Page 26 - Microsoft Word

In 1991 the Soviet Union was over, Kazakhstan became an independent country. The great number of Polish people found support in different kinds of Polish societies. Polish teachers came to teach us. My children were sent on holidays to Poland, they fell in love with new customs and culture. My younger son literally got crazy about Poland. He talked me into gathering needed documents and go to Poland. There was the Polish government’s guarantee for ten families to come back to Poland every year. After four years, in 2001, our dream came true, we were ready to start a new adventure. The 20th of August 2001 we embarked on a journey to Warsaw.

We were accommodated in a 3-room flat quite similar to those we left in Kazakhstan. New circumstances were not so easy, we quickly came down to earth. On the second day of our stay in Poland I comprehended how difficult the situation is.

I did not know anyone in Warsaw, in the City Council I was told, I think reasonably, that we should rely on ourselves – send children to school or the university, find a job, rent a flat, pay the bills and learn the language. In other words we should live like every Polish citizen.

I felt hopeless, how easy was to be at the edge. My life in Kazakhstan was not bad, I had my career; before leaving for Warsaw, I hold the position of the head of the Law Department of the county, I was a member of the City Council. My children attended to prestigious schools. I believed that in Poland I would be able to obtain the same position. Then, let me return to the beginning of our lif in Poland.

We had seven days to enroll the children to school. We walked the length and breadth of our quarter but without any effect as Wadim could not speak Polish well. Fortunately, our Polish neighbour who had known that we came from Kazakhstan advised us to go to Niepokalanów, 50 km. away from Warsaw to talk to the director of the Lower Seminary. Together with my children we went to Niepokalanów. My 18-year old daughter, as the only one who could speak Polish, talked to the director. She shed a light on our plight. The director listened patiently to her and asked to call in three days. Those were the longest three days in our life but miracle happened. Wadim was admitted to the second class of secondary school. It was the first and most important step in the new country.

But happiness did not last to long. My daughter was about to take her university entrance exams but because of the stress she got a terrible health problems connected with her allergy. A doctor was surprised when he examined her, he had never seen such symptoms yet. The whole week she stayed at home taking medicaments and preparing for the exams. Finally, she passed the exams and became a student. That was our second victory. I was more optimistic, the children went to schools, now it was time to me to find a job.

I have been looking for a job for two years. I was devastated and almost completely stopped talking. My 13-year old son, when he came home for holidays, shook me with his mature words. He said that they had been so proud of me in Kazakhstan, they had always followed my example. He suggested that I should not let them down. I explained that my coming to Poland was a mistake, that I miscalculated my strength badly, that I was not able to help them and they should be responsible for their own lives. I still remember his words, I keep them at the very bottom of my heart.

The sun shone for me one day. When I was passing a monastery an old woman came closer. She looked at me and asked: “Are you homeless or what?” It was a one hundred dollars question! I got angry, none asked me such a question earlier. I answered that I have a place to live but she looked at me and said: “I am not talking about your home, I only see that you are lost…”

Page 26 - Microsoft Word - CMA BOOK_2

Page 26 - Microsoft Word - CMA BOOK_2