The Office

Interesting past couple of days... sort of. After Polish class in the morning, I had lunch before heading out for a walk around Nowy Swiat Street and Old Town (hooray that outdoor seating is out or being set up!). I stopped by an American Bookstore (http://www.americanbookstore.pl/) and bought a few Polish-related books:

2 books on Polish tales (meant for children ;) )

A love story set somewhat in Krakow that extends to different generations; looks cute and has had some good reviews online

Yesterday the weather was great, until it began to rain while I was in my last class and I had to walk the few blocks back to the dorm in the rain (sadly, the unexpected showers meant I was hood-less and umbrella-less). :-/ On my way to that final class, the sky seemed darker, but I did not know that the weather was going to change so much and just let the idea of rain slide out of my mind... until I thought I heard rain outside the classroom window and the noise of cars driving in water. :-P I made it back to my room and had some issues with my computer's mouse (now it is working fine, but my program's assistant director called for me about my laptop's warranty - it is up, so no help there - and tech support before I ended up buying an optical mouse and discovering that my mouse NOW will work when I was about to set up an external one... well, I have back up and when the tech support calls me tomorrow I can ask about what to do in case this problem occurs again, but I hope it doesn't). I also picked up a package today. Thanks, Mom, Dad, and Babcia. :-D I now have an Easter card on my desk, new magazines, LUNA bars, gum, candies, and soup (as a gift since Campbell's tomato soup is not so easy to find here). :-P

Today I had history in the morning before doing some grocery shopping (I went to one of the malls, where I had some food from TUKAN salad bar: http://www.saladbar.pl/index.php, which was basically a salad bar in a food court, where your plate was weighed at the end and priced accordingly with any other items - drinks, sandwiches, soups, other prepared dishes. I then went to Carrefour for a mixed bag of foods and supplies after eating). In the afternoon, I had to miss my literature course to go on a field trip with my Jews in Poland class to see the Jewish cemetery here in Warsaw. It was very large and had both well-maintained plots and some that had fallen into disrepair, which made me sad to see. It was an interesting, yet awkward, experience learning about history and customs while walking around where dead people are buried. It became quite cold by the end of the tour, so everyone in the group was quite anxious to make it back to the dorm or at least somewhere for dinner. Tomorrow I have Polish class, where I believe we will be watching a film called "The Debt" (originally "Dług"): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0225535/

In the afternoon, my program group will be having a meeting about the upcoming Gdansk-Gdynia-Sopot weekend trip (next weekend).

Interesting side note, I like updating my sister on my "Krasinski" sightings. There is this one guy I have seen a handful of times in a few different areas on the way to or from classes and he resembles (to me right now) John Krasinski from "The Office." I am tempted to scope him out and take a picture to see if anyone else agrees. Distant cousin perchance? He totally has the ears and the nose, in my opinion. :-P There is Krasinski ancestry connected to this part of Poland: they were a noble family and there is a Krasinski Palace and a Krasinski Garden near it. Plus, there is a Krasinski Street after the famous poet, Zygmunt Krasinski.

Pictures updated on Flickr (from Sunday at the zoo) and Twitpic (a few from Monday's walk and today's lunch).

Pączek i Praga

Some of today's photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60142466@N03/sets/72157626106465663/

Today the weather was Spring-like, so I had to spend time outside from the time my class ended until the sun began to set. Once I finished my informative Polish lesson, I headed towards downtown to have lunch at Salad House, where I had planned to go after passing it on a walk a few days ago. I had a "Green Kiss" salad with smoked chicken, lettuce, red and yellow peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, sun-dried tomatoes, and balsamic dressing. It was good. :)




Some of the inside of Salad House

After Salad House, I decided to have my belated pączek - Polish donut filled with some kind of jam/marmalade/filling. There was no line today. :-P I asked for apple - of course - and was told there weren't any, so I decided to do the one of the more "standard" fillings, rosehip jam (I guess that is what it translates to). The paczek was a bit warm - which I hoped for - and super soft. The donut tasted identical to Krispy Kreme and was glazed, not powdered, with a hint of the red-colored jam. Not sure what the flavor could be compared to... but that was a good donut from someone who is no longer into donuts. I am glad I didn't wait in a long line or settle for just anything on Pączki Day -  Fat Thursday (which was the Thursday a few days ago). Instead, I chose this place and celebrated belatedly (both Fat Thursday and yesterday's Fat Tuesday). :-P I also know of two other places in the area who are known to make good pączki, but I am not really a donut-person, so I am not sure I will go on a taste test myself.

Paczek with random sprinkles (only a couple)

I walked around a bit (saw a 4-door Mini Cooper!) and decided to head to the other side of the Wisla/Vistula River into the Praga area. I walked through a nice park and saw the E. Wedel chocolate factory - it actually DOES smell of chocolate in the air right nearby - and its special chocolate store. I used my local's guide map to see some interesting sites around Praga - a weird cultural area with pagodas and dragons and other Asian-themed architecture - for people from Vietnam I guess it is said, a statue to Mary [Mother of Jesus], a mural, the longest building in Warsaw, a vodka factory - and even saw a mall in the area (nothing special compared to ones I've seen before that are a bit easier to access from my dorm).

Tomorrow includes one class in the afternoon with some laundry and Skyping beforehand. I also will try and make it to the Jewish Historical Institute, Copernicus Science Center, and Warsaw History Museum on Thursday, Friday, or Sunday (leaving Saturday as the main day-trip day). I am planning on having a somewhat Copernicus-themed weekend with going to Torun and his science center being the main points. I have some researching and a bit of homework ahead of me.

From a great one:

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." —Steve Martin

:-D

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.

F Is For Friends Who Do Stuff Together

Note to add to my last post (just thought I would quickly add a new post instead of changing my last one):
-Buddy's name is Natasza (also goes by Natalia I believe)
-I am going to start working on some Jewish genealogy soon for my sister's teacher (he wants to know about family history here in Poland and I asked my "Jews in Poland" professor for somewhere to go for research and he gave me a place downtown. :) I plan to check into it soon and see what I can find.)
-Yes, it is super cold; only the sunshine and blue-sky make me happy when it is very cold, but they do not make it as warm as I would prefer it to be. :-P The weather was a tease - it was warming up and there had been no snow and then on Saturday that changed, snow came and it has been VERY cold. Today does seem better than yesterday, which may have been one of the coldest days I have experienced here. :-P

Looking forward to the temperature rising and flowers to come out. :)

Cold Hands, Warm Heart

Falling asleep a bit early threw off my sleep schedule a bit, but all's well!

Today was another day of exploration and indoor activities; yesterday was more mall, today was more museum. And sometimes not having definite plans can allow for the good unknown to occur.

Wandering on my way to New Town (Nowe Miasto):

Cool graffiti by a soccer field/stadium

More graffiti



I like artistic graffiti, so I apprecited these ones



This is for my Mom, lover of roosters

I decided to check out the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Museum in New Town today. It is located in the place she lived in here in Warsaw (16 Freta Street). I received a discounted ticket price since I am a student. :)

Poster celebrating the anniversary of Marie's solo Nobel Prize in 1911

Cool quote by Mr. Pierre Curie, Marie's husband

It is neat to see locations being celebrated for former inhabitants

The museum is on the second floor of the address. The first floor has a cool store that I think my sister would like as well. It had "oriental" decorations and statues and gifts.

Cool store

Some of the Buddha-related statues

After the museum stop, I decided to head towards Old Town and maybe see if I came upon another museum (I know the Literature Museum is near Marie's).

MILK BAR - I saw one on Nowy Swiat Street as well, so maybe I will check one out sometime

View walking near the river

Back of the castle, turns out there was a neat art sale by local artists in the downstairs - made me wish I had a place to put some of the great artrwork I saw; so beautiful I wanted to buy some :)

Turns out it is FREE to visit the Royal Castle on Sundays. ;-) I now want to live in a castle. Why can't I be Belle and "Beauty & the Beast" actually happen? :-/

Throne + cute little boy (his Mom was taking pictures of him)

What a ceiling

Every room was amazing and a few took my breath away or made my jaw drop

 Pictures do not do it all justice; going in person is highly recommended if possible. :)

Eagles. :)

Chandeliers and pretty ceiling

Chapel

SWORDS

There were tons of portraits throughout the castle tour

More fun painted ceilings

This room's name? The MARBLE room. (After the green room and the yellow room among others) :-P

That's a lot of marble

Coat checks are everywhere. :-P

After the castle, I decided to do a bit more wandering and the sun was starting to go down :-( The snow today was pretty, but it began to become quite cold around this time.

A lot of accordion players out on the streets, this one had a wicked beard

One of those street statue-guys who sometimes don't move - he both moved and spoke :-P

This was a scary street statue-guy. Is it a monk? Death? A priest? Just creepy?

I decided to head back when I felt super cold and thought I should be inside before dark. :-P Now it is tea time.

I live and go to school in Mokotow; Old and New Town and Centrum are in Srodmiescie

Every Weekend is a 3-Day Weekend ;)

Latest Class Schedule Update - should be the last one! (Looks good to me)

Monday:
9:50-11:30 = Intermediate Polish
...
1:30-3:10 = History of Central Europe, 1871-Present [NOTE: Does not begin until March]
...
5:10-6:50 = Jews in Poland & the Holocaust

Tuesday:
9-11:30 = History of Central Europe, 1871-Present
11:40-1:20 = Polish Society & Politics
...
3:20-5 = Polish Post-War Literature [NOTE: Begins this week]
5:10-6:50 = Jews in Poland & the Holocaust

Wednesday:
9-11:30 = Intermediate Polish

Thursday:
1:30-3:10 = Polish Society & Politics
3:20-5 = Polish Post-War Literature

No class on Fridays? Yes, please. ;)

On an unrelated note, I think Jenn would say this to me (and she probably has before, even using synonyms):

Riding on the Metro...

Pictures first, details later (I'm in the middle of an episode of "Castle." :-P )

Sweet potatoes. :-D

Electric tea kettle. :-D Tea time coming soon. ;)

John's ancestor?

USA Tri-Fecta: Pizza Hut, KFC, Starbucks

Owl & book love!

National Opera by day

I want to hold your hand.

Krasinski Place

Krasinski Palace

Metal unicorns. :-O

Bag reads: "Gold Digga." I wonder if she knows...

Krasinski Garden

LOVE BAGELS.

My Polish Palm Tree on a sunny, blue-skied day

ELIZABETH

Gofry (on the top right of the menu) = waffles with toppings (I think Jenn might enjoy them)

Not as good as the one at the mall, but still a favorite

TKMAXX = TJMAXX? Why the letter change...?

Uhhh, underground tunnel areas can be strange. Even weirder when you are in these places near drunks or children

Frozen desserts, beautified

Poles know how to display ice cream and sorbet

Polish ice cream

McDonalds makes ketchup now?

Sweet. Potatoes. They were hiding from me. ;) They are not so cheap here right now. :-/