Polish Exchange Program

In October, twenty students from Masterman had the opportunity to participate in a Polish Exchange Program. Throughout March, Masterman has had the pleasure of returning the favor and welcoming students from Poland into many students’homes. The opening assembly ran successfully, filled with enthusiasm and excitement. A video made by Akino Harris (‘26) and other students who flew to Poland was shown to recap the experience they had while in Poland.  Jocelyn Bell, a junior at Masterman who traveled to Poland and volunteered to host, was interviewed to better understand the experience of being an exchange student and welcoming an exchange student Bell said it was her first time hosting, and when asked the question “Why this year?” she said, “I was really interested because my family is Polish and we don’t speak any Polish, so I really wanted to learn my culture and my history.” She continued with, “Let’s meet new people, let’s have new experiences; you only live once!” Now it was the time for the Polish exchange students to live and experience a wonderful time in Philadelphia. 

Throughout the two weeks they’ve been here, they have had the chance to see how we express culture throughout our city. They got to travel from City Hall, all the way to Washington, D.C. From seeing the big lit up building in NYC to the vibrant street art here in Philly, they got to experience things that might not have been important to us, but were life-changing for them. To better understand the impact of exchange programs, an interview was conducted with two students visiting from Poland, who shared their personal experience adapting to a new country and culture. When asked about what it was like living with a host family, Matylda Cziczak expressed, “I can see the difference between my lifestyle and her family lifestyle, but either way, I feel like I am in my family home. They are taking care of me. . . I feel like a guest, but at the same time, a part of their family.” Whilst enjoying her stay, she has been able to formulate a genuine connection with new people she has been welcomed by. She also stated, “you guys in Philly are so nice, you compliment each other really often, you could just walk around the street and randomly some person can come to you and compliment you.” Throughout this interview, Cziczak shows how enjoyable her stay has been, and how embracing and exciting the people here in Philadelphia can be. When asked, “Throughout the many places you have gotten the opportunity to travel to, which one has been your favorite?” Cziczak explained how visiting New York City had always been her dream, and it was amazing to finally see it with her own eyes. 

Another Polish exchange student, Janek Krzyżanowski, expressed how his favorite place was  Reading Terminal, because “you guys always say you have so many cultures[in Philadelphia], and that was the only place I felt that.” He talked more about how he liked how Masterman expressed motivation on the walls throughout the building with posters and announcements, and how he enjoyed the overall energy of the school. Although both students shared their wonderful experiences traveling to a new country they’ve always dreamed of going to, they also explained a lot about what their expectations of the “big United States” and the land of opportunity were. They talked about how they always saw a type of vibe in movies of high schools in the U.S.and how they’ve always seen musicals, cheerleaders, and many other exciting fictional things about what it’s like to attend a school in America. When asked, “If you could use one word to explain the U.S, what would it be?” Two very different answers were given. Cziczak used the word “kind,” while Krzyzanowski used the word “Calories.” Getting to experience the United States has been a dream come true for the Polish students and has been an opportunity to strengthen their appreciation of a different country's culture. This exchange program showed how stepping outside of one’s comfort zone can lead to unforgettable learning points and memories in an adventurous life.