Day 1 (Sun, Aug 26): Uncovering our Roots, Strengthening Branches

Poland Aug 26, 2018

Not everyone is lucky enough to personally discover their motherland--the land where their families survived countless wars and occupations, while throughout all these trials, never once faltered in their strong Catholic faith.

I am so lucky.

A more prefect day to uncover one's roots couldn't have been had. With no unconscious sleep in 24 hours of travel under my belt, we landed in Warsaw at 8am on a Sunday. Our rooms were not ready. But, Mass was not far from beginning at the church literally across the street!

Think about it: your grandparents are so proud to be first-generation Americans that they didn't teach their children (including your mother) much of the mother tongue, even though they speak it because their parents don't know much English. The Polish I know won't get me very far--it's only food and body parts. And, after last night, we discovered we didn't even have some of those words right!

I get ahead of myself...

So, not knowing a lick of real Polish, we attended a full-length, regular Sunday Mass at a real, old, tiny Polish church. Did I mention it was in Polish? There were only a handful of words I could say in participation, as they were part of a Latin song! (They had a projector with words of some prayers and all songs on it.) Catholicism truly is "universal." I may not have known the language Mass was said in, but at no point was I ever confused about what was going on. Mass is the same on every continent, in every country.

Words cannot describe the feeling of hearing ones heritage... Add in the feeling of not being able to understand it. It was beautiful. Polish is beautiful. However, I felt like we stuck out like a sore thumb in that church. Then, at the sign of peace, I turned around to see a Indian couple right behind us. Kindred spirits! I think they, too, are American. They looked just as uncomfortable as I felt. Maybe I was just projecting. (We know others with our tour group arrived early, too.)

After Mass, our rooms were finally ready. We collapsed, but my brain was so active, I only got 2 hours of unconscious sleep before we were scheduled to meet some special people.

At 15:30 (3:30pm), we met some of our Polish family!!! (My mom should be posting a photo of us all.) They stated they weren't very good with speaking English, but I if they hadn't mentioned that, I would have thought they were fluent! Our conversation flowed beautifully, even though Google Translate (a godsend, by the way!) was referenced on occasion.

They took us to an incredible, old-world Polish restaurant with fantastic food. So many things were learned and discussed! Family history, family traits, cultural differences, snacks and alcohol we cannot miss out on trying while we are here. How to properly pronounce things in Polish (HAH! [That's impossible. It's an impossible language ;) ])

(My dinner: breaded and fried pork cutlet with potatoes and cooked cabbage)

After 100 years of being in the US, my particular branch of this family (my mom's) was able to hug Polish relatives! Note: we are by no means the first US branch to meet them. One of my aunts visited in 1980, during college. In fact, she arranged this meeting. This experience was something we will never be able to repay her for.

Mass in my motherland said in the mother tongue, meeting relatives, eating food my ancestors created. All of these things are priceless.

But, the sun has just begin to rise over this land, bringing with it a new day of discovery: our ancestral villages!

Onward we go! Stay tuned.