Shock Waves

I have officially been living in Poland for one month. It feels as though it has been closer to one year since I left the comfort of our Boston campus. I cannot begin to summarize the contents of my first four weeks, especially the amazing departments I have been able to work with and high profile events I have been able to attend. I could write pages and dozens of posts just about my co-op, but far more interesting is my rocky path to cultural assimilation.

Poland is very different from the United States and even Western Europe. I visited last summer during a Dialogue of Civilization that travelled around Germany and Poland investigating the Holocaust and genocidal prevention (hence the interest in pursuing a co-op at the Auschwitz Birkenau State Museum). This had been my fist time in Poland and Eastern Europe. The culture of Poland is under appreciated and frequently misunderstood; I remember my group and I disliked the blunt and unkept nature of this country in comparison to the stiff and proper German cities we had already visited. Polish people, at first, come across as rather rude. There is a mutual understanding among citizens to eliminate any sort of polite filters when it comes to expressing oneself. The blunt nature of Poland is easily reflected as bitterness, but this is not the case at all.

Returning to Poland this time around, I realize the ignorance that guided my previous visit. Poland has a very rocky recent history that has included being controlled by multiple countries and shifting territory lines. Eventually, the country found its independence, but this political stability has resulted in economic instability that has been mirrored in social tensions about socioeconomic groups. All of this history has created a population of citizens that have learned to be vocal and fight for what they need, translating into proud and abrupt displays of culture.

Coming this explanation expedited my assimilation process and reduced the possibility of culture shock. I struggled in the discomfort of living in a foreign land without speaking the local language, but researching Poland prior to my arrival allowed me to appreciate the country I was in and made me excited to learn more about this culture. My co-workers have been teaching me some Polish (it is an incredibly difficult language to learn that seems to not believe in vowels) in exchange for mini English lessons. I have befriended local interns that have graciously showed me the surrounding towns that each citizen is so very proud to come from.

Culture shock is inevitable and completely normal especially during an international co-op. Rocky landings cannot be avoided but the effects can definitely be minimized. I strongly suggest researching one's country prior to departure, whether for a study abroad, international co-op or family vacation. In order to fully experience a foreign country, it is important to filter out our "American point of view" and immerse ourselves in the culture. I didn't realize my tainted POV; as a social science student, I always saw myself as above prejudices, but I have come to learn that this is impossible. For the first, I would say, two weeks I was in culture shock. I didn't feel comfortable and I began counting down the days I would be returning to Boston. I realized this mentality is such a waste of the incredible opportunity I have been given. Jumping headfirst into the culture of Poland and Osweicim, I have learned so much about this overlooked country and have come to call it home. I advise you to accept the differences between your culture and the one you are visiting and dive into the unknown. We frequently forget how large the Earth actually is, do your research and get on a plane, you will not regret it.