I was born in Zakopane, Poland, one of the most beautiful cities in the world (check out the picture on the right!). My early childhood was spent in a 14'x14' room that served as our bedroom, living room, kitchen, and dining room. The bathroom? A shared community restroom down the hall. It was an adventure, to say the least!

At 14, I immigrated to the United States without speaking a word of English. One of my earliest struggles? Figuring out the difference between Polish (my nationality) and polish (as in shining something). That was fun.

Before arriving, my perception of the U.S. was shaped by movies-money growing on trees, palm trees everywhere, high-rise buildings, and sports cars on every street. Imagine my surprise when I landed in a small town right in the middle of Detroit!