One Week

"Bloom" by Pogo

Neat remix/mash-up of Disney songs into one neat mix.

http://www.pogomix.net/

Already just one week left until move-in day. Not much going on lately other than reading "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett (which means more Prior Philip, Tom Builder, and  - especially - Jack Jackson enjoyment, haha). I have begun some buying/packing/prepping for moving back to school next Wednesday (plus I'll be in a townhouse again, which is much easier than being in any dorm - own kitchen, own bathroom, own living/dining space) or dealing with "real life" rentals on the beach or elsewhere off-campus; apartments are not too different from townhouses I'd assume). I have my textbooks bought or rented for pick-up on campus; I did some clothes shopping and collecting of past semesters' dorm items, which leaves actual packing of said items into boxes and suitcase(s) before packing a car. Plus, GRE practice has sadly had to begin as I have just over one month until my test date. I will also begin Polish lessons (it is an adult enrichment class in a nearby town to my school, just under 30 minutes away; other world language classes were Spanish and Italian, but there might be others as well; other classes for adults ranged from fitness/health-related: Zumba and the like, to gardening, cooking, art, and business skills); classes will be weekly for six weeks on Monday evenings for two hours, beginning at the end of September and ending probably by late October/early November (depending on if there will be classes on Columbus Day and Halloween). I attempted to do some work in my Polish books that I have from classes while abroad, but it helped much more when I was not only immersed, but also doing more guided lessons in a class with a teacher; giving myself homework made it too tempting to just look at answers since the book does not give quite enough guidance or instruction - it is much easier to have someone to help explain the grammar. One more weekend is left to spend time with family, then off to CT (where I will have one more family weekend when visitors come for Labor Day weekend a couple of days later).

Jak Byka Kartofel

Last couple of days in Warsaw (other than another short stay pre-flight in about a week and a half). Yesterday was spent packing, going to Loving Hut for lunch (with a stop for a tiny bit of Malinova ice cream shop gelato-like ice cream/sorbet (apparently extra healthy from the sign about it and Italian-looking with the name 'Rosso'), and then heading to the airport. After picking up family and the car, we drove to our hotel - first hotel stay in Warsaw for me. :) After some relaxing, we went to Old Town and some of the city center. We had dinner at a restaurant in the rynek of Stare Miasto/Old Town (I had red borscht soup with a weird baked pancake with meat paste inside that I did not like and did not finish; I also had a salad with tuna, olives, tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumber). It was nice weather and we had a chance to go by the castle, some monuments and churches, and near the President's Palace. Today, after hotel breakfast, we went to the "state" office, where I learned that I was not fully prepared for gaining Polish dual citizenship unless I lived here a bit longer, in which case I would need my documents in English translated to Polish. I could go to do this procedure where my mother last lived in Poland (Legnica), but I would also need translated documents there. Otherwise, it might be best for me to do this at the consulate in NYC. Once we finished there, we packed up and fully moved out of my dorm, giving up my card, key, and bed linens when the room was checked over. We left one suitcase with the coat room for my program director to keep in his office while we travel around. Once we dropped off some luggage at the hotel, we left for Nowy Swiat Street and lunch at a milk bar (I had some bean soup - being called 'bean' does not mean 'meatless,' since it had pieces of pork or bacon - that was OK and a sampling of 'surowki,' which are basically different sides or pickled and/or shredded vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, cucumbers/pickles, and such that are normally used as sides in dishes. Most of them were good). We walked around a little before going to Lazienki Park; we saw (and heard) some pretty peacocks, the palace, and some monuments (Sobieski and Chopin). We then went to Nowe Miasto/New Town to a cafe before now relaxing at the hotel for a bit before going to dinner later. More to come (including a few pictures to be added soon)...

Spring Break & Tours

Yesterday, after my Polish lesson, our program group had a meeting about our Spring Break plans (since our vacation begins after classes today :-D) and our nearly week-long trip to Kraków that begins right after at the beginning of May. We are leaving midday on Sunday, May 1 and returning (most of us probably) on Friday, May 6. Our hotel is the Royal Hotel: http://www.hotelroyal.com.pl/index_uk.html [which is apparently inexpensive, nice, well-located near downtown, and includes breakfast]. We will arrive in the afternoon to the city and go out to dinner (right now being planned to go to Da Pietro: http://www.dapietro.pl/) before having free time. On Monday, after breakfast at the hotel, we are having a tour guide take us around the city, including Jagiellonian University (particularly the Collegium Maius area: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collegium_Maius), St. Mary's Church, and the SUKIENNICE/Main Square ( <3 love it from last time :) :-D). Later on we head to dinner before having the night free. Tuesday is our trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine: http://www.kopalnia.pl/home.php?urlMain=2,,1,1,,&id_location=1&reloadMenu=true&level=-1&id_site=10000 This is exciting for me because this is one place I have yet to visit. :) Wednesday is the tour of Wawel: http://www.wawel.krakow.pl/en/ the castle, Royal Cathedral, royal rooms, treasury, Sigismundus Bell, and royal tombs. Thursday is our trip to Auschwitz (I have visited and our program directors said we can opt out of any tours we do not want to go on if we have done them already or have personal reasons not to do them, but this is such a significant place; I feel as though going again with my classmates should be an interesting experience). Friday we have a tour of Kazimierz [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazimierz] before heading back to Warsaw (unless we decide to remain in Krakow for the weekend, but I may enjoy the weekend in Warsaw since it is easier to travel back with most of the group than to have to worry about accommodations since our train rides back to Warsaw are given to us included in the overall program cost but not additional nights at a hotel or hostel).

Today is laundry and packing and preparing for my trips over Spring Break (Swiebodzin-Legnica-Wroclaw). I have one class in a couple of hours. The weather is nice, but I am stuck inside for a bit since I am in the middle of laundry. :-/ I have some work to do over break as well, but I am here to go to school and should try to think about that. :-P

Good News! Cigarette Juice!

The above title relates to "Tim & Eric." ;-) :-P

The above photo comes from a blog I read; more reason to love my favorites, SWEET POTATOES. ;-)

Today I had two classes (woo, Polish history and politics!) with two more to go. I am watching a movie in my literature course ("Pan Tadeusz") and then I have my Jews in Poland class. Today was one of the days to pick up new bed linens, which is good because I spilled yogurt on both sides of my comforter. :-P Now I am enjoying some tea time since, sadly, it is not as nice weather-wise as yesterday. It is gray and chilly. Tomorrow I have Polish class and a CIEE group meeting. After those, I think I might make it INSIDE of the Copernicus Science Center. I also need to pick up my train tickets to and from Torun (I go on Friday for the day). The following weekend (25-27 of March) I head to Wroclaw (buying train tickets soon). I also think I may plan times to go to such places as Bialystok and Lodz for day trips. Other places may wait for Spring/Easter Break if they require more time to both travel and sightsee.

"I've never understood why people consider youth a time of freedom and joy. It's probably because they have forgotten their own."

-Margaret Atwood

Cosmic Love

Not much going on today. Polish class was informational and interesting as usual and the weather is pretty good since the sky is blue and the sun is out; it seems warmer than the last few days, but maybe the sunshine is playing tricks on me. :-P I even did my first reimbursements today. The assistant director gave me money from buying dorm supplies that I will leave for future CIEE students (mostly kitchen-related) and money from cultural activities - Chopin and Curie museum tickets (the supplies do not count against the 300 or so zloty we are each given to spend on activities and some transportation in Poland).

I only have one longer Polish lesson on Wednesdays, so after class ended I went to Galeria Mokotow because it is one of the malls that has buses traveling from there directly to my dorm. I figured out a tram that goes from my school to the mall and then there are two buses that go from the mall to my dorm. At the mall, I only went to Empik and Carrefour (I might check out TESCO sometime for groceries since my Polish/Ukranian buddy seemed to sound more favorable towards TESCO and has somehow worked at each). At Empik, I bought a CD; I had been nervous about buying certain electronic items because of a fear of compatability - DVDs need a special European player for example - but I now know CDs are safe. :) I purchased Florence + the Machine's "Between Two Lungs" - the name for a 2-CD version of "Lungs" with extra songs and remixes. Currently putting this onto my iTunes playlist. :-D

My sister Jenn and I are pretty addicted right now. :-P Lucky girl is seeing Florence in concert!

Not much else going on other than a birthday party at a chocolate lounge this evening and one more class tomorrow afternoon before weekend commences. :) I might throw in laundry somewhere and begin some homework - which is mostly just Polish exercises right now (Jewish reading assignment should come sooner-or-later). :)

Also, the pub I went to the other night: http://www.podbarylka.pl/index.php?page=1 The bartender is going to be in a flair competition and my buddy said she went last year and is going again this year if I want to watch.

But Why Is The Rum Gone?

I guess I will not leave it as a surprise, but say that I went to the main post office here [upon recommendation by Gosia, who said there is virtually no wait there, whereas most other offices are similar to a deli where you take a number and wait for your turn], where in mixed Polish and English I bought stamps and sent postcards to some lucky people. ;-) I did "ordinary" over "priority," so I am uncertain how long it will take for the cards to make it to the US. :-P It was interesting because on the way there women with clipboards tried to ask me for help with something - maybe a petition to sign? - so I had to keep saying I didn't speak Polish well and/or did not understand and walked away.

Yesterday I had classes and after they were over, I met with my Polish "buddy" [similar to the Big Brother/Big Sister programs of high schools]. She is very nice. I finally had a chance to give her the small gifts I brought her from America [she was so busy with exams and classes and going on break that I only saw her at the airport for a few moments and have only spoken to her via text messages and Facebook since then] and at first she refused to take anything, so I had to push a couple of times until she finally accepted. :) She asked me where I wanted to go and I said it was up to her, so we headed towards Old Town to a pub. I met a friend of hers who works there (she said they live together, so I am uncertain whether this fellow is a platonic friend or a boyfriend or what...). I learned some about my Buddy:

• Likes Cuba Libres :-P (I think ours were free since her bartender/friend gave us some and I didn't hear or see any mention of money)
• Used to be a bartender, so she knows how to make a lot of drinks or at least is familiar with names
• Likes rum, sweeter/flavored beers - not regular, strong beer, white wine sometimes; doesn't like vodka, red/strong wine
• Studying for a Master's in International Business (so I am pretty sure she is older than me)
• Has studied many foreign languages and knows Russian, Polish, and English (her classes are in English now)
• Going to Finland next semester (leaves at the end of August)
• Born in the Ukraine and moved to Poland around the age of 14
• Her parents live in the suburbs of Warsaw, not too far away (still technically Warsaw area)
• Has friends who live in different parts of the world - a classmate from NY, a friend in Portugal, a girlfriend in Gdansk area, family in Ukraine
• Speaks well in English (her friend knows a lot as well), but wants to work on it as I want to work on Polish (we will help each other and she is pushing for more Polish since she is not confident in her English, but it is better than my Polish, so I try to encourage her as well)
• Smokes (she buys slims of whatever brand - which a lot of girls here seem to prefer)
• Fan of soap operas as my Babcia/grandma is and movies (more comedies)
• Reads Paulo Coelho - favorite book being his "The Alchemist"
• Loves sushi and wants to go to Asia - especially Japan (almost went to China for vacation, but went to Malta instead because it was not as expensive as going to China)
• Tongue pierced and at least one tattoo

We stayed at the pub talking (and smoking for her :-P ) until closing when we left with her friend. It was fun; she starting making ideas of more activities we can do together now that she is back in Warsaw - having sushi (apparently her friend has made it himself before and they like to go to sushi places), going to the Warsaw Uprising Museum, hanging out at her apartment, etc. She also gave her opinion on pubs, clubs, malls, stores, restaurants, neighborhoods, cities/places, etc.

Today I changed my bed linens; every three weeks a sign goes up specifying two consecutive days and the hours on those days when you can take your sheets to the office and put them in piles to be laundered and then collect new/clean ones to replace the dirty ones. This morning I had a group meeting with everyone on the program and then a class, but now I have a break until two classes later this afternoon. During the meeting, we learned about finalizing course registration and some important dates, in addition to asking any questions we may have. Monday we are going to see a choir/folk dance group at the National Opera: http://www.mazowsze.waw.pl/ On Thursday morning we are doing a tour of SGH's library. Next Tuesday, we are having a group dinner. Our weekend trip to Gdansk is either March 25-27 or April 15-17. Also, we are going to a ballet on March 30 and our day-trip to Lublin may be April 1-2 or 2-3, but this could change. The Krakow/Auscwitz area trip is May 1-6. We also have a Spring Break around Easter (April 22-30 I believe).

Who's Going To Tell You When It's Too Late?

This is a hospital about 2 seconds walk from my dorm

Look at all of those "Babcia" (grandma/lady/love story) magazines!

Outside my dorm - not the best sight; the entrance is by the part that juts out some with an overhead above the door; I guess it covers rain...?

Address

Dorm = Student House; I am in GROSIK for the School of Economics

Not much happened today for me; mostly just relaxing since I had no class - reading (trying to finish Stiff - check out the book here - soon), showering, taking it easy. The sunshine coaxed me out for a quick walk and a stop at a small market (yep, trying out another grocery store option, this time a Carrefour Market - probably Express since it was small). The sun is going down soon, so it is a bit cold now. Brrr. Might stay in for the night again. I have two classes tomorrow afternoon and then not until Monday morning. :) Cheers to that.

Class? Work? Uhh...

http://ciee.org/

So, according to my class schedule, I should have four classes on Tuesdays. The first (history) does not begin until March. When this class would have been, I took advantage of relaxing and napping a bit before putting away my clean clothes - they were a bit wrinkly and some did not dry all too well, but it all turned out okay. :-P The second class (politics) was interesting today - talking about European politics during World War II - and I found out that the class schedule has been updated again, favorably for me. :) I have Fridays off! And the rest of the week does not look too bad.

I am here mainly to learn about Poland, so I am focusing on Polish-related courses in history, language, politics, culture, society, and literature, in addition to traveling or exploring Warsaw and other parts of Poland (and maybe Europe as well, but Polska is more important since I know I will see some cities outside Poland towards the end of my time abroad). I have heard a lot of difficulties from other CIEE students about going to classes at SGH/Warsaw School of Economics; one girl mentioned going to a class that turned out to be in Polish; my roommate went to one class that was cancelled - at least for today - and another that no longer exists. I have heard about several people being interested in a class that is also not going to be held. It is strange how much the schedule changes for courses even after the semester begins. I am glad that I do not have these struggles because I was more committed to CIEE classes than looking at too many SGH options. It also makes my schedule a bit more flexible to work with and using classes that I am interested in (so far at least). It is still awkward for all of us how little "work" we have done; friends in the States are already pretty far into the semester, while some of my group are still figuring out classes to take and schedules. I am pretty certain about those classes I have chosen and they were pre-approved, so I also do not have the issue of having to contact deans and teachers about making sure SGH classes will count (I did a pre-registration type form and checked with study abroad and other teachers before leaving Fairfield). But still, only three of my classes have actually started; Polish has given some work, whereas the other two have given a little reading since they began last week (only Polish began fairly soon after arrival). One of my classes - a Polish literature one - somehow did not happen. I was waiting with other students from my program by the assigned room this afternoon and the professor never came. He said we would begin this week (after Valentine's Day) rather than last week, but maybe he went to the wrong room/building? Or maybe something came up? Or he simply forgot? Maybe we will find out later and I will still wait again next time the class is scheduled and maybe he will show then. We even had an issue about room assignment yesterday when my Polish class was moved to our program director's office after our scheduled classroom turned out to be having another class in it.

When I was in the kitchen today using the microwave, a guy there waiting to use it after I finished spoke to me in Polish and I had to say I do not speak that well and he asked what language I do speak, so we spoke in English after I told him that would work better. He asked where I was from and how long I was here and we both said we are half-Polish; he said he spoke Polish to me because I looked Polish - I had heard a few days before from a Polish-American student on my program that I do not look that Polish, so I guess it depends on the viewer or maybe the lighting/angle. :-P

Since Polish was cancelled tomorrow, I have the day off. :-D Some people went out tonight, but I am going to stay in to read, to do yoga (Tara Stiles on Youtube!), and to possibly go to bed at a reasonable hour. I need a shower and whatnot anyway. :-P As mid-week approaches, I am uncertain about weekend plans as of yet. Hopefully the weather will be nice. It has been sunny the past few days, but really quite cold (especially at night and when windy) - I try to stick to the sunny parts of the street when I can.

Commit Yourself!

And This Is Not All Of It...

First laundry experience at the Polish dorm was interesting... I could not fit all of the laundry... so my hamper is almost half-full. :-/ This is two loads and it took a while, now I have to wait for it all to dry overnight. I am trying not to take up a lot of space and I feel bad to do this to my roommate. :( I will not have to wait this long again; part of the reason for having so much was being at the hostel for several days. Somehow I will learn to figure out the laundry machines and I will not wait so long. :-P I learned some about laundry from my Babcia, but not how to use weird symbols and/or Polish. :-/ I may take pictures of the laundry room sometime as well... it's what I expect now from college laundry rooms, haha.