So. Somewhere around the time I was in L.A., or San Francisco, or Nashville, or one of those places, Viktor bought 4 plane tickets to Europe.
We’ve hoped and dreamed, and scrimped and saved to be able to take the family to Poland. Viktor’s immediate family are the only members of his family who left Communist Poland to come to America under political asylum in the 1980’s, everyone else staying behind to weather out the storm.
Viktor didn’t get to go home to bury his grandfather. I’ve never met his only cousin. His grandmother lives in Finland and only met Precocious for a brief moment as a baby. I’ve never seen his family home.
A trip to Europe isn’t so much a jet-setting vacation as it is a family pilgrimage to the homeland.
Still, tickets are pricey, and we’ve never had the money.
We’ve finally bitten the bullet, taking money we really need to use to finish the kitchen remodel, or to fix the broken sprinklers in the backyard, or a million other sundry things, and we’re going to Europe. In May, for almost a month.
I know.
As I do in almost every area of my life, I’ll be documenting our preparations for the trip to share with you on Petit Elefant. There will be bumps in the road, surely, but we’re going to dive into the deep end and just do it.
Hopefully this trip will be a precursor to us moving abroad for a year or more, which is the ultimate goal for us. We want the kids to be fluent in Polish {they aren’t now}, and have some understanding of the world outside our sleepy little cowboy town. And frankly, Babcia and Dziadek {our Polish grandparents} aren’t getting any younger. We want the kids to see their home, grandparents intact, while we still can.
This means staying in a 400 square foot Soviet era apartment in downtown Warsaw, Poland, with all the special things like not-hot-water and once-in-a-while-heating that come with it. But at least the apartment has a pretty view!
I can’t wait. I think.
Allison
Hello there! I'm Allison Czarnecki, founder + editor of Petit Elefant, a blog all about style on a budget for every part of your life: style / home / travel / family. I do a lot of how-to beauty + style tutorials, travel posts, easy recipes, home remodel projects, and cool DIY crafts you totally want to try. I'm super happily married (to a hot Polish immigrant) and am the mother of two kids, a daughter and son, all of whom are featured here on the regular. We live in the country but we're a little bit rock + roll. Welcome!
That sounds so wonderful, even with the Soviet era apartment. I’ll bet your kids will remember the trip their whole lives, hopefully with fondness.
I’ve always wanted to go to Poland, to visit my dad’s extended family. Plus my brother married a Polish girl, so I’m hoping that I can tag along with them when they visit her family one day.
Can’t wait to read your travel updates!
I hope so. Charming is finally old enough that hopefully he’ll remember it.
You have to go visit with your family, seriously!
I’ve been to Krakow and it was probably in my top 3 places in Europe I’ve been. So quaint, old, and stinkin’ fun! We loved our time in Poland. You are going to have a ball!
Mandi, I’ve actually heard really amazing things about Krakow. It wasn’t touched by WWII so we’re definitely going to spend a few days visiting. Can’t wait.
that is so exciting!!
Tell me about it, I’m DYING.
Wonderful, wonderful. This is a great thing you’re doing for your kids.
I’m so excited. We’ve wanted to do this for precisely FOREVER.
How exciting! Seeing their grandparents and where their dad grew up is so much more important for your kids right now than having a remodeled kitchen and new sprinklers. I’m looking forward to seeing your preparations and hearing about your adventures…maybe some guest posts from P about the experience of going to Europe are in order? Just a thought…
It’s true, this is what I keep telling myself every time I sweep over the ridge of flooring in the kitchen that’s unfinished.
I think you’re right! What a great idea. Precocious would love to guest post on that. So smart.
That is wonderful, Allison! Even though there are sure to be some challenges, you won’t regret going for it.
I hope so Sara. I think so, but it’s still a little nerve-inducing.
SO exciting! Your kids are so bright and funny, I am sure this will be an amazing experience for all of you. My paternal grandfather’s family is all from Poland/Kiev and I have always thought the culter was really interesting. Can’t wait to live vicariously through your posts…
You’re so kind Naomi. Let’s just hope Charming can survive the trip across the ocean in one piece.
I took a trip to Europe a few years ago and one of our stops was Krakow. It was hands down my favorite city that we visited. It was beautiful and very charming (street performers and lots of gelato) and I was able to buy really cool jewelry for super cheap! Have a fun trip!
Audrey, I can’t wait to visit Krakow. I hear it’s absolutely beautiful. Hooray for cheap jewelry!
I don’t think you’ll need heating in May. Hot water, maybe. 400 sq ft will be TIGHT, but maybe it will encourage you to spend more time out in Warsaw. I’ve never been to Warsaw, it will be great to hear about your experience.
I always need hot water, but I think if my husband survived his childhood without both, I can make it for a few weeks. I can’t wait.
I’m so glad you are all going! Have a fantastic time!!
Me too! Thank you Emily.
Yay! I’m glad you are finally able to go. You will create lifelong memories for your children.
I hope so Hilary, I’m so excited I cannot WAIT.
My husband and I went to Poland in 2003 and 2006 for mission trips. What part of Poland will you be visiting? We were primarily in Glogow and Lubin. We have a special place for Poland in our hearts, for many reasons. So thankful your family has the opportunity to visit such an amazing country!
We’ll be in Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, and someplace else. We’re going to try and stay close to Warsaw to see as much as we can in the short time we’re there.
Really?! You have at least one enthusiastic reader from Budapest: ME! :)) You will love the city. Krakow is beautiful too.
This is so amazing and it will be so great for your kids. I am super jealous. My dream is to spend a month in Hungary and Romania, which is my husband’s ancestry. I can’t wait to hear all the details of the planning, etc.
Oh you should go! We’re definitely trying to make it to Prague and Romania, but we’ll see. Such pretty country.
WOW!!! I am so so happy for you!
Me too. I can’t wait!
Very excited for you! There was a really interesting article about Warsaw in the most recent issue of Smithsonian Magazine that totally got me jonesing to go there (see here: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/Warsaw-on-the-Rise.html)
It’s so so so great to go somewhere long-term with your kids (I know from experience). If you’ve got questions as you plan, I can point you to Best Family Travel Advice, which is a collaborative site from a group of family travel bloggers. You can ask questions there or just browse the sites of the member experts – lots of them have done long-term travel with their kids.
Mara, thanks so much for both the links! I’m off to read that Smithsonian article now.
Thanks for all the words of encouragement, I really appreciate it. Sincerely, I do.
GO. FOR. IT! I am SO excited for you! The memories will be well worth the scrimping and saving!
Aack! Can you believe it Emily? We’re really going for it.
I am sooo genuinely happy for you! I know exactly how you feel… if you remember my hubby is from Bosnia, and also still has family there, so we are in the same boat :) Saving for that voyage is extra hard when you have two little ones. I just ask myself over and over why we didn’t go when we were young and carefree, we had a few years between that and marriage, house, & kids. Oh well, someday :)
So happy for you! I am happy for anyone who gets to go to Europe. My husband and I have been once, before baby, and I am planning everyday to get her over there. Her nursery/room looks like a London souvenir shop, but you know, tasteful (ha ha). I am waiting until she is old enough to appreciate/remember it all. Have a blast and savor every moment. Revel in the sheer age of the places you visit. It really is…….life-changing. AND EXPENSIVE!!
I know, we’ve held out forever for both those reasons: the kids were too little and we couldn’t afford it. I just can’t wait, I really can’t
I am really really excited for you guys to go :)
Me too! Thank you.
I’m of Polish descent. I will tell you my maiden name secretly. I would love to go visit! I would also love to live somewhere else for a year or even 6 months. What an adventure!!! You are awesome!!
Are you really? Of course you are. All the cool people came from Europe. Ha, haa haar.
I swear I left a comment the other day ago… anyhow, I just want to say how genuinely happy I am for you :D I remember you posting about this once before, and back then I think I told you my hubby is from Bosnia. We NEED to go back too. Not only have I never been to Europe, but he too has family there that he hasn’t seen since he was 12. It’s time for us too… but with two young children, I just don’t know.
Your kids are getting a little older, and like you said they will remember it now. Maybe I need to hold on a few more years for the same reasons.
I am sooo happy for you tho! I am in the same boat and can only imagine how it will feel…
Depends on where you are going in Europe. I lived in England for several years, and then in Germany for several years as well. Some general advice:
My first word of advice: Forget the exchange rate (especially in England), and let it be a one-to-one thing in your head. Everything is more expensive there!
Most places include the tip in your check, so rounding to the next .50 is acceptable. (I don’t know if this applies to England, but it is true of all the mainland countries I’ve visited.
Take copies of the kid’s shot records. You never know what will happen, and those sort of things are easy to forget when you need to know.
Take plenty of socks. When my family lives in England and in Germany my Mom was always writing people in the states for packages of socks. I guess they can be difficult to come by for a decent price.
Use driving as your last resort. Taking the train and the bus are things that we don’t do here in the US, and it is a part of European culture. Embrace it! I really miss having public transportation like that. :(
Have fun! I’m hoping my husband and I can make our way back there eventually!