Hey Poland, I just met you, and this is crazy, but call me maybe! (courtesty of Pawel Reka)

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.... in Poland...."

Thus begins the long anticipated post on my journeys in Poland, as suggested by my third cousin Pawel when I asked him how I should begin the story on my travels to the land of my ancestors! He is sitting across the table from me right now as we listen to Polish music, eat cheese, and sip on glasses of the most delicious red wine I have ever tasted :)

And yes, it is past midnight in Poland and we do have to catch a bus to Lubiaz at 10:00 tomorrow morning, but didn't I mention something before about never sleeping while I was in Europe? ;)

So before I answer the question the question on everybody's mind-- did I really receive sunflowers in Poland-- I will share how adventurous this experience has been so far.

It all began when I boarded a train at 5:30 p.m. in Edinburgh, Scotland and rode through Great Britain for 5 hours until I reached London. I was beyond anxious as to how all of my travel plans would work out, for I had discovered that the most cost-effective way to get to Poland would entail riding a train from Edinburgh to London on Wednesday, July 18th, spending the night at the Heathrow airport, and jumping on the plane at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 19th to fly to Warsaw and finally to Wroclaw.

Through this all, I have realized that train-travel is my most favorite way of getting from one place to another in the whole wide world. There is nothing quite like kicking back in a comfortable seat with plenty of leg room, reading a book, sipping on coffee and looking out an expansive window into the magnificently idyllic countryside of the British Isles. Not only that, but life has a funny way of plopping the most wonderful and unexpected people into one's path. Sitting next to me on the train was a woman I came to call Ms. Anna; she has two daughters the same age as me and my sister, lives in the English countryside with horses, was born in Norway, and has nearly traveled the whole world. We talked about the marathon she ran in New York City the year before the Twin Towers fell, and her excursion to Kenya, my experiences in London, her family and my family, and everything else under the sun. She insisted on buying me a cup of coffee and a toffee caramel cake she could tell I had hungry eyes for, and it reminded me of the kind man who insisted on sharing his salmon bagel with me on the plane from Manchester, England to Helsinki, Finland.

Everywhere I have gone on this world-wide adventure I have met people who are beyond eager to take care of me, and such encounters are unbelievable every time. I have been beyond blessed in my travels as so many people have gone out of their way to provide me with things they can tell I need. Ms. Anna got off the train an hour before it got to London, but before she left she gave me a large, juicy orange she had been saving because she knew I would be spending the night at the airport and would need a good midnight snack. Then she said I was a good girl and she's proud of me for everything I've done and am doing, and we said a fond farewell. A couple minutes later, though, she iwas back at my seat thrusting a 5 pound bill into my hand. "In case you need anything," she said, "please take it."

3 hours ago this woman was a complete stranger. Now she was insisting I take her money and her food, and was telling me that I am a good girl. When the train stopped and she got off I stood up from my chair to look out the window and watch her walk away. But she turned around right away and we both waved goodbye to each other with large smiles and teary eyes as the train pulled away from the station. How strange it is that I would meet somebody so fantastic and know I will never see them again in my whole life. But I will never forget Ms. Anna, the orange she placed in my hands, her kind words or her abounding generosity.

I rode the train the rest of the way to Kings Cross London (feeling of course as though I were going to Hogwarts) and then disembarked from the train at 10:20 p.m. From this point on it was all about following the signs. Ms. Anna had tipped me off that it was cheaper to take the Underground Express to the airport rather then catching a train, so I took her advice, found my way to the Piccadilly Line, and took the hour long ride through winding tunnels to Heathrow Airport. Arriving close to midnight I once more followed the signs to Terminal 1, found the check-in desk for Polish Lot (which was of course closed because of the ungodly hour of night), and realized that I was safe and sound and had made it to wear I needed to be in order to made it to my final Polish destination.

It just so happened that I wandered around the terminal and found a cafe that stays open 24 hours. They severed food, coffee, and tea, and there were several other people camping out there for the night. I took my place among the ranks of the sleepless nomads and spent the remainder of the morning hours in a cozy chair keeping myself awake with tea, scones, and good conversation. The manager said we "weren't allowed to sleep on the premises"  and I didn't want to leave my fellow campers to sleep downstairs, so I didn't sleep a single wink all night long.

 Instead I read, ate, and talked for hours to another American girl who has studied abroad and now lives in Washington. All around us people were quietly chatting, the lighting was warm and yellow, and there is something about knowing a large group of strangers is toughing out the same trials together that fills one with a sense of comfort, peace, and even joy. Although it was the first night I have not slept even 10 minutes, it was fun and exciting and all part of the adventure that has left me feeling invincible. And when I said goodbye to my fellow American, Amanda, she said I have a beautiful spirit and she wishes me all the best in life.

What is it about meeting these people who are so incredibly kind? It certainly renews one's faith in humanity.

At 4:30 in the morning I was checking into my flight, and by 5:50 was finally walking onto my airplane. I do have to say that was probably the most terrible plane ride I have ever experienced. I was sitting in the aisle seat which automatically means I'm constantly going to get bumped into, and I had a screaming baby behind me, a screaming baby beside me, and a puking child in front of me.

I kid you not. I hadn't slept all night and the incredible vocal chords of a small child were certainly going to make sure I didn't sleep for the next 2 hours either. It was hot, it was crowded, it was loud, and it was exceedingly painful.

However, I did eventually make it to the airport in Warsaw where I ate a sandwich, had a milkshake (which I disappointingly discovered has no ice cream in it) then passed out on the bench at my gate for at least a half hour before my plane took off.

At 12:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, July 19th, I was walking onto the plane that would take me to Wroclaw, Poland and bring me to a long lost relative and the land of my ancestors. I had tears in my eyes as I walked down the tunnel and thought about how this dream not only I but also my Grandpa Holowach has had for years was finally coming true. I was about to be reunited with the family who, a century ago, lived together in the same country and who I owe my heritage to.

Thankfully I got to sleep for the entirely of the 40 minute flight, and then I was at the Wroclaw airport where I once more depended on the signs to lead me to where I hoped my third cousin Pawel would be waiting for me.

I went with the flow and found myself at the baggage claim, but there was no sign of a young man I thought could be my cousin. It has become a habit for me, though, to not panic on this trip, so I ran into the bathroom and upon coming out realized that what I thought was a wall was actually an automatic door.

I walked out of the door, looked all around me, and then I saw them.

It was the sunflowers.

And they were held in the hands of a young, blonde man I knew was the cousin I was looking for.

So I went towards him, we embraced, and I had my sunflowers in Poland.

It couldn't have been any more perfect :)

Using the city transportation we made his way back to his apartment where I freshened up after a night and day of traveling, then we went out to explore the city of Wroclaw! As Pawel keeps reminding me, "this is Poland," so the streets and sidewalks are cracking and there is an impressive amount of graffiti, but this is a country that didn't gain its independence until 1989 so it is still growing and developing. 

And it is still the land of my ancestors, so I love it :) We went through the town center, ate a couple of scrumptious ice cream cones (mine had a scoop of Nutella and a scoop of Tiramisu), went grocery shopping so we were prepared for breakfast the next morning, and then headed back to Pawel's apartment around 9:00 p.m. Once home we cooked a traditional meal of schabowy which we prepared ourselves (picture Country Fried Steak and you've got it), potatoes, and cabbage, enjoyed some spectacular red wine, watched a couple episodes of How I Met Your Mother (which is absolutely positively HILARIOUS), and called it a night! ...at 2:00 in the morning ;)

But its Europe after all, so who needs sleep?

But I've made it to Poland. And I've got my sunflowers. And I've met wonderful people and had exciting experiences along the way. 

Life is beautiful, and that's the truth :)

Yup...watching the sunrise at the Heathrow airport ;)

Hello Wroclaw!!!!

Beautiful town center :)

Sunflowers and traditional Polish dinner!!!

Hey, there we are, it's me and my cuz Pawel from Poland!;D