Paderewski and Pierogi in Polska . . . Oh My!: Podkowa Leśna (20.-22. Nov.)

I had the opportunity of going to a youth retreat at an SDA seminary in Podkowa Leśna (just outside of Warszawa) the weekend of 20.-22. November.

The trip was long, the speaker (Pastor Colin Stewart from the UK) was really good, and the memories were totally worth it.

Our (my two apartment-mates and I) trip started Friday when our train left around 6 in the morning. We were in a cabin with 6 seats and we wanted to take advantage of the fact that we had it all to ourselves. We slept for about an hour before the next passenger entered our cabin.
After a while of talking to each other in English, Danielle asked about a word on the poster on the door. The guy who had been sitting with us quietly, explained it in descent English! So we all started to get to know him, and him us. Turns out his last stop was also Warszawa ("Warsaw" in Polish; "Vahr-shah-vah"). We were going to meet some friends of Danielle, who were going to take us with them to Podkowa Leśna. Once we arrived to Warszawa, we parted ways, but not before getting a group picture. . .

Us girls with our new friend from the train, Patryk.

We arrived at the main/central train station. This train station is connected to a large mall. Inside said mall, we were going to meet and wait for the rest of the group, before setting off together.

A peak inside this mall.

Oh, the wavy architecture.

These escalators looked cooler than in this stitched picture.

Still doesn't quite do it justice.

Want to charge your phone? You'll have to (stationary) bike it!

So the group arrives, we all buy the local train tickets, and off we go. About an hour later, we get off the train and walk about a kilometer or 2 to the campus. Once arrived, we registered ourselves in, met some people, and claimed a spot to sleep on in one of the classrooms. While most went to dinner, Danielle took a shower and I got myself and my area ready for the evening. It was time for the vespers program. Towards the end, we both voted on retiring early, seeing we were both nodding off during the sermon. Still can't quite believe we were the 1st to go to sleep.

***

Eleven hours later, we woke up to a refreshing Sabbath morning. Had breakfast, got ready, and still had some extra time before Sabbath school, so we took a walk around campus--literally.

Adventists worldwide recognize this logo.

What's a campus without a cat?

Theo. building/guys' dorm/library/offices/whatever else I'm missing

I must say, these wood & glass doors are interesting.

I think you can understand a few words here.

Address, and I like the SDA logo on the gate door.

Joann was here.


1 of the girls' rooms. I was at the far corner under the window and beside the black desk.

This was the first time I've ever slept on the floor and was able to sleep. Normally, I cannot sleep on the floor. This time, the floor felt so comfortable! This might give you an idea of how exhausted I was when I arrived--and not just from the trip, but also from the week.

So, after Sabbath school and the sermon, we had lunch. After lunch, since we had some free time, Danielle and I decided to explore the building that looked like a castle (6 pictures up). We peeked inside and 3 guys were standing there. We asked if we could explore and they offered to give us a tour.

Up on the top floor, we started talking and getting to know each other. After a while, we got a mattress to sit on; one of the guys brought over sunflower seeds, raisins, and bananas; and we ended up talking, snacking, singing, and laughing for about 5 hours in the hallway!
We eventually decided to go down for dinner. Upon arrival at the main building (where the cafeteria was), we saw that the bus that took several people to Warszawa for some mission activity had returned. We thought, Bus . . . Many people . . . Food! Run! Get to the food before they do! And we did. Fun times.

After dinner came the evening sermon. After the evening sermon, Danielle and I went to say "goodbye" to the guys, since some were leaving early in the morning and we wouldn't have a chance to see them then. It was going to be for a few minutes . . . well, that turned out to be more like 2-3 hours . . .
At least we got a few group pictures!

"Oh Dawid, get in the picture!"

Alright, we're all here.

Wait, what are you saying?

Oh, another picture; yeah sure!

Oh, that's it, eh?

Where all these people coming from? Marcin is the only normal one.

***

Sunday morning, our last sermon for the weekend.

But that wasn't the last sermon of the weekend, just ours. We had to leave early to catch our train back. Sadness.

Something about "the light of the world"

For more info, click here.

Hi Tomek! He was our photographer Saturday night.

Time to say goodbye. It's back home we go...

Podkowa Leśna central station

We made it back to the central train station in Warszawa. We needed to go back to the grocery store in the mall to get some food--and I had to go back and take pictures of the awesome bathroom they have beside McDonald's on the top floor!