Polish Revival
Relearning Polish and rediscovering myself
Relearning a language you used to speak is like picking up a book you once loved. You can remember the overall theme and parts of the book that resonated with you, but the exact storyline could be clearer. You have an emotional connection to it that still lies strong within you, and you can still tell people that you loved the book with glee, yet if they ask you specific questions, the details are lacking. When you revisit it, it feels like an old friend coming back to you, a lovely dream you once had or returning to a place you once called home. This is how I feel now I am relearning Polish.
My mother was born in Poland and lived in Warsaw until she was twenty-nine, when she moved to the UK. She fell pregnant with me, and I was her purpose; she felt lonely and regularly took me back to Poland. We even used to travel there by coach, as we were strapped for cash. What a hassle that must have been taking a young child for three days via coach across Europe, but it was such a big adventure for me. My earliest memories are of Poland, where my cousins were my siblings, and their dogs I called my dogs. After my trips to Poland, I would only speak Polish for some time before picking up English again, and now the thought that I could do that amazes me. I only have happy memories there, and as my mum settled into the UK with work…
