Michel Gromek points to his left horn, normally
cleverly hidden beneath his forelocks
Of course, this is just his version of events. We’ll have to wait to hear from the godly family to find out what really happened. :-)
“They told me I had the devil in my heart.”
When Polish student Michael Gromek, 19, went to America on a student exchange, he found himself trapped in a host family of Christian fundamentalists. What followed was a six-month hell of dawn church visits and sex education talks as his new family tried to banish the devil from his soul.
“Things began to go wrong as soon as I arrived in my new home in Winston-Salem, where I was to spend my year abroad. For example, every Monday my host family would gather around the kitchen table to talk about sex. My host parents hadn’t had sex for the last 17 years because — so they told me — they were devoting their lives to God. They also wanted to know whether I drank alcohol. I admitted that I liked beer and wine. They told me I had the devil in my heart.
Then, seeing as we were already on the topic of God’s will, the religious zealots finally brought up a subject which had clearly been on their minds for a long time: They wanted me to help them set up a Fundamentalist Baptist church in my home country of Poland. It was God’s will, they said.
It was only after four months that I decided to change my host family. [Editor: Four months! He may have the devil in him, but talk about the patience of Job! (Job wasn’t patient, by the way, nor should he have been. Read it sometime.)]
Despite everything, I still haven’t come to terms with my experience. I want to write to the religious family soon and explain to them, clearly and calmly, why things went so wrong.
Don’t bother, kid. Better just to kick the dust from your sandals and move on.
Should have grabbed a Catholic family. You can drink and only one hour a week church time is required.
Being Polish he should know that.
God, this practically could have been an Onion parody.
And I cannot understand how he survived. I have relatives who are Fundamentalists. Every aspect of their lives is Jesus. The movies they watch, the shows they watch, the books, er, I mean, the book they read, the music they listen to. They have no other interests in their lives other than Jesus. I can barely stand it for a couple hours once or twice a year, I can’t imagine an entire six months!
Why’d he take 4 months to get another host family, are all those polack jokes (unknown here in the UK) true?
“Why’d he take 4 months to get another host family…”
I agree. I would have immediately started the process to get a new host family.
My guess is that he has no experience with the American brand of fundamentalism and he kept trying to deal with it in a rational matter. Dealing with American fundamentalists is one of those rare instances where logic and rational thought do not apply.
No wonder Europe is so pissed that America dominates their culture.
#1, 1 hr per week for drinking equals 8.6 minutes a day. An industrious Cathaholic could further subdivide that time into a 5 second shot every 2 minutes.
You can find plenty of stories of exchange student horror stories regardless of what religion or lack thereof the host family has. This story is less a story and more ‘Hey cool, I found something to rag on with”
Hmm. Above post didn’t post right. Between “rag on” and ‘with’ should be the phrase ‘insert name of regilion I dislike and always point out only the negatives about’
He sounds like an intelligent kid that really tried to experience the culture of these people. It may have taken weeks to get a reassignment also. All off you need to be aware that most countries has fundamental fringe religions. You just don’t hear about them. At one time the Church of England considered Methodist nuts. Might still do, been a while since I chatted with a COE Vicar.
“Why’d he take 4 months to get another host family, are all those polack jokes (unknown here in the UK) true? ”
I am sure he was probably overwhelmed by everything. He is just 19, leaves temporarily his parents\family and friends, goes to country where they don’t speak his native tongue and it takes time for him to figure out that this family is even extreme\strange in the USA. It’s takes time to figure these things out and to adjust to his new surroundings.
And let’s be honest, it’s not the worst attitude to try to work things out with people who will be your ‘family’, your only family, for the next year. He just didn’t realise that there was really no middle ground :p
#7 and #8 (RM)
It’s because Fundamentalist Chrisitanity is idiotic. I’ve seen your other comments, and I’m suprised you’re even here on Dvorak.org/blog. Shouldn’t you be on some Jesus-humping forum, about how you can’t wait to shoot your load all over the almighty father’s sandals? Oh wait, that’s Haggard. Go take your religion and shove it as far up your ass as you can, I’m tired of the “stop picking on poor christians.” Jebus, you people control pretty much all of America as it is, and have, in general, set American culture back. You’re probably the type of person who would support a Christian violent video game where you kill non-Christians, but turn around and try to ban kids from seeing the statue of David. I literally hate everything Chrisitianity stands for – domination, subjugation, and totalitarian control.
#8 – Hmm. Above post didn’t post right. Between “rag on” and ‘with’ should be the phrase ‘insert name of regilion I dislike and always point out only the negatives about’
Comment by RM — 11/17/2006 @ 7:54 am
Yes. Um… Okay… But… What are the positives?
Hilarious! Man you really are rolling the dice when you come to America, either get deported, tasered, or excorcised. Wow.
#13, but you will still need to remove your shoes.
#11: Near all fundamentalists are nuts. You sound like a fundamentalist athiest who judges an entire group of people based on some bad experiences with the loudest ones. I hate the left behind series, have no problem with artistic nudity and leave people alone in general. Only when people start to hate and profile as you did do I find myself at odds. You are right there with the fundamentalists you seem to so despise. I do not expect anything but a seething, hate-filled response if any at all because I know my words have made no difference.
I’m a Christian, just so you know my bias. However I used to believe like you did.
So the blog changed over from “Hate Bush” to “Hate Christians.” I am sure I could come up with anecdotal evidence of Humanists being obnoxious, too. But the Bible says we are only to judge those inside the church, not those outside. It says we are to love our neighbor, which leaves out hating. We can show signs & wonders and appeal to unbelievers, but that’s about it.
I recall Jesse Jackson saying to his shame that if he saw a group of teenagers coming his way he would be afraid — until he saw they all had Bibles.
What student exchange agency is responsible for the placement of this student? Should anyone know, it would be of great interest to find out.
I just find it amazing that in this day and age, ANYONE would want to come to America any more. Especially students. We must still have some very good advertising agencies working for us over there.
#7 “This story is less a story and more ‘Hey cool, I found something to rag on with””
Maybe you didn’t read the article, but the sole reason this wacko family was his host family was so they could brainwash him into their belief system and then use him to jump start their wacko church in Poland. That’s certainly more than just something to “rag” about. Heck, it’s practically kidnapping!
An exchange student has enough culture shock to deal with already, without being placed with a family of fundamentalist Christians. Being told you have the devil in your heart probably doesn’t bode well for the rest of your stay. Perhaps they’ll update the Student Exchange Handbook with that caveat.
#20, I think most exchange programs cover the cultural and religious aspects. When one is agenda driven though, the rules and guidelines don’t apply.
#11, The more I read your post, the more disgusted I become. You apparently are what you accuse the fundamentalists of being. As wrong as they are, so are you. Your message may even be correct, BUT your delivery and attack isn’t.
Mr. Fusion, I guess I was more concerned with my tiny bit of witty sarcasm than with being clear. The specific caveat I’m proposing for the Student Exchange Handbook is “Being told you have the devil in your heart probably doesn’t bode well for the rest of your stay.” 😉
Poor kid. The fundies are a self-serving lot…and they’re best to keep with “their own kind”.
They give Christians a bad name.