Sunday, September 28, 2008

Message of the day from Pat: Wherever you are is exactly where you need to be!

What a wonderful beginning to help the people of Poland…and, what a fantastic bunch of volunteers! I particularly noticed how, in just 24 hours or so of knowing each other, we really care about each other and about making a positive reflection on the children and adults that we will be teaching during our stay at Reymontowka.
We were asked to develop a few Team Goals to follow through the next couple of weeks of teaching. Our goals for the September-October 2008 session are:
1. To learn more about the Polish culture.
2. To better understand the cultural relationship between Poland and the USA.
3. To install self-confidence in students.
4. To make new friends.
5. To broaden our horizons. And,
6. To have fun.

Our leader, Dorota, then asked us for the characteristics that would make an Effective Team. We came up with the following:
1. Positive attitude
2. Flexibility
3. Support
4. Patience
5. Teamwork
6. Sense of humor
7. Open-mindedness
8. Willingness to share
9. Respect
10. Communication
11. Smile
12. Responsibility

The Teaching Assignments were distributed and clarifications were made to our revised meal schedules.
After our orientation sessions, several volunteers, and Dorota, went to the Old Wooden Church for Sunday Mass. Others took a much needed walk to Carlos, the local supermarket in Kotun. We purchased some of the things we forgot to bring from the States.
Everyday culture was the next subject on the Agenda. Pat Kalicki mentioned that she noticed a dramatic change that took place in Poland during the last several years. For those who are non-Catholics, there is a segment during Catholic Mass when people shake the hands of other church-parishioners to wish Peace on Earth to each other. Well when Pat went to Mass 4 or 5 years ago at the Old Wooden Church down the road from Reymontowka, NO Poles shook the hands of anyone in church! The only people who shook hands with each other were the Global Volunteers! And guess what, after today’s Mass, all of the Poles were shaking hands of everyone in church! Yes people, we are making a difference.
When Dorota was asked if Global Volunteers has made a difference in the progress of education in the children of Siedlce County she mentioned that a friend of hers who teaches in high school in Siedlce noticed a dramatic change in the students who participated in the Global Volunteers English Conversational Speaking program vis-à-vis those who did not. Yes people, we are making a difference. And, let’s keep it going!

By Edmund K. Stoy