Final thoughts

Here are some thoughts shared by volunteers on their final day in Poland:

“I THOUGHT THIS WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK. I HAVE LEARNED A LOT. I THANK YOU FOR MAKING US FEEL WELCOME. I ENJOYED HELPING YOU IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER.” ALEX (age 10)

“AS I EXPRESSED EARLIER, THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A NEW CULTURE, SHARE INFORMATION AND SEE OLD FRIENDS WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY TRIP.” RENE

"MY CHILDREN AND I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME IN POLAND. THE EXPERIENCE WAS MORE THAN I COULD HAVE HOPED FOR. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE HOW KIND AND APPRECIATIVE THE TEACHERS WERE TO US. WE HAD A WONDERFUL ASSEMBLY AT SCHOOL TODAY WITH SONGS/POEMS AND FAREWELLS. IT WAS OVERWHELMING HOW MUCH TIME AND ENERGY THEY PUT INTO THIS AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THE POLISH PEOPLE DID FOR US.” BARBARA

“I HAD A VERY GOOD TIME IN POLAND. BEING AT THE STRZALA SCHOOL MADE ME VERY HAPPY. I LIKED HOW THEY SANG THE SONGS WE TAUGHT THEM AT THE FINAL FAREWELL ASSEMBLY. A LOT OF KIDS WANTED TO PLAY FOOTBALL AND IT WAS SUPER FUN. I MADE A FRIEND AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, PATRICK. WE HAD FUN TOGETHER.” JACK (age 7)

"VOLUNTEERING IN POLAND GAVE ME A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE: HOW FORTUNATE I AM, HOW IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME YOU CAN SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.” OLIVIA (age 12)

Another fun day at the school in Strzala

Message of the day: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself "(Matthew 22:39); Shared by Jack

Today was a rainy and cold day -   we started out as usual with a great breakfast and the morning meeting .  The children and I went to Strzala school and helped with the 0/2/5/4 grades. 

Again we were greeted at the door with smiles and good mornings!!  The children are always so happy to see us!  We quickly went upstairs to the younger class and got right to it by singing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider".  Ever enthusiastic  we then sat down to do our colors.  Many of the younger children know their colors and are happy to complete their work.   We have  found that many of the children at the school are familiar with American nursery rhymes and  children’s songs -   Our exit song has been the wheels on the bus. 

After a short break we were off to second grade -  in this class there are a few children who are quite good at English and it is fun to watch the students all turn to these few and ask them to translate –

We had a great time doing letters  numbers  and a school favorite bingo!!

We now come to the unanimous favorite part of our day – where the children and I participated in the fifth grades P.E. class.  During this time the teacher made teams and we were asked to compete in a mini competition where you were awarded points for first/ second or third place -  

We were asked to do such things as run in races / crawl on the floor / jump over things and my favorite crawling under legs and passing a basketball through ones legs.  After the competition we played a game of basketball.  During this gym class it was great to see the children all trying to communicate with myself and the my kids -   they tried to use their English words to explain / translate when the p.e. teacher spoke as well as use terms like good job when we won .  I feel like in this setting it is much easier to really see the children’s personalities and their abilities to speak – rather then standing up in classroom in front of everyone.   Hands down it was our favorite hour thus far  -   it seems sports really is an international language!

The end of the day we met with fourth graders we spoke about the American flag while incorporating their knowledge of colors and shapes.   The kids did a great job and of course asked to play Bingo!!! 

At the end of the day we went to the community center.  Jack now has a friend  Patrick who requests that Jack sit next to him   and it is great how all the children come up to Jack and I to say goodbye and “see you tomorrow”!  

 During the session they are all so eager to show Cassandra their work and get that ever so important sticker!!

We had a good afternoon of preparing for our lessons tomorrow and a Polish lesson/history lesson.

Our dinner was enjoyable as usual with lots of good conversation and food! 

On a side note we can't say enough nice things about the staff at the house and how kind / understanding they have been with my children and my lack of Polish -  being ever so patient to try to help us anyway they can . 

Overall I can not believe how kind and friendly everyone here has been and what a wonderful experience it has been albeit a short one-   I now know that one week here is definitely not enough and am sad that tomorrow will be our last day with the children at Strzala school.  I hope they will continue to learn English and look forward to coming back again!

 Journal by Barbara

Our day in Strzala and at the community center in Kotun

Message of the day: "A life is not important except the impact it has on other lives" – Jackie Robinson (shared by Barbara)

Today we began our day with breakfast and a team meeting.  My Mom had message of the day and Cassandra had the journal entry.  After that we went to school in Strzala.  We first taught in the third grade.  We made American flags with the children .  They were very excited to do this and were especially careful to make sure they had all 50 stars on the flags.  We also played "Bingo" which the children love to do.  

We had a short recess which Jack and I played American football with many children and Alexandra jumped rope with other children.   The children are quite interested in playing football and holding the ball the correct way. 

We had  a 6^th grade class after the break and we tried to do some more talking with them -  We had everyone stand up and introduce themselves and say something about them.    We asked them questions and had them ask each of us a question.   The time went by very quickly.  

For the third class period we split up and my mom and Jack went to a second grade class and Alexandra and I went to a class with 15 and 16  year olds who asked to speak with us.  We told them a little about ourselves and they asked us questions.  They seemed very eager to speak with us and find out things in America.  

We went to lunch where the children like to come up to us and say hi and want to spend time with us.  Surprisingly the lunch food was very good. (not like at our school back home) 

Following lunch we met with the 5^th grade boys.  They were shy at first but then warmed up.  We spoke to them about what they wanted to be when they grow up and most would like to be football players  except for a couple who would like to be electrical engineers.   We then played bingo and they were having such a good time they asked to stay and play more instead of go to recess. 

 After school we were lucky to have Agnes the teacher who has been helping us at school  take us on a small tour of Siedlce.  We were able to visit the palace  which was very beautiful with its marble staircase.  We also visited two churches one the cathedral was massive but beautiful and the other a smaller church that was just as pretty.  

When we were done in Siedlce we headed to the community center.  Alex and I got to share a little bit about ourselves.  We played "Bingo" with the children  - they seem to very enthusiastic about this game! After the community center and our walk home we had a Polish lesson with Iwona.  I found it very interesting . 

As usual our dinner was delicious followed by some delightful desserts Cassandra brought from town.  

Today was a good day -   I love seeing all the smiles on the children’s faces when we come to their classrooms  and how happy they are just to say hello to all of us.  It makes me feel really good to be helping the kids with their English if it is only for a short time -   I love how friendly they all are and how nice they are to us.   Even though we don’t always speak the same language and it is hard for them to find words I like bonding with the girls in the older grades and finding out we have some of the same interests even though we live thousands of miles apart- 

As for the rest of the volunteers  Cassandra was ill this morning and missed her classes.  She was touched to find out through letters and notes how much she was missed!!!  Rene spoke about how important relationships are whether you are volunteering or doing anything.  He spoke about an autistic boy in one of his classes and how well the boy does with his work.  Kenita spoke of her day at the school for the disabled and how it was struggle to get the English program into this school and that it would add value.   Ralph spoke about his afternoons with a few older kids and that they are hard workers. 

Overall -   volunteering and giving back to the Polish community is so important.  I will always remember  the experiences I have had in Poland and the amazing people I have met .  I would love to come back again  each year even when I am an adult.  

Journal by Olivia

The best thing I have ever done in my life

Message of the day (shared by Olivia) – "A day without laughter is a wasted day"

There are myriad reasons why volunteering has changed my life forever. I have often heard people talk about the benefits of volunteering, of it being a way to reach out and touch the lives of others in a positive way. But I didn’t fully understand the impact of that claim until I started to volunteer myself. This is my first time participating with the organization Global Volunteers teaching conversational English abroad.

I am immensely grateful that the opportunity to teach English abroad in Poland was available to me. I have noted that the students of Poland are both culturally and linguistically “diverse”. I have also found that many students know the importance and need to learn English as a second language. As I can see: many students that we teach English to have traveled from long distances by train, bike, or walked to various places to learn a foreign language. Poland along with Global Volunteers understands that being multilingual, English especially, is essential to expanding the intellectual views and progression of Poland, in this ever changing world in which we live. I’m proud to say that the students I teach are diverse intellectually have good learning habits in memorization, critical thinking skills and creativity. I am extremely impressed with the students of Kotun and Siedlce. It has been very pleasurably experience for me and the rest of the volunteering staff too; as they would attest to this statement. The following are a few comments of my Global Volunteers' team members:

· I noted in my observations that my previous year students, that I am again teaching have increased their English skills and development, particularly in the area of memorization.

· This being our first time volunteering in Poland my family and I have never felt so warmly welcomed. From the moment we arrived at our destination schools, I saw the students waiting with anticipation upon our arrival. We felt honored.

· What has brought me much pleasure in my second time volunteering here in Poland is the interaction I receive from adult classes at the Community Center in Kotun. I feel that I have helped create a “Cultural Feedback” that has driven the adult students to engage, retain and ultimately make for successful interaction of group discussions in English.

· After this being my sixth year teaching English in Poland, I have found that each time I come back I gain new experiences with students. I can’t express enough that each and every year I have taught, each student or group of students has brought much delight and reward to teaching. I guess I have no boundaries when it comes to teaching English to my students. I enjoy teaching the youngest, the oldest and embracing the challenge of disabled student. I teach equally to all.

In conclusion to volunteering and how it changed my life…well… I guess it was every time, a student learned a new English word or wrote a sentence, it taught me that they depended on me and that I contributed to the development of their personality. That I’m important in their lives, and every time they accomplished a new word with success it gave me a sense of accomplishment. But most importantly, the students of Poland taught me to give.

Volunteering my time to teach conversational English was the best thing I have ever done in my life. It taught me that money will never be my motivation for working, that motivation for me will only come when I know I can make a difference in another person’s life.

Thank you,

Cassandra.

Reflections on the experiences that I will never forget

I appreciated having the weekend to reflect on my experiences to date. I continue to realize that coming to Poland is much more than just teaching conversational English. I must admit that I have been preoccupied with the flooding in my community and surrounding areas in Colorado. Thankfully Joanne is safe. Friends are finding ways to help neighbors. I look forward to getting back home and finding ways to volunteer.

I am hopeful that I am having an impact in Poland but hopefully my impact goes beyond just teaching English. The cultural exchanges will far exceed any impact I could have on improving the English capacity of these children and adults, although I know they appreciate the opportunity to practice their English skills.

I am probably the only atheist in my group but that is okay. For me the concept of god is not a noun but a verb. I respect the views of others but my sense of godliness does not come from institutional religion but comes from my interchange with people--these students, teachers and staff. That is true whether I am in Africa, Poland or anywhere else.

I realize that each of these children and adults are individuals with their own stories. I think of Joanna who stood proudly in class announcing her pride in being Polish. I think of the student, Dorota, who when speaking about her two year old baby, had a smile as big as this room. I think of the brother and sister who lost their mother to cancer a few months ago. Yes, they sometimes act out in class but I sense their pain and vulnerability. I can only bring them my smile and maybe my sense of humor. Hopefully I convey my love for them and even though I may never see them again. I think of the mother at the community center and her battle with family alcohol issues. Yet she remains so positive and strong. I think of Kamil, the autistic student, who always has a high five for me. And there is Patricia who upon seeing me coming insists on carrying my bag. And of course this trip would not be complete without thinking about my interactions with Poles throughout Warsaw and my fun tennis games with the manager and his friends. All these experiences and reflections take place even without knowing the language. Each of these experiences for me is godly and one I will never forget.

This report would not be complete without mentioning the successful community outreach program at the community center in Kotun. English lessons are being offered to the community and the response has been overwhelming. I am teaching four classes in the morning and two classes in the afternoon.

But now it is time to get ready for my next lessons.

Journal by Rene

Greetings and conversations

Message of the day: If you want to go fast,-go alone, if you want to go far-go together! African proverb

Today began with a breakfast which included one of my favorites—hot pancakes covered with plum sauce and powdered sugar. Of course, there were the ever-present cold cuts and fruit bowl. We were off to our assignments of teaching and tutoring. Kate, the English teacher at Grala school arrived to take George and Kay to her school for the lessons. Today we only taught 3 classes, 4th and 5th grades, with a second session for 4th grade. The topics in the 4th grade were “greetings and conversations,” using crossword puzzles to complete the conversations. We also conducted a lesson with the “who” words—who, where, when, what, which. Before the conversation lessons, we finished the geography topics by packing a suitcase for a trip to either Alaska or Australia. Finally, we had a discussion about surfing in Australia or the USA. For the 5th grade, the game of “Independence Day” was played—finding words in that phrase. The students really became involved and wrote about 21 words on the board!

During a break, a local custom was explained. The Polish wear their wedding rings on the right hand rather than the left as in the USA. Kate explained that this custom began after one of the rebellions against Russia. The women placed their rings on their right hands when their husbands did not return from the fighting.

A nutritious lunch was enjoyed back at the Manor House and some volunteers traveled to Kotun for their teaching sessions. At 6:30 pm we all had dinner together, with Pat back with the others, feeling better after her day of sleep and rest.

 Journal by Kay

Continuing our work

Message of the Day (shared by Pat): If you want happiness for an hour take a nap. If you want happiness for a day go fishing. If you want happiness for a year inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime help someone else.—Chinese Proverb

Wow, what lousy weather we're having here in beautiful Chlewiska. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting a little fed-up with the rain.

Had a wonderful breakfast and lunch. I'm looking forward to our dinner at a local restaurant tonight. That's going to be a good time and it'll be fun to bond with the volunteers. As a matter of fact, on our way back to Reymontowka from Spoleczna earlier today, the driver said the restaurant has great ribs.

We went our usual ways today to teach the kids and adults in the Siedlce area.

If anything happened out of the ordinary today, I didn't hear about it. The only thing to report is that Pat was a little under the weather and had to leave Cisie for some R&R in the Manor House. Since Kenita's class was on a field trip to Lublin, she graciously volunteered to teach Pat's class. Way to go Kenita! Also, Rene and Casandra continue to rave about the interest and enthusiasm of the residents of Kotun. The people of Kotun have demonstrated their thirst of knowledge to learn English and experience, first-hand, the dedication of a few volunteers destined to steer the residents on the right path. We're doing the right thing, aren't we?

Other than the above, there isn't too much else to report.

Just returned from our dinner at the Restauracja Globtroter. We had a wonderful experience.

Another day tomorrow to do our thing. Let's do it with gusto.

Journal by Edmund