So. Much. Pizza.

                Yesterday was so much fun! :D I mean, work was still slow. No responses, oh well, free time. I didn't eat much, because I knew that I was going to meet up with a friend of mine afterwards! Which was awesome! Although, I must say, I felt very... alone at work yesterday... There was a meeting down the hall that virtually everyone was at. But here I was, sitting in front of the computer, doing nothing... A bit awkward, to be honest. Oh well!
                Onto the fun part! After work, I headed out to Rynek, where I met with my mom's best friend's daughter, in front of Fredro, and her boy. It was really nice to see Ania, especially since she's actually going to Italy for the year to study. So I actually wouldn't have had any other chance to see her! We went to a pizzeria where they get a student discount, but instead we ended up buying two XXL pizza's (the size of a large in the States... ... :/) with the buy one, get one free offer! For quite a reasonable price, actually. We ordered a Mexican pizza and the "La Bella" pizza (olives, bell peppers, ham, and pepperoni). Both were delicious. Even the pizza here is better, gosh. We actually ate nearly all of the pizzas too. Only had three pieces left, one of which some guy off the street came up to us while in the restaurant and asked if he could have a piece, so we gave him it. o_o; I mean, why not? Better than throwing it out. The other two pieces ended up going home with me. 
                But yes, we talked a lot and did a ton of comparisons between the US and Poland. I've sort of noticed that's what most of my conversations have tended to lead towards... Which is understandable, and really fun. At one point, Michał actually ended up asking me what food is better in the States... ... I don't think I answered. I couldn't think of anything. He was like, "Surely there must be something." And I remained quiet in deep thought and really really figured out... nothing, still. Let's see, what are some of the things we talked about. Ah yes, how I ended up coming here, and how the program worked, and what it was like here in Wrocław and what I was expecting in Krakow. Like everyone else, they assured me I would fall even further in love with Krakow, because it's a true university city. Meanwhile, here, I know no one... Although! Ania suggested I check out the website, Couch Surfers, which I knew about already, but she informed me of how it tells you who is in the area that might want to hang out. And usually, traveling people are more willing to meet up, so I might take advantage of that, because my evenings are lonely. Then we also talked about the differences in housing and history, and knowledge and education. How the universities differ, how we still have to go through a general education in college instead of primarily focusing on our major. Which is exactly how it works here. How it costs an arm, a leg, and your future, unborn child to go to college, and here you can go to college for free in the public universities. 
                 We also talked about languages, and how here you learn other languages from preschool, while in the states, I was fortunate to start learning Spanish in elementary school, but the norm is 7th-8th grade. Right before high school. And that's really only if you're on the smarter end of the spectrum, and in high school, you don't really have to work at it. At all. How there's a difference between someone who learns a language at home and has two languages and a language at school, even from childhood. Really, we hit on a ton of interesting topics. Such a pleasant evening. We walked around the square a bit as well, and then we went into a little cafe, where I had some hot chocolate. Which was phenomenal. So chocolatey, but not that gross chocolatey. Just perfect. And I even enjoyed the whipped cream (and that's when I started to wonder if it's just my bias that is influencing all the tastes, or if everything really is just... fresher and more enjoyable food-wise in Poland). Then we left the cafe, and sat in front of Ratusz and talked more about the differences, and how Ania is going to be studying in Italy, and how she likely won't come home except for the important holidays, cause she won't have a need (Michał's reaction to this was amusing). 
                Ah yes, they told me how in Europe, Poland is really a cheap country to visit. And they shared their stories of how in Norway, everything there is so expensive. They lived off of spaghetti during their time their, including for breakfast. I mean, for Norwegians, it's normal, and they're used to it, so it certainly makes sense, especially since they government is on top of taking care of their citizens otherwise. Ania was a bit envious that I can convert everything to USD and see how much money I'm saving, while she said she was nervous about doing that in Italy, because it'll show her how much she's spending. Haha, I don't blame her. Megan (Milam) told me that she felt the exact same thing while spending her time in England. It was intimidating to convert her spendings. I really don't blame them. If that were the case now, I wouldn't either. (But... that's why I came to study in Poland before the Euro! Haha! Win! See, I think things through. A lot.) Oh! We also mentioned the difference in public transportation options in Poland vs. the US. Seriously, lots of interesting topics of comparison.
                 So yes, it was a very very pleasant evening. (: After that, we ended up going to the tram stop, where we found that... about 5-7 trams were waiting in a line... I have yet to see such a back up before, so it was very odd. But at least once they started moving again, it didn't take long for my tram to show up, as it was in the line. :D We said our good byes and went our separate ways. I don't know whether they ended up walking back to their hotel; apparently it was close to Rynek, and it's where a ton of churches are, and gorgeous. So I should probably go visit that part of town soon enough, because Ania mentioned how it was beautiful and peaceful and relaxing. I honestly hope that I can find some people to spend some time with, because that really made the day great. I was exhausted when I got home, as always, and that's ok. Slept well, and this morning, I found out that the Monster Jam wasn't cancelled but just postponed. As in to the 1st of October. A few days after I leave. Lame. Quite some interesting topics in the paper from yesterday. And so excited for this afternoon. I'm going to see The Lion King!!! In 3D, but it's the Lion King no less. I can spoil myself a bit, eh? ;D Hopefully, I won't be too annoyed by the 3D... But it's so going to be worth it.