Go Do

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
-Ferris Bueller

Go sing, too loud
Make your voice break - Sing it out
Go scream, do shout 
Make an earthquake...

You wish fire would die and turn colder
You wish young eyes could see you grow older
We should always know that we can do anything

Go drum, too proud
Make your hands ache - Play it out
Go march through crowds
Make your day break...

You wish silence released noisy drummers
You wish white noise surrendered to summers
We should always know that we can do everything

Go do, you'll know how to
Just let yourself, fall into landslide

Go do, you'll know how to
Just let yourself, give into flood tide

Go do!

Tie strings to clouds 
Make your own lake - Let it flow
Throw seeds to sprout
Make your own break - Let them grow

Let them grow (Endless summers)
Let them grow (Endless summers)

(Go do endless summers)

You wish surprise would never stop wonders
You wish sunrise would never fall under

You wish surprise would never stop wonders
You wish sunrise would never fall under
We should always know that we can do anything

Go do! 

Words

The words of Maya Angelou:

I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.

I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life.’

I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.

I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.

I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. 

Parks & Recreation

Part of "Grass" by Animal Collective:
I was very nervous how I felt in there
I was very cautious when you said "hey there"
Would you like to see me often
Though you don't need to see me often
Because I'd like to see you, often!
Though I don't need to see you, often!



Today, I began my day with a Polish lesson, during which we were given our practice tests to work on for next week's final exam. We then had a lesson on Zakopane (people, culture - food, music, clothes, art, animals, etc.) and Polish slang. Since the weather was so nice, I decided to head outside and go the Lazienki Park. I am glad to see it now that winter is over (last time I went inside the park was my first full day here at the end of January). The trees are flowering, the animals are out, the sun is shining... it was a nice day to walk around and see most of  the monuments and other sites around the park. After my walk, my program had a meeting; we talked about our trip to Lublin Friday to Saturday (our train departs Friday at about 9AM, to arrive less than 2.5 hours later; we are staying at Hotel Europa: http://www.hoteleuropa.pl/en/; We will almost immediately begin our tour of Lublin - mainly places of Jewish significance - after we check-in and drop off our luggage. In the evening, we have a group dinner at Mandragora Restaurant: http://www.mandragora.lublin.pl/, which apparently is Jewish cuisine to fit with the trip's theme/purpose of Jewish education.) Saturday, we have breakfast at the hotel before a tour of Majdanek concentration camp. Our train back to Warsaw is at about noon, so we can prepare for Night of the Museums and have some time to ourselves. Also, we received information at the meeting about our final dinner (Wednesday evening in Old Town), our program evaluation, and finishing the semester - checking out of the dorm, finishing classes, etc.

Only one more day of classes this week, plus I need to finish a paper before leaving for our Lublin trip. :-/ After that, I have classes and one test next week, plus 3 final papers that need to be completed by early June.

Photos from today on Photobucket...

Another Quote of the Day

“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…I could walk through my garden forever.” 
-Tennyson

O's Quote of the Day

The minute I heard my first love story
I started looking for you, not knowing
How blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along. 

—  Rumi, from "Untitled"

Quote of the Day

"It is beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart." 
--Anonymous

Rolling In The Deep

I hope so. It seems true at least sometimes. ;)

The Rain Will Pass

Aaa, kotki dwa,
szarobure obydwa,
jeden duży, drugi mały
oba mi się spodobały.

Aaa, kotki dwa,
szarobure obydwa,
nic nie będą robiły,
tylko ciebie bawiły.


http://czasdzieci.pl/czytanki/id,149bed-aaa_kotki_dwa.html
This is actually from a website for small children/babies; this is a "song" or poem I actually remember my Mom and Babcia/grandma saying to me. I tried looking quickly for other familiar ones, but this one I know for sure.

The ballet last night was very good. Ballet does wonders to a man's body, but just makes women thin. The guys all seemed to have every bone and bit of lean muscle visible... I was a bit sleepy before the performance, so when the music was slow and the stage was darker, I became a bit sleepy and thought I could easily nod off to sleep. :-P There were some scenes our group labeled "homo-erotic" and even one where a guy danced in falling water. There were many, many dancers (several groups, costumes, dances, "story-lines among the dancers), choir-persons, and orchestra members in the performance. But, the ending was very bright, loud, and lively, which was good because it woke me up a bit before having to leave. Whenever I see ballet (such as after watching "Black Swan," I feel in the mood to replicate the moves, to stretch, to do yoga or Pilates, and to move about. Some people in my group even began to pretend to dance in the lobby. ;)

After the performance, I finished watching "Watchmen," which turned out to be very different than what I expected and I liked it a lot (how could I NOT like a film with an owl super hero? ;) )

No classes today, so I am relaxing and catching up on "How I Met Your Mother" right now. I may head out in a bit since the weather is so nice (low 60s with some sunshine).

And there is a new toilet paper rule being instated tomorrow; I guess each resident is allowed one roll per month; my sister asked if Communism is starting again when I told her about it. :-P

Quote of the Day

“Heartsick, heartbroken—
To know love is to know pain.
What could be more common?
Even so, each broken heart is so singular
That with it we probe the divine.”
-Rumi

The Scientist

"Nic o nas bez nas."
["Nothing about us without us."]


Two days (the "tougher"/longer ones) of classes complete. :-P I had Polish history in the morning and then a break since this is the first of two weeks without my politics course. During my break, I watched one of the recent "How I Met Your Mother" episodes I had yet to watch ("Desperation Day") and it was really good. I later discussed "Promised Land" in literature class and received some reading for our next class (which will be in a week because our Thursday class is cancelled, which means my weekend starts tomorrow. :-D Maybe we will push the idea on this teacher that we do not need to make up this missed class... one can hope.) I then had my Jews in Poland course before heading back to the dorm for the night. It was there that I noticed how I am receiving more and more emails about registration for fall courses at Fairfield. It is weird to think that housing and course registration is being done already since it seems so soon. :-P I looked over what I have completed and what I have remaining and I think if I do some work over the summer and then have a regular schedule in the fall, I might be able to complete my requirements for graduation in December. This is tempting since then maybe I would take the spring off to work and apply for graduate schools. It seems both far and close. Gee. I emailed my advisor about some of my thoughts and questions, so we will see where it all goes! I even received my pin for online registration already and will be picking classes on April 12th (2:30pm my time, 8:30am Fairfield's).

Tomorrow I have Polish in the morning followed by a break and then a CIEE program-paid lunch in the afternoon (it relates to an assignment involving directions that the Beginning group has to complete). In the evening we are going to a ballet: http://www.teatrwielki.pl/repertuar/balet/kalendarium/nowy_balet.html?kid=528

Some thoughts I have had recently are that, when thinking about or planning or preparing to go abroad, I rarely thought about emotions. The only well-known ideas that are discussed during pre-orientation are culture shock and homesickness when away. Well, lately, I am wondering more about the end of my time here in Europe (Poland specifically) and thinking about how hard it will be to leave, to go back to "reality." There is a lot I am missing right now, but I have already come to terms with the fact that no matter where I am or what I am doing, I will ALWAYS be missing someone or something; there is no way to have everyone and everything I love together with me all of the time. I discussed it with my friends this weekend, how difficult it is for me to settle because of my indecisiveness, dispersed loved ones, and all of the great places I have lived or visited or want to visit. It will not be easy to pick one place or one profession, but now that I know there is no way to make everyone happy, then I can at least think about making decisions based on greater good instead of being stifled by innumerable choices. It is tough to be in a world where I may be able to communicate with people all over the globe, but if I want to see them, I cannot simply "fold a map" as if the world were flat and see them in person whenever I wished.

Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are

I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I've set you apart

Tell me your secrets
And ask me your questions
Oh, let's go back to the start

Running in circles
Coming up tails
Heads on the science apart

Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard

Oh take me back to the start

I was just guessing
At numbers and figures
Pulling the puzzles apart

Questions of science
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

Oh tell me you love me
Come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start



Adjective of the Day for Me: Nieśmiała (timid)
Website of the Day: http://polish.typeit.org/ [helps with typing Polish letters with accents.]

Miłego Dnia! :D

“People who keep journals have life twice.”

― Jessamyn West

[Title = Have a nice day!]

The Promised Land

"Stara miłość nie rdzewieje." [Slight translation: Old love does not die.]

So, two longer days of classes completed, which means two days and two classes left before another weekend. Polish class on Monday morning included learning about some Polish history and monuments. After that, I had my history and politics classes. During the politics class, we discussed the current Constitution in Poland. My final class did not happen because we students waited thirty minutes before giving up, only to receive an email a few hours later that the professor was never going to show up because he had been undergoing medical tests at the hospital for having fainted earlier in the day. Today I had my history class followed by politics, where I learned that my professor is leaving for a trip tomorrow and will not return until the 11th of April. I had a break (picked up my Beethoven Festival ticket and enjoyed a few minutes of the nice Spring weather we had today - sunny and only slightly chilly) and then, during literature class, watched the first half of another Andrzej Wajda film based on a novel by Wladyslaw Reymont called "Promised Land." It is about three friends - a Pole, a Jew, and a German - who are entrepreneurs in Lodz in the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution. It reminds me of "The Jungle" and other either fictionalized or true stories about the negatives of industrial, urban life in the US and Great Britain. I spoke to another student later that I hear more about the problems that this revolution caused other places; I did not know that it affected Poland in a similar manner, with many poor working in the terrible, dangerous conditions of factories while greedy businessmen make money off of them. There is a lot more gore in the film than any of us were expecting, but I guess we saw the worst of it already. It is neat watching a movie that is more current in the time period being portrayed, but made longer ago than the last film. At least one actor is in both and it is interesting seeing him in the "future" while looking younger (since he is younger when this film was made). I am a bit curious what happens next and I suppose I will wait and see on Thursday. My Jews in Poland class was interesting as well since the teacher wanted more discussion today -he must still be a bit tired (especially after fainting and hospital testing yesterday). Tomorrow I have Polish in the morning, where we will continue talking about monuments and history and who knows what else. :-P I hope the weather continues to be nice because it is mainly Mondays and Tuesdays that I do not have as much time to enjoy the weather with the four classes I have throughout the day.

Oh, and I guess Obama will also be joining me in Poland before I depart: ;-)
http://wyborcza.pl/1,75478,9280595,Obama_przyjedzie_do_Polski.html

Self Machine

In the words of OutKast, "you can plan a pretty picnic, but you can't predict the weather."

That is how I feel about my nice few hours in Torun. It was my first time using the main train station here in Warsaw. It was not too difficult since I had been in the station and platform areas before. I also figured out the schedules to determine what platform I needed to be on. The station is not so nice right now because of mega-construction and the crowdedness of the underground tunnels of the Central/Centrum Warsaw area. It is easy to walk right onto a platform since the ticket is not checked until right after boarding, so then a ticketless rider would be in trouble since the comptroller guys did not seem especially friendly (except one I saw on my train back). I made sure to be at the station earlier, but this does not really help with finding seats since this was not the first station the train was at and there were many others wanting to board with me. I was in the second class, which basically was in a cabin resembling the one straight out of "Euro Trip." It was hard finding a cabin without sleeping people or where it did not feel weird with a bunch of others inside without much room. I helped one older woman board and she kept telling me not to be shy when she opened a carriage, claiming to be full and was not, and she yelled at the patrons saying it had seats and told me to join. I kept going and ended jumping into a compartment with room, only to be the one deemed for families (mothers/fathers/parents with children under 4 and pregnant women) and this family had both a pregnant mother and a child under 4 (maybe close to 2) with a father. I snuck in and did not take up much space, so I don't think it was a big, big deal that I was there and quiet (I only noticed the sign about babies when I was already sitting down a few minutes since it was on the door (open, so not quite visible) when I saw room inside the compartment and went in, right before the Dad brought in a big stroller in addition to their bags). They had enough room (only exception being maybe if the father wanted to stretch out more on the seat...) When the man came around to check tickets, he was a bit grumpy and said "DOKUMENT" to me. I was confused at first ("Co?" = "What?") and then he repeated and explained that I had a reduced fare, so I then understood and handed my student ID, which appeased him.

The trip went by pretty quickly. One woman joined us (the father had called out to one person that it was for families, but she only glanced in the way others had and kept walking, but allowed one woman in who actually opened the door and asked if there was room (the mom was not so happy about that). We all dozed off some and I was the first to exit. The station in Torun is really old-fashioned. It also requires crossing a bridge to the other side of the Wisla River to make it to the main sites of Torun. I mixed myself up, but made it to the other side. I also had to pay to use a restroom at the station (which also has some kiosks, a restaurant, vending machines, and a waiting room), which I would have minded less if that meant a nicer, cleaner experience.

I wanted lunch by then, so I headed directly to a place I had in mind, a vegetarian Polish chain called Green way: http://greenway.pl/ I had in mind to try the vegetarian golabki (stuffed cabbage), but it was unlisted. :( I will have to check if any in Warsaw make them. So, I had some tasty soup (this soup, but with the recipe tweaked to leave out the meat: http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/polishsoups/r/splitpeasoup.htm) and a "vegetable tart" (basically vegetarian lasagna with wheat-y thin pancakes [nalesniki/crepes] instead of pasta and with cheese, tomato sauce, spinach, and onions as the main vegetables) that came with some "salatki" = shredded carrots, a coleslaw-like shredded cabbage with creamy dressing and raisins, and another that was similar to coleslaw but not with any real dressing or sauce - more just shredded cabbage and carrot. The food was great and I am glad that I can try out the ones in other Polish cities, such as the three in the area here (yes, I am actually supporting a chain that is somewhat "fast food," but it is Polish-only, healthy, and vegetarian). The place was inexpensive and pretty (in Old Town and it had a beautiful ceiling with chandeliers).

Blurry Soup (I enlarged the picture)

After lunch, I walked around the Old Town; I saw Mikolaj Kopernik's house (Nicholaus Copernicus) and went on a tour inside; I saw the Old Town Square, medieval gates and walls, the Leaning Tower, Copernicus University, tons of modern shops (sadly even a fancy McDonalds with carnation bouquets on the tables and leather seats or sofas - rarely are they so nice in the US), cafes, and the famous "piernik" shops (piernik from Torun is famous; it is basically similar to gingerbread, but I think softer and better). At one of the shops (there were several) with mainly piernik (I went to the famous Kopernik chain), I bought this heart-shaped cookie that came in a red heart tin (haha, my memento). At another shop (not a Kopernik one, but selling Kopernik and loose gingerbread), I bought two filled ones (similar to the other two in the picture - which is off the Internet - but mine were covered in maybe sugar coating - one was very light and the other was a bit whiter - instead of chocolate. One had black currant (so Polish) filling and the other was apple (obvious)). It was all quite good, a bit sweet so I am not sure about if there will be a next time for eating it anytime soon, but the apple one had a strange taste to the outside, so the other two were a bit better (but I did like both fillings).

In relation to my first quote, the main issue of the day was the weather. Last time I checked the weather a few days ago, it was the same not-too-cold temperatures, but only when I checked on Thursday did it mention the rain. That and the gray sky made it not so fun, especially when it rained more intensely (luckily no downpour at least). It made me miss Warsaw, where I have places to hide out from the rain (my dorm, school, familiar public spots or a map to find new ones). I would not mind returning to Torun, but I am very glad I went and would understand if I did not have the time to make another trip and instead use the time for another destination. Torun is very cute and I am glad to have gone, especially for the train and train station experiences. I think it is a lovely little city. :) I enjoyed going a lot, it was only the weather and growing darkness that made me end my sightseeing early for the waiting room at the train station. While waiting, I had two cups of tasty (and warming!) red borscht soup from a hot drink machine and my first little bar of Prince Polo (chocolate covered wafer bar). I hid from the rain (which was even coming down a bit when I waited and boarded the train back to Warsaw). I did not have to compete with as many others to board at this station and the train itself even had few people! I had to use the restroom on-board, so I actually ended up being in first class for a few minutes and the ticket comptroller saw me in the hallway and let me stay in a cabin there while I looked for my ticket. After he checked it, I went back to the second class and found an empty cabin, where I read (homework reading includes the modern Polish Constitution - post-Solidarity - when I have yet to read the full US one I believe :-P), looked out the window, and took a nap before returning to "home base" in Warsaw; I took a bus from the station back to the dorm, where I could warm up. Today was a relax day and tomorrow might include grocery shopping and museum visit(s) and ...?

I will put pictures on twitpic soon! :-D

Oprah Quote of the Day

But little by little
As you left their voices behind
The stars began to burn
Through the sheets of clouds
And there was a new voice
Which you slowly 
Recognized as your own
That kept you company
As you strode deeper and deeper
Into the world
Determined to do
The only thing you could do— 
Determined to save
The only life you could save


Full poem: http://static.oprah.com/images/201104/omag/the-journey.pdf

While You Were Eating Kurczak McNuggets...

I did some research on the Pierre Curie quotes I liked and found:

"To stun with clatter a mind that wishes to think."

"Weak as I am, in order not to let my mind fly away on every wind that blows, yielding to the slightest breath it encounters, it would be necessary either to have everything motionless around me, or else, speeding on like a humming-top, in movement itself to be rendered impervious to external things.

Whenever, rotating slowly on myself, I attempt to speed up, the merest nothing—a word, a story, a newspaper, a visit—stops me, prevents my becoming a gyroscope or top, and can postpone or for ever delay the instant when, equipped with sufficient speed, I might be able to concentrate within myself in spite of what is around me.

We are obliged to cat, drink, sleep, laze, love; that is to say, to touch the sweetest things in this life, and yet not succumb in doing all that, to make the anti-natural thought to which one has devoted one's self remain dominant and continue its impassable course in one's poor head. One must make of life a dream, and of that dream a reality. "

And...

"What shall I be later on? [he wrote in his diary in 1881]. I am very rarely all under command at once; ordinarily a portion of my being is asleep. It seems to me that my mind gets clumsier every day. Before, I flung myself into scientific or other divagations; today I barely touch on subjects and do not allow myself to be absorbed by them any more. And I have so many, many things to do! Is my poor mind then, so feeble that it cannot act upon my body? Is thought itself unable to move my poor mind? Then it is worth very little! And Pride, Ambition—couldn't they at least propel me, or will they let me live like this? In my imagination I shall find most confidence to pull myself out of the rut. Imagination may perhaps entice my mind and carry it away. But I am very much afraid that imagination, too, may be dead ... "

http://third-millennium-library.com/readinghall/GalleryofHistory/MADAME_CURIE/10.html