When I was a teen, two Polish people came into my life. One was a former Olympic rower, who after competing went into coaching, and worked his way into the top of the Olympic training centre in Warsaw before seeking asylum for his anti communist leanings. The other was an Olympic cross country skier who knew the first one. I was blessed to have both as coaches as I worked hard to get better at my own skiing and other sports.
In recent years, I've grown to love the band XIII Století, which if I recall correctly is a goth band based in Warsaw, that I barely understand, but love listening to. Quite moving music, more so than many English goth bands.
Your words Ladonna, once again, very, very timely! My abuela (grandmother) would say: "vinieron como anillo al dedo"(they came as a ring onto a finger). Already contacted the local library asking for Sarah Aziza's memoir. Feeling deeply into "unraveling" as I work on pulling together a memoir manuscript. Noting this organism vibrated with the "ravel" in the word. Body began to hum the melodious Bolero, a dance of my native Cuba. Had to listen to it immediately (performed here by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (https://youtu.be/xTrTZp2YoxQ?si=C6XF6533ewgW86Wu). Feeling the joy of the music, and imagining walking the streets of Krakow in my next adventure. Como sempre, os meus mais profundos agradecimentos.
Well written. While living in Latvia we took a road trip down to Croatia in 2019. We spent 5-6 nights in Poland on our way there and back. Krakow, Poznan, Gdansk and the Masurian Lake District. It was a surprisingly beautiful country. I was really surprised as I had always pictured it as kind of a mid-west wheat field. I would like to go back someday to explore more.
Gosh, I know I have said this before in other ways...But I truly wish I had your talent for writing. But I have he next best thing, YOU! Great piece this month!!
Thank you for this wonderful essay. It’s a wonderful thing to have propaganda imposed by hegemonic cultures washed from one’s thoughts and replenished with the history and stories of a despised people who one may now give the respect they always deserved.
When I was a teen, two Polish people came into my life. One was a former Olympic rower, who after competing went into coaching, and worked his way into the top of the Olympic training centre in Warsaw before seeking asylum for his anti communist leanings. The other was an Olympic cross country skier who knew the first one. I was blessed to have both as coaches as I worked hard to get better at my own skiing and other sports.
In recent years, I've grown to love the band XIII Století, which if I recall correctly is a goth band based in Warsaw, that I barely understand, but love listening to. Quite moving music, more so than many English goth bands.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Your words Ladonna, once again, very, very timely! My abuela (grandmother) would say: "vinieron como anillo al dedo"(they came as a ring onto a finger). Already contacted the local library asking for Sarah Aziza's memoir. Feeling deeply into "unraveling" as I work on pulling together a memoir manuscript. Noting this organism vibrated with the "ravel" in the word. Body began to hum the melodious Bolero, a dance of my native Cuba. Had to listen to it immediately (performed here by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (https://youtu.be/xTrTZp2YoxQ?si=C6XF6533ewgW86Wu). Feeling the joy of the music, and imagining walking the streets of Krakow in my next adventure. Como sempre, os meus mais profundos agradecimentos.
Thanks, Ryū, for the voice of your abuela and the music of Ravel. I'm totally feeling those vibrations.
Well written. While living in Latvia we took a road trip down to Croatia in 2019. We spent 5-6 nights in Poland on our way there and back. Krakow, Poznan, Gdansk and the Masurian Lake District. It was a surprisingly beautiful country. I was really surprised as I had always pictured it as kind of a mid-west wheat field. I would like to go back someday to explore more.
Please may I unwind into curiosity about other humans for ever more! ❤️❤️
Gosh, I know I have said this before in other ways...But I truly wish I had your talent for writing. But I have he next best thing, YOU! Great piece this month!!
Thank you for this wonderful essay. It’s a wonderful thing to have propaganda imposed by hegemonic cultures washed from one’s thoughts and replenished with the history and stories of a despised people who one may now give the respect they always deserved.