FREE ENTERPRISE IN POLAND

It was the Polish spirit of determination against all odds that later played a big part in my decision and ability to continue participation in the Polish Commerce uprising. But I had to acquire this mind-set before I could make that decision. As we walked out of the brand new Marriott Hotel in downtown, modern Warsaw, we observed the emergence of the Free Market. I was an eye-witness to what Sachs had started, and what I fervently wanted to see continue.

Free Enterprise was here in Warsaw. We were pleased to be instant millionaires by exchanging one-hundred U.S. dollars for 1 million Polish Zlotys (pronounced z’wah ties), and purchasing goods from everyone participating in this new economy. It seemed it had began with the people who still remembered what free enterprise was: the elderly. From this first encounter into Poland until the last in November, 1991, marketing progressed from old women selling flowers, old belts and shoes on dishtowels spread out on the sidewalks -- to electronics products; and eventually, the smashing and privatization of old communist monopolies (i.e. Pewex).

As we wandered around the city for a few minutes, we came upon a little camping trailer that had “Hot Dogs” written on it, and as we approached the moving feast, we were surprised out of our minds to find that they were serving real hot dogs – “real,” meant to us snobs -- “American.” We all had to have one (and Studibert was the most gleeful about the find), and we spent a pleasant afternoon eating our hot dogs and exploring the old town (Stary Maesto).

I observed that all the buildings outside of Stary Maesto not only looked the same, but were non-descript just like I had seen in East Berlin. The exception was the much-hated “Wedding Cake” building that Stalin had built to look exactly like a building in Moscow. Even though it was ornate and architecturally interesting, the Poles hated it because they hated the builder who had dedicated it to the “Peoples of Poland:" the murdering Stalin.

The city had a very efficient transportation system of old, dirty trams and buses. Most of the people either walked or rode the public transportation. Very few people owned cars up until this time, and the ones they had were of the Traband genre. The streets were almost deserted except for a few brave souls trying to earn money for food by “garage-selling” their personal affects on dishtowels spread out on the sidewalks. There were assorted belts, shoes, handkerchiefs, flowers, and even some homemade sweaters made from very scratchy yarn. Fred didn't want to spend any money (even though he had more money in his pocket than these sellers earned in a year), so I went home without a scratchy swearter.

We were free to explore Warsaw when we weren’t in meetings with the Ministers of Agriculture and Commerce at the U.S. Embassy, and the Polish version of the Chamber of Commerce (Janick Stickiewicz), and Solidarity (Jakub Zaborowski). It was in these initial meetings that I discovered when introduced, a Polish man will kiss the hand of a woman and bow politely. I really enjoyed and encouraged this custom. These humble men confessed that they had learned English by listening to Beatle records, and reading Jack London novels (Jack London was a registered Communist). Although they had been forced to learn Russian in school – after school, they taught themselves English, but their humility for their economic circumstances in our presence sent a clear message that they meant business, and they would like to have our business.