PTR

It’s the last day of teaching and….we got a day off! Ms Anna and Mr Marek wanted to take us to Kazimierz Dolny, a town on the side of Vistula River (Wisła in Polish). They said that this town has a lots of charm and historical atmosphere. There will be real zamek (Polish for castle). My mind floated to imagine the most beautiful castle ever with high roofs and big doors and wide  windows, just like in the movies. I’ve never been to a real castle before, who knows what I might seen?

After we arrived, the first thing that came into my mind is “Wow this is a really small town”. The cobbled street is narrow and leading to the famous old town. You can see tourist and souvenir shops everywhere. First stop! Ice cream! In summer, everyday you have to eat ice cream. Or you just want to hehe.

 A little bit information about this town. Kaziemerz Dolny is named after the formal founder of the town, Kazimierz II Sprawiedliwy (In English it’s Casimir II The Just? I’m not really sure about this “The Just”, I think it’s google translate gone wrong, more translations mention fair, and righteous). In 14^th century, King Kazimierz III Wielki (King Casimir III The Great) made this town a municipal character and built the castle. The slow collapse of the town came in the 17^th century related to historical events such as: the Swedish Deluge, and the Great Nothern War. This town had been in its ups and downs until after World War II, it gradually revive to become an art and tourist center. At the beginning of 20^th century, this town entered its “age of art” because there was an artist, Professor Tadeusz Pruszkowski, who brought his students and started to form colony in the town. Today, Kazimierz Dolny with its reconstructed architectural monuments is considered a true gem of architecture and an attractive tourist destinations. Feeling like you’re reading an advertising much? The night before we went for this trip, Mr Marek gave historical reading about this town for each of us. It’s like going on a school trip. Which is fun because I miss school trip. During our walk to the castle, Mr Marek always told us about the history of this castle, and we listened like obedient students. Turned out there is only the ruin of the castle, but that’s alright because they have a museum under the ruin and sight seeing spot on top of the museum, and I muttered “Whoa, cool” all the time.  We didn’t get to see everything on top of the hill, because it’s far so Mr. Marek and Ms. Anna afraid it will be too tiresome.

We headed to the tower where you have to take zillion stairs (but We’re strong, it was a piece of cake) and from the top you can see the Vistula River. And there’s a picture (or a craft?) of this river with an island in the middle of it. I don’t where it goes but the island is gone man. Mr Marek didn’t know where it goes either. You see I’m a sucker for history. I’ve always said I didn’t like history because I always got 4 out of 10 on my history exam in high school. I can’t get the years of events right, I mess up things that come from different centuries, list goes on. I’m not proud of this, but here, why is it suddenly fascinating? I think it’s because the way people tell their history, it’s like they own it. “It’s my country’s history and I have to know about it and I would love to share it with somebody else” –this is what they’d like when they shared their history to me. Ever hear the saying “A person’s attractiveness will gain when they’re doing something that they like”? It’s like that, they like to share their history, then what they tell us become much more interesting. Get it? No? Yes? Ok moving on.

After having a long walk, we wanted to eat lunch. “I’ve already browsed delicious food in this town!” Mr Marek said. I would say he can make a pretty good holiday planner. We got in to this restaurant with cute little garden filled with white wooden benches and tables. Mr Marek saw the menu book and said “Not here, this not what I’m searching for”. Sooo we’re heading to somewhere else, following wherever Mr. Marek footsteps go. We ended up in a quite area and went to this “beach vibe” restaurant (I forgot the name). We ordered tomato soup for appetizer and pierogi for main course. Pierogi is a Polish traditional dish, it’s like dumplings but more dry, and things stuffed inside can be a lot of types (chicken, meat, cheese, or vegetables). We were starving, and the food was……ok. “Ms Anna’s cooking is much better than this” hahaha I agree with you Mr!

We got home with a full tummy, new knowledge, and happy heart.

Bye Kazimierz Dolny!

Second Town! With an easy name! Haha Anna, her sister and Amelka drove us to Pionki. It’s not far, only about 45 minutes ride from Skaryszew. When we arrived, all I can think was how pretty this house is. It got a huge yard (front and back), blueberries & raspberries little garden, and this cute window with plants hanging. It didn’t take a long time for Anna and the house owner to mingle, they are outgoing people. This house is belong to Ms. Anna and Mr. Marek, who is spouse with 2 children, which both already has their own families, living in Malta and Australia. We took couple of pictures and our Skaryszew family said good bye to us.

Ms. Anna told us that “living here is temporary, because it’s a little far from school, but there’s a sports house near school that you can see”. Too late. From day one, we already fall for this house. They treated us like their own child. Ms. Anna kept saying “I’m sorry my English is bad” but she had been doing an awesome job until the end of the program! Mr. Marek most of the times couldn’t do a full sentence, but he always knew what we meant, or he knews the word we’re looking for. And the most important part, he’s funny! We decided to continue living with them afterwards.

Mrs. Anna and Mr. Marek (They were so excited showing us good foo

This school is different from before, because this is a Culture Center called “MOK” that provides a course for orphanage kids. It would be more challenging because there are older kids here. On first day of teaching, we thought it will be like in Skaryszew..just introduction. Turned out we were expected to do something. Shocked because we’re not prepared, thankfully I brought Indonesian flag with me. So we introduced ourselves, I showed them Indonesia flag, and introduce my self once again with Indonesian language. I asked them to repeat after me, but with their name, one by one. They’re quiet excited and asked another Indonesian language. Anna tought them to write Poland in Cantonese (or Mandarin?) and Asser tought them to speak Arabic. These kids are kinda hard at first, maybe because of their condition. But days went by and their starting to like us (I hope so), they listened to us more and corporated well. Every week we tried to bring something new with the teaching material. Because, boy, I wish I had prepared tons of stuff to teach them, but the naïve me only made 1 Indonesia introduction video. Yes. I know. On last day, I tought them Papua dance and their faces were so happy and energetic that they asked to dance once again.

First Day! Anna was showing Hongkong Flag

Through the teaching session, we had 2 wonderful translator. Kinga and Weronika. One day Ms. Anna just met them and asked “Can you guys speak English?” they answered “Umm.. yes?” then she said “Then can you help me?” Bam! They became our translator. What a unique backstory. They’re not only our translator, but they become our friends. They told us stories about this town. Pionki used to be known with its gunpowder and explosives factory, but after World War II,   the factory began manufacturing glue, plastic, and gramophone (vinyl) records. Nowadays most of those factory doesn’t work anymore, only the vynil factory still producing goods. It’s one of the reason there aren’t many job vacancies in Pionki. A lot of young people went to another town for studying or working. “There aren’t many activities for young people to do in here as well, so most of them left” Kinga said. Oh that’s why we didn’t see that many young adults here. They took us everywhere! On the first day we ate Zapiekanka (Polish open-sandwich), then we went to the lake. It was summer, but the weather was so chilly! On another day we went to Weronika’s house (It’s literally in the middle of forest which is awesome), we met her family and played GTA a lot. We went inside the forest to see the abandoned factory. Asser never been to a forest……haha maybe this is as weird as I said I never been to a desert for him. We walked through, and there is a big abandoned factory. It’s kinda creepy actually so I didn’t take many photos (with my camera, but I took a lot with my crappy phone camera). They already memorized the way to some buildings here, and there’s one with high stairs that we could take a look at the rooftop.

The Mayor

The famous Lake in Pionki

Asser was trying to beat The Wake Park (in one week he played like 3 times!)

That boat in the back saved me! Please pardon my face

The Vinyl Museum

World Youth Day Pre-event

Biggest eggplant I've ever seen

Mrs. Anna and the English Teacher, Mrs. Kasia

Moto Weekend

P.s: Our farewell gift for them :)