Forwarder from the Middle Ages – the story of an extraordinary passion that helps in the transport business

Konrad Spuła: I saw a photo of you that looked like it was taken straight from a historical movie set or a fantasy production.

Martyna Klecz: On a daily basis, I work at Visline as a freight forwarder, but after hours I move back to the 9th–11th centuries. My passion is historical reenactment. I belong to a group that recreates all aspects of life in the early Middle Ages – from camp life, crafts, warfare, entertainment, and cuisine to rituals. It’s like a movie set, but without cameras or a script.

I’ll ask you later how your passion helps you at work, but first, tell me how it all started and what being a reenactor actually means.

I started about six years ago, thanks to my friends – many of them were already part of the reenactment community, involved in various groups. Through their stories, I learned what it was like from different perspectives, and I decided to join.

And what does a reenactor do after joining a group?

Each group has its own characteristics. Some specialize in sailing Viking ships, others are great on the battlefield, and some are united by a love for craftsmanship.

We can therefore engage in a range of activities that were part of our ancestors’ daily lives – fighting as archers, shield bearers, or spearmen, making tar, weaving fabrics, playing instruments, brewing beer, crafting leather goods, working with metal, and many, many more.

When we go to gatherings, it feels a bit like scouting, except instead of a scout leader there’s a jarl or a knyaz, and instead of patrols – warriors, craftsmen, and artists. We sleep in linen or wool tents without floors, sleeping bags are replaced by blankets, and mats by sheepskins. It’s a lot of fun.

And what path did you choose within reenactment?

I joined the Viking group Nidhogg from Braniewo, where I portray a Scandinavian woman – though my character concept is still evolving. For financial reasons, I haven’t yet fully specialized in a particular area – to develop a more advanced role, you have to invest quite a lot to buy equipment, materials for clothing, and sometimes pay for workshops or training.

I’ve tried a bit of archery, and I think I’ll continue with it, but I’m even more fascinated by craftsmanship. I’d like to recreate cosmetics used in the early Middle Ages, for example, tar-based products that have antibacterial properties and are good for the skin.

Let’s go back to the question I mentioned at the beginning. How does your passion influence your professional life? Can experiences from the early Middle Ages be useful to a modern freight forwarder? It sounds abstract, but I have a feeling you’re about to surprise me.

Spending time in a group, sometimes in challenging conditions, creates many opportunities for teamwork and teaches you how to communicate in stressful and unpredictable situations. There are many moments when, like it or not, we have to find a common language with everyone. And things get even more interesting when groups from abroad join an event. Such cultural exchange teaches us to look at one issue from many different perspectives, and thanks to those meetings, I also get to practice foreign languages.

So, in short, going back in time has improved your communication and made you more open?

I haven’t mentioned the most important yet very down-to-earth aspect – packing for trips and organizing such expeditions. Every group has a so-called “car Tetris master” – the one person who knows how to fit all the tents, poles, baskets, armor, and supplies into a small car.

It’s also very important to plan the transport for the whole group so that everyone has a seat and the travel costs are as low as possible. That’s not easy when your group has thirty people and you need to move both people and an entire camp across half of Poland.

Sounds exactly like a typical day in a transport company.

Exactly. There are also crisis and stressful situations, just like in real life. There was a trip to Spain last year where reenactors flew by plane, but the equipment – armor and weapons – was sent by truck. It turned out the driver was a smuggler. The goods were confiscated along with the equipment. Since then, I’ve been very alert to such situations, and thanks to that unpleasant experience, I’ve managed to prevent several dangerous situations at work.

Martyna, you’re the winner of Visline’s employee contest for extraordinary passions. You received a record number of votes, which comes with a financial prize. Can you tell us what you’ll spend it on?

I’m very happy and truly surprised that I got so many votes. I didn’t expect it at all. There were so many interesting hobbies that I myself would have voted for, and I’d love to talk to those people about their passions.

As for the prize, I’ll definitely spend it on new equipment. I wrote that in my submission – I intend to use the funds to buy gear and clothing. These things aren’t cheap, and it’s worth having good, historically accurate replicas that are, of course, handmade.

During demonstrations for tourists, we gladly share knowledge about life in the Middle Ages, and as reenactors, we care deeply about accurately portraying historical characters. It’s a big responsibility, because the audience forms their idea of medieval life based on what they see.

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