What a relaxing morning... My uncle, aunt and I just sat around and enjoyed the morning. I showed them some pictures from my laundry day. We waited and waited until my aunt called to see if we could finally have our afternoon coffee/tea. Which was ok. So we enjoyed some tea. And eventually, Kamila came with her dad, Lutek, and her two kids, Chloe and Colin. Colin was dead asleep in his booster seat in the car for awhile, so my uncle and Lutek, the grandpas, sat outside of the car, waiting and watching for him to wake up. Chloe was shy as heck when we first saw her, hiding between her grandfather's legs. Though she recognized me from last year, I'm certain of it! Goodness, kids grow fast.
Kamila and I laughed that we would of course meet up in Poland before seeing each other again in America, being such a small world and what not. I mean, I delayed my trip to Bydgoszcz just for this day, really. Totally worth it, as well, I must say. We chatted a bit in the kitchen, of course. However, oh goodness, it was so weird hearing the kids speak. Why? Because they spoke in English! I'm not kidding. I've gotten so used to hearing kids talking in Polish, that hearing them speak in English, I was just absolutely confused. It took me a while to get adjusted to their kiddie English. But eventually, we went outside, sat on the bench swing, the kids played with a volley and beach ball each. We played some hide and seek together. I kept telling Chloe she's so lucky that she's lucky her aunt (me) understands English cause she kept babbling away in English.
Kamila kept on saying how that bothers her and how she's not used to it, that her kids speak in English only. Although, they understand everything in Polish, but I told her it's completely natural, being a case and point example myself. You grow up, surrounded by English, except for your parents. It's so much easier to speak English. The phrases are easier as well. Example: Orange. Two syllables. In Polish it's five.
It was super cute whenever she would put in random Polish words in her sentences though. So she's picking some stuff up, as was Colin. Ah, and Kamila visited Agata this morning, and she told me that Tymek kept saying my name. Oh goodness, I think I died. Just, perspective. He is now... 21 months old, right? I spent one day with him, truly just with him. Three weeks later. He's picked up my name and keeps on saying my name, pointing out where they came to the bus stop to pick me up, and when Kamila came, he kept calling her Nell, cause I guess he thought I was coming. Do you know how absolutely special I feel by that? Three weeks is a long time for a kid his age, and for him to pick up my name and constantly say it... Oh goodness. This evening, when Agata called, she told ciocia the same thing, and then when they hung up, he apparently kept on saying, "Babo, Nell, Babo Nell," Babo being babcia, so Agata had to call back so that he could give a pleasant example of a dog barking, "how wow." Essentially, I really hope I get to see him before I go off to Krakow...
Ah what else... Yes yes, we spent a lot of time playing outside. Ah! I was super impressed by Chloe. She got really close to a pile of bricks and started sort of poking at them, and I immediately said, in Polish, of course, "No, get away from there so you don't get hurt." Her? "Ok!" And she walked away. I was shocked. And that's how it was all day. She listens incredibly well. I've gotten used to having to try and gently coax kids away from something, saying you'll cry or so and so will cry, or the plants will cry, you know, but the minute I asked her something, she stopped. Of course, she's three, turning four in January, so there is that, but still. Even with Hania I've had problems trying to say, come on, listen to me.
Eventually, Dorota and Grzesiek came with their kids. Haha, oh at that point, it was a riot. Three kids, all playing together, but they kept each other busy. Of course, we had to keep an eye on them from time to time, but we managed to sit around and enjoy dinner and some discussion. A lot of questions were of course aimed at Kamila and comparisons of America and Poland. Surprised, anyone? I mean, Kamila grew up in Poland, so she has a far different perspective from me, but I of course tried to help in the explanations of the differences.
Hmm, I'll continue this post in the morning. And I say that so that when I start saying, "Yesterday," it's not too confusing. Yay for transitions!
Did not want to wake up. At all. But needed to to get ready for today, but right now, I'll continue with yesterday! Haha. So lunch was delicious, no surprise there. (: We all sat and tried to eat as much as possible, talked about the differences in America. Such as how in America, there are often places that just leave out things in the open and use an honor code for people to return things and not steal them. Meanwhile, they kept joking in Poland, it would be a matter of how many things they can steal a day. So we talked about how there's a different moral upbringing really. Poland, how to profit, and in America, honesty. Also, how everyone in Poland ALWAYS complains. Meanwhile, in America, if you ask, How are you? The worst you can say is: It's a Monday, but you usually say "I'm ok." In Poland, though, people start saying how they don't have enough money and want this and that, and it's all brutal honesty. Definitely a difference in cultures there, which I always find interesting to discuss.
While we were inside with the kids, poor Krzysiu, four months old, was trying to fall asleep. Kids screaming and playing, we separated them into two rooms. I went to the room with the three kids to help them out, Chloe climbed on my back a bit to play around, and I helped Martyna jump down from the table. She'd crawl up and I'd just hold her down. It was cute. xD I felt bad, cause... it's a table, but... I much rather give her some guidance than let her jump down and fall on her own. And as she doesn't listen to most people, it's a far better choice. Then Lutek started "sliding" Chloe and Colin in between his legs. Like he'd grab them by their hands and then throw them under while their feet slid across the floor. In order to help him from not having two of them go at him, because Chloe is still trying to learn the concept of "Sharing is caring." Which, btw, was adorable when her mom asked her in Polish what she has learned about sharing, and she responded with that. xD But yes, I did the same thing with Chloe. Eventually, though, the good times ended, Chloe and Colin were getting super rambuncious, so Kamila and Wujek Lutek left with them. They kept waving and saying bye as they drove away. Super cute. Grzesiek and Dorota stayed for a bit longer. Martyna was exhausted, and you could tell by her continued focus on one thing and only one thing.
Basically, it was a great day, and I love kids, and I really can't wait when I have my own family. Though, it makes me go, Dangit, I'm out of the loop again. My kids will be babies while their kids will have all sorts of fun together, growing up. But, it's a good experience, having those older cousins looking out for you. (:
After they left, I had to Skype meetings. ASB interview, and Inside Dores Blogger Orientation. Let me tell you, I normally don't get nervous for interviews, but my stomach was giving trouble for the interview. I'm pretty sure it's because of the new "this is over Skype" method and how I knew there would be three people there, which makes it sometimes difficult to Skype at such a distance, which I knew they'd have to put the computer far back. But, I got through it, and for my sake, I'm telling people I likely didn't get site leader position. Just for my own hopes and dreams, haha. Inside Dores Orientation was just a presentation, so I listened to them explain the entire powerpoint, which... I could've done via reading. Ah well, it was a presentation, so what else could I expect? I just nommed away on my dinner, before going to join my uncle and aunt after the orientation ended. I talked with my parents on Skype then, and that's when my aunt told me how incredibly similar I am to babcia, from my dad's side. Like, little things too. Such as the way I smile, the way I move my hands... It's pretty cool, actually.
Skyping was fun, but then we just sat back and talked a bit. My aunt and I talked a lot about my grandmothers, and I was told a lot of little family stories. It was a good, albeit a bit depressing topic for me. I don't remember too much about them, cause of how young I was when they passed away. But it was nice hearing about them. Heh, both of them were very stubborn people, and so are my parents, as are most Poles. It's in the blood, I'm telling you. We are stubborn. Ah yes, we also talked about how conservative a lot of Poland is, although, it's improving. Such as, most kids are told babies come from the stork, and not from pregnant women, and so whenever a child knows the truth, elderly, more conservative people are shocked. How dare they! Also, my uncle told me how a few years back, they tried to introduce a family sort of program in Polish schools; basically sex education. It wasn't successful because of the highly religious, conservative mothers that are still around. Better yet? Religion is taught in school. You take classes about Catholicism until high school, and then you choose between religion and ethics, I guess, yet 90% usually take religion still. Major difference right there, no? Of course, if you aren't Catholic, you can sign off on a form to allow your child to have a free block, but still. Very different from America, that's for sure.
Of course, that doesn't surprise me too much, because I know how religious this country is. But such comparisons are always insightful, and fun. As of now, though, I think that's all the main high lights from yesterday... Just a fun, very family-oriented sort of day. My aunt said I was very helpful in helping out with the kids, which made me feel great. I love it; I really do. I sort of want to start making a funds account to set aside money for traveling to Poland at least once a year, so that way I can see my family as often as possible. Perhaps even more often if that's possible, but that's me being hopeful and in an oblivious, optimistic bliss.
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