Corpus Christi in Gdansk

This is my time to stay few months in Poland so I am preoccupied with Polish ways which are fascinating for me to revisit after so many years thinking of myself as an Australian. Memories from childhood come back and now I can understand some things better than when I was very young. They get new meaning for me. Like Corpus Christi holiday celebrated yesterday in all towns and villages of Poland. I did not pay much attention to the day in the past, I just knew that processions were going through all towns and villages from one altar to the next with believers singing religious songs as they walked behind a priest and his assistance. This time I wanted to know more.

Corpus Christi holiday has been observed  in the Catholic world since 1246. It is a movable holiday taking place on a Thursday, 60 days after Easter.  During the day, in Poland, body of Christ present in consecrated bread is carried ceremoniously through towns in the most beautiful monstrance the place may have. Processions stop at four altars where four fragments of Evangelias connected with Eucharist are read by priests.

Gdansk has a very special monstrance made of amber. This is a piece of art created by M.Drapikowski who lives in Gdansk since 1984. His sacral art is displayed among other European museums also in the Vatican. The Gdansk monstrance is huge, weights 30 kilograms and its pieces of amber are of exceptional beauty, colour and sizes.

                                        

During this year procession, the monstrance was carried by four workers of the Gdansk Shipyard. This had symbolic meaning as the Gdansk Shipyard was the place where the demise of communism started.

                                         

While the main procession took place in the Old Town of Gdansk, there were many local ones organised by smaller churches. Traditionally one of the altars in the part of the town I live in is in front of my house. I can observe the procession and the celebrations at one of the altars from my windows. This is what it looked like this year.

                                 

                               

Henry Strassburger - The Man of Style

I have met Henry many years ago, not long time after I came to Australia. It must have been 1980. At that time we both worked for IBM. Henry as an editor of the IBM magazine THINK and I as a trainee programmer. Very different backgrounds except for Polish roots.  Henry spent in Poland only his first 8 years but he felt some affinity with me, a Polish migrant. I remember being invited to lunch by Henry who introduced me to his friends so I could  feel more at home in the new country. That was the first time I met with Henry and his kindness.

We were not close friends those days, but each time I met Henry it was memorable. Henry loves picnics and as a person with Polish roots he knows and understands about forest mushrooms. I have been invited several times to Henry’s  mushroom picking parties and picnics. The Sutton forest was a perfect place for that. One could find Boletus mushrooms there.

This is how Boletus mushrooms look like

In European forests there are many types of wilde mushrooms and one has to know how to recognise edible from poisonous ones. Henry knew his Boletus  and I  also was considered an expert having some wild mushrooms picking  experience from my childhood.

There is a story about Henry bringing forest mushrooms to a home of his friends and insisting on preparing a meal out of them. He was given a reluctant permission but nobody was game to try the special dish. Henry was the only person in the company who, after elaborate preparations, ate the meal. The rest of the company watched him with real concern, looking for first signs of Henry being poisoned. There was an emergency number and a phone ready to use in case of decline in Henry’s wellbeing. Of course, Henry was in no danger and any Pole would understand that. The story had a happy ending and convinced some Australians that there are edible mushrooms in forests.

I have to add that any mushrooms picked by Henry had to be presented in friendly kitchens or in picnic environment on fronds of forest ferns. After all Henry is a man of style.

Forest ferns for mushroom presentation

One of many Henry’s talents and interests is cooking. And I mean this is serious cooking and serious interest. Henry was one of  the members of a very elitist group called Escoffier Society in IBM. The group was named after Auguste Escoffier.

Georges Auguste Escoffier

(pronounced [ʒɔʁʒ ɔɡyst ɛskɔfje]; 28 October 1846 – 12 February 1935) was a French chef, restaurateur and culinary writer who popularized and updated traditional French cooking methods. He is a legendary figure among chefs and gourmets, and was one of the most important leaders in the development of modern French cuisine. Much of Escoffier's technique was based on that of Marie-Antoine Carême, one of the codifiers of French haute cuisine, but Escoffier's achievement was to simplify and modernize Carême's elaborate and ornate style. Referred to by the French press as roi des cuisiniers et cuisinier des rois ("king of chefs and chef of kings"^[1]—though this had also been previously said of Carême), Escoffier was France's preeminent chef in the early part of the 20th century.

 

The gentlemen  met monthly for a dinner cooked by the members, wines were carefully selected to accompany dishes in a most appropriate way. After each dinner a general discussion on merits of each of the dishes was held and their contributors were either leaving in full glory or promising themselves to do much better the next time. I must add that the group was active in the 80ties. They were precursors of professional business man cooking for fun.

It may be easy to understand that each time I was inviting Henry to dinner I was close to a nervous breakdown.  But Henry is a very kind man and I never found out from him about shortcomings of my cooking.

Henry cooking for his friends

There are many stories about Henry and his  elegant and original style. I will continue telling them for a while. So stay tuned.

Why I like and respect the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk

I have written this post a long time ago and it turned out to be my most frequently read post. I understand that the reason for its popularity is Mr. Tusk rather than my insightful writing. It would be nice to get any comments from my readers, critical or complimentary. 

Today is the time of local election in Poland. Won by Mr. Tusk's party opposition. I hope this is not going to turn into a problem for Poland some time from now. It is time for change in Poland, of course and I will be watching from afar with keen interest and best wishes for my country of origin. I am also curious how Mr. Tusk career will develop on the international ground. And I hope he will make a positive mark on European politics. He  is definitely capable of that.

Some time ago while talking to one of my Australian friends, Polish Prime Minister came into the conversation. I like Donald Tusk and to me he is the best Polish politician in the last years. I was asked to justify my opinion; this was an unfamiliar territory for me. I tried to answer and made complete mess out of my argument. I did not convince of merits of Polish Prime Minister as an outstanding politician.

 My old uni professors Miss Szmuszkowicz (aren’t Polish names fascinating?) would think – that's right, I thought Anna wouldn’t know such things. Before one of the exams she expressed her view that I did not look like one who can know much and certainly not about analysis in maths. Presumably I represented a blond image. I did pass the exam though. Regarding Donald Tusk I gave a really dumb answer: He is handsome, 56 years old and plays soccer. When I ponder on what I said, I am amazed how I could come up with such a line and not much more else. As an excuse I might say that many journalists would voice similar opinion not adding much more.

Feeling bad about not giving Donald Tusk justice I want to try again as I really admire the man.

He is all of that what I had said. To me it is important even on reflection. His age tells you that he is experienced and at the same time young enough to stay in politics for a while.

Handsome and cultural is also positive in politics, the first impression and image is important. There is still some stigma attached to Eastern European countries. This will change if the countries are no longer represented by Nikita Khrushchev look alike. You may still remember him accentuating arguments with help of shoe banging in the United Nations.

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Poland is sometimes painted with the same brush even if such type of behaviour among Eastern politicians is well in the past and Donald Tusk stands out among European politicians as a true statesman in many respects.

He has a good presence, he has energy and experience. He is intelligent, very sharp, extremely good speaker – relaxed, friendly manners, open, respectful of others, polite. He comes across as a genuine and honest man. This maybe only is an impression, he is a politician after all, but in my opinion he is convincing even that way.

                        

What particularly impressed me about the Prime Minister was his behaviour after the tragedy of 2010 when 96 Polish politicians and the plane crew died in the air crush near Smolensk, Russia. The Prime Minister was everywhere where he was needed, visibly moved but composed, supporting in an exceptional way families of those who died. I will always remember the coffins coming to the Warsaw airport, placed on the runway where they were individually farewelled by Donald Tusk. It lasted hours and it was tremendously sad and moving. Donald Tusk had something warm and personal to say about each of the departed people. His enemies were addressed with the same warmth and respect as his friends. This is long forgotten and distorted by the opposition, he is even unjustly considered to be responsible for the death of the 96 people.

The following positives of Polish situation I attribute to the current government and leadership of Donald Tusk.

Poland has not been much affected by the economical crises in Europe and so far came through with increased gross national product.

The foreign politics with respect to Germany and Russia has improved significantly and the relationship with France moved up another level with Polish President even being a part of celebrations in Paris of WWII Victory in Europe as equal to President Hollande.

                         

In the last few points I am really out of my depth and would not like to confabulate.

I would like to say that I feel more proud of being associated with Poland since Donald Tusk took over the government of the country.

I am afraid that this will be the last term of the Donald Tusk and his government. Maybe after 8 years it is time to move on to take an important role in EU. Many say that this is on the cards.

More on patriotism

Lately I have been thinking again about patriotism confronted with sensitivity of one of my friends whose views I often share and always respect. I realised that my approach to patriotism is lighter and more pedestrian than it can be accepted by some who may think of patriotism as something sacred and not to be treated lightly or in a practical manner.

Some think that a holy things should not be soiled and patriotism may be considered a sacred idea. My Polish literature teacher in the high school used to say something opposite – nothing serves better  holy things than to be sometimes besmeared a bit. I liked that.  Maybe this stayed somehow in my memory and made my approach to patriotism lighter than many Poles.

Polish history has been a difficult one. After its glory days prior to the XVIII century, Poland got divided between Russia, Prussia and Austria and disappeared from the map of Europe in 1795 for over 100 years. During that time there were tragic, unsuccessful uprisings attempting to regain independence. They never had any chance to succeed. Many lives were lost as a result. Those events were considered in the time of Romanticism to be acts of patriotism. Polish people often thought that the best way to love the country is to die for it. I think many still consider it to be the best form of patriotism. I always had a problem with it. To me the Polish uprisings were futile and lives wasting. I object to such type of patriotism based on romantic ideas.  Positivism in Polish literature, a part of socio-cultural movement, was much closer to my heart and still is. Working for the country, having positive input to its economical successes, its beauty and cleanness is much more important to me than celebrating endless and sad Polish anniversaries of unsuccessful uprisings, Polish history is full of.

When I come back ...

 

In the last couple of months, I often started my sentences with When I come back... in conversations with my friends in Sydney. I was about to go to Poland for few months and I was not looking forward to the trip. I wanted to have something positive to look forward to when I come back. As I am a project manager by nature, I soon realised that there was an opportunity here to form a When I come back programme –with a set of projects under such umbrella. I moved back to Sydney not that long time ago, and I want to do many improvements related to my Sydney home. I want to improve my kitchen, bathroom, garden, get a great bookcase to be able finally unpack my books, coach seriously, get fit, do a creative writing course, read a number of books, meet regularly with friends and many more.  One of the ideas which was coming to me regularly in the last couple of years was Thursday dinners.   What I would love to make happen is to have regular get together with my friends sitting and talking around the table. Friends, good food, wine and stimulating conversation always been my idea of bliss.

It came to me from events organised by the last Polish king Stanislaus.  I realise the difference between me and the king, my home and The Water Palace, royal menu and mine or the number of guests  but what  we could have in common is regularity of the meetings and maybe the name.

This is what Wikipedia says on the subject of the Royal Thursday Dinners

The Thursday Dinners (Polish: obiady czwartkowe) were meetings of artists, intellectuals, and statesmen held by the last King of Poland, Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski in the era of Enlightenment in Poland.

Neoclassical Water Palace in Royal Baths Park in Warsaw

The dinners were held first in the Royal Castle in Warsaw and later in the Water Palace between 1770 and 1784. During the dinners, which typically lasted three hours and resembled French salons, the King dined with his guests and discussed literature, art and politics.

The number of guests fluctuated over the years, but there were about thirty regulars.

When I come back I will tell you about my dinners.

 

About patriotism and Ray from Mummulgum

Ideas of patriotism vary widely from person to person, and from country to country.  Our definitions vary a lot and we store them in our hearts or our minds. The way how we relate to the issue depends on the type of storage we choose. If I was conforming to the most accepted Polish definition it would be stored in my heart and I would consider that any patriotic person needs to die for the country without hesitation. I always had a problem with such an approach, maybe because in my times this was not necessary. I thought that to love the country was to work for it, do something  to make it better. I had the definition stored in my mind rather than in my heart.

But still, there was something also in my heart storage because I remember a fiery discussion, not to say a fight about patriotism with one of my IBM colleagues - Ray of Mummulgum. Ray was a young guy straight from the Uni and the township of Mummulgum. He claimed that the population of the place in the 80ties was 11 and dropped by 10 percent when he went to Uni. I am not sure how true it was but I liked it. Ray was a cheeky person with violently red curly, hair and freckles. In the discipline of freckles we would have a problem to decide who had an upper hand – he or me. I really liked the guy and we had frequent discussions on various subjects. At that time I was a very serious person and Ray, to keep a proper balance between us, was not serious about anything. Maybe a bit about educating Anna in Australian type of life. He even brought some meat pies from his mother from Mummulgum and I had to eat it in Aussie way, or a right way according to Ray – it had to dribble down my elbows or otherwise it was not eaten according to the savoir vivre. I am not sure I really mastered the required etiquette, but I tried  and it was messy but fun.

Back to patriotism – I do not remember how it started but Ray expressed the view that patriotism was a vice not a virtue. My definition stored in the heart kicked in and I got seriously upset about the whole thing. Now I think that Ray’s definition must have been close to nationalism and in this sense I am totally with him.

Poland and the 3rd of May

Poland and the 3^rd of May

So I am in Poland, came yesterday and am still going through adjusting to the new time, the new place, new customs, new language and a new situation all together. I woke up at the proverbial 3:00 am but for me it was still Australian 1pm, the time difference is 8 hours now. And a nice surprise, at least for me as I like white nights. It was light already! This will be improving, meaning the light will last longer and longer till 23^rd of June.

Sometimes my important life events coincide with globally important days of my nations Poland and Australia. I arrived in Australia at the Australia Day, some years later I became an Australian also on the 26^th of January, returned to Poland on the day when the country joined European Union and this time I arrived on the very long weekend of the 1^st of May, The Day of Polish Flag and 123rd anniversary of Polish Constitution. Some more history  on the subject from Wikipedia.

The Constitution of May 3, 1791 was drafted between October 6, 1788, and May 3, 1791, when it was adopted as a "Government Act" by the Great Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch).

The constitution sought to supplant the prevailing anarchy, fostered by some of the country's magnates, with a more democratic constitutional monarchy. It introduced elements of political equality between townspeople and nobility and placed the peasants under the protection of the government, thus mitigating the worst abuses of serfdom. It banned pernicious parliamentary institutions such as the liberum veto, which had put the Sejm at the mercy of any single deputy who could choose, or be bribed by an interest or foreign power, to undo all the legislation that had been passed by that Sejm.

British historian Norman Davies describes the document as "the first constitution of its type in Europe"; other historians call it the world's second oldest codified national constitution after the U.S. Constitution, which had come into effect on March 4, 1789. The 1791 document remained in force for only 14 months and 3 weeks. Yet, despite the King's capitulation, the Second Partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1793), and the 1795 demise of Poland, the Constitution of May 3, 1791, was seen over the next 123 years as an important step toward the eventual restoration of Poland's sovereignty. In the words of two of its co-authors, Ignacy Potocki and Hugo Kołłątaj, it was "the last will and testament of the expiring Country."

I woke up this morning in an unfamiliar,familiar place, straight to the kitchen to switch my small TV on and: YOU GET UP, WE INFORM! My favorite TV channel TVN24 and my favorite journalist Jarosław Kuźniar, even dressed the way I like it, sports shirt and a jacket, relaxed and suave. This morning he is sporting Polish colours in his lapel, it is the 3^rd of May after all. The day started well!

Next to me a big bunch of tulips and a cup of tea, life is good even when I am in Poland.