All You Need is Love

Over the past week I have had a variety of experiences that center on Valentine's Day that I would like to share.


Kocham Ciebie
is how you say "I love you" in Polish. One day last week I was at one of the little shops near to my flat doing some basic grocery shopping. I was at the produce counter with my four little oranges wait patiently for the people in front of me to pay. While standing there, I noticed a flat of apples that were set apart from the others. As I got closer I saw that they had "kocham ciebie <3" written on them! I have no idea how the Poles managed to do this, but it was super cute. I had to buy one! After some thinking I have concluded that Americans should also have I-love-you-apples instead of conversation hearts. Apples send the message: I want you to be happy, avoid the doctor, and live a long life. Candy hearts say: I want you to eat chalk and have too much sugar and get fat.


Shopping Galore
Many of the stores around town have all types of Valentine's Day paraphernalia out for sale. Most of the products are similar to those sold in America, though they are much less in quantity. Also, everything is focused on couples. There are not cards or gifts for any other loving relationship other than boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife. Everything is cute and obnoxious.

School Play
Our school LOVES to do little English skits for major holidays. Today was the Valentine's Day presentation. It was put on my some of the 1g students. It was called, "Valentine's Day: How did it start?" The students presented three different theories of how it all began. There were some great quotes full of wonderful anachronisms, awesome music (All You Need is Love, When a Man Loves a Woman), and cute kiddos. My favorite quotes were these. St. Valentine: Maybe in a few centuries people will remember that I married people and celebrate it." And by St. Valentine's cellmate: Great card! I will copy it and sell it for money to people to give to their loved ones. I will be rich!" Again, I was very impressed by their skit and really enjoyed it.

LOTE/GTE Post
Today a special box appeared outside of the Teacher's Room. It is covered in red foil and has hearts on it. From what I can gather it is the Valentine's Day Post Box. Students can put cards in it with the name and class of their friends and then they will be delivered. It's super cute.


Student Reactions
In many of my classes this week I am talking about Valentine's Day. I was curious about what they thought of it and how they celebrated in Poland. I found that they have very similar reactions as Americans. Some love the holiday and think that it is a great day to tell the people you love how much you care about them. Some think it is a time to help shy people be brave and express their feelings. And inevitably some despise it and I have heard all of the standard reasons. It's too commercialized, you should tell you love on other days, it's nauseating to see all of the couples out and about. When I first brought up the topic a few students actually groaned. It was awesome.

However, thanks to my mom, I have been able to share one of my favorite things about Valentine's Day: little kid cards! I have enough cards for each of my students. Their faces are priceless when they open the little paper to see a Disney character telling them what a good friend they are. I tell them now they will at least get one Valentine this year.

All in all it has been fun to learn about how a different culture shares this holiday. I hope that you have a day full of love on Sunday. Take advantage of this opportunity to share love. Though we should tell people how we feel about them all of the time, we all know that we don't say those three little words enough. So say them over and over again and remind the people around you how much you care and how empty your life would be without them. Trust me- to be apart from the ones your love is excruciating, so don't waste a single second with them. So from me to you: HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I LOVE YOU!

Blessings,
Colleen