Bonjour and Au Revoir

After a lengthy, yet wonderful conversation with my contact in Geneva, I must report that I will be missing Warsaw for the month that I am away. Though my presence as an accredited journalist in the United Nations press office will likely garner a number of stories, I nonetheless have fostered a certain affection for Poles.

It's strange. Of all the European countries, Poland would seem to have a deep-seated regard for Americans that was generated through two sources of cultural exchange. Firstly, the enormous amount of emigration to America and the successful establishment of Poles therein would indicate that we, as Americans, are very tolerant people who appreciate hard work and earnest assimilation into American life whilst those assimilating maintain certain aspects of their culture for the benefit of our cultural understanding (hence, Nye's Pollanaise's popularity in Minneapolis and the Polish deli across the street; which I will refrain from even attempting to spell).

Secondly, our support of their endeavors to rid communism and Russia from their country during and after the Cold War. This is a state still very much self-conscious of the reputation it holds worldwide. I was reading an editorial in Poland Monthly, an American publication written for both immigrants and Poles proper in which the author notes the extreme sensitivity of Poles when referencing Nazi Death Camps as "Polish Death Camps." Indeed, nuances such as these, to the ignorant, can be devastating blows to the ego of this culture.

Poles are very quick to point out that they were not the cause of, nor did they assist (as some recent historians allege) in, the concentrations camps, namely Auschwitz. The reverence bestowed on Americans is perhaps also an indication of their desire to be more American. I can't even begin to describe the behavioral similarities emerging in this country and the United States. I hear cellular phones go off all the time, their ring? American music. Cars thumping with base moving slowly down city streets blasting? American music.

Advertisements, technology, arguably right down to their landscaping, Poles want to enjoy the cultural wealth of the United States. And while our direct investment as a country is marginal compared to that of other European Union countries, we continue to ship over trade agreements and business ventures.

One of the key business ventures we have shipped over here is the very industry I was working in before arriving: insurance. Since the Polish government's version of social security and health insurance have been less than reliable, Poles have taken to purchasing copious amounts of life insurance. And given the increased state of health and hygiene within the country, underwriters are having a field day with this mostly unsubscribed market.

Many Polish companies are just as well, doing business with the United States. Key example being LOT, Poland's airline. LOT runs regular, daily, if not twice daily flights out of Chicago and other major hubs such as New York direct to Warsaw (a grueling flight by most accounts). Polish immigrants in the United States come back to visit often. Though I don't have hard data in front of me, I would guess that Polish immigration really has not slowed since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Indeed, I would believe it has increased. It's not uncommon to hear someone tell you they have a relative in the United States (I believe I mentioned this earlier).

The strong cultural ties would seem to be a two-way street. Although I have a feeling that the Poles are putting more into this relationship than we are (and why that is, I'm not sure).

As a people, the Poles continue to fight for their own piece of the pie. And rightly so. Other than being the subject of a number of jokes in America poking at cultural "density" shall we say, the Poles have really done nothing but garner positive attention for being peaceful and rather graceful when challenged.

Upon my return from Geneva, I should hope to write more on Poland (and send that off as well). It is pure curiosity and the welcoming nature of these people that I cannot deny.