While classes have been testing my Polish skills, my family has also been putting me to the test! On Saturday, I was able to meet up with my family at Our Lady of Częstochowa, an incredible shrine that holds great importance for the Polish people. There is also a replica of the shrine near Philadelphia, but I have always wanted to visit the original in Poland. It was beautiful, and I was so happy to be able to share this experience with my family.

On Sunday, I took the train to Oświęcim. To many people, this name may not carry much weight, but the German name, Auschwitz, does. This was a difficult trip to make, but I believe it is something that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Visiting the site truly opened my eyes to the magnitude of what happened there and served as a powerful reminder of why we must make sure something like this never happens again.

With three weeks remaining in Poland, I am excited to explore more of the country, continue improving my Polish, and spend the rest of my time with my family.