‘Christmas in Poland’

When I returned from Poland in November, my family asked me what was it like. Worse than I expected and impossible.

Thanks to Joseph Borkowski (“Christmas in Poland, the Season to Be Jostled,� Opinion, Dec. 25), I now hand out copies of his column and say “that’s what it was like.�

I traveled alone for two weeks and lived with a family for a month. When I would comment on the surliness of waiters and clerks, people would tell me this is “normal.� The putrid air in Silesia, “normal.� The “change money� routine, “normal.� The sad faces, “normal.�

They are anxious to leave Poland. Socialism is slowly extinguishing what spirit they have left. But this too, they recognize as “normal.�

HELEN H. BOURQUIN

Los Angeles