POLSKA / POLAND
Thoughts of a traveller
Serhan Karatas
Poland is inarguably the most powerful country in the Central Europe and it is one of the biggest land of changes in Central Europe during the last two decades.
The Solidarity Movement and the later political changes led the country into a big change process in economical level. The economic reform programme in Poland, which started in 1990, set the country on its way to liberalisation and privatisation. Owing to a rapid economic revitalisation, Poland became the first transition economy in East-Central Europe, which regained its pre-transformation development level. The recent history of Poland is indeed characterised by that process of transition from the centrally planned to a market-oriented economy and by the recent challenge of being a member of EU by 2004.
The process of transition from the centrally planned to a market-oriented economy has generally resulted in a more diversified product market. This aspect is considered as a very important development for the society indeed. After this change even if the level of income is not that much, the citizens have been taught to be “good” consumers lately. The “Western” brands and goods are demanded more and more day by day. The main cities have already got large shopping malls, which are the big signs of the neo-liberal economic system, very quickly. Today (in 2008) ex-leader of Solidarity Movement, Lech Walesa, is calling the world to travel to Poland to see historical “Solidarity” path in the advertisements of LOT Airlines (Polish Airlines). 
The transition process is also witnessed on the social and cultural levels. As a traveller I have been to the biggest cities and some significant towns in Poland in the recent years, I observed the social norms and daily habits as much as possible. Polish people are hesitant to interact with the foreigners at first, but they are generally polite and social people after all.
However the incomparable Catholic Christian and historical values of Poland became the core factors of the state back again, after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact. The effect of Pope John Paul II was essential in the transition of Poland. People, especially the elder, are mostly quite conservative. The pilgrimages to Czechtochowa is surely something to be seen and be amazed with.
In
addition there are some strong fundamentalist religious groups in
Poland.; radio Maryja and its sect is one of the most remarkable ones.
The religion based conservative values can be referred as the main core similarities I found with Polish society and my own country, Turkey, indeed. As usual small towns are more conservative compared to big cities and student towns.
Well, we should never underestimate the power using the notion of "the holy nation" anywhere. A very important detail to remember is "Polska" is protected by "the queen mother" Virgin Mary and administrated by her son Jesus.
10/04/2008
Living a life of my own...
...
*^"#+&*
