Reflections

I've been home for a couple weeks now and it's given me a chance to reflect on the trip. I am so glad I went, I had some doubts a few times (not knowing anyone, the cost, the long flight, the language barrier etc) but I am so glad I did not fall for any of those. Even though it was rough at times I grew so much and learnt so much about myself and those around me.

Things I discovered:

I love traveling and I love seeing and discovering new places, new cultures, new history, new languages and new food.

It doesn't matter what I'm doing but God has graced me with an uncanny ability to hurt myself no matter what but things always work out for the best.

I may not be capable of doing everything but I am confident that what I can do makes a big difference and is appreciated.

I am meant to serve. I find joy and hope in helping others.

I enjoy meeting new people; getting to know them and working beside them.

You can grow through an experience of meeting amazing new people, becoming close and then having to part after 2 weeks. It is the sadness of parting that matters, it's the time you spent together and the tears and joys you've shared.

I shouldn't never complain about my life. And even though I get down about how things work out or don't work out, I have absolutely nothing to complain about.

If someone can have joy, hope and faith in the situations in which the are in, despite how depressing and sad that situation may be, I can have joy in doing the menial tasks of life that I sometimes grumble about.

After my visit to Auschwitz, I understand the important of studying history even more; what I have yet to understand is the strength the people who endured the Holocaust must have had and what I will never understand is how humans can terrorize others so badly.

Service and charity work are a very important part of living a meaningful and fulfilling life.

I will be doing this again, many times and I will support others in their own missions. Because it doesn't matter what part you play in such an endeavor you helped to make it happen and I hope that all of you who've helped me are able to feel a bit of the joy I have felt in making a difference in someone else's life! Thank you all for your support!

Please check to the left and Click on the Flickr Photostream to view my pictures from the build as well as from my touristy activities. Thank you once again!!

Back in Canada

My travelling day yesterday was long and exhausting. I left my hotel at 4am CEST and arrived in Saint John at 12am ADT (over 24 hours of time spend in airports and on planes!). I was very happy to sleep in my own bed last night and I plan on enjoying a nice hot bath this morning.

Everything went well though with the flights. I'm missing a bag but I saw it in Toronto so I know it's not far behind me. I am also aware that from now on when I book flights I'll pay more attention to lay overs cause 6 hours in Toronto was a bit much, especially when you're just too tired to sleep.

Anyways, I'm just going to sit back and relax today, show the Family some pictures and upload some for y'all to see as well as do some much needed laundry. Expect a nice little reflection on the whole trip in the next few days.

Friday August 7 - Krakow Poland

Today was a long but fun day!

We bit Taia goodbye early this morning and then Lesley and I headed out for a shopping trip. I found an amazing pair of shoes that needless to say again are pretty amazing. :) We wandered through the Krakow mall for hours, (it was huge!) on a quest for something for her boyfriend. We eventually found it, as well as something for my little bro.

Lesley was tired and needed to get ready for her flight home later in the afternoon, so I left her at the Hotel and headed to do my last bit of sightseeing: Wawel Hill. I wasn't really in the mood to go as I was tired and it was really hot but I knew if I didn't go I would regret it. I loved it! It was so beautiful! I didn't have a lot of time or money left so I wasn't able to see all of it but it was amazing nonetheless. The castle and Cathedral were beautiful: I got to see the tombs of the Polish royalty as well as how they would have lived in their state rooms.

Afterward, I wandered around for a bit, checking out stores I hadn't gone into yet and taking pictures of pretty things. I was also looking for a bakery that sold John Paul II's favorite cakes. I wasn't able to find one but I do have the recipe so I'm going to try making them myself someday soon! I was pretty tired by 6pm so I just grabbed a sandwich and headed back to the Hotel where I lounged around and watched some Polish television for a bit.

My flight leaves early in the morning, so I need to be up around 3am so now it's off to an early bed!

Thursday, August 6 - Krakow and Częstochowa Poland

This morning I was up early to go with Eve and Nancy to Częstochowa on our own little pilgramage to the Shrine of the Black Madonna. It was an amazing experience: there were so many people, all there for the same reason. It was a beautiful church and I was able to see the Black Madonna painting unveiled (despite throngs of people). We had a nice little train ride through the countryside there and black; altogether the day was very nice.

I returned to our hotel and then went to dinner with the remaining few girls, before doing a bit of souvenir shopping. I really love this city at night: it is very beautiful.

I cannot believe tomorrow is my last day here! Off to bed so I can have an early start and the full day to explore.

Wednesday August 6th - Krakow, Poland

Today was the beginning of my three lovely days in the beautiful city of Krakow. I got a chance to sleep in a bit this morning which was really nice. After enjoying a nice breakfast in the beautiful restaurant of our hotel we wandered down to the market area and shopped our hearts out for a bit. I had alot of fun picking up souvenirs for friends as well as a few for myself too of course.

We then enjoyed a nice lunch at a restaurant before returning to the hotel for a well needed nap. Before meeting some others of the group who have not left yet we wandered in and out of a few shops and grabbed a coffee and people watched for a bit.

I had my first Indian food this evening and really liked it. It was nice to try something new! We just finished a good Polish beer and now I am off to bed. I have the opportunity to go to Częstochowa tomorrow to see the Black Madonna. I am really looking forward to it.

Started saying goodbye to the rest of the group today. I was not nearly as bothered by it this time though. I think I have realized that all good things must come to an end and that is what makes them so good. These friendships have been all good and they will end good and with the end will come the memory of this entire trip and the joys and the tears and the amazing learning experience this has been for me. I cannot wait to experience this again sometime soon!

Tuesday August 5 - R and R day

Today was our day of rest and relaxation. We packed up early in the morning to leave Gliwice and then travelled to the Wieliczka Salt mines. It was really amazing to see, especially the large underground church.

Afterwards we returned to Krakow and checked into our hotel. I was pretty emotional for the rest of the evening, after having to say goodbye to my new Polish (and American) friends. It is a hard thing to reconcile, making these new friendships in so short of time and then saying goodbye knowning it is unlikely you will ever see each other again.

We all went out together as a group for dinner at a very nice authentic Polish restaurant - the food was very good, as was the company. We said goodbye to a few group members last night but others are staying here in Krakow for a few more days so we will have the opportunity to still hang out.

Monday August 3 - Build Day 7

Today we spent finishing up some of the walls we have been working on all week. I wasn't able to do much as I had a bit of an incident this morning: I got something in my eye and after ignoring it and blinking alot for an hour or so I finally started washing it out. We tried for over an hour but I continued to be in more and more pain so we made a quick trip to an eye doctor. He was able to remove the piece that was in it and it feels much better now though quite irritated. I got to wear a patch for the day and have drops and things to put in it for a couple days. I was dissapointed that it happened but it wasn't that big of a deal. The doctor's didn't take too long and I got to see a Polish hospital (that makes a count of hospitals in two countries now haha).

It was really nice cause the woman who'd hosted us for dinner last night was a nurse so she tried to get it out for awhile and then came with me to the doctor. And even though we couldn't understand each other she was a comfort when the doctor was sticking things in my eye. Anyways, nothing seriosu but a no-fun end to the trip.

The group made a trip for pizza and to a silver mine this afternoon. I wasn't allowed to go though, instead I got a bit of rest and let my eye heal up some. This evening though, we went out to a local bar and sat and had a few drinks. It was a great time. We went out with Bobby, Sam and Michal and a few of us girls; we had many laughs and a really good time.

Today was our last day of building. I can't believe it's come to an end already. Time has passed much too quickly. I am so happy I made this trip though: I have made wonderful friends both Polish and Canadian and am very sad to have to say goodbye to them tomorrow. Tomorrow we are off to the Salt Mines and then to Krakow where I'll be spending the next 4 days before flying home on the morning of the 8th.

*The walls we finished in the upstairs flats!

Sunday August 2 - R&R Day

This morning we went to Auschwitz. I'm not sure I can properly put into words what the experience was like but it was a very emotional morning. I know about the Holocaust, I know the numbers of people killed, the methods and possible reasons for the actions of the Nazis; but seeing piles and piles of human hair, hairbrushes, shoes and clothing hit me in a way I did not expect. The experience is one I will not forget and I will forever be changed because of it. We had the opportunity to see the vastness of the Birkenau camp, as well as the conditions of life for prisoners. We stood where mass numbers of people were murdered and you couldn't help but cry for the cruelty these people endured.

I found I reacted very differently than the others after the tour. At first I was quiet, I just wanted to be left alone and feel sorry for myself and the world but soon after I was craving human contact, craving connection with others and feeling the need to reconcile my views of the world, my perception of life and the ability of people to act in the evilest of ways.

I found that reconciliation and that contact and the feeling of love and kindness in our visit to our family this evening. Our group was split up and I and two other girls (and our wonderful translator Sam) went to dinner with a family who will be moving into one of the flats in our building. They have 6 children (all born within a 9 year span): 5 girls and 1 boy. We didn't get much of a chance to see the boy (he's been working on the site alot though so we've met him before). We did however have a wonderful time with the girls. They ranged in age between 17-8 and they were such beautiful girls. Their mother (a nurse who works full time and is still on the build site most days) was talking about how hard money is and their living situation but we reassured her that she had done a wonderful job of raising her children as they were so beautiful. They all have a wonderful relationship with each other (I never saw them fight once) and they love and respect their mother emensely. One of the girls is in the process of having surgery to fix some hip problems so she uses crutches to walk but nonetheless was more than happy to accompany us on a walk around the neighborhood and a nearby park. Their father unfortunately appears to be an alcoholic and we didn't see much of him. Their home, despite it's size for 8 people and it's run down condition was so beautifully well kept and well decorated that their positive attitude for life was very obvious.

We brought the children small gifts (bubbles, markers, Canada stuff, skipping ropes etc) and they very much enjoyed them. In turn they gave us beautiful necklaces made of stones you can only find in the sea off the coast. We went to the park and played with the bubbles; I soon found myself skipping and playing tag with the children. I was exhausted and hot afterwards but reassured that good still exists in this world. I had daisies and little flowers coming at me all the time from the little girls and even some rocks. We threw berries at each other and laughed and smiled despite not knowning what each other was saying. We counted in English and then Polish each impressed at the other's unknown knowledge.

I have never felt the way I did this morning and this afternoon. I have never before really confronted the evil and the horror of the Holocaust and the suffering of the Jews, Russians, Polish and gypsy people in the prison camps. Taking a class and then seeing the piles of shoes belonging to now murdered people... hearing the stories of the massacre of children and then standing where those very children had been murdered... are very different things. I have never felt that level of sorrow, or that deepness of regret for someone else decisions in my life.

On the completely other end of the spectrum, I have never experienced what I did when we met the family. I've done this building thing a few times now and never before have I been so impacted by the lives of these people. We've never before had the chance to meet them as we did today. I know that what I'm doing here isn't for my own glory and that's its not to make myself feel good but I couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness and pride that someone was doing something about this situation. I was so inspired about the outlook that this family had about life and their new beginning in their new home. They've all been working so hard on the build site and are all so excited. They were so excited by the simplest of gifts we gave them and I felt emotions I can't even describe to see them gesturing for me to come skip with them or play with them.

Today, I experienced some of the highest emotions I ever have: the deepest of sorrow and the highest of joys and I am confident that I come out of today with a completely different outlook on life, and as a very changed person with an appreciation for the sanctity of life and the simple joys with which we're blessed.

*Us (Suzanne, Lesley, Sam and Melody and the Family: Mother and girls (Olga, Claudia, Agata, Natasha and Dominika)

Saturday, August 1 - Build Day 6

Today I got to do something different - staining big pieces of wood for the roof. Pretty sure I got more green stain on myself than I did on the wood and I'll be scrubbing it off for a while.

We had a little bbq this afternoon with the group and our construction workers buddies. It was a lot of fun and a chance to say goodbye to some of them who won't be around on Monday. We enjoyed hearing one of the homeowners in building 1 play his flute for us (he's a professional muscian in the Polish orchestra). We also had the opportunity to see one of the finished flats and what our walls would look like when they were done - very nice little flats!

We enjoyed some more jazz music this evening, it was good fun. We ended off our evening by watching the beginning of Shindler's list. We all started to fall asleep by the end of the first half so we called it a night.

Tomorrow we are visiting Aushwitz and spending the evening with a family who'll be moving into the building we are helping with.

*Picture of the group, plus Sam, Bobby, Adam, and a few other construction workers.

Friday, July 31 - Build Day 4

Another successful day of building. I was feeling much better today so I was able to get alot done and see the completion of some things I started on Wednesday and Thursday. Pretty much just more wall building. I feel bad though cause I'm pretty sure Bobby (our Georgia companion) spends most of his time inspecting my walls and fixing them than I do building them. Not sure if that's a sign that I can't build straight and level walls or that I just get stuck with already messed up walls. Regardless it's fun.

We also had the opportunity to visit the Gliwice Radio Tower which is apparently the beginning of World War II or so the story goes. It is also the world's largest wooden structure.

Last night was perogies and barszcz (beet soup also known as borscht) night. It was delicious. After a quick mall trip for another shirt (cause I didn't pack enough), I watched Sam (our new Polish friend who's volunteering on the site for his civil engineering practicum) and Bobbie and Michal (our host coordinator for Habitat) play some pin pong and basketball.

We later decided to go out to a free jazz festival that's going on in town this weekend. The concerts are each night and are taking place in the burned out ruins of an old German WW2 era theatre. It was a really good time; I also got to enjoy my first Polish beer which was quite tasty.

My language is starting to get a bit better that I can make my way around some stores and the job site. I've got my numbers 1-8 down (minus some stumbling through a few) and I can now order a beer or two!

Thursday, July 30th - Build Day 3

Today was a hot one! We continued building walls on the second floor. I found today hard as the heat and physical labour were certainly starting to get to me so I took alot of breaks but still had a good time.

Dinner was delicious as usual. This evening was our ping-pong tournament, I really let my polish partner down with my lack of skill though his was not much better. It was a good time though.

Short tonight as I'm exhausted and really need some rest. I will be sure to share some excitment (and stories of real polish perogies) tomorrow night!

*Me! Building a wall!

Wednesday, July 29th - Build Day 2

Another awesome day down. Tiring and hot day though. I'm certainly not used to working in this heat. Another odd meat and vegetable breakfast. Pretty much just lunch sandwiches for breakfast and then again for lunch. We build walls again today -I love it! Minus the doing it wrong alot, haha. We also did some awesome chain transportation of cinder blocks which can be fun (and it works the abs quite nicely).

Dinner was awesome once again. I was pretty worn out though and the heat was getting to me so I didn't enjoy it nearly as much but I got to hear some great stories from some of our group members. Afterwards a few of us wandered to the mall. Which was certainly not what I was expecting, much more modern, huge and fancy than I'd ever expected to find in Poland. We had a nice wander, some got some icecream and I just picked up a few things (chocolate milk- I'll let you know how that goes) at the grocery store. They don't have refrigerated milk...it's all in tetra cartons and not kept cold... really weird.

This evening we had a bit of ping pong playing. I am terrible at it. Absolutely terrible. Which should be interesting as we're supposed to be having a tournament tomorrow evening. Alot of fun though.

I'm really trying to learn the language here, I have discovered how much I love learning new languages. I'm driving the volunteer intern they've got here crazy with my requests for translations though since he's only been here two months there's only so much he can translate for me. Nonetheless I feel I'm getting somewhere. It's really interesting though: I can hear french in the language! We're teaching some of the kids we're working with some English, mainly: "This wall sucks!"

Tonight I'm trying for a later night's sleep cause I"ve been heading to bed around 9ish each evening (completely aware that that's 4pm at home) but then I"m awake and ready to go again at 3am. So we're trying 11 tonight to see if that works better; so off I go!

*Picture is of the walls we've been working on in the upstairs flats of the apartment complex. They're put together with mortar and cinder blocks and will then be plastered over later on.

Tuesday, July 28th - Build Day 1

Build day one is finished! It was a great day. We had all sorts of jobs on the go: I got to lay insulation (styrofoam so no worries) on the ground floor and then we even got a chance to start putting up the walls on the second floor. It's really neat to be working here cause the materials are very different (cinder blocks and mortar and plaster etc). The language barrier hasn't been much of a problem until now when you've got people telling you what to do and you can't understand what they are saying. We're learning to quicky holler for someone who can translate. It's funny that I've built builds in the states and come to Poland and still end up working with American southerners: there's a young guy here working with the Gliwice Affliate from Atlanta Georgia for a few months. He's quite nice and a help for translating though he often gets confused too.

Breakfast was tasty (though different - sliced meats and veggies!) and we made our own bagged "second breakfast" (or lunch as we know it). My team quickly learned I'm a bit clumsy when I cut myself at breakfast, tripped down some stairs and hit my head coming off our bus. I got alot of glances during this morning's safety talk and I think someone else hit their head this afternoon and claimed to have pulled a "Melody". Glad they're learning to mock me already, haha. I had no workplace mishaps however and don't plan on any either. I had a really good time though. It's really nice to not be in the leader position; it's a nice break.

This evening we wandered a bit after dinner (pork and delicious dumplings!). Picked up some more water and some snackfoods. We had the opportunity to go to a music thing at an old church but I was exhausted and figured I'd probably fall asleep so I'm back home now where I can rest up this evening: I think the jet lag, heat and building is already getting to me. (oh no, I know haha).

Things are going great already, we've been starting to plan a bit what we want to do when we arrive back in Krakow but there's so much I want to see and do and I'm realizing I will not get to see it all (Sorry Mom - no Shrine of Divine Mercy). Anyways, it's incredibly hot up here so I'm gonna scoot. :)

*Picture of the building we are working on; building 8 to house 12 families.

Monday, July 27 2009 9:00pm - Gliwice Poland!

We've arrived! The flights were relatively uneventful. I got stuck by the bathroom again and in a seat that didn't recline so I was grumpy when I got to Vienna but I was really relieved when my flight connection in Vienna went very smoothly (and I got my first passport stamp!). I (and my luggage!!)arrived in Krakow and met up with Lesley and Taia. I was tired but pretty darn excited to finally set foot on Polish soil. After an hour and a half in a hot packed van we arrived in Gliwice this afternoon around 2pm (9am in NB!) and got ourselves settled.

We're staying in a school that's empty for the summer. We've got cots in bedrooms, a gym and a basketball court as well as this wonderful computer lab that will allow me to keep this up to date while I'm here! I took a bit of nap as I was exhausted (discovered I didn't know how to work my travel alarm clock as I slept past our meeting time); it was a good refresher. We then had a bit of an orientation and some introduction to who we'll be working with. They have a guy from Georgia here for a few months so we got to chat about builds in the states and such.

Supper was absolutely amazing! I am so excited for the food here. We had a delicious soup and then something they call goulash (essentially just chicken and gravy poured over mashed potatoes) with a delicious pear/carrot mix and pickle beets. We finished with delicious plums for dessert (somehow they are just better in Poland!)

I'm really enjoying myself thus far: the country is beautiful and the people are nice. Our group is really great and we have a great mix of people; our leaders are also pretty awesome. I'm loving the signs, the architecture and the colorful toilet paper! Not so much a fan of the springy cot I'm about to sleep on or the bubbly funny tasting water but it's all part of the beginning of an amazing experience!

Can't wait to share more!!

*Picture is of the school where we are staying.

Sunday, July 26 2009 7:30 Poland Time - Toronto Airport

So I've arrived in Toronto, the flight from home was uneventful, minus the being seated by the washrooms. I've got until 10:30 Poland time for my next flight to Vienna. I've wandered a bit and now I'm just sitting here waiting for the other girls to meet up with me, who I've been chatting with for a few months now. I'm really excited to finally meet them. I found a nice little restaurant for my New Brunswick lunch/Polish supper. I'm hoping to be able to beat this jet lag as the five hour time difference is quite a hassle. As is my very short connection time in Vienna, here's hoping I (and my luggage) can make the connection!

Welcome to Poland!

Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived around the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Poland currently suffers low GDP growth and high unemployment. Solidarity suffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Capital City: Warsaw (+1 GMT)
Currency: Zloty
Major Languages: Polish
Primary Religions: Roman Catholic
Population: 38,500,696 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.045% (2008 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line: 17% (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.93 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.41 years
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Ethnic groups: Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)
Literacy: total population: 99.8%
Area: total: 312,679 sq km, land: 304,459 sq km, water: 8,220 sq km
Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Chief of State: President Lech Kaczynski
Head of Government: Prime Minister Donald Tusk