Lively conversations and 'tour' of Pittsburg

Message of the day by Brenda: “ Life isn’t waiting for the storm, but dancing in the rain”

This was our fourth full day at Reymontowka  Manor and the first day with rain and overcast skies. But spirits were not dampened. We started the day with conversation, business matters and a most enjoyable journal reading by Alex and another delicious breakfast---consisting of  a meal course of an omelette/crepe with berry filling and cream topping.

The first class period began with a lively description by the student’s of last night’s “Dating Game” Festivities. A lesson that I had prepared using the “talking cards” activity described in the volunteer teaching manual. It started off slowly and picked up momentum and once the children get the hang of it, it became a great success. They were very pleased to be able to talk about themselves and were not willing to move on until all 52 questions had been answered. What a joy to work with bright, eager, enthusiastic teenagers. They were equally enthusiastic about about playing the fast paced  dice rolling game called “Tenzies” during the last twenty minutes. Thanks to the class assistance from the wonderful Kate (Katherine), Karolina, Sylwia and  Dorota’s protective supervision., we are communicating in English. 

In the fourth period all campers came together for a joint activity which consisted of showing a DVD I brought of greater Pittsburg metropolitan area from the air. I made a brief introduction, pointing out my apartment building on the screen that Sylwia was amazingly able to retrieve from Google Earth.  We sat and watched a 55 min DVD. The children clapped the end. And I am sure it was out of joy that it was over.  It was longer than “ a baseball game” but everyone was most gracious in watching it

After dinner, we were treated to a most enjoyable talent show by the campers and staff.  The volunteers retired after the show, but the party continued with disco dancing. Another lovely day at Reymontowka Manor.

Journal by Norina

One day of GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS in POLAND

Message of the Day : “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” By the Dali Lama, shared by Norina

G ---greeted by County Governor and weight-lifting judge

L---learned about the country

O-- organized and interpreted by Dorota

B—bonded on bus ride

A—attended kids' games

L---laughed and loved

V---Vodka (Chopin) store in Siedlce

O---observed local life

L---listened to language

U---University of Siedlce visited

N---new information

T--- toured the city with Sylwia

E---English lessons

E—exercised with kids

R---remembered the past

S--- stopped for stamps and cards

P---pickle soup

O---optimistic future

L---lively conversations

A---another great day

N---noted similiarities and differences

D---dined deliciously with teachers, Kate and Sylwia

Journal by Alex.

Sharing cultures and experiences

Message of  the day: “I am a part of all that I have met” By Alex, the volunteer

We started our day with a wonderful breakfast of cheese crepes and fresh fruit. Eagerly, we prepared to work with our students for the first time today.   Interacting with the children brought a better understanding of the Polish culture and our students knowledge base. It was a rainy day and we enjoyed the cool air and time together. 

We shared at lunch our excitement.The evening was a drama of initiation  of new camp participants and volunteers. We volunteers drank a spoon of red stuff that included a jello and ketchup  which tasted pretty good. The husband and wife of our volunteer  team acted as King and Queen and presented the camp kids with their certificates. The King waved his magic wand over each child for protection for these 2 weeks of camp. We found all the children quite involved and active throughout the evening. As we returned to our rooms, they continued camp activities with contemporary music. All in all the first full day with the children provided a bonding opportunities to share our cultures and our experiences.

Journal by Jan

Team 237: To laugh, love and enjoy Poland

I eagerly awaited the volunteers on my new team to arrive from the airport, except for Alex who will arrive later in the night. They were greeted by the Reymontowka staff with bread & salt, a Polish custom. After everyone  was shown to their rooms we had lunch during which we introduced ourselves, then Dorota our leader gave a tour of the building and grounds. Trusting we all had a good nights  sleep we had breakfast and  introduction to Alex who arrived while we were asleep. We then headed for the Resource room for Orientation. We established three goals for our two weeks in Poland:

1. Have fun with the students as we learn together;

2. Represent USA positively;

3. Laugh, love and enjoy Poland.

The team got on the bus for Kotun and along the way dropped Jan off at church a beautiful old building in Zeliszew, then headed for  the ATM.

 After lunch we had a Polish lesson led by Sylwia, Dorota’s  assistant. Our pronunciations were not too bad, but I think Sylwia was just being nice. There was a short break after which we met  staff and students who each gave a brief introduction about themselves, then the names  of the students we would be working with were called out and we got to know each other for a short while, trying to memorize each other’s names. Then it was off to the Resource room to prepare for the first day’s teaching.

Journal prepared by Brenda

Good-bye Poland!

We arrived at breakfast at 7:30 AM to find nalesniki (crepes) with plum sauce on our plates. Of course, there were also wonderful breads along with cold cuts and cheese, yogurt, cereal, orange juice, tea, and coffee. 

 

Dorota surprised us with a copy of note containing a message of the day left behind for each of us by Constance.

It said:

                                         I Wish You Enough

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get your through the final good-bye.

The note left by Constance explains: A keynote speaker at a conference described the “wish” that was use a parting expression and hand been handed from one generation to another in her family. Her parents used to say it to everyone on leaving, oftentimes hugging and saying, “Good-bye, I wish you enough.” When they said, “I wish you enough,” they were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them. 

We piled into the trusty yellow van about 8:30 bidding good-bye to Brenda who is staying for one more week of language camp. The trip to the Warsaw airport went much too quickly, and soon all of us but Gary found ourselves using the self-service check-in for a flight to Amsterdam. Gary doesn’t do this until Monday, for he will stay for the weekend in Warsaw to do more exploring. Freya made good use of the waiting time in the gate area by continuing to work on her personal goal of trying every possible kind of Polish candy.

 

The flight to Amsterdam went without a hitch, but all of us thought we had been taken to a gate in the airport about as far from the terminal as possible. Here we had our last moments as a team.  Eric, Ben, Greg, Freya, and Dick headed for their connecting flights to the United States while Lori made her way to baggage as she is staying two nights in Amsterdam before returning to the United States.

Heard later from Eric that the flight for he and Ben was cancelled and they too, much to their surprise, had some sightseeing time in Amsterdam before getting a flight the next day!

Journal prepared by Lori