Page 27 - 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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I think that every man should be put on trial, hardship always motivates to take actions, it gives opportunity to go forward, not to complain about. I was tossing and turning all night long. In the morning it came to my mind that when I had been preparing to my depart from Kazakhstan an old lady called me and said that in case of any troubles in Warsaw I should turn to a society “ Polish Community” The next day I went there and it was a lucky strike. I had a nice conversation with an office worker who was responsible for repatriates from Kazakhstan. I think that she was very touched by my story, she arranged me a meeting with the director of the Institution – prof. Andrzej Stelmachowski.

The director listened to me carefully and advised me to confirm my university law diploma. I did so and he agreed to help me to find a job. It took 6 moths before something happened. I was invited on an interview by the head of National Library. It was May of 2003.

On the 15th of September I was informed that I was offered a job. I was so excited that I even did not ask what I was exactly supposed to do. The next day I found out that I would be working as a specialist in the Administration Sector. I acknowledged my obligations and was presented to the director. The elderly man spoke a little bit Russian, he encouraged me to work hard. He said: “Please, do not be nervous, I will personally write a Polish- Russian dictionary for you, and now take the Public Order Act and study it at home.” Ironically, the first article debated natural disaster’ cases. The beginning was not easy but due to my co-workers I manage it and in a year I finished postgraduate studies (the Public Orders) and became a fully qualified office worker. Time went quickly, ma daughter graduated, my son studied at the university and wanted to be a layer. I accustomed to my work. I could not say that my Polish was on the same level as Russian but sometimes I caught myself speaking these languages without thinking about it. Polish was difficult to learn. In the morning when I left home I chose any Russian song and tried to sing it in Polish, then I analyzed lyrics. I had everything in my head but there was a problem with saying it aloud. I was ashamed of my accent. One day I understood that all would be all right, I only needed time. I calmed down, fear went out, my Polish became better and better. A sense of an inborn humour and optimism let me tackle many problems; besides, I never gave up. In Poland I met a lot of fantastic people, when professor Andrzej Stelmachowski died in 2009, I felt that I lost someone special, very close to my heart.

As the second part of my life is concerned I cut a long story short. Do I regret anything? I can only say that if I had any idea of what I was going to experience, I would never arrive to Poland. However, I would not like to come back to Kazakhstan now. I have fallen in love with Warsaw, I admire its jazz concerts at the Old Town, festivals of organ music, Christmas with family atmosphere. I like people and the rhythm of the city, my children are happy here, their happiness gives me the strength. If anyone asked me a question what had changed in my life since I came to Poland, I would answer: “I have changed an attitude towards myself, my life. I have strengthened my belief in the family, together we can conquer the world. Life takes its course, which means that my autobiography will be continued.