All posts filed under: Polish Gal in London

Once Upon A Time

Published by Magda Olchawska

Once Upon A Time, I Found A Forbidden Forest The Forest Was A Dark Place With Large Population of Crocodiles Hiding Around Every Corner I wanted to run but I couldn’t The fear stopped me from moving I wanted to yell for help but I couldn’t My lips were stitched and my inner screams invisible I was invisible when I decided to stay in the forest to make it bright, make it work I so badly wanted something to work in my life even for a day And that made the fear worth feeling Besides by then, the forest was the only thing I knew well I cleaned and cleaned I weeded and weeded I planted and planted With time the darkness became my norm, but I never stopped believing That the Forbidden Forest could be turned into a bright little oasis of hope Hope that never dies even when the crocodiles are lurking from every corner The End 01. Nov. 2018, London

London Sucks You In

Published by Magda Olchawska

I moved to London 20 years ago. The first days and weeks were hard. I was homesick big time; I was missing the feeling and the security, which familiar environment offers. I had never been so far or for so long away from my family than that one summer in 1998. I was 19 back then, and like any 19-year-old young adult I longed for the independence, change and freedom, which I knew I could never find in Poland, and London was oozing with those. I was planning to be in London for a short time, preferably just for the summer holidays. The summer holidays turned into a year; a year turned into two, three, twenty. Soon enough London became home. Every time I was away for too long, I felt uneasy, and I missed London and my life and lifestyle here. At one point in my life, I decided that I was tired of the constant noise of London and I tried to go back to Poland. But soon enough I realised it wasn’t …

My Life Without FB on My Phone

Published by Magda Olchawska

When the Cambridge Analytica scandal became public, I decided to delete FB and messenger app from my phone and entirely delete my Instagram account. I’m more than sure that Instagram is undoubtedly not missing me as a user. Since March 2018 I have been living without FB, and the messenger on my phone and I have re-discovered that the life outside my phone does exist. It is possible to have fulfilling, full of fun life without having to check my phone every few minutes for updates, news, likes, dislikes, comments, conversations etc. Only now, after not being plugged in for over six months I can see how much of my life was consumed by the unnecessary acts of checking and feeling updated, “on top” of whatever my brain was dealing with Before the Cambridge Analytica leak, every morning before I got out of bed, I had to check my phone, my FB, and my Instagram. Now when I wake up, I read a book instead of a news feed, cuddle up to my son and …

Brexit Is Starting to Affect My Son

Published by Magda Olchawska

By now anyone and everyone (that includes many hardcore Brexiters too) know that Brexit is one big shamble that is only going to benefit very few and ruin lives, businesses, dreams, and hopes of many more. The fact that the British government is incapable of delivering any kind of Brexit deal and acts like a spoiled little kid in the playground is affecting everyone, regardless of what one voted for. If you have not felt the consequences of the Brexit vote yet, just take a look at the weak Sterling, prices creeping up, businesses going down or moving abroad are all the symptoms of the Leave Vote. Still not convinced, don’t worry. Give it a year or two after the Festival of Brexit and you will start feeling the full impact. Yes, I’m European and a firm believer in united Europe. Having said that, I’m not naive to think that the EU is without its problems. No party, no country, and no alliance is perfect. My take on Brexit and rise of the nationalistic sentiments …

I Am a Dyslexic Writer…

Published by Magda Olchawska

I am a dyslexic learner and ever since I can remember I have struggled with spelling, learning (I had to read non-fictional books at least three times to be able to understand what means what), abstract concepts and ideas such as physics, chemistry (still makes me sick) and very low self-esteem. When I was in pre-school, my teacher made me read a story in front of the room full of other six years old. I was terrified, and, at first, I couldn’t even get one word out. After a few minutes of struggling she finally told me to sit down. On that day I was called lazy for the first time in my life, an adjective that stuck with me for the rest of my formal schooling years. My primary school physics teacher was the one who called me stupid first. He asked me a question and didn’t really like my honest answers so told me to leave the classroom (that was a punishment back then) and on my way out he did say to …