Could I ever love Poland more than my own country? No I couldn’t. This is my home, where good friends are, where I feel most comfortable and where my family are.
However, what I can say is that of all the countries where I have travelled for work or pleasure, Poland stands out for me as the best. When I first visited Poland over 25 years ago now, it was to accompany my Father on a trip to see old war time colleagues who had gone back to Poland but survived the terrible events of those times. I recall that it took over a year to get permission for the trip, mainly because I was at that time still serving in the military and my Father was too ill to travel on his own. Eventually we obtained permission and set off. Bear in mind that to most of us in the UK at that time Poland was the enemy. The Cold War was decidedly icy.
The way in which my Father was received and treated and the warmth, compassion and friendliness of the people we met in those few short days changed my perceptions of Poland. I saw a proud, resilient and genuine people. I also found out for the first time just how they could party. In short we had a magnificent time. My Father seemed to grow healthier by the second in front of my eyes. I still remember him now sitting in a corner with the men he had fought with, sharing thoughts and reminiscences that only friends who had been through what they had been through could. I came away knowing that before long Poland would once again be a free nation and that my enemies were actually my friends, something my Father already knew. My Father died a year or so later but his trip had meant so much to him. It was his closure.
Since then I have returned to Poland on many occasions. I have begun to appreciate more the culture, the history and the people of your country. The old qualities remain strong. The ‘can do’ attitude, the politeness, the importance of family and the strong work ethic are all still there. I am proud to have made some good friends there over the years.
So, in summary, Poland is great but it is not my home. I am biased from my own experiences, I know, but the ties between our nations are strong and were just briefly interrupted. There have been shameful incidents where the UK has not supported Poland, many of which are discussed on this Forum. You should be aware that some of these hurt people in this country as well.
Here endeth the lesson
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