Our Polish Adventure

On our way to Krakow, we were joined in our carriage by a chatty elderly man, who spoke both German and Polish, and seemed amazed that we were
a) English (and kept telling all the ticket inspectors when they came past)
b) travelling to Poland and
c) doing so alone.
I’m sure he was only trying to take an interest, but the conversation we had with him was slightly worrying:
Him: ‘You’re travelling to Krakow? How come you’re going there?’
Us: ‘Just for a visit’
Him: ‘I see… Do you speak Polish?’
Us: ‘No’
Him: ‘Hmm… Do you know anyone there?’
Us: ‘No’
Him: ‘Hmm….Well, aren’t you brave. I’m sure you’ll be able to get around…’ (whilst looking unconvinced)

I’m sure he’d be happy to know that not only did we successfully make it around Krakow, but it turns out we appear naturally Polish- I lost count of the time we were approached and asked directions in Polish, or spoken to in Polish in restaurants and so on. The people giving out tourism leaflets didn’t bother us at all, though it did mean we kept having to go through the same process- someone would say something in Polish to us, we’d look at each other, there’d be a moment of awkward silence, and then one of us would have to say ‘I’m sorry… we don’t speak Polish’. Luckily, this was usually met by some awkward laughter, or even an apology, but I would have felt better if we could have at least apologised in Polish.

I'm not even sure what it was that makes us look Polish. Our thoroughly practical coats are clearly German, and there doesn't seem to be any unifying characteristic between us and the Polish people we saw. I'm also not sure whether to take it as a compliment or not.

I never thought I'd be so happy to get back to Germany and hear German. At least now, compared to complete and utter inability to understand or communicate in Poland, I feel a bit more confident in German, and that's got to be a good thing.