(Written 16th January, added later because I am away)

To Olesno (http://www.olesno.pl/), a country town some way from Opole, to give a talk on the principles of hospice work to the university of the third age group which is just starting up, part of a national project that I discover the Dean is playing a leading role in, and that Opole University is responsible for in this area. It’s supported by a cheery and generous mayor and the meeting takes place in a rather impressive council chamber in the town hall. There’s a bit too much talk about keeping the mind active, and I emphasise what I understand to be the other side of university of the third age, which is about teaching each other and using the accumulated life skills and learning for the benefit of the community. It’s too easy to see older people as the objects of help, whereas all the people present seemed very active and intellectually critical. Critical social work with older people needs to emphasise what they have and can contribute, rather than their deficits (if any, I couldn’t see a lot). I wonder about a talk on palliative care for an older age group for the same reason, but they were interested, and I think it’s ‘professor from afar’ (one is accustomed to being unnoticed at home) and a topic of general interest rather than feeling that they’re going to need it yet. The mayor and another member of the audience talk afterwards over kawę and herbatę (coffee and tea; I’m getting into basic Polish) about how desirable some sort of service like this would be, if the resources were there; I emphasise how much can be offered in a home care service.

I also talk to some young people at the local college about social work; this is marketing for the university another professor from afar thing, and we go via the tourism sight of the area, a huge ancient church built of wood (the area is heavily afforested). Claimed to be the largest wood church in the world; it’s certainly the largest I have seen, even though I’ve visited many wood churches in the Nordic countries.