Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Exploring Krakow



The next day we ventured over to the closest mega mall-Galeria Kazimierz. It was exactly like the malls back home, but on steroids. On the way home I stopped by our local supermarket and had my first solo food shopping experience, which was both frightening and exhilarating at the same time. I bought some basic items such as mushroom soup, bread and yogurt. I would save the culinary adventures for another time.

In the afternoon we were given a guided tour of Krakow. We saw the oldest buildings of the Jagiellonian University, where Copernicus once studied long ago.

We passed by the former home of Pope John Paul II and saw the window where he would stand in front of every night when he was younger, to converse with the crowd of people that had gathered below.



Our last stop was Wawel, which included the Cathedral and the Castle itself, both magnificent works of art. Living in a town that had a castle just adds to the surreal feeling of living in Krakow.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Krakow, My New Home.


The next morning, we took a scenic two-hour train ride to Krakow. We passed by the picturesque countryside, where cows and sheep speckled the landscape like wildflowers.

When I arrived in Krakow, our taxi drove through streets that were littered with trash and underpasses that had been covered in graffiti. Buildings with exposed brick and dull gray exteriors littered my neighborhood. This city was definitely aged.

Our apartment was on the first floor (which is actually the second) and had been completely remodeled, quite a contrast from the exterior. My house mates were Julian from France and Marie from Belgium (students from a different program) and Emily and Tiffany (from Wisconsin) who were in my program.

This is my room...not bad, huh?



After we unpacked and settled in our new abode, we were famished so we decided to explore our surroundings. We ended up in the Old Town and I got to experience Rynek Glowny (the main square) in all its glory for the first time. We came upon the main town square off one of the side streets and it took my breath away. And suddenly I was drawn in by the magical lure that Poland so skillfully exudes.


Sunday, September 28, 2008

Sightseeing in Warsaw



The next morning we were given the pleasure of a tour of Warsaw, by both bus and foot. Slightly still disoriented from jet-lag and culture shock, the tour was a complete blur to me.

What I do remember...

Lazienki Park, a serene hideaway from the city without actually leaving it. Among the many highlights of the park were the Chopin Monument and the bed of thousands of red roses that were in bloom.




The former Jewish Ghetto, with the Ghetto Heroes Monument in honor of all the victims that fell during the doomed uprising. Figures struggled out of the dark granite, trying to flee their oppressors who were barely more than outlines in the background. It was extremely powerful and completely overwhelming at the same time.


Sadly, Warsaw had been bombed so badly during WWII, only roughly fifteen percent remained afterwards. The Old Town which had been completely rebuilt, was architecturally stunning. In the New Town, (right next to the Old Town) was the house that Marie Currie grew up in. It was exciting for me since she has been a role model since I was a little girl.

At sunset, Piotrek brought us up to the top of the Palace of Culture and Science, the tallest building in Poland. From this new height it allowed us to take in Warsaw from a completely different perspective.



And I found a familiar face by the elevator...

Saturday, September 27, 2008

A Dose of Polish Culture

We were staying at the Hotel Gromada, which was situated in a pretty central location in the city. I met Emily one of my house mates from the Washington D.C. area.

We had our first meeting as a group at a local coffee shop and Piotrek gave an introduction to the logistics of the program. Some important information...

1) Polish people converse in public at a noise level of 4 (out of 10).
2) It is not typical to accept a drink from a stranger at a bar.
3) In a typical apartment you will find the washer in the bathroom. A dryer doesn't exist.
Time to wash clothes: 2 hours. Time to dry clothes: days.
4) "NEVER take a taxi that just says 'taxi,' because most likely it's a 'mafia taxi' (and they'll definitely rip you off)."





Afterwards, we went to a traditional Polish restaurant called Chlopskie Jadlo. Roughly translated the name meant "Peasant's Fare," and although the atmosphere was very inviting, the food was not. A platter of assorted traditional culinary delights such as golonka (jellied pig's knuckles) and various other mystery meats, soon appeared after our arrival. Seated directly in front of the platter, I could only force down a few pierogies, before succumbing to a spoiled appetite. I was not the only one who couldn't stomach the meal, because I found out later that Jack was a vegetarian. I had a lot to get use to....

Warsaw: First Impressions of Poland



I arrived off the plane in Warsaw, and the whole world around me had transformed into a whirlwind of Polish culture. My excitement had overcome my jet-lag for the moment and I was in a daze as I came out of the arrivals gate, my mind trying to grasp the reality of the moment. I was finally here!

After a somewhat frustrating search, I finally found Piotrek (Piotr), my residential director, amidst a sea of families showering their loved ones with kisses and odd-numbered bouquets of roses.

Two other API participants Jack and Greg, joined us shortly and we all headed out into the mid-morning mist to take a cab to our hotel. A cab driver with a prominent potbelly took one look at our excessive amount of luggage and pointed to a van behind him. When we finally got into a vehicle that could accommodate us all, we made small talk but eventually grew quiet, as we took in the daily life of Warsaw that was unfolding around us.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Thoughts Beforehand


Choosing to go to Poland seemed like a natural choice for me, when I was figuring out where I wanted to study abroad. I mused over exotic places like Egypt, South Africa, and Brazil, places that lured me in with promises of a life that was completely different than my own. But Poland held something greater, a chance to reconnect with my roots and return to a place where my paternal grandparents had fled the Nazi regime half a century ago. I had already been to China a few times now and I felt it was crucial to identify with my Eastern European roots and explore the culture that I had little exposure to. I was also very curious to gain a greater knowledge of the horrific events of WWII and how they fit into context within the country's psyche. So not knowing much more than "dziekuje" in Polish and a tiny snapshot of Poland's often turbulent history, I set off for the mysterious land of Polska.