graders are smart, responsive, and eager to learn. I have one kid in my class, Filip, who reads better than I do…well, come to think of it, that ain’t sayin’ much since I’m from New Jersey.

We returned to Reymontowka for yet another delicious meal: Vegetable soup, pork with a delicious honey-mustard sauce, french fries and veggies. Oh man, was that good!

After lunch, we remained in the dining room to discuss weekend travel arrangements for Carol, Rita, and Jim’s weekend trip to Lublin. I knew this was going to be an interesting trip for this adventuresome threesome when one of them asked, “I thought we were going West to Lublin?” You see, folks, Lublin is in the other direction and South of Siedlce.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Pat and Jim went across the street to pick some raspberries for their cereals the next morning. Unfortunately, Jim won’t have any for breakfast because he ate all of his already.

Pat was making plans to go to Warsaw with Gosia. Poor Ed had to stay at Reymontowka and monitor the decibel levels of the music at the wedding that’s taking place on Saturday. Don’t feel too sorry for Ed, however, he has plans to have lunch with the new Kasia/Kate and her husband and two children on Saturday, and another lunch on Sunday with Jola and former Cisie Pani Dyrektor, Bozena.

After a refreshing break on the patio, we sat down for our final meal of the day. Jim finally got his potato pancakes which he has been anxiously awaiting since he arrived here on Saturday, which, I might add, he devoured voraciously. There wasn’t a single potato pancake left on the platters.

I am sure I’m speaking for the rest of the volunteers when I say I’m having a blast here in Poland. Thank you Dorota for making it all possible. Jeszcze Polska nie zginela.

Message of the day (by Edmund): Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Another day in our Polish Paradise. Breakfast featured Polish cheese along with our usual terrific breakfast trimmings.

Our teaching schedule was slightly altered with the addition of a student concert at the Spoleczna School. The concert was a unique chance to see and hear traditional Polish Folk music. The program was well received by students. The visiting group of four adult musicians noted our presence as visitors and played a Jewish foxtrot, written in Poland and dedicated to America. It was a truly neat experience.

All group members will be off on weekend excursions, except Ed, who plans on relaxing and hopefully picking a few local raspberries for our warm fuzzy group of volunteers.

Rita and I tutored three neighborhood 7th grade girls who walked over to Reymontowka. A good example of 3 great kids wanting to improve their English skills.

A spaghetti supper capped off the day with prunes in whipping cream for dessert – PRICELESS.

Message of the day (shared by Jim):
One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade. (Chinese proverb)

Today is Wednesday, our second day of teaching and what could be better than starting with placki (fritters) and coffee? The food at the Manor is presented so beautifully. Carol said that there must be an artist in the kitchen.

Arriving at school, we meet the students – so welcoming and helpful. Most of us are still struggling to find our room or the teacher’s lounge. When the students see that we are lost, they direct us to the WC.

Today in class we were talking about wild animals and I shared some northern Minnesota stories about bear, wolf, deer and camping adventures. We were also reading excerpts from Star Wars and a story about the Iditarod Trail, explaining misunderstood words as we went along.

Suddenly the students stood up and I knew it had to be break time. Then off to the teacher’s lounge to share delicacies and coffee with the staff. It’s hard to believe that at noon we were ready to eat again and lunch is our biggest meal of the day.

A tasty chicken soup was the start of lunch. Are we stuffed yet? Of course, but we need extra energy to work for a few hours – planning tomorrow’s classes. In the resource room, we gave Dorota a workout – she can answer any question – and always with a smile. Carol then tutored a high school junior focusing on English phonics and Pat tutored three waitresses on English terms for food and beverages. Needing to clear our minds, we took a walk, always ready to dodge bicyclists or speeding cars on the road.

Previously we have had dinner in the “fireplace room”, but tonight we ate in the main dining room because we were the only guests in the Manor. Reymontowka Manor House is a beautiful place to stay while volunteering and we are so glad to be here.

By Rita.

Message of the day (shared by Rita):
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. (Mother Theresa)

Finally, the first day of school! It meant a 7:00 a.m. breakfast, bountiful as always, and a 7:30 a.m. departure with either Iza or Gosia driving us to Cisie Elementary School.

Pat was to teach 2nd and 3rd grades, Jim and Ed with 4th graders, Rita with 5th graders, and Carol with the sixth graders—mercifully all small classes.

We entered, were escorted to the Teachers Lounge and shown to our individual classrooms.
Open, curious, smiling faces followed us with “Good Mornings” amidst a happy bedlam…an affectionate legacy from earlier Global Volunteers!

Comparing notes, I believe we each found a warm reception and traded “successful” approaches. Time did not stand still as we had feared, and students were genuinely responsive—Bingo, based on colors and shapes was a really enjoyable exchange in my classroom.

A discussion of different sports brought wide responses—girls favored snow-boarding, and boys, more predictably football/soccer.

Between classes we were invited to the Faculty Lounge for coffee or tea and elegant pastries—Just saying “No!” proved hard!

The Spoleczna van needed service, so a local taxi driver, Andrzej, delivered all five of us to the Spoleczna School in Siedlce. Here again a noisy chorus of “Good Mornings,” and small, responsive classes. Our morale was definitely improving, and courage returning. The Faculty Lounge offered another round of tantalizing goodies…promise of a weight gain!

Again at lunch we shared insights over pickle soup. For Jim and Rita, a young university graduate would be coming for an hour’s tutoring mid-afternoon.

Wednesday would come soon enough, but our initial exposure today was most reassuring. Our students are attentive and responsive. Aren’t we lucky to be a part of Global Volunteers’ 21st season here in Poland under Dorota’s confidence-building leadership.

By Carol.