About 12 years ago, I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to go to Poland to teach English. It was my first real chance to experience the world on my own and I was ecstatic (and terrified) to go.

I had absolutely no clue what to expect. I was a dumb kid at the time, more interested in partying and chasing girls than real relationships and experience. It was a small village called Zgierz, near the birthplace of Chopin, a long ways down the train tracks. I was coming from the comfortable suburbs in America and had never been to a place so simple.

But I will never forget how much it taught me humanity. Humility. Compassion. Hospitality.

We were from different worlds and they treated me like I was a member of their own family. The parents were so grateful that we were teaching their children English (many of them could not speak it themselves), that they would bring us roses to thank us. The kids would never let the pencils we gave them out of their sight, not leaving any possibility of not learning as much as possible as they could. I gave one of the students a frisbee and he would sit on it everyday so that he would never lose it and so that no one would ever possibly take it.

They gave me a place to stay. Cooked every single meal (as well as afternoon cookies and tea of course!) and wiped be offended if I even offered to do the dishes as a thank you. My translator finally told me ‘We have a saying in Poland - If you have a guest in your home, it is if you have a god in your home.’

When I was leaving, the whole village brought me food to go, walked me to the train station and then insisted on paying for my train tickets.

Throughout the entire time I was there, not a single penny was exchanged.

(Oh and, when leaving, Anna asked for my address and mailed me a hand drawn portrait she had made of me).