| A Trip Report from Poland By Waymon Meeks |
I want to convey my first in a series of vacation reports. I
am not going to tell you things that you can read in tour
books (go and research those things yourselves). I will
share some of the `special' things I encountered while
traveling. I just recently returned from spending two
weeks in Poland. I visited the cities of Krakow, Chorzow,
and Warsaw.
Auschwitz
While I was in Krakow, I took the opportunity to visit
Auschwitz (1.5 hours outside of Krakow).What I
experienced inside this concentration camp made this
one of the most special moments of the trip. I will
preface this by saying that Poland is made up of 96%
Poles so a large black man stumbling around really draws
attention.
am not going to tell you things that you can read in tour
books (go and research those things yourselves). I will
share some of the `special' things I encountered while
traveling. I just recently returned from spending two
weeks in Poland. I visited the cities of Krakow, Chorzow,
and Warsaw.
Auschwitz
While I was in Krakow, I took the opportunity to visit
Auschwitz (1.5 hours outside of Krakow).What I
experienced inside this concentration camp made this
one of the most special moments of the trip. I will
preface this by saying that Poland is made up of 96%
Poles so a large black man stumbling around really draws
attention.
While touring this concentration camp, the older gentleman walked up to me and asks me where I was from. I
told him Florida (he was from Tennessee), we exchanged the standard tourist greetings, and I went on
my way. About two minutes later, this gentleman approached me again and made a statement. First he told me
that his mother and father were killed at Auschwitz in 1941. Before I could respond to that statement he then
said that he escaped from the camp and was a survivor. Looking at the gentleman, he looked to be in his mid/late
60's. Then he said that he escaped when he was age 5 and lived on his one during the war for four years on the
run. No one dared to help an escape Jewish kid during those days without fear of being killed by the occupying
army. I still have not muttered a word yet and them he pulls up his sleeve to show me his tattoo which consisted
of a Star of David and a number. At this point, (still having not said a word) he tells me something that will stick
in my head the rest of me live. He said, "I guess God had other plans for me. You see, twenty years after I
escaped Auschwitz, I found myself at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement in Tennessee during the
1960's.
Standing there before me was a man who lost both parents in a horrible way, escaped the Nazis, survived four
years on his own, immigrated to America after the war to live as an orphan home, and took the time to
help others during a time when the US was going though its rights movement. We had a conversation about the
role the Jewish community played in the movement and we discussed the condition African-Americans are in
today. Since I am under the opinion that we are regresses in a few levels (to many black males in prison, to
many unwed-mothers/deadbeat fathers, too much drug use, not enough representation at the polls when an
election rolls around, etc.), I asked him, "Do you think your sacrifice was worth it considering the
transformation the South has made in the past 40 years?" He said in response that the foundation was laid out
for all to take advantage of. The education opportunities are there if you choose to exploit them. The
`American Dream' lies at the feet of each individual who chooses to reach for it. It is up to the individual to
choose if they want to take advantage of the opportunities this country gives them. He can either advance the
movement/themselves or he can spit in the face of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
We exchanged contact information and parted ways. About an hour later, we met again in the crematorium. We
just looked at each other. This was the only way out of the camp for most.
told him Florida (he was from Tennessee), we exchanged the standard tourist greetings, and I went on
my way. About two minutes later, this gentleman approached me again and made a statement. First he told me
that his mother and father were killed at Auschwitz in 1941. Before I could respond to that statement he then
said that he escaped from the camp and was a survivor. Looking at the gentleman, he looked to be in his mid/late
60's. Then he said that he escaped when he was age 5 and lived on his one during the war for four years on the
run. No one dared to help an escape Jewish kid during those days without fear of being killed by the occupying
army. I still have not muttered a word yet and them he pulls up his sleeve to show me his tattoo which consisted
of a Star of David and a number. At this point, (still having not said a word) he tells me something that will stick
in my head the rest of me live. He said, "I guess God had other plans for me. You see, twenty years after I
escaped Auschwitz, I found myself at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement in Tennessee during the
1960's.
Standing there before me was a man who lost both parents in a horrible way, escaped the Nazis, survived four
years on his own, immigrated to America after the war to live as an orphan home, and took the time to
help others during a time when the US was going though its rights movement. We had a conversation about the
role the Jewish community played in the movement and we discussed the condition African-Americans are in
today. Since I am under the opinion that we are regresses in a few levels (to many black males in prison, to
many unwed-mothers/deadbeat fathers, too much drug use, not enough representation at the polls when an
election rolls around, etc.), I asked him, "Do you think your sacrifice was worth it considering the
transformation the South has made in the past 40 years?" He said in response that the foundation was laid out
for all to take advantage of. The education opportunities are there if you choose to exploit them. The
`American Dream' lies at the feet of each individual who chooses to reach for it. It is up to the individual to
choose if they want to take advantage of the opportunities this country gives them. He can either advance the
movement/themselves or he can spit in the face of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
We exchanged contact information and parted ways. About an hour later, we met again in the crematorium. We
just looked at each other. This was the only way out of the camp for most.
During my vacation, I was invited to be a special guest at a
blues concert in the city of Chorzow. I guy I know who
runs a couple of radio stations invited me to the concert.
On the bill were Corey Harris, Harmonica Shah, and Ike
Coose. One thing I found out from the various people who
felt comfortable enough with their skills in English to
speak to me that the old Communist government did not
allow them to listen to jazz/blues. They were allowed to
listen to some Western music but jazz and blues had an
unsavory element that the government did not want to
permeate in their society. I play a style of blues known as
pre-War blues (blues developed mainly in the 1920's and
1930's)
blues concert in the city of Chorzow. I guy I know who
runs a couple of radio stations invited me to the concert.
On the bill were Corey Harris, Harmonica Shah, and Ike
Coose. One thing I found out from the various people who
felt comfortable enough with their skills in English to
speak to me that the old Communist government did not
allow them to listen to jazz/blues. They were allowed to
listen to some Western music but jazz and blues had an
unsavory element that the government did not want to
permeate in their society. I play a style of blues known as
pre-War blues (blues developed mainly in the 1920's and
1930's)
Chorzow is not a `tourist' stop. It is an old industrial town with a small historical center but a fairly large
population. It is about a 20 minute drive north of Katowice to give you a reference. After the concert, I had a
guy to tell me that most of the people here do not understand the words you are saying but they could
understand the emotion and how those feelings were being conveyed through the rhythms. They could feel the
power of the music without understand the lyrics. The Poles too had `the blues' for many years and they are
just being allowed to express them in their art, music, and literature. This was the only city where I met another
African-American or rather in this case, she would be an African-American-Pole) since she was once a
American, but now is a full Polish citizenship. Otherwise the population in Poland pretty homogeneous..
population. It is about a 20 minute drive north of Katowice to give you a reference. After the concert, I had a
guy to tell me that most of the people here do not understand the words you are saying but they could
understand the emotion and how those feelings were being conveyed through the rhythms. They could feel the
power of the music without understand the lyrics. The Poles too had `the blues' for many years and they are
just being allowed to express them in their art, music, and literature. This was the only city where I met another
African-American or rather in this case, she would be an African-American-Pole) since she was once a
American, but now is a full Polish citizenship. Otherwise the population in Poland pretty homogeneous..
Peasant Food
While I traveled through Poland, I took time out to seek out the `peasant food' for each region. Small family
run restaurants were the key in doing this. In central Europe you will usually find a meat dish and lots of
starches and lots of uses for cabbages. Being the case, there is not a whole lot to report on this front.
While I traveled through Poland, I took time out to seek out the `peasant food' for each region. Small family
run restaurants were the key in doing this. In central Europe you will usually find a meat dish and lots of
starches and lots of uses for cabbages. Being the case, there is not a whole lot to report on this front.
One thing to note about Poland are the "milk bars" you will find throughout the country.
Milk Bars are government subsidized places that people can obtain a quick and very
cheap meal. I was told that these places were set up by the Communist government
forty years ago and they have survived even after the fall of the communist government.
Mainly students, pensioners and people down on their luck use these places. There is a
huge yellow menu on the wall which lists the current prices. They serve basic food at
bargain prices, with the most expensive dish being priced at around 15 zlotys, which is
less than $6.These were good places to go if you wanted to meet the "salt of the earth
people".
Milk Bars are government subsidized places that people can obtain a quick and very
cheap meal. I was told that these places were set up by the Communist government
forty years ago and they have survived even after the fall of the communist government.
Mainly students, pensioners and people down on their luck use these places. There is a
huge yellow menu on the wall which lists the current prices. They serve basic food at
bargain prices, with the most expensive dish being priced at around 15 zlotys, which is
less than $6.These were good places to go if you wanted to meet the "salt of the earth
people".
So if you ever get to travel to Poland, stop by one of these places and have a meal and strike up a conversation
with the people you will find in there.
with the people you will find in there.