I now have proof, officially and unofficially, that our 16-month-old is bi-lingual. She can point to her nose, or ears, or eyes, or feet, when asked in Polish and when asked in English. She recognizes Grandma Milly and she knows who Babcia Alina is. And so on. Simply - she responds to two different languages.
I smile and wonder: what must she be thinking? My much older self has a notion of difference: there is this one, and there is that one. Cultures, nationalities, histories, languages. There is a reason and order to all. But for her? This is the way mama talks, this is the way daddy talks. Perhaps there is no need for reasons, and for notions of 'the other'. Just the way things are.
I hope that she can respond this way to all the 'different' things and people she encounters in her later life. That she will never be absolutely convinced something is simply what she thinks it is. The fact that a 'ball' is also 'piłka' and perhaps a hundred other things opens up one's perception of the world. Let it be - she's bi-lingual! Goodness, what fun we'll have!
One Polish Woman's Adventures in the American South. How does it feel to leave academic life in London and settle down in Decatur, Georgia?
Friday, October 19, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Return to homeland and right into the Euro madness
We landed in Warsaw on Friday morning. Immediately we found ourselves, with all our luggage including Zofia and all that accompanies a one year old on an intercontinental trip, in the middle of a joyous, colorful, slightly crazy and loud Euro championship madness. Mixed with traditional Polish hospitality, and Warsaw's constantly growing and increasingly glassy and sophisticated architecture, this was a sight to see and enjoy.
Our hotel stood just steps from the Warszawa Fan Zone, which was all one can expect and more. It surrounded the infamous Palace of Arts and Science (infamous in its majestic monstrosity), with banners, security gates, large screens and the overall feeling of something important taking place. It was like nothing I have ever seen, with something akin to a 24-hour party going on the entire time. I could only imagine what it was like when the Polish team played its matches, be it only a few, bless them. The organizers estimated that almost 1 million people visited the Fan Zone! Difficult to imagine a million people. We were there one day after a semifinal game, and the place seemed empty, all the fans no doubt sleeping off their previous night's exertions. Our hotel was also emptying, we were told by a very matter-of-fact receptionist. But we saw reporters from around 10 different countries, including Al Jazeera, and also Italian, German, and British television crews. A very proud Italian football official passed us in the hall, wearing his badge like a gold medal. That was before they lost to Espana 0:4, poor suckers.
Polish television, and in particular my favorite breakfast show 'Pytanie na Sniadanie' (cheeky word play which means literally - a question for breakfast) were full of excited reports of the goings-on over the past two weeks. Smiling faces painted white and red beamed from the screen accompanied by comments about what great time people were having. Someone mentioned that socker fans from around 110 countries visited Poland, cheering various national teams. How amazingly infantile, in the light of the crises looming all around, to get excited about a ball game.
Something else occurred to me while watching the show, however. It was very clear that, if only for those short two weeks, Poland lost this quite large chip it normally wears on its shoulder. There was no need to prove to anyone that we were a great, hospitable, exciting country - most people saw that for themselves. And even though most of us Poles were surprised to the most that we actually pulled this off with no significant glitches, pride is the word that comes to mind right now. I do hope that the chip is gone for good, but perhaps that would be too much to expect.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Tiny library in Decatur
Our little corner of the Earth has a new neighbor-friendly, cute and almost sophisticated addition. Just as well: after all Decatur itself falls, with grace, under exactly the same description.
As I was pushing Zofia's walking stroller along the slightly bumpy sidewalk, passing yet another bunch of heavenly smelling bushes, what did I see?
As I was pushing Zofia's walking stroller along the slightly bumpy sidewalk, passing yet another bunch of heavenly smelling bushes, what did I see?
Something of a tree-house-lookalike, a birds' nest and a doll house, it is most certainly the smallest library in the World. Inside? A seemingly random collection of books for big and small people. Not sure why I remember this, but hidden between the "Bridge of Sighs" and "Winny the Pooh", was Bill Clinton's autobiography. How comprehensively inappropriate... Just yesterday, on another afternoon walk, I saw an inconspicuous Decatur-mom-and-child duo on a bicycle with a kid trailer pull up and choose a book. The child looked less excited about the endeavor than the mother, but there they were, perusing this latest example of creative community-living.
Of course this scene, and the little library itself, made me reflect and brought my thoughts back to Europe. Could this happen there? I am no all-Europe expert of course, but I did see some of it. And I am skeptical. And I am not even talking about the undeniable and regrettable fact that in much of Poland, and much of London, and Oxford, and Paris, and Brussels, and Dijon, and lots of other places, the books, and probably also the cute library itself would soon be gone never to come back. Some clever person would think it a waste for these goodies not to reside in his own home. Community is one thing, but one's home is one's castle. The creative community living is something Decatur has tons of with more to spare, but as much as I love Europe, and Poland, I can't see it there.
Funny how I, in common with many fellow Europeans, used to repeat the well-known categorical statements about the American every-man-for-himself philosophy, and lack of appreciation for literature and other forms of higher culture. Travel broadens the mind, and humbles it too.
Oh, am I going to be using the library? Not any time soon. I have a pile of ten books next to my bed and on the sun-porch, waiting to be opened and appreciated. Babies are not conducive to reading, I found.
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