A volunteer in Gdańsk
I cannot believe a year has passed since I went to Poland, suitcases in hand, and a desire to plunge into the unknown. A year that passed so quickly and yet so slowly, a year of adventure, misadventures, creating bonds, encountering a pandemic but mostly a year of learning.
I want to share a bit of what I have learned and lived in this experience and about the country that welcomed me for this time.
1. Sweater Weather
Well … of course I should talk about the weather first !
On the first month of my arrival in Gdańsk, I was very thankful that my Mom had made me pack not one but several thermal sweaters.
I knew that Poland’s weather would be colder than Portugal, but experiencing it was something completely different and at first difficult.
However after some time I got used to the cold. I learned how to enjoy a cup ( or two) of hot coffee or Polish soup on these chilly days, how to dress myself for this weather and how to survive when the sunset is between 15:30/16:00 o’clock, which was super alien to me.
And I can say now that the days I remember more fondly are of the days I saw snow or when me and my roommates would go for coffee and a delicious warm apple pie to combat the cold.
2. Szczęście…
If you think happiness is hard to find, try pronouncing it in Polish…
When I arrived in Gdańsk I was thrilled that the association provided Polish classes. I have always enjoyed learning new languages so it was a new challenge for me to pursue, however I did not know at the time that it would be a very hard challenge indeed.
In the beginning the sounds, letters and clusters of consonants can be a bit intimidating even my districts name seemed like an alien language (Wrzeszcz) however as time passed I naturally recognized more and more words and the sound became familiar which encouraged me.
For those who are now volunteering in Poland, do not get demoralized if you don’t learn quickly it is better to go slow and learn little by little than not learning at all, and as you get to know the community and more Polish people the easier it will become. I advise listening to some music or watching a Polish movie/series.
Powodzenia!
3. Pierogi, Bigos, Żurek and Pączek
When I knew for sure I would be going to Gdańsk the first thing I researched was food. Friends and family know I love to eat and try new foods, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that Poland had very different dishes from Portugal.
In Winter there are hearty and heavy dishes that can keep you warm and full for the day. I specially enjoyed Polish soups in this time, there are many kinds warm, cold, heavy or light, sweet or salty but my favorites where Żurek and Ogórkowa wich have a very typical Polish flavor.
Of course one cannot talk about Poland and not mention the King of the table, the Pierogi. Volunteers usually gather to discuss what type of filling is the winner and there are many choices (spinach, cheese, meat and … strawberry ?) whoever Ruskie is the best, try and change my mind.
There were many other traditional dishes that I tried but one that I will never forget is Pączek, a type of doughnut filled with all types of sweet goodness, my Mother still to this day talks about the Pączeki she tried when she came to visit me, so I advise to try it specially the traditional one with rose jam filling and orange peel.
If you are lucky to stay for Fat Tuesday you will see people eating this sweets everywhere, as it is a day dedicated to Pączek !
If you think happiness is hard to find, try pronouncing it in Polish…
When I arrived in Gdańsk I was thrilled that the association provided Polish classes. I have always enjoyed learning new languages so it was a new challenge for me to pursue, however I did not know at the time that it would be a very hard challenge indeed.
In the beginning the sounds, letters and clusters of consonants can be a bit intimidating even my districts name seemed like an alien language (Wrzeszcz) however as time passed I naturally recognized more and more words and the sound became familiar which encouraged me.
For those who are now volunteering in Poland, do not get demoralized if you don’t learn quickly it is better to go slow and learn little by little than not learning at all, and as you get to know the community and more Polish people the easier it will become. I advise listening to some music or watching a Polish movie/series.
Powodzenia!
3. Pierogi, Bigos, Żurek and Pączek
When I knew for sure I would be going to Gdańsk the first thing I researched was food. Friends and family know I love to eat and try new foods, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that Poland had very different dishes from Portugal.
In Winter there are hearty and heavy dishes that can keep you warm and full for the day. I specially enjoyed Polish soups in this time, there are many kinds warm, cold, heavy or light, sweet or salty but my favorites where Żurek and Ogórkowa wich have a very typical Polish flavor.
Of course one cannot talk about Poland and not mention the King of the table, the Pierogi. Volunteers usually gather to discuss what type of filling is the winner and there are many choices (spinach, cheese, meat and … strawberry ?) whoever Ruskie is the best, try and change my mind.
There were many other traditional dishes that I tried but one that I will never forget is Pączek, a type of doughnut filled with all types of sweet goodness, my Mother still to this day talks about the Pączeki she tried when she came to visit me, so I advise to try it specially the traditional one with rose jam filling and orange peel.
If you are lucky to stay for Fat Tuesday you will see people eating this sweets everywhere, as it is a day dedicated to Pączek !
4. Volunteering in Gdańsk, the city of Solidarność
Gdańsk is often overlooked by bigger cities such as Warsaw, Krakow or Wroclaw whoever this is a city rich with history and beauty.
Before coming to Gdańsk I was not aware of its history , this was the home of many writers, poets and artists,it was here where WWII began and the Solidarność movement took place, it is both modern and old. I loved living and volunteering in this city.
It is not only the city that lives its past but also the people, there is a real sense of solidarity in Gdańsk and Poland that I have not seen in many places.
In my project with Stowarzyszenie Morena I was able to see how volunteering works, challenged myself by introducing to younger students my country and culture with presentations at schools, taught language classes for both youth and seniors, wrote articles and created workshops. I was able to do things I have never done before such as teaching, which I was terrified of doing in the beginning, however the more I saw the students commitment and joy of learning the more I liked doing it.
The process of learning how to teach, searching for books and exercises and preparing the classes became something I enjoyed and I learned a lot from it. I also have to thank my students for being always interested, which made every class a fun environment.
We also volunteered for Brave Kids which was a wonderful experience where we got to connect with children from various backgrounds and create a show with dancing, singing and theater. I will always remember this experience as I was able to talk with the kids and connect with them plus I learned even more Polish.
The experience of volunteering is completely different from what I was expecting, I knew it would be some hard times and good times as I was in a country where I did not know the language , culture or people but after a few months I adapted quickly, I got out of my comfort zone, met amazing people, travelled with other volunteers, helped my students, learned another culture and language and finally settled in.
So for those who are wanting to volunteer but are a bit afraid of the unknown I say : do it. Every experience is different but the truth is you will learn more abut yourself, others and it will be a memory that will stay for ever.
Gdańsk is often overlooked by bigger cities such as Warsaw, Krakow or Wroclaw whoever this is a city rich with history and beauty.
Before coming to Gdańsk I was not aware of its history , this was the home of many writers, poets and artists,it was here where WWII began and the Solidarność movement took place, it is both modern and old. I loved living and volunteering in this city.
It is not only the city that lives its past but also the people, there is a real sense of solidarity in Gdańsk and Poland that I have not seen in many places.
In my project with Stowarzyszenie Morena I was able to see how volunteering works, challenged myself by introducing to younger students my country and culture with presentations at schools, taught language classes for both youth and seniors, wrote articles and created workshops. I was able to do things I have never done before such as teaching, which I was terrified of doing in the beginning, however the more I saw the students commitment and joy of learning the more I liked doing it.
The process of learning how to teach, searching for books and exercises and preparing the classes became something I enjoyed and I learned a lot from it. I also have to thank my students for being always interested, which made every class a fun environment.
We also volunteered for Brave Kids which was a wonderful experience where we got to connect with children from various backgrounds and create a show with dancing, singing and theater. I will always remember this experience as I was able to talk with the kids and connect with them plus I learned even more Polish.
The experience of volunteering is completely different from what I was expecting, I knew it would be some hard times and good times as I was in a country where I did not know the language , culture or people but after a few months I adapted quickly, I got out of my comfort zone, met amazing people, travelled with other volunteers, helped my students, learned another culture and language and finally settled in.
So for those who are wanting to volunteer but are a bit afraid of the unknown I say : do it. Every experience is different but the truth is you will learn more abut yourself, others and it will be a memory that will stay for ever.