Monday, December 08, 2008
I have met some wonderful people since I moved to Poland. I’ve had pleasant interactions with people in retail settings—they have very kindly put up with my attempts to speak Polish. I’ve been privileged to meet some great people through Easel’s work and through our church. These great interactions have left me totally speechless when encountering “babcias” on the streets or in stores.
For my friends back home, “babcia” is Polish for “grandmother”. Many English-speakers I’ve met also use the word as a generic term for “ladies of a certain age” in Poland. As I go about my routines, I see “babcias” everywhere I go. Most seem to be quietly going about their business. They walk down the street pulling their two-wheeled carts as they go to or return from their shopping. They often walk in twos, chatting away as they stroll through the park. It is nice to see these ladies actively pursuing their daily schedules.
I have to warn you, though; you must not be deceived by the impression that they are just “sweet little old ladies”. Some may truly be just what they seem but beware, some are not!
Woe to the young person who doesn’t surrender their seat on the tram to an older woman—I’ve seen a couple of tongue-lashings delivered for that transgression! I can understand and even support the encouragement of respect for elders but I would not have wanted to be on the receiving end of those tirades. I have experience with “babcias”, too. Getting ready to step on the tram one day, I was nearly knocked to the ground by an older woman who pushed in front of me to get on the tram first. I was in line to order coffee for Easel and me at McDonalds when an older lady looked me in the eye and stepped in front of me! It was as if she dared me to challenge her “right” to step in front of me. I was so flabbergasted; I just stood there and let it happen. (I will admit, here, that my lack of language skills was probably a factor in my acceptance of her behavior. At home, I probably would have questioned her need to get ahead of me.) The same behavior is evident in the grocery store, at the bus stops, and on the metro.
I have a friend, an American married to a Pole, who lives here in Poland and she has begun to speak up. She told me that recently a woman tried to step in front of her at a grocery store and she very firmly but politely said, “Nie, Pani!” (“No, Madam!”) Most of the time when I observe these behaviors (or am on the receiving end of these behaviors) I tend to laugh. I know I will not be here for long so it isn’t worth getting upset. On the other hand, I really do find it funny, to see some tiny little woman push in front of other people, regardless of sex or size, to be the first on the bus or the tram. I will continue to look both ways before trying to board the tram and I will always keep an eye out for “babcias”!
