My New Home

I was really tired when my late-afternoon flight from Chicago finally landed in Madison last month. I had spent the better part of 16 hours making my way from my family’s apartment in Olsztyn, Poland, to my new home here as a member of the Wisconsin volleyball team. That included a three-hour delay at O’Hare, which meant my body clock was around 11 p.m. when I started to make my way to the baggage claim to get my two pieces of luggage.

I had no idea that I was about to have one of the best moments of my life. I had no sense that all my weariness was about to be replaced by joy.

I had just arrived in a different city and a different culture and I was thinking, “What’s happening now? Where should I go next?” That’s when I saw Coach Kelly Sheffield at the bottom of the lobby stairway and felt my face smile when he hugged me. We started to walk and talk and I got this odd sensation that he knew something I didn’t know and he was going in a direction to show me something. I’m thinking like, “OK, I don’t know what’s happening next.” Then we walked around a corner and I saw all the girls from the team standing and cheering. I was so shocked.

I think it was the best thing they could have done to make me feel welcome. I could feel the team culture the moment they all came over to hug me. That was one of the most wonderful things to ever happen to me.

After I got my bags, we all rode the Badger Trolley to a restaurant near the Capitol and then to the UW Field House. It was all so beautiful and memorable.

My last day at home wasn’t easy, though. The afternoon that I got to sit with my family, we were hugging and talking together on the sofa and it got pretty emotional. But then we started to tell funny jokes and that really helped to change the moment to something more positive and heart-warming.

My parents, who both work in law enforcement, can’t speak in English. My mom would say all the time before I left for Madison, “Tell Kelly how thankful I am for his support.” Before I left she decided she wanted to find a way to communicate those feelings, so she just translated the sentences she wanted and wrote a note that I brought to Kelly. She had this feeling that she wanted to share so much even though she didn’t know the language to do that.

I’m a lucky girl because my parents are such great supporters of me and my love for volleyball. I didn’t hear, “Oh, you’re going so far and you shouldn’t do that.” Nothing like that. They feel that Wisconsin will be good for me, that I’ll fit into this place because of my values and the way I am. So, that also really helped that they’re thinking positive things.

I met Kelly in the summer of 2019 when the Badgers came to Europe and played my Under-20 Polish national team. After the match and a shared dinner, he reached out to me and offered me a place on his team. We started exchanging text messages and having video calls. That went on for three months before I orally committed. Kelly didn’t have a chance to meet my parents in person, but they were present for one of our calls. 

I began learning English when I was in the fourth grade. Everything is so formal and correct with those teachings in Poland, which is not always the case when you’re watching American TV shows or listening to others speak the language, especially the natives.

There are times when I feel like a child who’s learning to speak and to walk. I know that my vocabulary and my knowledge is getting bigger every day and I’m feeling more comfortable at being more present in the moment because I know what’s happening around me. It’s funny how sometimes thinking in a different language, then translating it directly into English, has a far different meaning.

I’ve found that it’s different how you treat people you actually don’t know. Walking into shops, everyone asks, “How are you doing?” or “How’s your day?” We don’t tend to do that in Poland. It’s either “Good morning” or “Hi.” It’s different, but I like this novelty. 

What’s great is I’m learning all the time.

The day I arrived here some of my teammates took me to a large and popular American home store on State Street to buy bedding and other necessities. I was half asleep from a long day of travel, so I didn’t appreciate the experience fully. I’ve since learned that if you need something, go to that store. That’s a completely new thing for me. We have nothing like that in Europe.

I’ve noticed that everything is bigger and more spacious here — like cars, rooms and meal sizes — compared to Europe.

I’d heard that there’s more processed food, more sugar, here in the States, so I was a little surprised that you have so many healthy options.

I was really anxious to see what the Field House was like when all the fans are in there. The girls told me that they couldn’t describe this feeling for me, that I just had to go through it to understand.

Now I understand.

The biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of back in Poland is around 300 people, so it was amazing to see that there were 4,000 for our preseason scrimmage and then 7,500 for both of our season-opening wins over Texas Christian and Baylor.

Playing in front of Badgers fans was pure fun and joy. I’d always dreamt of being in a place like that. After those two matches, I’m convinced that this is the best environment I’ve ever competed in.

I’m so thankful for their presence, engagements and the one-of-a-kind atmosphere they create. Singing “Varsity” together after each match creates the feeling that this experience is much more than just volleyball.   

I loved how much courage and energy they gave me. Seeing all that red and white made me smile. Those are my favorite colors.

Someone asked me about my expectations as I get ready for school and my first season of college volleyball. I think the greatest things I could ever have are right here in front of me.

This place.

This team.

I’m planning to take it day-by-day. I know I’m in a good place.

Did you enjoy reading this? Read more My Words stories from the Badgers here.