Hi! My name is Peter Frankunas, though most people call me Pete (hence the title).

This summer, I’ll be spending eight weeks in Poland! I’ll be based in Kraków, but I’ll also be traveling to different regions of the country throughout my stay.

Poland isn’t the most common destination for students studying abroad, so you might be wondering, “Why is Pete going to Poland?” Well, my mom was born in Poland, and I have a lot of family there whom I rarely get to see. Some of my relatives haven’t visited me in Philadelphia in nearly five years, and it’s been over eight years since I last visited them in Poland. I barely remember that trip, so this summer is especially meaningful. For me, this isn’t just a study abroad experience but an opportunity to reconnect with my family. That’s why I’ll be spending both my first and last weeks in Poland with them.

My journey begins in Gdynia, where my aunt, uncle, and cousin live right by the Baltic Sea. I’ll spend about five days with them before traveling south to Kraków. There, I’ll spend six weeks at the Prologue School taking advanced Polish language courses. These classes will help me “polish my Polish” while also earning credits toward my Polish minor.

After six weeks of exploring Kraków, I’ll head to Targowiska, a small farming village in southeastern Poland where my mom grew up. My other aunt, uncles, cousins, and my Babcia (grandmother) all live there, along with plenty of extended family.

I’m incredibly excited for this adventure and can’t wait to share updates about the people I meet, the places I visit, and the experiences I’ll have along the way!