July 28, 2009

Thought for the day: We do not quit playing because we grow old, because we quit playing.

We each created three hours of English classes, but for many classes, the third hour class was games outside. During 4th hour we sang English language songs. Nathalie is to be saluted for the work she did, first, in getting all the words for Do-Re-Mi onto flip chart paper, and secondly, for doing it in such a way that it actually made sense!
After lunch we discussed changing Thursday classes just a bit so that some of the students can be more exposed to native English speakers. Then we planned the scavenger hunt for Friday.

Later in the afternoon, we were pleased to see the woodcarvers arrive. Several of the volunteers made purchases, contributing to keeping this art form alive.

We left for Kisielany at 5 PM and found Ania, Lori’s former Zakopane student, waiting at the Kotun train station. She accompanied us to Zymuntowka and we enjoyed having kolacja with her. Soon Daria and Karolina arrived, too. They are also alumns of the 2009 Zakopane camp sponsored by Prus High School. All speak English very well. We learned that each of them is also studying a third language—Ania is learning Russian, Daria is learning German, and Karolina is learning French. We enjoyed conversation with them that ranged from how high school education is conducted in Poland, to political/current events, to philosophical conversation about religion. We found that they unanimously disliked their history classes.

We had a great time with these young Polish women.

By Lori

July 24, 2009

Thought for the day: Make the world a better place than it was when you came into it.

On Friday morning, we left our harbour of peace at the usual time but knowing that when we would return, things would have changed. Indeed, not only were some of us going to explore the Polish country over the weekend but this was Michael s last day with us. We had our usual hearty meal with the addition of breakfast sausage! We then went on to our classes, for some of us, in a different location, given the uncertainty of the weather... My class was moved into the tent instead of being in the wild... strangely, the kids were much calmer... location, location, location! The third and fourth classes were dedicated to a presentation by the teachers of their corner of the world. The presentations were dynamic and appreciated but the highlight of the morning was certainly the question period... We will all leave Remontowka not only knowing what kind of car we all drive but also knowing that Michael was once stuck in the elevator of his 67 floor apartment building in which birds have crashed into, that Bruce never went searching for gold in SF where there are earthquakes but sadly, no tornadoes, that Jim was never pinched by a crab and that Canadians sometimes eat things without maple syrup and that I am not afraid of avalanches!!! I can't wait to find out what scary things happen in Philadelphia and St. Paul!! We then were witness to a very touching moment when Ula announced that Michael was leaving: kids immediately and spontaneously ran over to him to hug him and shake his hands!! Michael was then officially thanked for his participation in a well-deserved round of applauses. We finally had lunch before Cindy, Chris, Bruce and I left for the train station. When we return on Sunday evening, things will have changed: we will have new experiences to share and we will have lost our disco dancing doctor... Michael, you will be missed by us and, without a doubt by the children of Remontowka.

By Nathalie

July 23, 2009

Thought for the day: “Chilhood has its own way of seeing, thinking, feeling; nothing makes less sense than trying to replace it by ours…” Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The day went by relatively smoothly, with the standard classes and hearty Polish breakfast and lunch. Unlike most days however, the children of the camp had prepared a night of dancing and music called “Polish Night.” The heat and humidity did not stop the kids from singing and dancing, as they enthusiastically celebrated their Polish heritage while donning costumes and sashes. Afterwards, the counselors and volunteers had hors d’oeuvres and some of us were pulled onto the dance floor for more celebrations.

The most striking thing about this night was not that the people in Poland truly cherish their heritage, but that they cherish their culture as all people do, whether they are from Peru, Costa Rica, Canada, or the United States. Some, upon hearing that I was going to Poland, would say “Why would you ever go to Poland?” Anyone who has been here does not need to ask the question.

By Chris

July 22, 2009

Though for the day: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face in marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
- Theodore Roosevelt

After the barbeque and sing-a-long festivities of yesterday evening, I got to thinking about a conversation my son and I had with his doctor just before we left for Poland. I mentioned that we were doing a volunteer vacation that was to take us to a small town east of Warsaw. She said that she had heard of volunteer vacations, but that a friend of hers who had done such a trip came back disappointed that the work filled every day and prevented her from “seeing the country.” I tried to explain that the whole point of the trip was to get to know the real people of the country and not to check off a list of sights. And besides, I said, you could always sightsee before or after the two-week stint if you really wanted to. She did not seem convinced.
I suppose that people who are motivated to volunteer to spend two weeks working in a country rather than sight-seeing intuitively understand that spending an evening singing Polish songs has its rewards.

By Cyndi

July 21, 2009

Thought for the Day: The man with the clear head looks life in the face, realizes everything is problematic, and feels himself lost, as this is the simple truth that to be alive is to feel oneself lost. He who accepts it has already begun to find himself, to be on firm ground.

-Ortega y Gassett

We started our day at Zygmuntowka bracing ourselves for day 2 of volunteering. We arrived just in time for scrambled eggs along with various other morning delicacies.
We did our journal reading and thought of the day. We had some time to sit and relax or complete last minute preparations before “the games begin”!!!
We had our usual 3 lessons with our respective groups followed by dancing lessons hosted and taught by our own “dancing with the stars” runner-up Jim.
Jim led is quite capably through the ELECTRIC SLIDE, a second line dance which the name escapes me and finally the ever popular YMCA. The “Brooklyn” girl led us in an exhausting rendition of COTTON EYE JOE, which would make even a ballet dancer’s quads and hamstrings tremble.
We adjourned for the day and had obiad which consisted of my favorite pickle soup followed by a chicken leg for all.
In the afternoon we had the pleasure to meet the Governor of Siedlce County. We had a lovely chat with the Governor about Siedlce, Poland and his 2 trips to China.
It was then 50 minutes of free time in the big city.
In the evening, our hosts Ewa and Sylwester along with Marek and his wife Ela provided a fantastic barbecue of blood sausage, Polish sausage, and pork from the neck of the pig. All outstanding.
It was a delightful evening. The husband of one of the couples just happened to have his accordion with him. We were regaled with Polish folk songs all evening.

By Michael

July 20, 2009

Thought for the day:
Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand.
Chinese Proverbs

The day of reckoning finally arrived, whereas this morning we were on the brink of conducting our first English class with our students. But, wait! As usual, we had to eat first, which is the usual Polish tradition no matter what the occasion. After truly enjoying our breakfast of pancakes/crepes filled with the cheese, along with the usual assortment of cold cuts, cheeses and hard rolls, we were ready to embark on the first teaching day of our two week adventure with the students at Reymontowka.
After conducting four classes with our students for the day, it was time to eat again, as lunch was served. We arrived at our dining room, some of us exhausted by the four teaching sessions, but all of us having a greater appreciation for the people who courageously chose teaching as their profession.
After lunch, we shared with each other what we felt had been successful lessons and techniques in our teaching sessions. Afterwards, we all came to the unanimous conclusion that there were little, if any, differences between the students in Poland and those in the U.S. Kids were essentially kids, all of whom enjoyed computer games, cell phones, sports, board games, Frisbee, and all of the other activities which young people enjoy doing, no matter what country they may reside.
After lunch and our sharing session, we all proceeded to go to the volunteer planning workroom where we prepared our lessons for the next day of classes. Later in the afternoon, we took a break to celebrate Bruce’s birthday, which, in addition to sharing his birthday cake, included singing happy birthday in English, as well as the Polish birthday song, Sto lat, which joyfully wishes the person celebrating the birthday a hundred more successful and fruitful years of life.
After Bruce’s birthday celebration, it was time to return to more planning for tomorrow’s day of teaching. We all retired for the night with a sense of satisfaction that it was a fruitful and rewarding day of teaching, and looked forward to the challenge that tomorrow and the rest of the week would bring.

By Jim

Team 210 - July 19, 2009

Thought for the day: To grow is to change, and to change often is to have grown much.

On Sunday, July 19, the team gathered for breakfast at Reymontowka. After breakfast they participated in an orientation meeting. First, the team members reviewed the Global Volunteers guiding principles. Next they established four team goals:

1. To learn about Polish culture;
2. To teach English to children;
3. To make friends; and
4. To grow personally.

The team members identified characteristics of a successful team, including: enthusiasm, sharing knowledge, flexibility, open-mindedness, patience, communication, creativity, problem solving, encouragement, respect, sense of humor, and Don’t worry, be happy.
Team members shared personal skills and resources materials they had brought with them. Then they reviewed the materials in the Reymontowka resource center.
Bruce and Michael went to church in Zeliszew.
After the mid-day meal, Dorota and Ania provided a Polish language lesson. Members then adjourned to the work room to prepare classes for the next day.
At 3:30 all in camp gathered together for introductions. Following the camper introductions, Dorota assigned campers into learning groups and teachers briefly met with their students.

By Lori