Polish Language Blog

An extensive subterranean system of defenses (podziemny system obrony), often referred to as the Międzyrzecz fortifications (Ostwall), were built for German troops close to the previous German – Polish border from 1933 through to the end of the second world war in 1945. Today, sections of this underground bunker complex serve as perhaps the most important winter hibernation roost in Europe, for at least 12 species of bats.

During winter months large numbers of some of the rarest bat species (gatunki nietoperzy) converge in the passages of the Międzyrzeczki underground bunker system around the village of Nietoperek (nietoperz means bat in Polish) near Międzyrzecz. True bat numbers are almost impossible to ascertain because the entire system cannot be investigated thoroughly. Many of the tunnels are so full of water that entering them is virtually impossible. However, most researchers agree that the number of bats present here during the winter months number between 20,000 and 30,000. Many of these bats are rare or endangered species such as the barbastelles and mouse eared bat.

The bats travel from as far away as western Germany, the Czech republic and throughout Poland to this unique hibernation roost in October each year. The area around Międzyrzecz itself is home to only a small all year round bat population, the biggest of these is a colony of mouse-eared bats, which breed in and around the village of Nietoperek.

Some of the Europe’s rarest bat species, including; the Greater Mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), Barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus), Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteini), Whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus), Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri), Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii), brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), Northern bat (Eptesicus nilsonii), Brandt’s bat (Myotis brandtii), Pond bat (Myotis dasycneme), and the Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) have been found roosting in the Nietoperek bat reserve in Lubuskie, western Poland.

The underground tunnel system is in many ways an ideal place for bats to hibernate, not least because the temperature in these corridors is a constant +10c. If during a bat’s winter hibernation its temperature drops below zero the bats will freeze to death or die of starvation. If it is too warm, bats will starve to death due to the rise in the metabolic rate causing the burn-up of their fat reserves. Unfortunately, the future of this valuable bat roost is by no means certain due to unthinking tourists and locals.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

Today I wanted to share with you my experience of the first day I landed in USA…

I decided to be a part of “student exchange program”. To be honest…I’m still not sure why is it called like this…It is not an exchange of students, you don’t go to school. As long as you are a full time student in Poland, you can get a J-1 visa, which will allow you to legally work in USA for few months. You can travel, meet new people…There are numerous “student organizations” in Poland that will “help” you find a summer job (that is one of the conditions to get a visa – you have to have a proof that someone will hire you during your stay in USA). You can also find a job by yourself – which is the less popular version…

When I decided to do it, I decided to do it by myself! Yes, no friends with me! I did not know anyone here in the States either – all my family is back in Poland. I found a job by myself (with a little help of a friend who used to live here long time ago). Most of the students go to big cities, like Chicago, New York, Boston…I lived in Warsaw, so I really wanted to get away from a big city in the summer time. To this day, everyone still ask me: “How did you end  up in North Conway, New Hampshire?” Well, I love this place: lakes, mountains, fresh air and the ocean not far away! What else can I ask for?

But going back to the beginning of my trip…

I was really excited…until the last day before my flight…Then all the sudden I got scared. I started thinking that this is crazy! I do not know anyone and I will be traveling so far away by myself. Well, there was no going back in time though. I spent too much money (probably close to $2000.00) organizing everything!

Flight was smooth and I met some great people on the plane. Landed in New York City… Yes, New York City! The “student organization” I went through in Poland got us tickets to NY City, so we can go to “student orientation” and from there all travel to our final destination…It really didn’t make sense…so I skipped the orientation. I did not have much money with me, so the cheapest option was to take a bus from New York to Boston and then from there to North Conway. Once I got to Boston, I learned that the only bus that goes my way is at 5pm….and that I just missed it!

Exhausted, hungry…now I had to figure out where to stay for the night and what to do for the next 24 hours!

So I got a hotel room and it was money well spent. I was able to shower, change and rest. Next morning I decided to explore Boston a little bit, since I had the whole day till 5pm.

Walking on the streets I was very excited and I was soaking everything in…!So different then back home in Poland. It was a beautiful sunny day (end of June), people on the streets were smiling and saying hallo! Yes, it was something new – nobody in Poland says “hello, how are you” to a stranger on the street! Such a little thing, but can make your day!

I spent couple hours at the Museum of science, got a lunch, walk around and found Duck tour! Yes, a lot of people think it is cheesy, but I really liked it. I didn’t have to walk! I learned some stuff about Boston and enjoyed this beautiful day in the fresh air. Most of you probably know that after driving around, boat eventually gets in the water. This is when the driver asked if there is anyone who would like to drive the boat? Few kids raised their hands and they were all able to have their turn. When they run out of volunteers, I thought: “what the hell, why not?”. The driver asked me where I was from and what was I doing in Boston. I said I was from Poland and I was here for 3 month vacation by myself! People couldn’t believe! I got my “boat drivers license” and went back to my seat. All people started talking to me and they were super nice!

After the tour I started walking on the streets of Boston again and few minutes later saw the same boat with the same tour guide! He shouted:”Look everyone! This is Kasia from Poland!She is here by herself  - it is her 3 month long vacation” Everyone started clapping and waving. It was really nice – probably would not happen in Poland.

My bus left at 5pm and by the late evening I arrived in beautiful North Conway! I stayed here for the whole summer working and having fun, then travelled for about 3 weeks. It was a wonderful summer! I came back couple more times for the summers to exactly the same spot and eventually moved here after finishing college in Poland!

Do I love it here? Yes, I do! Do I miss Poland? Yes, I do! But life is life, you got to do what you got to do. I do what makes me happy!

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

When you visit foreign country, you usually think about things you can bring and things you want to leave with.

As a member of the European Union, Poland belongs to a customs union – items imported into and exported from Poland within the territory of the EU are free from customs duties.

The official limits on duty-free items that can be exported or imported (per person over the age of 18) within the EU’s borders are: 10 litres of spirits, 20 litres of fortified wine, 90 litres of wine and110 litres of beer. Austria, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, France and Ireland have stricter regulations concerning the limits on cigarettes for travellers coming from Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia.

When travelling to Poland from outside of the EU, one doesn‘t need to pay taxes on goods purchased for non-commercial use in the following quantities: 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of wine.

There are strict regulations concerning the export of works of art and animals, and limits on the amount of cash.

You can find more information at http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/index_en.htm.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)