Polish Community Reading in Dubai
For the first time, the National Reading initiative supported and promoted by the President of the Republic of Poland, was officially executed in Dubai – and in the most suitable of all places!
Having only started teaching in September, we have ventured to join the global Polish community as part of National Reading – an initiative that started back in 2012 with Adam Mickiewicz, and has continued ever since. This undertaking by the President of the Republic of Poland unites Polish people in all corners of the world, giving them an opportunity to rediscover often long-forgotten Polish writers.
This year's focus was on the poetry of Jan Kochanowski, famous for the poetic rendition of his grief after the loss of his beloved daughter Urszulka. Kochanowski's mastery of the written word and the simple wisdoms he could masterfully thread into his poetry during the Renaissance era secured him a place among the most recognized poets, with his writing being scrutinized during Polish lessons to this day.
To see and hear his poetry brought back to life during National Reading in Dubai in the stunning theatre of Mohammed bin Rashid Library – most likely the most impressive library in the region – was both moving and uplifting. To see Polish poetry travel to such exotic locations, especially by Renaissance standards, and to hear the familiar verses recited by the new generation of Polish children who are growing up to be global citizens, was an extremely emotional experience for many, especially the parents who could travel back in time to their own first encounters with Kochanowski's famous works.
Like his more cheerful poems, this event was a celebration of what is good and important in life – community, friends, being together and appreciating small things, finding beauty and happy moments despite any struggles we may encounter, which are just an addition to the intricate and varied fabric of human existence.
The event was very well received by all those present and it reverberated for days across social media channels. It would not have been possible without the support of the Mohammed bin Rashid Library and the Embassy of Poland in Abu Dhabi, whose representative, Consul Jan Linkowski, also contributed as a reader.
A highlight of the event was the screening of a short film by a young Polish artist, Wiktoria Pluta from the UAE, who won this year's edition of the Polish contest "Być Polakiem" by creating a moving visual rendition of Kochanowski's most famous grieving poem – "Lament VIII". In her work, she managed to combine the Polish poetry with the desert landscapes of the UAE, making her piece relatable to both local and Polish audiences.
The final act of the event involved a performance of a song encouraging readership – in which all our students and teachers appeared on stage.
We are hoping that this first large-scale event organized by us for the Polish community will turn out to be just the first one in a series of similar initiatives aimed at uniting the local Polish diaspora, promoting Polish language in the United Arab Emirates and propagating Polish cultural heritage in the Gulf. Finally, a big thank you to all the parties involved in preparation and execution, and most of all to Mohammed bin Rashid Library for their hospitality and support.
