Dear friends,
As you may recall, I turned 50 in January. I’ve entered that magical time of life when you realize time is running short and you’d better start working on that bucket list! So this fall I am embarking on a solo pilgrimage to my ancestral homeland of Poland!
This desire to learn languages and travel has been growing inside of me like a sleeping tiger since I was very young. I can still remember an “It’s a small world” calendar I had as a child. It had holidays and basic conversation words in many languages. I spent hours trying to pronounce those strange words and imagining going to the far away places where children wore the fanciful, colorful costumes illustrated. I loved that calendar to the point where it was held together with duct tape.
In high school I had over 30 pen-pals all around the globe. I always imagined one day I would go knocking on doors meeting all these friends. Sadly, I have lost touch with these people, although I am searching for them! Fortunately, there are many other friends out there that I just haven’t met yet!
I studied French for 6 years in school. Picked up a smattering of Spanish from friends who were studying that (and of course from Sesame Street!), taught myself a bit of Italian when a district manager at one of my jobs was Italian and I wanted to impress him. And then recently discovered the Pimsleur program for learning languages. I decided to learn some German, just to challenge my brain, and now I am learning Polish!
I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to attempt Polish! I guess I always thought it was too unattainable, but I am excited to say I am picking it up pretty well and can’t wait to try it out!
On September 26th I will fly from Boston to Manchester, England. I decided I would like to acclimate to the time change in an English speaking country. Also, could not imagine flying 3000 miles and not doing my best to say Hello to the friends I have across the pond!
I will then make my way to Dover in the south of England and cross into France by way of Calais.
My grandmother’s family is from Tourcoing, France. It’s in the north, on the Belgian border. Have to visit there and maybe learn a bit more of that genealogy.
Then on through Germany and into Poland! My ancestral homeland for the Zaikowski branch of my family tree!
Hoping to really BE there. I don’t want to just be a tourist taking pictures of buildings. I want to experience other ways of life and make friends I can visit again!
Travelling mostly by train, I will make my way back to Manchester to fly back to Boston on October 18th.
I figure since I’m going to be depending largely on the kindness of strangers once I’m off, I can certainly depend on the kindness of my friends before I go! So here’s what you can do to help:
First and foremost, keep me in your thoughts and prayers! Send me good thoughts, white light, angels…. Whatever you identify with.
Help me fill my work schedule! Come for a massage and refer your friends!
Advice! Any words of wisdom from your own experiences. Do’s, don’ts, must sees!
Contacts. Counting on the seven degrees of separation here… everybody knows somebody who knows somebody! Any friends or family you may have in these areas who would be willing to be a contact. Whether it’s just a bit of local information, maybe meeting up for a meal, or being open to hosting a friendly pilgrim for a night or two! I would like to connect with as many potential contacts as possible before I go.
And of course there’s money! I am going to be travelling as frugally as possible, but it still adds up! If you are inclined to purchase cards or gifts for me in the near future and would, instead, consider an “in lieu of”, donations to the Pilgrimage Piggy Bank are gratefully accepted. I am also accepting small talismans imbued with good wishes that can be clipped to my backpack or tucked in a pocket.
Be on the lookout for invitations to follow my blog and, hopefully, a Bon Voyage Party!
Please feel free to share this email address with anyone you think might be able to be additional help or support for me.
Pztrekker@gmail.com
Dziękuję Bardza! Thank you so much!
I look forward to hearing from you!
Pamela Zaikowski
