Poland: Welcome, Unrehearsed

The Warsaw press never mentioned the new U.S. ambassador's time of arrival, and only a bundled-up group of U.S. embassy staffers and Poland's deputy protocol officer waited amid piles of dirty snow on the station platform. But by the time John A. Gronouski, 46, stepped from the Chopin Express in Warsaw last week, more than 1,000 Poles in the station had figured out who was among them.

They gave Gronouski a tumultuous, spur-of-the-moment reception. "Our hearts are with you!" shouted a woman. "We wish you fruitful work!" cried another voice from the crowd. As a class of grade-school children swarmed...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!