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Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Poland currently suffers low GDP growth and high unemployment. Solidarity suffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. To be updated

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By Team2Build
August 20th 2009
Hitting Our Stride! Europe » Poland » Silesian » Gliwice
Tuck & Cherry!
Tuck & Cherry!
We don't care what you call us! Just call us and join our team!
Thursday brought another sunny and awesome work day. Our team has developed into cohesive subgroups that have learned to function more smoothly. Laughter is heard frequently, and our production is among the highest of any of the teams volunteering in Gliwice. Our interaction with the families is energizing as we daily work side by side to help them build their new flats. The cultural experience that comes with this kind of trip adds a new level of appreciation for the many blessings we have in our own homes. We continue to be motivated to do the best we can, as quickly [View Full Entry]

Team2Build - Thrivent Builds Worldwide Team in Poland | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
324 Words | 4 Comment(s) | 38 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 21st 2009 | 159 Views | [diary=430008]

Lissa & Joy
Ola, Chuck, Wiesia & Monika
Michal Translates Newspaper Article

Thursday August 20th Another day,another border............Poland The heat wave continues and it is predicted to be over 30C today so we are pleased that the drive today as we head further east shouldn’t take too long.Our destination is just across the border in Poland although we do have to drive across a fair amount of the Chzech Republic to get there.Google Maps have given us several options avoiding toll roads of course and we have selected the shortest in both distance and time not really knowing what there might be to see on the way. First call though is at Kaufland [View Full Entry]

Whiskers - Grahame and Gretchen Benvie | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1632 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 6 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 23rd 2009 | 59 Views | [diary=430365]

Lake at drinks break still just in Czech Rebublic
Delightful town of Polanica-Zdroj
Polancia-Zdroj gardens

male person
male person
with beard
Mazurski, Wedland Biosphere, nighttime. I return from my 20 km. hike through the Masurian Lake District late afternoon, dead tired and hungry like a grizzly after a severe cold and long winter of hibernation. Typical camping life sounds greet me while I struggle to my tent, bend on the bottle of Chilean Red Wine - a luxury I couldn't really affort but surely deserve after my long day alone hiking purposefully through dark green forests. There is something really magical about trees, let alone a forest full of them and ancient at that - I love to spend my nights under [View Full Entry]

heraclio - Hans Klausmann | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
404 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 3 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 19th 2009 | 24 Views | [diary=429511]

Enfield
same bike

By Team2Build
August 19th 2009
Hump Day! Europe » Poland » Silesian » Gliwice
It is amazing that we are already half way through the week. In addition to our assignments on the jobsite, we have experienced a lot of the culture of Gliwice. As we bus to the jobsite, we see locals going to work, potential drivers practicing at the local driving school, and students enjoying their last days as summer break comes to a close. We have mixed and hauled, spread and smoothed, laid and leveled, measured and cut, sanded and fitted, and even came up with all kinds of other tasks to get our jobs done today. It's more of the same, [View Full Entry]

Team2Build - Thrivent Builds Worldwide Team in Poland | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
275 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 33 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 20th 2009 | 163 Views | [diary=429786]

Hotel Sezam
Chuck Presents to Damian
Mixer Works Great!

By Team2Build
August 18th 2009
Day 2 on Building 8 Europe » Poland » Silesian » Gliwice
Today went smoother as we began to gel in smaller team groups and work on various tasks. We began to improve our efficiency as we learned from the local workers and Inspektor Damian, our site supervisor. Our 'wall team' made great progress and the 'cement team' poured a lot more today. The 'lunch team' purchased a real Polish spread from the local bakery, meat market and grocery store. Participating on the 'lunch team' means you experience shopping like the locals, going to various sklepy (shops) to purchase different items. With this additional 'fuel', we accomplished a lot more [View Full Entry]

Team2Build - Thrivent Builds Worldwide Team in Poland | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
125 Words | 3 Comment(s) | 30 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 20th 2009 | 151 Views | [diary=429765]

Working with the Families!
Hey Katherine!
Steve

Our team arrived bright and eager Monday morning to begin the work we traveled 5,000+ miles to do. After an important safety and security briefing, we met with the site supervisor, Damian, to receive our work assignments. This year's work will include pouring cement floors in each of the flats (apartments) and building the interior block walls according to the new owners' floorplans. We mixed cement, carried blocks, and distributed supplies for all 19 members to begin work. We worked side by side with several of the family members who were accruing their "sweat equity" hours required b [View Full Entry]

Team2Build - Thrivent Builds Worldwide Team in Poland | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
405 Words | 8 Comment(s) | 38 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 19th 2009 | 205 Views | [diary=429518]

Back in Gliwice Again!
Safety First!
Joy & Kathy

Lake Mikolajki
Lake Mikolajki
in North Poland
Mazurski Park, wedland biosphere, 19-07-2001. My breakfast in this buzy litte eatery is Russian and the name henceforth totally unpronouncable to me though it came highly prized by the cook. I am unsure how to tell him my true feelings about this, though no doubt highly nutricious meal considering the sheer amount of veggies and egg yolk, but still very bland Russian morning enhancer. Have to admit though that the ´Vodka On The Rocks' - as it is named on the biligual menu, Russian and Englsih but no Polish - included in the breakfast deal, does give my morning a serious [View Full Entry]

heraclio - Hans Klausmann | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
545 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 2 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 17th 2009 | 13 Views | [diary=428963]

my trip...

An early morning departure ensured that we would arrive on time for our tour reservation of Auschwitz Concentration Camp and Birkenau Death Camp in Oswiecim. Our guide, Kasia, provided us with a factual yet passionate tour of a very difficult place. As she related the history and many specifics surrounding the events and circumstances, we were all overwhelmed with the immense evil it represented. In spite of this painful experience, we witnessed butterflies flying freely that helped remind us that this kind of imprisonment and extermination must never happen again. We heard church bell [View Full Entry]

Team2Build - Thrivent Builds Worldwide Team in Poland | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
192 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 15 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 18th 2009 | 186 Views | [diary=429254]

Arbeit Macht Frei
Sentinel
Execution Wall Memorial

By Team2Build
August 16th 2009
Gliwice! Europe » Poland » Silesian » Gliwice
After a sobering start to this Sunday, we arrived in Gliwice and checked into Hotel Sezam. A few minutes later, we met a few of the families for whom we would be building. We split into smaller groups and were entertained with a delicious afternoon meal in their current homes. Upon our return, we shared our experiences and observations during our evening team meeting. Without exception, we each experienced a very warm reception and appreciation for our being here. You can communicate without words (hand gestures, charades, facial expressions and drawings). We used them all. [View Full Entry]

Team2Build - Thrivent Builds Worldwide Team in Poland | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
487 Words | 6 Comment(s) | 2 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 18th 2009 | 198 Views | [diary=429267]

Rynek (Market Square)

wild swans
wild swans
they are witnesses to my ultimate decision
Camping Vagabundo, 18-07-2001, late afternoon. Smack in the middle of the Great Masurian Lake District is the little tourist town of Mikolajki and though the setting is scenic with the little town perched on a little narrow, red-roofed houses scream at me from across the narrow straight, the small strip of waterway between me and the high-speed life of a buzy town in the high tourist summer...even from my vantage point I can clearly discern the hunderts of yachts filling up the small waterfront... Three bridges no less could bring me back to civilisation after several days and nights of [View Full Entry]

heraclio - Hans Klausmann | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
357 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 3 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 15th 2009 | 20 Views | [diary=428449]

my trip...
male person