Page 25 - Microsoft Word - CMA BOOK_2

Cultural Migration in Autobiography Grundtvig Partnerships 2009-2011

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

e-mail: kszia@komesnet.com.pl http://cma.internetdsl.pl

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The first one was undertaken because of my poor health. As a child I was deprived of a normal childhood. I could not play with other kids or ride a bicycle. I lived in a kind of isolation. I felt that myparents’ efforts to protect me from any physical activities could lead me to catastrophe.

Consequently, I thought over everything and decided to take up canoeing in a sports section. My future couch let me take part in the activities under condition that I would learn swimming. My father Rafał Muzanowski, who the whole life sacrificed to the family, taught me how to swim. Since me and my sister were 7-year old our father had worked in a pioneer camp 3 months a year during 10 years. He worked there to let us have a rest in the countryside and regenerate our health. The camp was situated near the lake so I slipped stealthily from it and learned swimming. I took a deep breath, dived and tried to swim. Fortunately, I did not come to a watery grave; actually, I became a good swimmer and was accepted by the sports team. When I went home, I told my parents about my first independent decision. They tried to dissuade me from professional sport as in their opinion I was not healthy enough, I did not obey them. They tried again saying that I was not able to swim. I answered proudly that I had learnt swimming. I told them where and how I had done it. They troubled constantly over me; nowadays when I am a mother I understand what they might feel when they found out about my swimming lessons.

Water sports had great influence on my life. Supposedly, due to them I shaped my character, I learned to pose challenges and achieve goals. Being the weakest in the team, I was a constant object of joking, they said that I wasted time trying to win. Hopefully, I did not take those words to heart and in two years I became a local and then national champion.

At the same time medicine appeared to be my second passion. Being 15-year old, I attended medical classes, which were organized by Medical Institute. The things did not go easily, I was explained that I should focus on chemistry so I changed school although the new one was far away from home. Fortunately, parents accepted my choice. I look at my childhood in Developed Socialism and still feel strange. It is unbelievable how 15-year old children could take part in students’ classes; we were shown how to use scalpel, assist with the operation and mark a blood type. When I was nearly 18, I assisted with delivery, it was unforgettable. I experienced many extreme emotions – terrible fear when I saw an opening crotch, anxiety about unborn baby. How much I wanted to help that woman! I was on cloud nine! The midwife’s laughing brought me down to earth. I was so engaged that I started to push with the woman. I felt a great relief when I heard baby’s scream, when I saw a happy face of the mother. How delicate and strange was human life I thought, how wonderful is to be among the living.

After completing secondary school I came into adulthood; I deliberated over my future plans. Eventually, I decided to go to the University of Alma Ata to study Law. When I was at the end of my studies, I convinced my mum to buy me an excursion to Poland. I always wanted to visit the country of my ancestors and now there was a moment we gathered all key documents. I boasted about going to Poland to my father! Then, there was a serious conversation between my parents. They asked me to leave the room; my father explained to my mum that my depart could have a bad influence on my further education and career as the KGB still kept under surveillance so called “enemies of nation”. Finally, I was allowed to visit my historical homeland.

The journey changed me, I understood that there was another culture, another relationships among people, different life but at this time I could not dream about returning to Poland yet.