THE SECOND VISIT OF FRISISH
DELEGATION
TO SCHOOLS IN KASHUBIAN LAND
( 27/th of September - 2/nd
Oktober 2002 )
The teacher's and headmaster's delegation from Friesland came
on visit to Kashubian land after two years cooperation between our schools. The
preparations to entertain the quests started in the spring. Our meetings had
been held in Gdansk, Szemud and Kartuzy. Everything was arranged by Elżbieta
Ścibor from Jastrzębia Góra. We've got help from the Education Department by The
Kashubish Council Association at the head of Renata Mistarz. The teacher's
course and the partial costs of the visit defrayed the Local Center of Teacher's
Training and Advisory in Kartuzy under the supervision of Anna Dereń. Althought
the preparation period wasn't long enough, our level of preparing for the event
was incredible sufficient. My teachers from the school in Lipnica inquired about
the planned visit during the Teacher's Council in August. Teachers were
encouraged to participate the programme
"Regional Europe" (organized by
the Local Centre of Teacher's Training and Advisory in Kartuzy). I didn't have
to persuade them about the advantages of that programme. There were ten teachers
interested in that course: Alina Drzazga, Anna Dyngosz-Prądzyńska, Zdzisława
Wera, Gabriela Dargac, Bogusława Świątek Brzezińska, Danuta Depka Prondzinska,
Jolanta Rymon Lipinska, Lucyna Modrzejewska, Marzena Warnke and Maria Reszka.
They were more than happy to take part in entertaining the headmaster and our
guests from Friesland. Normally expected, the teachers commited them selvs to
the task seriously. The first part of the teacher's training took place in
Wieżyca (20/th - 22/nd of September 2002). The second part took place in
Starbienino (27/th - 29/th of September 2002). The atmosphere during the
training was very friendly. Teachers from Lipnica were very active and our
frisish guests felt at home. There was a possibility to practice our foreign
languages skills during their visit. Peter Braam - the headmaster from Warns -
is very well- wishing, warm - hearted and open - minded. My teachers described
him as a good communicator. The common teacher's training took place in the
28/th of September. Our friends had more time to visit some beautiful places in
the Kashubian land. In the evenings we song by the bonfire and shared our
different cultures and personalities.
The teachers training finished on the 29/th of September (on Sunday)
but without our guests from Friesland. We could be acquainted with new
teaching's methods, which will be used in our work with the children. On Sunday
morning the headmasters of the partnerschools from Lipnica, Kramarzyny, Szemud,
Jastrzębia Góra, Borzestowo, Głodnica and Tuchomie went with our gests to
Gdańsk. We walked downtown and enjoyed the concert performed by the Navy.
Gdańsk looked like it was welcoming our guests from Friesland. There was a
opportunity to by some souvenirs.

After
the walk we took part in the service in Polanka Church with the former
Polish
President - Mr Lech Wałęsa (the laureate of the peace -
nobelprize).Unfortunately the service was very modest (there was no organ -
music). After the service we met Mr President personally. Our discussions with
him were very interesting and satisfactory. During an one - hour meeting we
talked about languages, cultures and customs of our region. I think our gusts
were impressed by Mr Lech Wałęsa, especially, that the meeting took place on the
President's birthday. We happly sang " Sto lat " and the English version - "
Happy birthday to you" for the President. It was an occasion to take photos with
him as well. After the meeting, we went to the Oliwa's cathedral, where we could
enjoy the organ - music concert.
For a lunch we went to the new Kashubian
Association base in Rumia. The food was delicious. Unfortunately we couldn't
stay in Rumia long due to the distance between Rumia and Lipnica. During the
lunch we've been introduced to the Local Authorities. We spent
the night in
Borzyszkowy. It was already late, when we arrived. Two teachers accompanied
me on Sunday: Maria Latuszewska and Gabriela Dargac. We spent a very nice day
and I could do with some extra vocabluries.
That Monday will stay in
our memories for a long time. Teachers from Lipnica prepared lessons according
to the plan fantastlicly. The children from 4., 5. and 6. class had another
lessons on this day. Each group of the children worked together with two
teachers and covered one subject. At 10 o'clock a.m. there was a symbolic
welcome to our guest from the pupils with some bread and salt. We enjoyed the
concert of our local folk- band "Małe Gochy" and after that we started again
working in groups. Then were was a possibility to take part in an appointment
with our local community leader - Leopold Jankowski and our teachers. As a
result of this appointment, there is two - sided wish to organize pupil's
exchange between Warns and Lipnica with the financial support of our local
parish. It's possible, that such an exchange will take place during the coming
holiday. After official talkes, we went to the classrooms, where we could
observe the pupils work. At 12.30 p.m. we summed up the pupil's work at the main
school's hall and then we presented the results of their work. The first group
presented on the glass, the second group sang the Frisish and Kashubish songs
and presented Kashubish embroidery as well.

The
others boasted of an English - German - Polish - Kashubish - Frisish dictionary
and the Kashubish - Frisish symbols. The fourth group presented a small
performance based on a text by our local artist - Józef Bruski. The children
from the next group talked about this, what they saw during the short excursion
in the region of Lipnica. They presented very interesting natural informations
provided with the Kashubish - Frisish designations. The last group seasoned very
delicious Kashubish dishes and presented pictures of the Kashubish landscape.
During that day we admired the occasional exhibition in the school's hall in
particular artistic horn's goods and products from our forests. Our guests was
presented with a lot of different gifts from our children. One part of them is a
result of the children's work. After the lunch we had a chat with our guest and
teachers. We enjoyed delicious cake baked by teachers and then we finished the
evening accompanied with the guitar and accordion.
The last day of Peter's visit in Lipnica we spent in
Wdzydze Kiszewskie where we admired the Kashubish Scansen Museum. We
wanted to feel the spirit of our ancestors. Then we visited the beautiful old
castle in Bytów.It was like a completion of the visit in the scansen. We were
having the lunch in Jaś Kowalski club together with our friends from Kramarzyny
and their guests.
The visit ended in Jastrzębia Góra. The hospitality of
our friends from there is wellknown. We enjoyed the delicious sea-meal: fish and
a lot of dainties. After the short performance of the local pupils and
interesting exhibition we enjoyed the Kashubish song "kaszubskie nuty" performed
by our guests from Friesland. We spent the time very lovely, laughing and joking
all the time. Unfortunately this nice visit had to finish but we became richer
with new expiriences, reflections and remembrances.
I'd like to thank
all my teachers for cooperation - project between our school and the school in
Warns. I'd like to thank everyone devoting their time and charing their skills.
I'm very proud of my teachers and all school. I hope to continue our intentions
and I confide they'll be fulfilled soon. Special thanks to all, who were anxious
about the organization of our commom visit in Starbienino, Gdańsk and Jastrzębia
Góra.
Lipnica, October 2002
Andrzej Lemańczyk
Translated by Rafał Maliszewski