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| 26th May 2008 Linda | Nice to hear from you - From: Polish Culture pt. 2 (Reggae, Graffiti, and Mastering the Polish Look) I thought your trip must be coming to an end about now and was hoping we would hear from you again before you returned home. I love your shrewd and perceptive observations of Polish society and culture. As is your way, you throw yourself into experiencing the way of life of the country you are in including trying to speak the language. I can tell from what you write and how you sound that you have had a fun trip and I'm so glad. |
| 23rd May 2008 Nzie | re: Legacies of War - From: Legacies of War Thanks very much for your thoughtful post, Grzegorz. I am indeed aware of the many things you mentioned, but I often find myself writing for a long time and then realising I have to go before I can check that I have gotten everything. I have studied the history and know about the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact and its secret protocols dividing Poland and the Baltic states, as well as the Massacre at Katyn. I don't think Polish people are anti-Russian in particular (that is, that they hate every Russian) but there does seem to me to be a general dislike of Russia as a whole, with, I would say, some valid reasons. I am also aware of Memorial and have studied Soviet dissidents. You are also quite right to point out that many 'westerners' (including much of 'western Europe' as well as Americans) view all the Slavic countries, other Balkan countries, and the Baltics as automatically 'Eastern Europe' even though, for instance, the former Yugoslav countries are as far west as Greece is, and the Baltics as far west as Sweden and Finland. Poland is I think rightly called Central Europe. The whole East-West thing was always, in my opinion, more political than geographic, and did not fully recognise that there are differences among Slavic peoples. I know this also as I am of Slovene background-- if I try to explaint that it is Slavic, the response is usually, "So, you're Russian?" (or sometimes, "Oh, you're Polish?" or "Do you speak Slovakian?")-- when it is also a distinct place with its own language and culture. Thank you again for your very thoughtful and thought-provoking reply! best, ~Nadja |
| 23rd May 2008 Samantha | History - From: Legacies of War I don't know much about what happened in Warsaw during the uprising so this was very interesting. It is sad to think that they haven't completed the building for the Warsaw ghetto uprising though. |
| 22nd May 2008 Grzegorz hatowski | Polish-Russian-Jewish affairs - From: Legacies of War Dear Nadia, It is really great to see Your effort to understand and explain our not so easy-to-unerstand matters. 1.What about Russians? September 1st 1939 Poland was invaded from west by nazi Germany.Poland takes fight but 16 days later is invaded from east by Soviet Russia.Everybody knows Nazi "achievments" in Poland ,but what about Soviets? 60% of polish teritory was captured by them and all people in the area were recognised as enemies of Soviet State(find the word "kulak" in russian-english dictionary) and most of them were sent to east Siberia,mainly to GULAG.1.3-1.5 milions of them disappeared like a stone in the water.This was the holokaust nobody outside Poland knows about.Maybe You know about Katyn-the place of horrible massacre of about 20000 of Polish officers.They were the elite of our country.Lawyers,doctors,professors of the universities etc.etc.In communist times the word "Katyn" was forbidden to say, although everybody remembered the victims.And were "a little bit pissed". (Find Katyn in google) .And it is easy to guess that the families of these ones sent to Siberia were "a little bit pissed " either.A couple of years ago I discussed above matters with Russian guy.He said that "Uncle Joe" murdered much more their own citizens than Poles so our resentments are unjustified (this is common answer of Russian people when asked about Polish victims of Soviet State).My answer was: did You do something about it?Did You leave that horrible matter unsolved?Do You agree on that? He answered that nothing can be done.He was wrong.Find in google "Memorial".This is a group of Russian historians doing great job revealing the unknown and terryfing past.Now the fact from the history of my family:In 1952 the Soviet NKWD arrived to my grandma brother in law and took him to the jail and then to the GULAG in Siberia.The fact was witnessed by his small children who stopped their mental developement and then suffered psychological diesese.After the WW II we could only see from the window of our barrack how the free nations are growing.Lost freedom,lost people,lost future. Personally I don`t know anybody being anti-Russian.Commonly Russians are considered OK,very nice people, who suffered immensly in the near past ,but their State and governement is seen as something very strange and unfriendly for our country.You Americans call our region East Europe as it were something unified regarding culture and history.Wrong.We are east of the West and always were.That is the main source of our problems with Russia.They dont want to agree with that fact.As You see the matter of Polish -Russian affairs is not so simple.But i hope for progress ("Memorial"!) I strongly reccomend to read : a) Norman Davies "Warsaw Uprising" b) Lynne Olson & Stanley Cloud "A question of honor.The Kosciuszko squadron:Forgotten heroes of WW II" 2.Jews There are both bright and dark moments in our relationship.Very complicated to explain.Both sides are certainly not innocent in recent history. But the fact was, that Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was widely known in the world (very good),but nobody remembered about Home Army Uprising in Warsaw(not good at all). It was Norman Davies who told the world about the soldiers of Polish Home Army and their Uprising in Warsaw.And the world belived him. But not the Polish historians. Do You know that in Krakow every year takes place Jewish Culture Festival? Go there! It`s great! I think the future of Polish-Jewish relationship goes good direction.Read Szewah Weiss "Between Nations"(direct translating from polish-maybe wrong).He was One of Them Who Survived. I will read it too. Dear Nadia,I hope my explanations in simple English make the puzzles of our history more clear. Yours Grzegorz |
| 13th May 2008 Linda | Happy Birthday Sweetie - From: Legacies of War I'll be back later to read this post properly and take a good look at all the photos, but I just wanted to wish you a very Happy Birthday, sweetie. Have a great day! |
| 11th May 2008 henk | Interesting views ! - From: Reflections on Polish Culture Very interesting reading, Nadja . We have been looking to the worlds West of us most of the time, but this is very interesting reading indeed. Beautiful pictures ! |
| 10th May 2008 Linda | Hand Kissing - From: Reflections on Polish Culture Yes, I remember the delicious food, which after practically starving in Russia, we much appreciated. I remember the kindly and courteous people too. I was desperate to be introduced to a Polish man . . . any man . . . just so I could get my hand kissed:) |
| 10th May 2008 Samantha | Awsome - From: Reflections on Polish Culture Poland sounds like and awsome place to visit. I will have to go there someday. The food sounds absolutely delicious. |
| 10th May 2008 Samantha | Legends - From: Krakow, Pt. 2 I'm really enjoying the legends. I didn't know salt was found in mines and it could be used for sculptures. The salt chapel is amazing. |
| 9th May 2008 sophronia | hey world traveler!! - From: Warszawa good gravy, hard to believe you're traveling again!!! have a save trip, sweety!!!! and keep us posted on what you're up to!!! |
| 8th May 2008 Victoria | Beautiful! - From: Krakow, Pt. 2 Both the insides and the outsides of these buildings are amazing! I love all the intricate decorations. The salt chapel is incredible too - I never knew salt could be so beautiful. Do the mine workers still pray there? Do they have to do anything to keep it from being damaged by moisture? Anyway, I'm really enjoying the blog so far! Sounds like you're having a great time! :) |
| 8th May 2008 Victoria | Wow! - From: Reflections on Polish Culture Wow, Poland sounds like a wonderful place! I knew Katelyn loved it there, but she didn't go into all these details to explain why. Now I understand how it charmed her. If a place has great food and friendly, courteous, faithful people (who obviously possess a bunch of other qualities enabling them to be such good parents), what else really matters? (The gorgeous buildings are just a bonus. . . .) I really want to go to Poland now ;) I hope you'll add more to this entry - I can't wait to find out more about it! :) |
| 8th May 2008 Linda | Fabulous pics - From: Krakow, Pt. 2 Thanks a million for all the wonderful photos. I am loving them! |
| 8th May 2008 Linda | Messy! - From: Krakow, Pt. 1 LOL! How messy of the killers to scatter poor Stanislaw that way. At least we buried Beckett in one piece, albeit somewhat punctured:) Thank you for the interesting bits of history and the fascinating photos! |
| 3rd May 2008 nlindabrit | Lovely to hear from you! - From: Warszawa Thank you for the heads up, though I occasionally glance at your blog anyway in case you are off on one of your adventures again:) The pics of Warsaw are a lovely reminder of my own visit to that splendid city in 1973. You mentioned the Royal Palace. They were collecting money to rebuild it when I was there. There were huge glass coffers on the streets. I remember contributing some Zlotys. I would love to see it now it is complete. The Poles are a remarkable people. You will know that, having stood in the old square. It is hard to believe the Nazis razed it to the ground and the Poles have re-built it. Have fun, dear girl and taker good care of yourself. |
| 25th May 2006 Linda | Thanks for sharing - From: last day in Dakar-- Sunu Gall Bless you for sharing your Senegal adventure with me. It's been fun. Where are we going next year:) |
| 22nd May 2006 Linda | Good Luck - From: a little taste of America Good luck with the papers, sweetie! |
| 19th May 2006 Sasa | nadja the dancing champ - From: tell me, white girl, can you dance? I want to see some of this when you get home, woman. Native dancing of any variety is always interesting! |
| 19th May 2006 Sasa | oh nooo.... - From: plastic makes it possible Oh no, cockroach! Those things terrify me, and the ones here are usually just one or two centimeters long (and lo, the Sasa did use metrics!)...I'm glad you had a trusty person to help you out, hehe. |
| 17th May 2006 Linda | Happy Birthday for the 13th Champ! - From: tell me, white girl, can you dance? So, you are a native dancing champion now, huh? I'm glad your village adventure was so interesting, and you certainly do your best to absorb the culture, don't you? I hope you had a lovely birthday on the 13th, sweetie. We didn't post your birthday on the BV boards as you weren't able to get on-line on the day to see it. We'll post you a belated greeting now. |
| 13th May 2006 Linda | Ecopole - From: plastic makes it possible Ecopole sounds like an immensely practical idea, and I hope it goes from strength to strength, despite the sad demisae of it's originator. |
| 11th May 2006 Victoria | "Shoeful blow" - From: plastic makes it possible That epic was hilarious! I hope the fun of writing it made up for the parlous dolor of the occurrence itself. And ECOPOLE sounds like an awesome program. |
| 6th May 2006 Linda | lovely fabrics - From: AshElEm et al. The tailor-made clothes sound like terrific fun. It sounds as if the fabrics were a bargain too! Are they lovely colours? I'm glad your tum is settling down. I'm looking forward to your village adventures. |
| 4th May 2006 Linda | Goree - From: Gorée Island and avoiding lunch Well, you have taught Tom and I something which we ought to have known anyway. The city of Liverpool is just across the River Mersey from us, and in the 18th Century Liverpool's wealth was derived, at least in part, from the slave trade. Down near the waterfront is the place where the slave selling block was located and the busy road that runs across it is named after the block. It is called The Goree and now, thanks to you, we know why:) So sorry you've been feeling sick, sweetie, feel better soon. I shall report back to all your other cyber-aunts in the BV group, who love to hear of your adventures. |
| 4th May 2006 Linda | Haggling - From: sister, sister, come here; I have a special deal for you LOL!!! Nzie, Tom and I are helpless with laughter at your haggling techniques. Pretending to be a Russian student...well that is only half a fib I suppose after your adventures in St Petersburgh and Moscow. I hope you find some lovely things to remind you of this memorable trip. |
| 4th May 2006 Linda | LOL - From: tea, baobob juice, and eating with your hands Tom is turning green at the idea of eating out of a communal bowl...I fear you'll never make a traveller out of him, Nadja! |
| 28th April 2006 Johanna Holmes | Yes? I'm here! What's my deal? Is it a pretty pretty pony for a wink and a smile? - From: sister, sister, come here; I have a special deal for you Hope all is going well with you! I have one week of classes left. I am sick of college. Do you happen to know if there would be any way to do missionary work in somewhere down there? |
| 27th April 2006 Webmommy8 | - From: sister, sister, come here; I have a special deal for you It will take me a week to stop laughing! |
| 26th April 2006 Victoria | great blog! :) - From: moved in :) Hi Nadja! I'm enjoying reading about your adventures - Senegal sounds like a great place! It must make settling in much easier to have such a welcoming host family and community. The food sounds tasty. By the way, thanks for responding to my email, although I was a bit confused about what "obht" means. Or was that just the French keyboard acting up? Well, I look forward to reading more! Bonne nuit for now! :) |
| 22nd April 2006 Webmommy8 | learning to DISH - From: tea, baobob juice, and eating with your hands Hey Nadja! What a riot! Guess you're learning to DISH even more effectively! Sounds awesome! Mom |
| 22nd April 2006 Oly | waouw! - From: First Day in Dakar What a trip! Come and see my blog! Thanks! http://lesoliviersdeflorence.skynetblogs.be |
| 21st April 2006 Poppy | you said it right! - From: First Day in Dakar Bon soir == "good evening", you were right. I'm watching for more! XOXOXOX |
| 21st April 2006 Webmommy8 | blending in... - From: DC to Dakar yeah, nadja, blend in as much as possible. maybe a burka would help, one with built in gloves...LOL remember, you are a PINK person... |
| 11th July 2005 Madame Ovary/Lactofactory | - From: catching up... No where in this journal do I see any mention of your glorious, lactific sister, she who breastfeeds sublimely. Very sad. Very sad indeed. Especially since she calls you so much on the international phone line whenever she... er YOU... that's it! She calls whenever you are bored. I hope you're ashamed of yourself. Tsk tsk tsk... :-) |
| 10th July 2005 chicagoan27 | Thanks for the warm welcome - From: catching up... Hi--Wow 6 weeks really flys by. Do enjoy your last weeks there. Thanks for the phrases and can't wait to see the pics when you get back to the states. Have fun! Greg |
| 9th July 2005 alladean | so sweet... - From: Museum of Government History, a Night at the Kirov, and a Summer's Day in the Summer Garden and Palace what a lovely girl she is. Imagine she even looks sexy. Wooooow! "Another day in paradise" (for her and me). Smiling....! Nearly in-love, from Cologne, jue aka alladin |
| 4th July 2005 Greg | Great journal entries! - From: observations Hi my name is Greg and I live in Chicago. I somehow got to your blog through a Google link. Great stuff! I plan on visiting Ukraine, Turkey, and some other nearby countries next year. If I have any questions I hope you don't mind I email you. Enjoy your stay! |
| 25th June 2005 Di | Enjoying Your Journal - From: observations Hi Zee, I am reading your journal everyday and I love hearing about your adventures and about the people and their culture. I am learning alot. I am so glad you are having a wonderful time. Take care my friend! Di |
| 23rd June 2005 val | - From: Museum of Government History, a Night at the Kirov, and a Summer's Day in the Summer Garden and Palace sounds like zee is having fun. :) |
| 21st June 2005 Linda | Russian Lessons - From: Kunstkamera LOL I don't have time for lessons in Russian it is Wimbledon week! |
| 18th June 2005 Erin | - From: descent of the Baltic Just going back to read a post or two that I missed. Your trip sounds absolutely amazing, Zee! I hope it continues being a wonderfully fun and educational experience for you. :-) |
| 18th June 2005 Val | - From: a beautiful walk Are you going to post photographs too? :) |
| 18th June 2005 Val | privet - From: Menshikovskiy Dvorets Why does no one call blueberries purpleberries?? |
| 16th June 2005 Erin | - From: Menshikovskiy Dvorets Zee, reading your blog is so exciting! You're doing a fantastic job describing things...and it sounds like you're having a wonderful time. :-) Keep those entries coming! ((hugs)) |
| 16th June 2005 sophronia | glad you're enjoying your trip - From: Menshikovskiy Dvorets I'm very glad to hear that you're enjoying your trip. When you return, don't forget to post your pictures!! I hope you had someone take some pics of you in Russia!! We'd like to see those, too! Mary |
| 10th June 2005 anonymous | Glad to hear you've arrived safely! - From: in Cankt-Peterburg I'm glad that the jetlag from flying didn't seem to impair you too much. And I look forward to learning some fun Russian phrases just from reading your blog. I just won't know how to pronounce them! ;) - Katien |
| 10th June 2005 anonymous | - From: internyet and interda Heya Nzie-tay! This is Mush. I'm sorry I didn't catch you last night on AIM -- I saw your message, though. What's the apartment like? And what will you be doing all day? I'm assuming you get home mid-July; my sister will be in Lithuania (and might stop by St. Petersburg on the way, after London and Paris) in mid-August. Which means nothing because you wouldn't have found each other and you don't know her, but hey! ;) I'll miss you on AIM! I hope you have an awesome time. What an experience! I'm jealous. I'll be praying for you, talk to you later. - Courtney |
| 10th June 2005 anonymous | Sounds like you are BUSY - From: internyet and interda It sounds as if they are keeping you very busy with your studies. Take good care of yourself on the metro! I agree the city is very beautiful. what you say about the Great Patriotic War is very interesting. I think people have a tendency to forget how many Russians perished. their degree of suffering colours their view of the modern world. - Linda |
| 10th June 2005 anonymous | Nevsky Prospekt - From: in Cankt-Peterburg That's my Girl! She spells Prospekt correctly...well of course she does:) I'm glad you liked it, I fell in love with that street in 1973 when I made my visit to the city that was then called Leningrad. Are the metro stations in St Petersburg as grand as the Moscow ones? - Linda |
| 10th June 2005 anonymous | Wow! - From: leaving the states Oh, this is SO cool. I can follow your progress and keep up to date with what you are doing for the next six weeks! Doing a happy dance here, Nzie:) - Linda |