Elena's experience in Poland

Good morning, dear readers! My name is Elena, I’m 22 years old and I come from a small town near Bologna, Italy. Today I want to share my experience of five months as an ESC volunteer here in Rybnik, Poland.

I worked at the Młodzieżowy Dom Kultury (Youth Cultural Center), and it was an exciting experience. Here, I started teaching Italian and English to Polish children, teenagers, and adults. During the summer holidays, I also ran a summer camp, where I discovered my perseverance and courage. It might seem easy, but it wasn’t. I had some experience working with children when I was younger, but only for a few days. At the youth center, I realized that I could manage them—they are fun and helpful, even if I didn’t speak their language. My colleagues were also very kind, teaching me many words and traditions about Poland, and suggesting typical places, foods, and drinks to try.

I fell in love with this place thanks to the many free courses offered, such as theater and music classes. In Italy, these activities usually cost a lot. Here, the goal is to teach something new to children and teenagers. I think if something similar existed in my hometown, I would have attended all of these courses!

During these five months, I also had the opportunity to learn more about myself and others. For example, I participated in two meetings with other volunteers from different countries, where we discussed various topics and cultures. It was truly interesting. Regarding Poland and its people, there are many things to say. I had the chance to visit several cities, from major ones like Krakow and Warsaw to smaller towns like Cieszyn and Wisla. I noticed many differences between them and fell in love with the smaller towns, each with its own unique story. I also discovered wonderful museums, like the Ethnographic Museum in Torun.

As for the local community, I can say that people can be strange. Sometimes they are rude, narrow-minded, and disorganized. But there are exceptions, like my colleagues. A big challenge for me was the language barrier. Many people here do not speak English, and if you try to communicate without Polish, they get frustrated. Another difficulty was encountering drunk people on buses and around my neighborhood at all hours.

Overall, if I had to rate this adventure, I would give it a 7/10. My workplace and housemates were incredible. Poland is not a bad country, especially if you are looking for a quiet place, but my apartment and some areas of the city were not ideal for me.

In conclusion, these crazy five months in Poland gave me a new perspective and helped me understand important things about my future interests and lifestyle. I also discovered new skills and passions, such as cooking, working with children, and teaching others about my culture and country. I leave this country with a fondness for it. I want to come back someday (perhaps for vacation) and I hope that people become more open to foreigners, that there will be fewer drunk or dangerous individuals, and that things will be better organized. Thank you so much, Rybnik—it has become my fourth home, and I will never forget it.