1st Month in Poland!!
My family made me a one month cake!
September 18, 2023: 1st month in Poland!!
My host family made a cake to celebrate the first month that I've lived in Poland! I was sitting on the hammock outside, just chilling and Kuba (my host brother) comes outside and says, "Margie, follow me!" and I'm like, "where?" And he doesn't understand, and then says "I don't know, just follow me!!!" and then we went inside and they were like: "we made you a cake for your first month in Poland and we're so happy that you're staying with us!!" This was such a warm and kind moment, and I am seriously so lucky to be able to live with such a wonderful and loving family for 10 months.
I have officially stayed one month in Poland!
Minutes before I boarded the plane in Denver…
Exactly 31 days ago, I said goodbye to everything and everyone I've ever known, getting on a plane to DC, filled with emotions of confusion, sadness, and complete awe of what the hell I just did to my life. Or maybe what life has done to me.
Leaving my parents looking like such a wreck at the boarding gate, to the point where the gate attendant asked if they were ok (once I was on the plane), is the hardest thing I have ever done and I seriously held on to my mom and dad until the very last second.
The most forced smiles you have ever seen… right before I forced myself to get on that plane.
That travel day was genuinely the most confusing day of my life, as I was on a plane for 16 hours, going from Colorado to DC, DC to Germany, and finally Germany to Poland. Along with the dramatic time change and the complete life alteration, that day was weird in the most beautiful way.
Looking back, I've realized just how much I've grown in these past 31 days from living outside my comfort zone on every level. I have become more observant, mature, resilient, and independent from this experience so far, and I honestly feel as though I am able to become the best version of myself that I can be while in Poland.
A lot has happened since that day 31 days ago, and I am so grateful that I made those hard decisions to come here, despite all of the obstacles I anticipated on facing and all of the unknowns that I could have never expected.
-Margaret