Goodbye Wroclaw, Poland, Europe...

Still can't believe I've left Poland already. This last week in Poland has been pretty emotional. I think I did pretty well holding my tears, leaving Wroclaw... maybe because it's still kinda not fully sunken in yet. A year in Europe, some say it's long but it certainly doesn't feel long to me right now. I think extending my traineeship from half to one full year has been one of the best decision of my life.

This traineeship, this whole year has been perfect in so many ways. Language4You has been the perfect traineeship workplace, a small school with such a warm, close-knit and loving atmosphere. I really never realised how much you can actually look forward to going to work. The students were motivated, friendly, appreciative and I just couldn't ask for better bosses/colleagues to work with.

From the very beginning, I already felt so at ease and settled in Wroclaw so easily because of the exceptional reception I received. The power of the AIESEC support network is just incredible. I was so fortunate to be matched to such an awesome LC - thank you PeWro! really love you guys. I loved all the gatherings, parties, chats, being looked after, taken care of, being shown around places, the patience in translating things for me, people switching to English just because I was there... all so very much appreciated!

I also loved living where I was, the loveliest flatmates you could ever have. Thank you Kasia, Virg, Iza for all the fun times and support!
How did I get to be so lucky? I really don't know but I really do appreciate everything.

Poles that I have met throughout the year have always been amazed at why I chose to come to Poland and actually, why I liked it so much. I've been here for a year and yet still can't quite put my finger on what is it that is so captivating about living in Poland. I know I'm not alone in this feeling about the magical hold Poland has over people. So many examples of people who's been to Poland once, fell in love (place, or could be person ;)) and then decide to stay or come back and live long term. I still don't know when the next time I'll be back but Poland will forever have a very dear and special place in my heart. I already know how excited I'll get everytime I hear Polish being spoken or see something Polish from now.

The travelling this year, I must say has been great, I have seen so many places I've heard so much about and seen some amazing sights. But the best part of this year would be just "living" in Wroclaw and doing the normal stuff that anyone would do on a day to day basis - meeting with friends down at the pub, having friends over (minus the police), cooking with friends, having your nails done... things like that ;)

In my last week, I made a list of things of things I'll miss from Poland... Just thought I'd share some...In no particular order:

• The Tostoria Zapienkanka's
  
• Ok... actually lots of the different food like Zurek (in bread!), the Polish version of kebabs, paluszki, sweet buns/doughnuts from Cukiernia's, the cheesecakes... the list's actually longer but you get the drift...
• Convenient bus system - the fun rides you can sometimes get on the creaky old buses!
  
• The vibrant night life
• Random chats with flatmates in the kitchen at night
• Grocery shopping and buying stuff just because it looks different and cool
• Amusing shop assistants (etc) with my poor Polish
• The beautiful frost and snow
• Central heating!! (to all the Europeans who've been to NZ and complained about it, I totally understand you now!)
• Being amazed hearing English being spoken
• Guys always ALWAYS opening and holding doors for ladies and being such gentlemen (that I will really miss)
• All the different festivals! Fatty Thursday, St Andrew's day, Grandparents Day... any chance for celebration
• The lovely family atmosphere at Easter/ Xmas
  
• The homemade vodka/alcohol
• Being perfectly acceptable for couples to be affectionate in public
  
• People saying 'Do widzenia" when exiting shops and train compartments
• Greeting with kisses on cheek
• Random moments of groups breaking into songs on the bus (usually drunken happy students)
• The utter devotion people have for their dogs
• The serenity and peace in your mind when you're in a place where you don't understand the language
  
• but also the joy of being able to understand something/anything in Polish

There are however a few things I won't miss! :P

• The seemingly endless queues at post offices etc
• The paperwork needed for 'official' stuff
• The smokey pubs/clubs
• The voice of the guy doing the dubbing on Polish TV :P
  

Anything I look forward to for back in NZ? yeah of course!

• Walking barefoot on nice green grass
• Driving on the open road
• Waterfalls
• Yum cha and BBQ pork!
• Music: my piano and guitar!
• Library with English books
• Seafood: mussels, salmon, sushi, good ole' fish and chips
• and of course spending quality time with friends and family...
  

There's probably more to each of the lists.

I've had a magical year in Poland.

Reflections: October and November 07

Highlights

• Visitors to Wroclaw! :) It was simply unbelievable having Susan and Anne over in Wroclaw and being able to show them around!~! Wow seeing them actually here was just so great.
  
  
• Presentations about NZ: In the last two months, we've had two separate global villages. In the second global village, I made poi pois and sticks for Maori stick games which were quite a hit. I also made a presentation about Xmas in NZ at my school Xmas party - I love showing off NZ ;) I have yet to do a proper presentation about New Zealand though. I WILL do one before I leave.
  
  
• Teaching in general: This semester I'm feeling a lot more confident as a teacher (with a little bit more experience under my belt than the first semester). My work timetable is ok... I don't like getting home so late almost every night around 8pm or 9pm but a couple of sleep-ins during the weekdays makes up for it! Having a nice job to go to everyday makes such a difference to the whole traineeship experience.... it's dangerous hearing 'subtle' comments from my boss hinting it would be so good if I stayed and I hate the sad looks I get confessing to my students when they ask, that this will be my last semester at the school.
  
  
• Special festive dates: these are days I will HAVE to recreate when I get back to NZ. The first one is St. Andrews Day where 1, yes it's a chance to party and 2, it's an occasion where females gather and predict the future with all sorts of interesting methods. For example, pouring hot wax through a keyhole into a bowl of water and the wax figure that forms will say something about your future. Another one involves dangling a ring from a string which tells you how many kids you're going to have. (I'm going to have one girl ;) hope I actually have more though! haha)
  
• Santa Claus Day! this is 6th December where kids get lollies, chocolates and gifts... yes AS well as gifts on Xmas Day... omg... to think all those years that we've been deprived of those extra pressies as kids ;)
  
  
• Snow! Wow... it's the first time I've lived in a city covered by the glorious, white stuff. It's just the most amazing sight ever! I don't know if it's any connection to being born after a huge snowfall and the whole name thing but it just lifts my mood ten folds seeing the snowy scenery. Fingers crossed for a white Xmas!!
  

Observations:

• Taking education seriously: I've talked about this before but I've noticed that the Poles are quite proud of their education system here which they rightly should. There really is a strong importance placed on education over here. I think Poland was the first country in Europe that had a regular public education. I've just read on NZ Herald website something about Auckland uni restricting access to undergraduates courses - that's sad! In Poland, university is free, plenty of scholarship opportunities like allowances if you do well in your studies.
  
  A shortcoming in the education system would fall in the school teaching culture where pupils and high school students are expected to learn and cram such an overdose of information that it cultivates the whole 'cheating' culture, one where the teachers usually turn a blind eye to as they see the injustice of the curriculum as well. How do you create a good balance though? I wouldn't like the other extreme though - something like NCEA?
  
  
• A proud kiwi: It's true how you look at your own country in another light when you're abroad. Kiwis... we're extremely lucky and absolutely blessed to have such a great reputation overseas. Sure.... I have heard comments about how living in NZ can sometimes be boring, maybe not satisfied with the nightlife, not enough things to do etc BUT that's a slim minority - I'd say about 95% people I've spoken to - both in Poland and people I've met while travelling around Europe, would love to visit NZ. The only constraint being how far, ie: so expensive to travel there. The main impressions of NZ would be the paradise-like scenery and friendly atmosphere. Nothing I'd dispute :) Every single NZer is within 2 hours drive to a coast. Ahh... many things I'll appreciate more when I get back home.
  
  
• Slower lifestyle: Despite even personally claiming NZ to have a relaxed, laid-back lifestyle. I feel I've been taking things a lot easier, taking my time to do things and not rushing around as much here compared to when I was in Auckland. For example, mornings in Auckland meant 10-15 minutes between waking up and setting off driving to work and breakfast in car. This contrasts to my leisurely breakfast and stress-free bus ride to work - where I just read while commuting.
  
  I also seem to be able to spend more quality time with people here, it's nice just being invited over/inviting others for tea/cookies/lunch randomly not for any special reason but just to spend time together and not just rushing around from places to places all the time.
  
  So why? I've been wondering... am I having a more relaxed lifestyle here where it seems there's equal opportunities if not more back home? Maybe less stressful job, different working hours, not having a car so have to be more organised with my time? Nie wiem.. I don't know....
  
  
• Preparing for the dreaded inevitable:
  Less than two months left in Poland.... :( I can already imagine in the future thinking back to this year in Poland and thinking... was it all just a dream? and then I think... wow I'm living IN the dream right now! Only after actually finally being an AIESEC trainee myself, do I now understand how powerful a traineeship is and its effects on you and all the stories I've heard from past SNs... it all makes so much more sense now!
  
  In the last few months since I've been back in Wroclaw, I've showed different people around Wroclaw and I loved telling the stories that I've learnt about the city. Showing the city off is a chance to be marvelled by Wroclaw's charm again and it made me realise how much I have fallen in love with the city. It is difficult to put in words exactly why I'm loving it here so much - it must be a combination of everything - the welcoming, hospitable and enthusiastically curious people, the joy and satisfaction from teaching, friendly colleagues, homey, tidy flat with the nicest flatmates and maybe because it's the first time I was truly independent. Fresh independence's enjoyable leisures for me even include: grocery shopping, cleaning the flat, cooking/baking... yeah that's right.. :P
  
  I'm not saying life here in 100% perfect all the time - there ARE downs as well as ups and one of the reason I extended was actually to experience this theoretical 'dip in the culture shock' curve because in the first half of the year - I hardly experienced any 'downs' and I want to see what it's like! I remember the frustrations when I first came back, an experience at the train station buying my international train tickets to Budapest and not being able to make an informed choice just because I couldn't understand all the options. I'm pretty comfortable getting around generally, doing the daily things now in Poland so getting stuck at the train station that time, felt like a shocking set back. An open mind is your friend when you're overseas.
  
  

Right.. so these are some of my ramblings - a few out of more thoughts and reflections here in Poland. I'm going to make the most of the rest of my time here!

Life in Wroclaw: October and November 2007

Life in Wroclaw: Oct and Nov 07

Life in Wroclaw: Oct and Nov 07 Wroclaw - Dec 3, 2007 by Whiter Random photos of my life in Wroclaw - from parties, AIESEC conferences, concerts, photos of the city and visitors from home ;) View Album Play slideshow

Message from Whiter:

If you'd like to see what life's been like for me in Wroclaw in the last two months, have a look through this selection of photos!

Whiter :)

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Slideshow of my photos of September II - Greece back to Poland

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Slideshow of my photos of September - Brussels to Prague

Photos of September - Brussels to Prague

Second instalment of my Euro trip photos!

Brussels, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Sweden, Copenhagen and Prague.


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Slideshow of my photos of August - Italy to Paris

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