Poland… Why It Meant More Than Just a Trip
- Angela
- Aug 27, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 12
Poland may not be the first place people think of when planning a European trip…
But it should be.
For me, this trip was more than travel.
It was personal.
Why Poland Was Different for Us
If you’ve been here for a while, you know about Krzys.
He was my daughter Camryn’s boyfriend… 23, from Poland, and very much part of our family.
One of my favorite memories is a simple one.
Before flying back to the U.S., Camryn asked him what he wanted to do first when he got back.
She said, “Chick-fil-A.”
Without missing a beat, he said…“I’m going to your house to eat dinner with Ms. Angela Schmidt.”
That still makes me smile.
The Trip We Planned… and Kept
In the summer of 2024, his parents came to stay with us in Kentucky.
Kind, welcoming, both educators… it made perfect sense where he got it from.
That’s when we made the plan.
We would come to Poland the next summer.
He couldn’t wait to show us his home.
What Changed Everything
A few months later, everything changed.
Krzys passed away unexpectedly while home for Thanksgiving.
There’s no way to soften that. It was devastating.
For Camryn… and for all of us.
Why We Still Went
But we kept our promise.
In the summer of 2025, we went to Poland.
And while he wasn’t there physically… he was everywhere.
His parents opened their home to us.His family welcomed us like we had always belonged there.
They were proud of their country… and after seeing it, I understand why.
What I Didn’t Expect About Poland
Poland is beautiful.
Not in a flashy way… but in a way you feel.
The history.
The resilience.
The people.
It has a depth to it that surprised me.
I’ve traveled to a lot of places in Europe… and Poland stayed with me in a different way.
I’m So Glad We Went
If it hadn’t been for Krzys, I probably wouldn’t have gone.
And that would have been a mistake.
What I’ll Share Next
This is just the beginning.
Next, I’ll share:
What to see
Where to stay
And why Poland deserves a spot on your travel list
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