They sit around the fire, complete darkness surrounding them, the only sounds the crackling fire and the occasional truck passing on the nearest road (still a mile away). They sit passing around a shot glass and bottle of vodka. The chaser, a can of beer for each, a cigarette in the other hand. Some talk of escape, of getting the hell out of this little f-ing village. They talk of going abroad, of returning with an Audi, of making it big. Some will escape, if “escape” is even the proper word. Some will return with with an Audi, though used.
Who will look around them, at the bark of pines glowing in the firelight, at the embers and sparks as they pop and rise into the jet-black night, joining the stars and the mysteries around them, and realize that they already have all that they really need? Who will look into others’ faces, listen to their girlfriend’s laughter, smell the magic of smoke in a hay-flavored summer sky and realize that what they have, others would kill or die for–and in fact already have?
But, but… you and K left — for better work prospects, for a secure future. Their dreams are no different than yours. I think many Poles have a deep love for the things you write about (my sister for example), but they cannot find solid work and the safety net isn’t there to help them out either. A dream of a good life will always include a desire to provide for your family, for your future. They view their chances as being better elsewhere and if Lipnica is like other villages in Poland — they are surely right.
I suppose I was writing more about some of the people I’d heard who’d expressed open animosity about where they live. Not the majority, certainly, and I know that most people leave for better opportunities in order to provide for their family. Still, there are those (and they’re probably in every small town/village in every country in the world) who simply want to escape because of, well, the things I tried to write about. In fact, a former student found me online recently and, thinking I still lived in Poland, said, “I don’t see how anyone can stand that place.” I guess that’s the kind of thinking I had in mind when I wrote this.
As far as K and I leaving, I think there was more to it than simply better opportunities. Family played a large role in that decision, perhaps the largest. Which is ironic, because we left behind family here.
It is complicated. There’s a lot in Poland, in Europe — that’s missing in our work-obsessed American culture. Privileged people will eek out the best of both worlds (I count myself as being among them). You’ll always have family and strong ties to both sides of the ocean. I’ll always make sure that work doesn’t stamp out the will to explore other worlds. I think you and I are extremely lucky and I feel that most can’t come near that sort of balance, usually through not a great deal of fault of their own.
Anyway, I am super enjoying your blogging from Poland. I really really look forward to each post! You have a lot of great insights and of course, your photography is awesome! I wish K and E were there with you, but of course, the American vacation schedule is what it is…