We began the month of November with a trip to the Poznan zoo on November 5 with beautiful Fall weather. Since then, we have had to accept the fact that for the next while it is colder and sun is going down at 4:00 - and we are still a ways away from the shortest day of the year!
HOWEVER, the bright news is the work and people here! Recently, I have traveled to Leszno on November 16 to perform at a high school and participated in 3 Thanksgivings by coordinating musical entertainment including my solo piano music, accompanying singers, and leading a choir!
The 1st event was at 1:00 p.m. on November 23 at the beautiful old Stary Dom restaurant in Warsaw , hosted for Fulbrighters and guests by the Polish Fulbright Commission. It was a beautiful and delicious Polish take on the Thanksgiving meal. The 2nd event was at 6:30 p.m. that same night at Nowy Swiat Muzyki, hosted for friends of Poland and America, thanks to the creator of this annual event, Jarek Cholodecki. We Fulbrighters presented another program, and got an additional delicious take on the the Thanksgiving meal.
On Monday, November 27 we traveled to Krakow (a six hour train ride from Poznan) and participated in the U.S. Consul General's Thanksgiving, held at his residence. Again, it was a wonderful meal and a thoroughly American celebration.
It was so gratifying to be making music at these events. Having young and old singing together in celebration of Thanksgiving, followed by a musical start to the holiday season was very special to those of us far from home. What a reminder that we all have so much for which we can be grateful!
Wishing you a beautiful December from Poland.
(This site pamelahowland.com is not an official Fulbright Program site. The views expressed on this site are entirely those of its author Pamela Howland and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations.)
