Oh, today was wonderful. <3 Woke up around 8:40 or so, ok-rested. The bed I sleep on at my aunt’s and uncle’s is a little too hard for me, which I should mention next time… Regardless, it was a relaxing morning, a nice breakfast with some nice chat, getting ready and what not to go to my nephew’s baptism! Relaxing minus the fact that I found another infection. Stupid things. Fortunately, it was only one, and my aunt and uncle had proper bandages for me to put on it, so it should be fine. But, once we got ready, we went from Strzelin to Oława by car, stopped in the Rynek in Oława first, and I talked to my aunt a bit about important dates in Polish history, such as the 11th of November, which was the day Poland was once again an independent country after World War I, and then the 9th of May, which was another sort of independence day after World War II, although it really varies because it wasn’t all on one day that the war ended. You know how it goes; it was a slow push back of the Germans out of Poland. And then I asked about if there was a day after the Russians finally got the hell out of here and gave up on communism, and it’s really just more of a time period in 1989, around winter time, because of how many meetings and what not. Regardless, it was really interesting. (: Oh, we’re such a hardy people. Although! That reminds me of what my aunt told me last night, which was she really never believed Poland would be where it is today; during that time that communism reigned, people sort of got used to it, and she really didn’t think that it would ever end and things would get better, where Poland would be deciding things on its own. So it’s really interesting how much history has truly progressed. Also interesting to get a point of view like that… then again, my parents obviously had the same view if they left Poland for wherever they could go. They could’ve stayed in Austria, they tried to go to Australia, and ended up in America. I mean, my mom’s grandfather literally told her, “Get out of here, because there is nothing good to come of Poland.” That’s a really powerful thing to say, if you think about it. It just gives a small idea of how those times must’ve been here, and I certainly know they weren’t all that nice, considering the stories my parents and uncle have shared with me.
Anyways, after our short walk in the Rynek, we waited in a square by the school that my cousin, Agata, went to and completed some important exams. Grzesiek and his family came by foot (you could see their apartment down the street, so that’s no surprise). So we all walked together to the church, met up with Agata in front of the church, without her husband or child, because Tymek ended up falling asleep towards the end of the car ride, so she didn’t want to wake him. Then we walked into the church. And I’ll be honest. My first thought was, “*cuss word* (you can try and guess what it was), I’m going to hell.” And no, that wasn’t a result of the people around me or anything but, I dunno. I just really really don’t feel comfortable in Polish Catholic churches. I think it’s all of the pictures of Jesus and God and everything surrounding me, and understanding Christianity well enough to understand my viewpoint, no matter how much I do to help this world, will end up condemning me to hell.
Oh yes, this was the first time in a long time I’ve really stepped into a church as well. And I think this was actually the first baptism I’ve ever been to as well. But it was cute, watching the parents holding their little tiny babies, and the to-be godparents by them, and going through the ceremony with candles, and I listened to the prayers and what not. So it was certainly interesting, and I was very glad I was there, because yeah, Krzysiek won’t remember it, but it’s still a very important moment in his life. My aunt had to do her best to keep Martyna quiet and a little entertained during this entire baptism. But it didn’t last too long, and there was no kneeling! Just sitting and standing, haha.
Afterwards, though, we ended up going to a restaurant; everyone took a walk, but Adam, Agata’s husband, drove me to the restaurant for the sake of my legs. We got some ice cream since we got there earlier than everyone else; I had some sort of pineapple mixed with some berry, I dunno what, but it was good. More American-like than Polish though, so it wasn’t as good as others I’ve had. :P We didn’t all immediately go to the restaurant, because they wanted to take pictures, but Krzysiek ended up falling asleep on the walk, so we had to wait. So Martyna and Tymon, my niece and nephew, had a ton of fun playing on the playground behind the restaurant. It was really cute, too! Because on the way to the playground, they were holding hands and walking together, with Tymek holding his mom’s hand (Agata). They’re both the same height, but Martyna is 27 months and Tymek is 20 months. Super adorable, though. <3 After a while, Krzysiek woke up, we all took some pictures, and we went back to eat. Had some lovely rosół (soup) to start off with, and then some kluski and chicken and pork and potatoes (of course, the staple), and other little salad choices. The black currant juice was delicious. It was just all very splendid. (: Kryzsiek is such a quiet baby. Agata was sort of jealous of how quiet he was. I mean, he was wide awake, and hardly made a noise while we were all eating and everything. He would sit in people’s arms without much fuss or struggle.
Meanwhile, the older babies, Martyna and Tymek, were constantly running around, so everyone was switching out and about, trying to rest and take care of them, and eat and what not. I ended up going to help my aunt watch over them, and that ended up taking us to the playground, where I helped Tymek on some play set, and eventually, Martyna went to the swing set as well. Where we stayed for what was at least half an hour, swinging her. Two, nearly three other kids went on the swing set during the time she was using it. But oh goodness, it made me feel so special. One time, we tried to take her off, and she got off for a bit, but wanted back on. So my uncle, her grandpa, tried to help her back on. At first she was sitting on it on her chest, and my uncle thought that’s what she wanted, but then she tried to turn and get back on. My uncle tried to help her on, and she was whining and struggling and wouldn’t let him. So I tried to put her back on, and she was so happy. She wanted me to help her back on. :D And another time, she wouldn’t let him lock the chain either, but she let me lock it instead. Super precious. At least for me.
Although, oi vei, was it a bit of a mess trying to get her off. She was whining and wouldn’t dare get off, but another girl wanted to get on, and the other swing was occupied. We had to convince her to leave somehow, telling her let’s go her mom. We started walking back across the playground, she stopped at another play set, where I helped her get up it to go down the slide about five times, and then continued walking. We got to the end of the playground, close to the restaurant, and she started chasing after bicycles. Ah yes, that’s what ended up convincing her to leave the swing set. A bicycle went by. Oh, and every time she heard a train in the distance, she pointed in that direction and sort of whined. (Her cousin, Tymek, speaks more than she does, and she’s seven months older. Mind you, that’s a lot of time difference at their age, as I’m coming to find out.) But yes, we were at the end of the playground, and she started whining more, and we tried to convince her we needed to go back to the restaurant, but oh gosh. She refused. She kept saying, “Leedu leedu! Leedu leedu!” Which I found out meant… swing set. The actual Polish word for swing set? Chósztawka. Yeaaah… If you see some similarity I don’t, please, let me know. … But apparently her dad, my cousin, was the exact same way when he was a baby, so my aunt told me. And, quick tangent on her language ability now. While she refuses to say dziadek, Polish for grandpa, she can say words like upał, the word for a hot day, essentially, ogon, the word for a tail, and dzieńdobry, which is actually quite difficult to say at the age, and ah yes, that means good day, essentially. But she wouldn’t say dziadek or ciocia (aunt). Although, she did say ogon very nicely on the swing set for me. Yes, she got a small round of applause for that.
Anyways, back to leedu leedu. She ended up running off in the direction of the swing set, and my uncle and I just stood and waited, cause I mean, the swing set was far away. She only got about oh. 20 meters away from us, I think? Maybe not even, more like 15, and she stopped and kept staring at us and sobbing and crying and screaming, leedu leedu, and we just waited. It was an experiment, to see how far she would go. Kids really won’t go too far, because well, they’ll get scared if they don’t have someone they know with them. Especially if they see those people aren’t budging to come after them. So she kept crying and crying, and eventually walked back over to us, slowly and somberly. She ended up giving me her hand, but again, not my uncle, and we started walking away, but she started trying to pull away again. So my uncle plopped her off the ground, and carried her back to the restaurant, while she struggled for her dear life and sobbed as if the end of the world was near. Of course, when we got back, everyone asked if she was ok, if she fell, and we were like, nope. It was time for other kids to swing.
Meanwhile, at some points, Tymek ended up having his mom read to him a few times from two little children’s books, while he rested. Of course, that never lasted long, and he ran off as well. Ah yes, I also ended up blowing bubbles for the kids, and they were all excited about it. And they ended up following my example. Most of you guys know how I compromise for my lack of flexibility in my legs, using unusual steps or rails to help pull myself up or step up to higher ground. I ended up doing that to step on a mini platform in the restaurant, to blow bubbles for them, and Tymek jumped off and did the same thing, using the ledge I did. So cute, but at that moment, I realized just how incredibly impressionable these kids are. I mean, for me, this is completely natural; I make use of things people usually don’t think of to help me out, cause I need it. But yes, lots and lots of running around after kids, making sure they’re safe and don’t go off too far, talking and listening to the family I was with, and all sorts of fun. Oh, and overall in the restaurant, there were tons of other kids to play with, so Martyna and Tymek were having a ball, playing with some toy trucks and the kids and everything. Martyna kept rolling her truck against the ground. Oh, and my aunt gave her a pretty necklace and bracelet, which while she was having her fit, she was stretching out, so I showed her how I was wearing my own bracelet, and she ended up putting it on her wrist normally instead of stretching it to where it might break.
Oh, but Martyna’s swing sob story was not the only sob story of the day. Remember how I mentioned she was incredibly interested in the bicycles? Well, her dad ended up promising her to get her one when she turns 3. However, at this restaurant, some little boy had a little kid’s tricycle, all decked out. She apparently waited and waited and waited, and once he was off, she nabbed it. Evidently, the adults didn’t mind. But… when it was time to give it back to the little boy, ohhhhh did she have a fit. Crying and sobbing refusing to let go, not understanding it’s not hers and that the boy wanted it back. She clutched onto the handrails and wrapped her legs around the trike’s body, so when my aunt tried to take her off, she lifted the trike with her. My uncle had to force her off, while my aunt and I held it so it wouldn’t fall. Oh, did she have such a fit. Sobbing, sobbing, sobbing. Again, Dorota, her mother, was concerned she fell, but noooo, she was just forced off the bike. My uncle joked how he was the bad guy of the day. And while we were leaving, she saw the bike and started whining and crying yet again. Such a tragic day for her.
Although, as Agata noted, while at one moment it’s the end of the world for a child, the next, it’s like they just won the lottery. Which is fortunate. And amusing. Mostly. My cousin and I ended up talking a lot, which was awesome. Honestly, I’ve always greatly respected her, and I’ve always loved talking to her and spending time with her. Actually, my aunt told me that Agata has to keep on reminding my uncle and aunt that I’m no longer that little girl I once was, and that I’m a young woman now! Nearly 20, come on. But it’s nice. (:
I actually recognized the restaurant we were from. It was so familiar, but I couldn’t put a point in time to it. My uncle was convinced I had never been there, but Agata ended up remembering we had pizza there. This absolutely threw my uncle off guard. Because that was in 2005. He was appalled that I could remember that from when I was 13. But Poland to me has so many memories and dear moments, I really won’t ever forget them, especially if I return to a certain place. Oh yes, and the cheesecake they served. So. Good. Argh. It’s not even fathomably close to the end of my time here, and I already worry about my return to the food in the States. I am not going to be a happy camper, at. All.
Anyways, around 5:30, 6, it was finally determined it was time to leave, so we all got our things together, and left. I said my good byes to my family, and the kids were quite exhausted, and while sure, if they saw things to play on, they would without a doubt keep playing, but I have a feeling they will fall asleep very fast tonight. But yes, Krzysiek’s new godparents ended up driving me back to Wrocław, because they live there as well. We talked a bit in the car, and they said that my Polish is quite good, which I’m really glad to hear. Yeah, my uncle says that there are times it’s hard to understand me, but if people outside of my family give me such compliments with a tone of genuine impression, then well, I’m a little proud of myself for that. But yes, we talked a bit about my plans in Krakow, and over all, and about the states a bit, and they informed me how the SkyTower in Wrocław will no longer be the tallest building in Poland, because they lacked the funding… Apparently, people are actually going to live there. It’s a skyscraper, and while there will obviously be offices, apartments will be there too. And not enough people were quite interested in buying an apartment, so they had to cut the building short. And I don’t blame those people!!! No way in hell would I want to live at the top of a skyscraper. Especially being the only one so tall. It really sticks out. Especially over such a flat terrain. Just. No. And they said they wouldn’t like it either. Part of their reasoning was interesting, as well.
They don’t like the idea of living up there, because you can’t really open up the windows or anything. Now, that has a lot more cultural meaning than you realize in it. In Poland, during the summer, there really is no air conditioning. So you just open up the windows to let your house have some ventilation (I’ve talked about this before). And they complained about how you could only rely on air conditioning if you lived up there. That’s how people are so accustomed to living, which is incredibly fascinating. I don’t blame them; I actually dislike air conditioning if it’s too heavy. I can feel how it’s an artificial breeze, full of chemicals. I don’t mind normal breezes outside; those are refreshing. But an AC breeze? I hate it. I don’t mind being cold, except if it’s AC cold. I’m weird, though. Agata and I talked about this as well, though, that in previous years, the summers have never been nearly this hot or long, so it’s starting to get a bit ridiculous without air conditioning. Yet it’s still not enough for most people to try and buy air conditioning, because it’s an incredibly short time comparatively anyways. It’s not worth the investment.
Another interesting thing I noticed. Today, they were talking about the new stadium, and they were quite skeptical about it. How are they going to keep the stadium active, and how they’re trying to fill it with events like singers or single boxer fights, whenever it’s an enormous stadium. In fact, from what I can tell, the Monster Jam thing next weekend has been cancelled or a bit of a failure. Which… isn’t that surprising. I was shocked when I found out monster trucks were going to be in Poland; never in my life could I have predicted that. Apparently, they’ve only sold 20% of their tickets too; again, not too surprising. Still, it’s a very different view from what I’ve been listening to with my mom’s godson for example; after all, it’s essentially his project. Also, they commented on the fast tram way they’re building to the stadium on the way home, and they said it was supposedly meant to be faster than other trams. Such a simple word on its own suddenly changes an entire outlook. My mom’s godson was talking about it, proudly, how it’s the first of its kind in Wrocław and should be really helpful, and then they are more skeptical. That moment just made me realize how different things really are for people. People who work on something are obviously far more optimistic, and then those who really aren’t connected are usually more skeptical. And this is an obvious observation, but it’s one of those notes that I sort of applied to myself, because I’m the exact same way back in Maryville, Tennessee, and the States, really. It’s just a curious thought, really, about how much perspectives can truly vary based on your position. Again, obvious note, but very in my face today, which I found quite interesting simply because of how I have only heard positive things about the stadium, SkyTower, and the fast tram way up to this point.
That’s how it really gets exciting though; truly digging deeper into cultures and different perspectives and learning as much as you can, and challenging your mind. Seriously, today was a wonderful day. Btw, can I have kids soon? And off to work tomorrow, once again! Hopefully, it’ll be more successful, and if not, this week I’ll start bringing out the phone again and pestering people (bwahahaha).
Ah yes, very important note. To anyone who has family on the east coast who dealt with Hurricane Irene, or worse, if you are on the east coast, I really hope you and your family and friends are all ok. /: Physically, emotionally, mentally, just everything. I’ve heard about a few deaths, and my thoughts are with everyone. (My only other family in the states is actually near Newark and NYC, so I am definitely worried about that area; that was actually my first thought when I realized how it might affect them.) So yes, I wish the best for everyone. <3
Note: Written yesterday.
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