Fun times with Mormons (what? Not Catholics?)

            Well, what can I say, it was a great day. (: I mean, work was work, slow. Although! They had a meeting today, and I asked Aldona if I should join, and she said yeah. I mean, I just listened and didn’t contribute, but I felt far better about myself, and I felt far more informed. I now definitely understand what exactly the company does besides what I’ve been assigned to do, and it makes far more sense. It was really good. It was funny, though, cause at one point, the man leading the meeting said that everyone after their vacations were getting lazy. xD Ok, it shouldn’t be funny, but it was amusing no less. People are people, and when you get a break, you wanna keep it for as long as you can. Especially if it’s a shorter break. However! Today, the office did a mass order from… a pierogi restaurant. Ohhhhhh, I was HAPPY. I had food from Agata, but, never. Ever. Will I pass up on pierogi. And I finally ordered blueberry ones. It wasn’t even a question once I saw that was an option. Oh gosh. So good, too! Let me tell you, Polish blueberries do make a difference! (Not necessarily for better or worse, just a pleasant difference. ^^) Yeah, they’re the smaller, what would be wild blueberries in the States, I guess. They call our enormous blueberries American blueberries. xD So yeah, definitely was a different in taste, but oh gosh. So. Good. I could live on pierogi. I really could. And I really would love to make some soon. I know I’ll be making some in Krakow! (: Forewarned my roomies that we’ll be having a pierogi making party so that they can learn, and one of them responded with joy (the others gave no response, so they perhaps hadn’t had a chance to read it).

            Anyways, I was glad to hear that Lisa’s weekend had gone well. (: Work’s been rough, so it’s always good to hear when friends get a chance to relax some! But I have to tell you, by 3, I was ready to crawl under my desk and fall asleep. Ok, not that bed, but it was certainly a pleasant thought that crossed my mind. But yeah, got to leave the office early, so I went to the comics shop I mentioned earlier. Took a nice walk there from the tram stop, and… I ended up buying the first volume of Full Metal Alchemist (obviously in Polish). I am not ashamed, and in fact, very very happy with this purchase. What a wonderful way for me to practice my Polish, and to enjoy a series I’ve been meaning to start anyways! :D Besides, the difference in buying manga here and in the States is significant. o.o Converted, it ended up being less than five dollars. It costs ten in America, if not more, now. Fifty percent savings, wooo!

            Afterward, I headed to the post office that was down the street, just past the train station they’re fixing up. (And stopped by an ATM that was conveniently on the way! Huzzah for convenience!) But yes, went to the post office, but some stamps for the first few post cards I’ve written. I’ll be sending them out in waves as I finish them so that a) I don’t overwhelm myself and so that b) people don’t wait too long. I mean, why not send it out as soon as I can, right? Then I headed back. It was a good amount of ways, but honestly, it was a very pleasant stroll. I even managed to stop in a clothing store, cheap prices, but nothing interested me. Though, as I reached the tram stop to find the Mormon meeting place, downpour.

            Ya see, in Poland, you carry two things with you at all times. A long-sleeved pullover, hoodie, jacket, whatever you want, and… an umbrella. Because you just never know. … Of course, that might be my lack of internet and my lack of ability to check the weather, but nonetheless! Always carry it. Always. By the time I got off where I needed to, by the Opera, it was thundering, and there was lightening. Meanwhile, I walked around aimlessly, trying to find where the hell the building was. … Yay for umbrella! But seriously, I felt a bit ridiculous, cause it’s storming, and I’m walking around, with an umbrella, completely lost. Eventually, I found it, with much relief! Should’ve just gone down the entire street, but I dunno. I wasn’t certain. Ahhh well. It was in a fancy, office-y sort of building. Since I got there early, as always, I sat and waited for everyone else on the chairs in the hall. Honestly, I didn’t mind. It’s not like I had anything else to do, and I much rather be inside than out in the pouring rain. Eventually, a group of Mormon missionaries arrived, and the two that I ran into actually recognized me and said hello and everything. We talked briefly about the weekend and what not while waiting for people to come in.

            Let’s see here. There was I think… four missionaries? And two older people, who I assume have some other role which I am not completely informed of. Sam (from PA), you are more than welcome to explain or correct anything I say in comments! Then three Polish people came, two Polish girls, Ola and Anna, one who is in her last year of high school, and the other just starting college (respectively), and a man, Adam, who I assume has some greater role in the church, though I again, don’t know precisely what. So they sang a song at the beginning, and then… we played Jenga! xD No, seriously, it had a legitimate reason. They pulled out some Books of Mormon for us and read from… Helaman 12? Elder Tribe, who is at the end of his mission, thus his rather clean Polish, mainly took lead in explaining how Jenga gave an example of the foundation of faith, and what exactly builds a strong foundation in people. It was a very interesting method of teaching and quite valid. So we (I really should say they, I just listened) talked about that. It was all really interesting, talking about daily prayer, not just when you need it, and church, and stuff like that. In fact, Adam said that when he was Catholic, he only prayed when he needed it, but now he prays for everything and daily, like for the house over his roof, for the meeting we had, everything. So I thought that was interesting. It didn’t surprise me when he said he was Catholic, because, well… Poland is majorly Catholic. I even asked my uncle two weekends ago, at the Baptism, if many other churches outside of Catholic churches are around, and he said not really, except some in bigger cities. Mind you, these are my observations, and in no way do I mean to glorify bash anything in anyway.

            After that, Sister Moon brought out some naleśniki!!! Aka, CREPES! I was super excited. And we ended up playing a few rounds of Apples to Apples, meaning we had to teach the Polish people how it went, and it was in English. Nonetheless, it was a ton of fun. Lots of tough rounds. I even won two. Jittery and abrasive. Wonderful descriptions, eh? ;P Haha. But, to the point, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was very relaxing and a very open environment. It was a mixture of Polish and English; I corrected Adam in Apples to Apples when he said Polkas were from Poland. Hahah, musical parents will do that to you. (: Even Ola commented, saying Polkas aren’t from Polska. xD The two girls knew a decent amount of English, but the missionaries had to help Adam through his cards in the game. Although, he ended up winning two cards as well.

            Let’s see. Ah yes, I talked to the missionaries about their missions and learned more how it is. I was reminded that they can’t watch movies or TV and only get an hour of internet time to send emails to family, and that’s it. It makes sense, certainly, but… so disappointing. Because two of them wanted to watch Pocahontas, but obviously couldn’t. Although, they were in good spirit about that. I was reminded that once missionaries are sent to a country, they stay in that country but transfer from big city to big city. One of them had been in Pozńan and another in Lubin. And someone was in Łódż too. It’s really interesting. Elder Roberts was just in his second week of his mission, which now, looking back on our meeting on the street and today, that makes sense. And that’s not a bad thing; it’s just a matter of adjustment. (: Meanwhile, as I said, Elder Tribe had 2 months left? I think Elder Marsing had been there for 14 months, or was that the other one… (I feel bad for not remember his name…) Either way, it was interesting to see the amount of variety they had in times and everything. How the transfers last a minimal of 2 months and can last as long as the president wants them too, essentially. Ah yes, and all of them hadn’t started college yet, which I know from Sam sometimes varies. … I think. o_o; Unless I messed something up. xD

            Yes, it was quite the informative evening as well. Honestly, never in my life would I have envisioned that I would travel to Poland and go to hang out with some Mormons. It’s really ironic, I’d say. :P But hey, that’s what happens when you pick your roommate and develop a good friendship as opposed to wish for luck. Hm? *cough* Nooo, that’s not biased in anyway. (: Haha, obviously it is. But really, true story.

            Back to the point of this blog. As I mentioned. It was a very enjoyable evening. I was so glad to spend my time there, and I thanked them for that, explaining how living alone has been a bit rough, and the older couple, Elder and Sister Moon, understood. Oh gosh… While playing Apples to Apples, one of the adjectives was “agonizing.” So one of the Elders read through his cards and reached to “The Bridal Suite.” He said he really didn’t understand what’s so agonizing about that, and Sister Moon said, “Oh, I do.” … Yeah, all of us English speaking folk died laughing. Adam was desperately confused why we were laughing so hard. And later she said she had a feeling that it was taken in a different way than what she meant, and I’m pretty sure that’s not even a question. So. Funny.

            But yeah, they invited me back for next week, and I’m definitely going to go back. It’s very interesting to listen to. Yeah, I’m not faithful, but I’m spiritual, that’s for sure. Besides that, as I’ve said many times before, I have a great amount of respect for any faithful person, so long as they don’t shove their faith down my throat. (: They also invited me to the Book of Mormon studies they have, and jokingly to the English courses. :P I joked back saying I could come to help, to which they joked they’d leave me alone to it. Hahaha. But really, it was a very light atmosphere.

            Actually, in leaving, they were asking who lives in what direction, right, so they ended up giving me a lift to a tram stop on their way home. Adam, Elder Roberts, and Elder Tribe. Adam noted how my Polish isn’t the strongest, so I, of course, explained everything, and it all made sense. He asked me where I lived in the States, and he didn’t recognize Knoxville, Nashville, or even Tennessee. xD I certainly don’t blame him, but it’s still amusing. Ah, and so he asked me if I was a member of the church, and how I found out about it, so ya know, I said Elder Tribe and Elder Roberts, and no, I’m not a member, but my roommate is, and I was super excited to run into some Mormons. So he said something along the lines of, “So Mormons don’t scare ya?” xD Which was amusing, and I totally understand why’d he say that. Like hell I knew anything about Mormonism before this past year, except that they walk around recruiting people.

            Go figure. On such an enjoyable day, it rains. I think that’s a good thing, though. It’s definitely cooler now, as opposed to the horrible humidity earlier. Besides, rain is beautiful as well. <3 Once I got to the tram stop, I put my stuff under the little tram stop shelter, and just stood out and enjoyed the light drizzle. I sort of wish it had been raining harder, but what can ya do? (: Ah yes, speaking of that. When it rains in the middle of the day, those shelters become packed. It was ridiculous earlier this afternoon how many people managed to fit underneath the little roof. I just stood outside with my umbrella to give other people who needed it more a better chance. That, my friends, is one thing you can definitely tell is different in my upbringing. That Southern hospitality I’ve grown up with. Opening doors, making sure you don’t inconvenience people, help them, give others the chances they need if you don’t need it. In Poland, it’s a bit more of, fend for yourself, shove to the front of the line. Which… I’m definitely doing now to get on the trams. I’m slow, and I much rather get in front of people as opposed to behind and end up missing my tram cause I can’t climb on in time. Of course, the exception goes to the elderly. Then I politely wait behind them; those tram steps can be rough. I even have to pull myself up using my arms to get into the tram sometimes, for the older ones at least.

            When I came home, though, I was incredibly excited to find… a letter from Sarah!!! Super excited! (: And it was super pretty. It’s always nice to read something from a friend, as well. <3 Seriously, old time letters will never lose their charm! Ah, and besides that, I ended up planning to meet with some family friend that I haven’t met but is about my age. Tomorrow, actually. She’ll be starting her first year of college this year, so it should be a lot of fun. ^^ It’s really nice having things to do and people to meet now. xD

            Hmm… I’m pretty sure that’s all I have to share about my day. <3 I have a feeling I’m going to sleep excellently tonight due to the minimal hours last night and the enjoyable walks today. Hmm… it feels like I’m spinning right now…. I think that’s my mind telling me to go get some sleep. :P