25,000
nerve endings in the cochlea are activated during normal hearing, turning sound into signals for the brain
8
electrodes in my cochlear implant transmit signals from sounds captured by the microphone to the brain
75
countries so far, hearing the sounds of the Earth through a cochlear implant despite the hurdles
About me
My challenge
Traveling is my passion — both near and far, from short trips to slightly longer ones. Since 2000, I have been listening with the help of a cochlear implant. I have turned this into a personal challenge: to experience the sounds of as many countries on Earth as possible through my cochlear implant.
Listening through a cochlear implant is different from natural hearing, but it doesn’t stop me from pursuing my passion.
Passion Beyond Hearing
From Bissau to Palau, in the shade of Avalon
From Fiji to Tyree and the Isles of Ebony
From Peru to Cebu, hear the power of Babylon
From Bali to Cali, far beneath the Coral Sea
In the context of my challenge, my favourite song is “Orinoco Flow” by Enya. I knew it before my implantation and can still recognize it after the procedure. However, songs I started listening to only after the implantation
are much harder for me to recognize later..
Daily listening through my cochlear implant comes with a certain level of stress. Because a CI is an electronic device, the first worry appears already in the morning: will it work when I turn it on? Will the people I meet speak loudly enough, with clear tone and diction? Will I be able to tell apart similarly sounding words like but, nut, or cut? Of course, the context of the sentence can help if I interact in my native tongue but things get more difficult in foreign languages where my vocabulary is smaller.
Hearing through a cochlear implant may be difficult compared to natural hearing, but it has never stopped me from exploring the world and following my passion.
Making Travel Possible
My travels are shaped by very practical limits: my budget and 26 days of vacation each year. Another constraint is timing — my trips have to coincide with school holidays, because my best travel companion is a teacher.
Pursuing my passion means making conscious choices and sacrifices. I carefully plan our household expenses, rely on my own DIY skills instead of hiring craftsmen, follow various mailing lists, search for travel opportunities, collect
loyalty points, and do many other small things that together allow my challenge to exist.
It is also worth remembering that Poland’s economic growth has changed what is possible. The average net salary has risen from about $300 in 2000 to around $1,200 in 2025. This progress allows me to travel further, in more comfortable
conditions, and to enjoy local cuisine instead of living on canned food and instant soups brought from home.
People met along the way
During my travels, I have met many kind, understanding, and genuinely helpful people, often greeting me with a smile. A smile is understood everywhere — by those who hear and those who are hard of hearing, and beyond language barriers.
Among the friends I have made along the way, there is only one person with a cochlear implant — Claudia from Germany. Together, we have shared several cycling trips and mountain hikes in Poland and Slovakia.
My last journeys
2025
It began in exotic Oman, where the desert met the ocean, camels crossed endless sands, and life flowed through the market in Nizwa.
Spring brought a short journey to Malta, filled with the atmosphere of traditional Easter celebrations.
Then came Tanzania — a safari among breathtaking landscapes, wildlife all around, encounters with friendly Maasai people, and quiet moments on the beaches of Zanzibar.
As autumn faded, a four-day escape to Croatia offered a final touch of sunshine before winter.
2024
The travels began with a dream come true — a visit to New Zealand. It was an unforgettable time spent among breathtaking nature: fjords, lakes, mountains, glaciers, geysers, and wild beaches.
Summer led through the heart of Central Asia — Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Nature, historic landmarks, local cuisine, and the people of the region left memories that
will last for a long time.
A long August weekend brought a short escape to Slovenia. For a long time, I had dreamed of seeing Lake Bled and the towns stretching along the Adriatic coast.
The year came to a close with an unforgettable finale — Fête des Lumières in Lyon (,France) , a magical accent that illuminated the end of the journey.
2000=2023
….