The first night after arriving in Poland, I still followed my usual Taiwan schedule—midnight in Poland felt like 7 a.m. back home. Despite going to bed late, I woke up at 4 a.m. and couldn’t sleep anymore. Thankfully, it didn’t take long to adjust to the time difference, settling into a routine of sleeping from 11 p.m. or midnight to about 6 or 7 a.m.
We’ve been staying mostly at home, visiting family, and taking things slow. One of the highlights was visiting my uncle, who has some traditional treasures at home, like an old fireplace and a fully functional vintage kitchen. We even got to cook there! It was such a nostalgic experience, and to top it off, we built a snowman together, cherishing the last bits of snow before winter bids farewell. Even on the fourth day, there was still some leftover snow, but the rainy and slippery roads have kept us mostly indoors.
The weather has been quite gloomy—only one sunny day so far—but it’s still been a great experience. My uncle took us on a long walk to see the river, hoping to spot wildlife like pheasants, hares, deer, or even a fox. Instead, we got an unexpected visitor—a cat! It turned out to be my cousin’s cat, now living at my aunt’s place, and seeing it made me so happy. There are quite a few animals around—a bunny and three dogs, also belonging to my cousin but staying here since she works and her kids are at school. She only kept one cat at home, though it’s not the friendliest—it hisses and scratches both people and other animals.
One of the most fun activities was sledding in the early morning, when it was -6°C. The crisp, windless weather made it feel much better than Taiwan’s damp winters. Speaking of Taiwan, I heard that Miaoli recently hit 1°C—unusually cold for Taiwan!
As the days pass, more family members invite us to visit, though they’re usually only free on weekends. We’re hoping to explore other places, like the salt mines, one of the world’s largest churches, or some castles. However, the icy roads and dark, short days make us a bit lazy—sunrise is at 8 a.m., and sunset is before 4 p.m., giving us only about eight hours of daylight. Adding to that, people here are used to sitting in the dark, even when it gets dark outside, they don’t turn on many lights indoors. It’s quite a different atmosphere!
Our son has been impressing everyone with his diligence. Despite being on vacation, he’s tackling his homework—25 pages of a mix of Chinese and math—without needing any reminders. He sits down at the table every morning or during the day and works on it himself. Everyone in the family is amazed, especially since homework has been mostly abolished for kids in Poland. The older children (10–14 years old) seem glued to their phones and rarely play outdoors anymore.
We hope the weather improves soon so we can venture out and explore more. For now, it’s been a cozy time reconnecting with family, sharing stories, and enjoying the slower pace of life here in Poland. 🌨️❄️
The cold Polish winter has made outdoor activities a bit challenging, but we’re making the most of our visit. One day, we ventured to the nearby city of Włocławek. Parking there is free for two hours, though you need to place a ticket in the window. We walked around for a while, but the freezing weather forced us back inside. My hands were painfully red from the cold wind.
I’m getting more comfortable driving in Poland. I haven’t driven much in the past two years because I find it hard to adjust to the traffic in Taiwan.
We also visited a cemetery. In Poland, it’s quite normal to visit cemeteries several times a year, anytime you feel like it. Polish cemeteries are always well-maintained, with flowers and candles on the graves. This was the first time I visited my aunt’s grave since she passed away just before we left Poland the last time.
Afterward, we went to see a nearby church and lake. The cemetery overlooks the lake, making it a beautiful and peaceful place. We couldn’t stay outside for long, as the temperature was around 0°C, but the "feels like" temperature was often below freezing.
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