Saturday and Sunday, July 21-22, 2007

By Didi

Poland. I can’t believe I’m here in Poland. Forests and small hamlets could be seen from the airplane. It was hot as I bounded off the plane, zipped through customs and out to be met by a friendly, smiling face, Dorota. What a treat to be met by such a welcoming person. We were soon on our way to Chlewiska, a 2 hour ride over a two lane road that goes from Lisbon to Moscow. The procedure seemed to be if you wanted to pass, go in the middle between the two lanes and the traffic kind of parted to the sides. Yipes! There are supposed speed limits and seatbelt rules, but the minute we went onto a country road, the driver clicked out of his seat belt as if to say, “I don’t need that any more.” Needless to say, I kept mine on. We approached a white manor house with a circular driveway all decked out with flowers. What an amazing site. The birds were even chirping a welcome to us. The village of Chlewiska has 7 houses, fields, farm yards and fields. So peaceful. We joined the others as they finished up the many coursed dinner topped with fruit and ice cream. What a feast.

The manor house was built in 1807 by a noble family. Then a famous writer’s wife bought the house after her husband died. She sold it in 1939 and moved to Warsaw seven days before the war broke out. The next family ran a coal plant. But the Polish communist government didn’t approve of having your own business and took it away from him. It sat vacant for so long that when the government gave it back to him in 1970ties, the owner could not afford to repair it. Marek became the director of the manor house inviting Global Volunteers to help teach English in 1991.

After dinner and introductions, we toured the grounds. A wedding came to be photographed. The party lasted all night. Marek even stayed up until 5 a.m. The custom is for the bride to pay for the wedding and the groom to pay for the drinks. Luckily this took place at another location as we were all so tired and collapsed into our beds.

Sunday morning started with a huge breakfast. First we had a scrumptious hot egg dish in a mustard cream sauce. On the table were breads, cheeses, ham jams as well as cereal. And of course juices (black currant, apple and orange) as well as tea and coffee.

At 8:30, we started our official orientation meeting upstairs in a large room. We each wrote down 3 goals, categorized them and grouped them. Why are we here and what do we want:
1. To teach conversational English.
2. To learn more about the Polish culture and the people.
3. To build positive relationships.
4. To understand the impact that this program has on the community.

Then we discussed characteristics of an effective team:
Clear communications enthusiasm willingness
Listening fun being positive
Openness being adventurous proactive
Respect flexibility élan
Sharing dynamism passion
Creativity helpfulness courage
Acceptance supportive honesty
Patience
Team Skills:
Everyone gave input about what special skills they have or things they brought that they could share.
Safety was another topic:
The water is clean but use filtered water for drinking.
Guard dogs roam at night mainly to help discipline the children
No alcohol or cigarettes to be sold to the children
Please wait to take pictures for a few days and then ask permission
If you say hello to a stranger, they usually look down. Wait until they know you.
Please don’t give individual gifts nor make promises as someone may be offended or disappointed.

We were then escorted in cars to visit the church in Zeliszew built in 1776. A very impressive wooded church so crowded that people spilled outside to listen to the service. Even the storks in the trees stood up to listen. A quick drive through the village of Kotun where there are shops and a train station.

A large delicious lunch as that is the main meal for the day.

Children started to arrive and we all met them as each one introduced themselves. The 60 campers were then divided into 9 groups and we met with our groups that we will be teaching for the rest of the camp. Excitement rained in more ways than one. A huge thunder and lightning storm raged. What fun to actually meet our students. Then madly we all prepared lessons and helped each other to make plans for the next day.

The evening meal was more like our lunches with meats, cheeses, breads and an interesting side dish of pasta, whipped cream and blueberries.

A nice stroll down the lane to the next town. Oh, there are the storks still stretching their legs up on the nest so high. The villagers were very friendly as they talked to us in Polish. We were able to at least say good evening since we had had a crash course on Polish in the afternoon taught so patiently by Dorota.

Oh, I can hear all the campers as they got out of their meeting with squeals of excitement. Yes, camp has actually started and their parents are away.