Conscientious Polish girls Photo

Photographer’s Note

Those two humble girls on the border of Poland were trying to sell blackberries to the queue of cars crossing to Germany.
Imagine those small hands spending so much time to fill the containers of glass - and the classes were conscientiously filled to the brim!! - they are holding up, only to recieve close to nothing for them.
I really felt so sorry for them; so smiling and polite, and only crumbles in return.

ophelcia, wanderlust, PrzemekN, ilDottore has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dcawker (5667) 2006-08-07 10:37

Excellent moment captured here and nice story too.. I hope that you bought some blackberries from them! :) Regards, Doug

wanderlust (171) 2006-08-07 10:52

Cute smiles and these kids have worked really hard to gather blackberries. excellent shot!

.... like Doug asked - Did you buy any blackberries?

:-)

ophelcia (5305) 2006-08-07 11:00

I'll tell you something: I really like watching pics depicting everyday life in Poland - I'm Polish and girls selling the blackberries seem to be so common to me... even on the border... but I really like your idea and POV, hope to see more of you POlish pics:-))

Cytryna (188) 2006-08-07 11:57

I'm also Polish and I remeber I also used to pick up blueberries (are these blackberries or blueberries?) - of course I wasn't selling mine :) I used to eat them all :)) and I remember I had great time picking up blueberries in the forest - it was great way of spending summer vacation :) now most kids spend time watching tv or playing tv games :) but there are still some kids who 'open' their small business to get some extra pocket money, which are always useful during summer vacation :)

PrzemekN (138) 2006-08-09 3:48

Come on!
I am Polish - people selling "forest stuff" are so common here that you almost stop noticing them.
And in my oppinion it is nothing to feel sorry for or show compassion or so.

Usually kids spend some of their free time gathering blueberries in the forest to earn some "pocket money". It may seem not much, but not also little. Imagine those girls - who have 2 months of vacation, while their parents can have at most 2-3 weeks. What would they do then? Sit in front of TV? They have just chosen a better way to spend their time.
I remember myself foraging for blueberrys in the forest. I could do that for hours. I knew the places when they grow well, and where they don't. I could sit in one place and pick a full jar in 10-15 minutes.
Of course - I didn't sell that since I preferred to eat them.
They take about 6-7 PLNs per jar (it varies). If they spend 1/2 hour per jar it gives 14 PLN/ hour, which is a pretty nice wage (and they won't pay tax for that - fortunately =).

People (especially in northern part of Poland - which is slightly less wealthy) do earn some money for living in that way (they sell fruits or mushrooms).

And belive me - it is not just a show of poverty or such - just a method of gaining some extra PLN's.

Besides - I've seen such kids in Norway (which seems to be pretty wealthy country) - they were selling fruits to travellers waiting for the ferry. It wasn't anything unusual.

I think it is much better way of spending free time than watching stupid movies on TV or playing computer games. At least it is healthy - standing at the side of the road maybe is not, but walking throught the forest for hours - definitely is.

Photo is really good - so 2 points for that. Note is also useful here, even if I think that what you write is totally not true.

Greetings from Poland
Przemek