The fourth stage

Childhood memories 1
I remember nothing of the first four years of my life, which I do not regret. They must have been even bleaker than the next year when I neared to five. Such kids little understand what is going on, but can unmistakeably sense the true atmosphere around them, which was not good because the 1950s was bad time. Adults in the family whispered to one another and exchanged worried looks.It made me feel insecure. Grandma, who told her grandchildren the most beautiful fairy tales while in charge of us, cried or said prayers when left alone.I watched her secretly and was scared. Mum told me, that she badly missed her beloved, oldest son, my uncle Joe, who still hadn't returned from the war. I was angry with that uncle Joe for not coming back and making grandma cry. Many years after the end of the war, people, who were kept in the soviet camps in Siberia, sometimes returned home. My family tried every possibility to learn of Joe's whereabouts, but all in vain. Slowly, they started losing hope, but the more they doubted, the more my grandma prayed.
 

Last edited:
Childhood memories 2
Uncle Joe turned up on a warm, April day. He was standing at the gate and looking at his mother, snoozing under a big apple tree. My siblings and me stopped plying hide and seek and were watching that strange, thin man in a shabby coat and shabby bag around his arm. The man eventually opened the gate and stepped into the garden. My sister hurriedly woke up grandma, who opened her eyes and was peering, as if through fog, at the approaching man. Suddenly, she got out of the chair, on her own, which she hardly ever managed to do those days due to arthritis.She was hobbling faster and faster towards the stranger until his arms closed around her frail body. We stood around them, watching the scene in confusion - we had seen the photo of uncle Joe and he did not look like that old man at all.
Uncle Joe was a student at the university in Krakow when the World War II began on the first Sept.1939. He enlisted and was staying with his troops close to the eastern border of the country(they gathered there for redeployment) when they were attacked and imprisoned by the Soviet army on the 17 September (Ribbentrop-Molotow Pact) Officers were sent Katyn, where they were murdered and soldiers to camps in Siberia. Uncle Joe spent 18 years in this unholy land.
 

mitchezz said:
Vedaarya, if you have the time I would love to read your thoughts of the changeover from Communism. Has your life changed for the better? History books are fine but I prefer personal experiences.
Click to expand...

The change of a career made the biggest difference in my life. Earlier I taught on a little scale, Russian was the second language and English teachers were not in demand - only some secondary schools taught English as a third language - now English is the second L. in all schools.
Political and economic freedom, democracy, no queues outside shops, which have variety of products and good job are the things that really matter for me.
Standard of living was much lower before the changes and in the 1980s there were shortages of almost everything - having to stand in a queue every day was such a waste of time.
 
Vedaarya said:
The change of a career made the biggest difference in my life. Earlier I taught on a little scale, Russian was the second language and English teachers were not in demand - only some secondary schools taught English as a third language - now English is the second L. in all schools.
Political and economic freedom, democracy, no queues outside shops, which have variety of products and good job are the things that really matter for me.
Standard of living was much lower before the changes and in the 1980s there were shortages of almost everything - having to stand in a queue every day was such a waste of time.
Click to expand...

My daily life did not change much after 1989. Before 1989 I lived in an appartment, used Polish make appliances (often very good and long-lived), drove Fiat 126, (which has caught Tom Hanks' attention recently). Now, I live in a house( not because of the changes), use mainly imported industrial goods ( many Polish firms were closed). The infrastructure has been improved thanks to EU funds and the whole country looks much better now.
 
Last edited:
Childhood memories 3
There was hardly any telephone in the vicinity then, but the news on Joe's return spread with lightning speed and, by the evening, the house was full of relatives and friends who wanted to welcome him. Joe was their hero that night. Nobody, but me, wanted to tell him off for showing up so late and letting grandma cry. Eventually, I mustered all my courage and went up to him, but before I managed to open my mouth, he grabbed me and lifted high in the air. I looked down into his dark, oldish face and said nothing.
Uncle Joe came home very ill, he suffered from tuberculosis and kept coughing all nights. Soon, he was taken to hospital where he was cured for six months.When he was released, I did not recognise him. He was still tall and thin, but his face was much younger and brighter. He was forty then. Soon after, he married a nurse who was looking after him in hospital and they lived happil till old age.
Uncle' s returning home changed a lot, grandma stopped crying, although whispering over children's heads did not cease. Much later I learnt that the political situation had been very tense, communist security service kept arresting people for their anti-communist and anti-soviet actions or attitude. Some were beaten to death, among them was my mother's cousin.
 
Childhood memories 4
The 1960s was not so harsh time as the previous decade.The best example of this are students' protests against soviet dominance which were suppressed without victims.
For me, they were school years, quite happy time, because I had a lot of friends who knew how to have fun. We spent time talking, exchanging opinions on books, playing sports, hiking in the mountains and, sometimes, sailing on the nearby lake with befriended owner of the "Omega" boat. Most of us were wearing second hand clothes, usually after our elder siblings or cousins,but we did not care at that time. At the end of the 1960s we became more fashion conscious and got crazy about colorful mini skirts and dresses, but we could wear them only after school. The late 1960s was also time of growing up problems and it was good to have somebody close to share them.
 
Through decades 1
The 1970's began with tragic brutality in suppressing the shipyard worker's strike, which cost over 80 lives.The workers protested against low wages and constant rises of food prices.To prevent further unrest and appease the situation, there were changes of the First Secretary. The shop shelves got full, even luxury products appeared there, so we had the chance to "taste the West". However, the new government indebted heavily the country and it took the next two decades to pay back the loan. But people, ignorant of this, were happy about the improved living conditions.
For me, it was time of the first adult life challanges, successes and also some failures. I studied, worked and enjoyed myself. I fell in love, started family and my first son was born. I feel those were the best years of my life. But why...I don't know myself, maybe it was the music..or love.
 
The life in the 1980s was very hard. To destroy Solidarity, the regime introduced martial law. Thousands of opposition activists were jailed without charges, over 100 were killed. Food products were rationed, people had to queue for hours to get their share. Those who had retired relatives, willing and able to queue in every weather for them, were better off. My parents helped me a lot in this matter. My parents-in law, who had a farm, gave us fresh vegetables, eggs and milk products for our children. Everybody tried something to survive. People who had gardens, grew vegetables, pigs or chicken in them. Churches collected food and clothes for the poor. Fortunately, in 1989, the regime failed in crushing the opposition and was forced to negotiations. The semi-free elections, which followed The Round Table Talks, began the time of big changes.
 
I'm finding this very interesting Vedaarya, thank you. I well remember following Solidarity on the news at the time. Some very brave people. I think the Pope visited and offered his support?
 
Mitchezz, your knowledge of my country's recent history is a nice surprise to me. It's quite unusual unless you are a historian.
You're right, Pope John Paul II visited his homeland in the 80s (1983, 1987) and his role in abolishing communism was crucial.His words "Do not be afraid", gave strength not only to the opposition, but also to ordinary people who were to suffer the hardship, but against the regime plans and wishes, never turned their backs on Solidarity. The real heroes of those times, for me, are unnamed people who suffered most and even sacrificed their life for the cause.
 
Vedaarya said:
Mitchezz, your knowledge of my country's recent history is a nice surprise to me. It's quite unusual unless you are a historian.
You're right, Pope John Paul II visited his homeland in the 80s (1983, 1987) and his role in abolishing communism was crucial.His words "Do not be afraid", gave strength not only to the opposition, but also to ordinary people who were to suffer the hardship, but against the regime plans and wishes, never turned their backs on Solidarity. The real heroes of those times, for me, are unnamed people who suffered most and even sacrificed their life for the cause.
Click to expand...

Well Vedaarya my major at Uni was History. I'm particularly interested in Oral History as it's becoming more and more obvious that media and official histories are not always reliable.
 
You' re right Mitchezz. Media often show things from one point of view, I see it reading articles on lack of democracy in Poland in some foreign newspapers. They shouldn't worry, though - the democracy in Poland is OK!. The only problem is the total opposition, which rouses all their allies to help get rid of democratically elected government, because they can't accept their own failure. The present government has greater support among people than three major opposition parties together and it speaks for itself.
 
Last edited:
Leonard Cohen is dead. This news has saddened me, and I' sure, not only me but also thousands of his fans who remember his concerts here in Poland in the 80's and his words from the stage "I support your struggle". His last visit to his father's land was in 2005 and I was lucky to get a ticket for the concert, which was unforgettable. R.I.P.
 
Through decades3
The transition in the 1990s was a very time - the raging hyperinflation, low wages and high unemployment, Some people got discouraged, but the majority suffered and hoped for better time, which gradually came. It was also interesting time, and for me, full of new challanges. I worked hard long hours as did my husband - our sons entered higher education schools and only after their graduating, getting jobs and settling down, could we slow down and realise our big dream - a little house with a garden on an inherited land in the suburbs. Life seemed in bright colours, alas, life is not a fairy tale. At the beginning of this decade, my husband lost his battle against cancer. I am alone now, but not lonely, he still lives through my children and grandchildren, and in the good energy that surrounds me, which gave me strength to recover and find new meaning in my new life.
 
Vedaarya said:
Childhood memories 2
Uncle Joe turned up on a warm, April day. He was standing at the gate and looking at his mother, snoozing under a big apple tree. My siblings and me stopped plying hide and seek and were watching that strange, thin man in a shabby coat and shabby bag around his arm. The man eventually opened the gate and stepped into the garden. My sister hurriedly woke up grandma, who opened her eyes and was peering, as if through fog, at the approaching man. Suddenly, she got out of the chair, on her own, which she hardly ever managed to do those days due to arthritis.She was hobbling faster and faster towards the stranger until his arms closed around her frail body. We stood around them, watching the scene in confusion - we had seen the photo of uncle Joe and he did not look like that old man at all.
Uncle Joe was a student at the university in Krakow when the World War II began on the first Sept.1939. He enlisted and was staying with his troops close to the eastern border of the country(they gathered there for redeployment) when they were attacked and imprisoned by the Soviet army on the 17 September (Ribbentrop-Molotow Pact) Officers were sent Katyn, where they were murdered and soldiers to camps in Siberia. Uncle Joe spent 18 years in this unholy land.
Click to expand...
Poor Uncle Joe-18 yrs. in that hell hole.
Our 16 year old neighbor, the baker's son, was dragged off and never heard from again! (N. Ge.)
 
Thank you for your sympathy, Susie. As a child, I happened, not once, to overhear horrifying stories of the survivors of gulag - but at least they survived, the overhelming majority did not.
 
miasto-bazylika-polska-krakow-krakow-stare_121-69513.jpg


Krakow has been the most frequently visited town by me since the birth of my second granddaughter.

St. Mary's Church (built: XIV, XV cent.) part of Cloth Hall (origins in XIII, rebuilt a few times, the present form since 1879)
 
Last edited:
39359DSC.JPG


Krakow The Wawel castle - The Vistula River view.
The thought that it's been here for nearly a thousand years( not quite in the present form) after so much turmoil of wars is comforting.
Krakow was the capital city from 1038 to 1795 and the Castle was the home to kings and also the centre of political and cultural life.
 
Last edited:
image_gallery

Yagiellonian University, founded by king Kazimierz III the Great in 1364, is one of the oldest universities in the world. (Rebuilt and renovated over time)

After getting his diploma, my elder son settled down in Krakow, and soon, his younger brother followed his footsteps. Now, my closest family lives there, and while visiting them, I always take the opportunity to visit my favourite places in this magical city.
 
kopiec_z_gory.jpg

(Modeled after Krakow's prehistoric Mounds,) Kościuszko Mound was erected by Krakowians between 1820-1823 in commemoration of the Polish (and also American) military hero Tadeusz Kościuszko.The mound also contains the soil from the battlefields where Kościuszko fought - from America's battlefields as well. It is 32m high 333m above sea level, and on sunny days you can enjoy great view not only of Krakow, but even of the Tatra Mountains as well from its top
Unfortunately, I've never had enough time to go up and see everything, but it's still on my list....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top