...and boy, are my arms tired.
Ba dum, ching.
Well are safe and reasonably sound back in the great state of Oklahoma. In the coming days there will be many more pictures of our adventures and I'm sure a few thousand words on the trip itself.
I requested that no one meet me at the airport last night as I didn't want my husband and two young children (ages 6 and 3) to be out that late meandering around a terminal. It was the perfect decision as I was met with a lovely surprise when I got home. They had made a welcome home sign for the front door and then had hung streamers from the ceiling with messages attached that were related to the trip. One of my favorites said, "Czech us out!" Then there was a big bouquet of roses and a shiny bundle of mylar balloons floating in the living room. A sweet, sweet homecoming.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Goodbye Ukraine. Oklahoma, Here We Come!
We will be home in 31 hours and I finally have time and the internet access to catch you up on our Rotary meetings and events. I know some of these events have been touched on but I would like to review with the photos I have. Megan's camera was used for many of the meetings and I will upload in the next few hours.
We visited the Heart Sanatorium in Naleczow with our Rotarian hosts last week and are posed in front of a tree that they planted on the grounds after 9/11. The Poles plant trees in honor of major events, births of children and grandchildren, and in this case, their unity with America following those heart-wrenching events.
Our District Conference held in L'viv, Ukraine this weekend went exceedingly well, I think. The auditorium was unbelievably gorgeous and the perfect stage for our rendition of "Oklahoma" -which we sang following our presentation in Polish (with Ukrainian and English translations!). The District Governor, Andriy Bahanych, even wore our gift of the Indian headress while we sang!
We fell off the end of Poland...
...and landed in Ukraine. We're back in Poland for the last 21 hours of our trip and then we get to go home. Speaking for myself... I'm ready.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Paul Harris Music School for disabled children
After the recital and interview, we paused for a photo at the piano. The only thing wrong with this picture is that I dared look at the camera while everyone else looked serenely away! Regardless of that, we still make a beautiful team.
Kazimierz Dolny
Relaxation, Pivo, Lody & a 70's jump! Check out the lody (icecream) in the air! NICE JUMP, Megan!
What you can't see.
Completely independantly, Sheri and I seem to be sharing thoughts on Poland these days.
I have looked back over my journal entries and each time I have written something about the beautiful Polish spirit. The best word I can come up with is... Joy. And frankly, its a joy to see it!
Today, we visited 2 universities in Lublin.. Catholic University of Lublin and the University of Marie Curie, then we walked to Old Town and we were blessed with a musical concert from the Paul Harris Musical School for disabled children. They had true excitement and joy to be playing music, and to be sharing it with us, and we were so very happy to be apart of that experience.
Following the concert, we had an interview with a journalist from a local publication, and we heard the same question we've heard everywhere, "What do you love most about Poland?"
As Sheri noted, it was difficult to answer in the beginning as we had no experience to pull from. Now, however, my answer remains constant. The thing I love MOST about Poland are her people. I can read about history in books and libraries. I can even find books with amazing photos of her castles, museums, palaces, cathedrals, monuments, memorials, artworks, and landscape. What I cannot read in a book is the spirit of her people. I cannot sit down and have a cup of coffee, tea or beer, vodka or wine and talk to people in a book. I could know Poland, but I would never know her people if I did not come here.
Being a woman who loves history, I learned something of the spirit of Poland based on history, but I knew nothing of her people. And be real for a moment, a country is not a country without people; its just a piece of land... In my opinion, Poland's people give Poland it's greatest asset.
I have looked back over my journal entries and each time I have written something about the beautiful Polish spirit. The best word I can come up with is... Joy. And frankly, its a joy to see it!
Today, we visited 2 universities in Lublin.. Catholic University of Lublin and the University of Marie Curie, then we walked to Old Town and we were blessed with a musical concert from the Paul Harris Musical School for disabled children. They had true excitement and joy to be playing music, and to be sharing it with us, and we were so very happy to be apart of that experience.
Following the concert, we had an interview with a journalist from a local publication, and we heard the same question we've heard everywhere, "What do you love most about Poland?"
As Sheri noted, it was difficult to answer in the beginning as we had no experience to pull from. Now, however, my answer remains constant. The thing I love MOST about Poland are her people. I can read about history in books and libraries. I can even find books with amazing photos of her castles, museums, palaces, cathedrals, monuments, memorials, artworks, and landscape. What I cannot read in a book is the spirit of her people. I cannot sit down and have a cup of coffee, tea or beer, vodka or wine and talk to people in a book. I could know Poland, but I would never know her people if I did not come here.
Being a woman who loves history, I learned something of the spirit of Poland based on history, but I knew nothing of her people. And be real for a moment, a country is not a country without people; its just a piece of land... In my opinion, Poland's people give Poland it's greatest asset.
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