“I will never be able to find one word to properly describe my “Journey for a Lifetime”. It can only be experienced.”
There are many words which can be used to describe the Journey for a Lifetime experience – inspiring, eyeopening,
humbling, touching, moving and joyful to mention a few. But all of these words seems too superficial, or
perhaps too cliché to really capture the essence of this journey.
And a journey this trip certainly was. Travelling over 2000 kms in 12 days in a seemingly roomy bus, which later
became cramped when loaded with all the gifts and presents. The five of us got to see more than just the beautiful
architecture and scenery of the various parts of Poland – we were also able to experience first-hand the warmth and
kindness of the Polish people.
Each home we visited was distinctive in its own way but one thing that was consistent in each was the
overwhelming amount of love present. Love from the parents to the children and vice versa; despite the illness or
suffering the family had experienced there was always a strong feeling of love and hope for the future.
The visit which stands out the most for me is Sylwia. Sylvia is 16 years old and not only suffers from cystic
fibrosis but also from a heart condition which makes her especially fragile. She has always been home-schooled
and does not leave her house much due to her frail condition. Her dream was to have a big screen TV. We arrived
at her home at the end of a very long day, exhausted from our travels, straining to carry this massive TV up the
four stories to her apartment. When we placed the oversized present on her coffee table, I realized that all the effort
was worth it. I knew in that moment why I was on this journey.
No words can describe how I felt as Sylwia’s persistent tears began at the sight of her gift and her visitors. She was
so happy to be visited, mentioning that she now knew what school felt like, being surrounded by friends. Although
she was quite nervous, talking to Sylwia was like talking to any of my friends back home, as we chatted about our
favourite American music and visited her room and pets. Sylwia was so overwhelmingly grateful for the TV and
our presence, it was so touching.
Besides the outstanding visits with the 15 children and the hospital, during the trip we were also immersed in the
Polish culture. We learned some Polish sayings; we were educated about the struggling history of Poland;
devoured Polish pastries; ate our daily ‘lody’ and the beautiful cities we got to see were just spectacular.
I want to thank our chaperones, Agata and Ada, who made the trip even more enjoyable and unforgettable.
As I reflect on my trip, more words come to mind – love, hope, faith, strength – but I do not think I will ever be
able to find one word to properly describe my “Journey for a Lifetime”. It can only be experienced.
