From June 11th to 13th, Sihem and I had the chance to visit a small primary school in Cisna, a quiet mountain village tucked away in southeastern Poland that I had never heard of before. A quick search showed nothing but green hills and beautiful landscapes, and as someone who genuinely loves the countryside, I said yes without hesitation. We were told we'd be staying in the nearby village of Przysłup and giving English-class presentations to students from 4th to 8th grade. What followed was three days of teaching, hiking, and the kind of human connection that stays with you.
The trip started with a long but scenic bus ride from Rzeszów through the heart of southeastern Poland, with a short stop in Sanok along the way. By the time we arrived, we were tired, but that faded instantly when our host teacher and one of her 8th-grade students met us at the bus stop with a warm welcome. To get to our hotel, we walked about ten minutes along an old, abandoned railway track running beneath a canopy of tall forest trees. It felt like stepping into a Studio Ghibli film. Quiet, a little mysterious, and completely beautiful.
That evening, our host teacher walked us through the plan for the next two days: school presentations, outdoor activities, and plenty of cultural exchange. We went to bed with good expectations.
The first full day started with breakfast at the hotel before heading to school, again with the student and her younger brother as our guides. Sihem opened the sessions with two energetic presentations, one about France and one filled with French children's songs that genuinely lit up the room. I followed with a presentation about Greece, sharing traditions, facts, and a few things that always get a reaction from students. The kids were curious, attentive, and asked brilliant questions. After lunch in the school cafeteria, we thought the day was done, but our teacher had other plans. She took us on a hike through Bieszczady National Park, and it quickly became the highlight of the entire trip. Rolling green hills, birdsong, forest paths, fresh mountain air, and good conversation. We came back to the hotel that evening tired in the best possible way.
On the last day, we checked out, headed back to school for a final round of presentations, and then led a workshop for the 7th and 8th graders focused on life skills and critical thinking. The students threw themselves into it, sharing ideas, debating, and working together with an energy that was hard not to feed off. When the school day ended, they surprised us with a box of chocolates and a certificate of appreciation signed by the students and staff. A small gesture that genuinely meant a lot.
The bus ride back to Rzeszów felt different from the one that had brought us there. We were quieter, already thinking back on the students, the village, the hike, the abandoned railway track in the forest.
Cisna is a tiny dot on the map. For us, it became a story worth telling.