Ya know
what. Packing this morning was a piece of cake. I managed to get everything
packed, incredibly well, into five things… … Yeaaaaah… I am incredibly glad
that my parents are coming with extra baggage in December, because I’ve already
received new things after nearly two months, and I have three months to go… Hah…
hahaha… But really! Eventually, we headed out. I ended up falling asleep until
we hit some bad reconstruction. Three-way high way shut down to one with pushy,
independent Polish drivers? Horrible
idea, Poland. Really. This was apparently the first time my uncle and aunt
drove on a paid highway. So I sort of had to make sure that my uncle didn’t
mess anything up. >> Of course, he drove fast as ever, so he belongs on a
highway, I’d say… The reconstruction took is 40 minutes to get past. Blech.
Then we hit MORE reconstruction in Kraków. They’re making a nice big rondo, and
the traffic is horrible, there. Absolutely horrible. And getting to the hotel
we drove down some one-way streets, but we eventually got there.
Although, the hotel was no fun either. I got there, told them I'm with
the program, gave them my last name, explaining it likely won't
be under my last name due to the fact that it's under a program... I had
to call my director, he talked to the front desk lady on the phone, and
it was settled out. I picked a two person room, wondering what happened
to one of the eight people who were supposed to be coming and found out
later that the hotel had ended up canceling the reservation for
whatever reason. So it's even a good thing we got there early so they
figured things out before all of my fellow classmates arrived in
exhaustion. (:
My uncle, aunt, and I ended up going to eat pizza. Look at that lovely repetition.
No, really. First day in Poland, pizza. Last day with my uncle and
aunt, pizza. So much story like effort! The pizza was yummy, though, I
must say. One with red bell pepper, onions, and salami, and the other
with corn, broccoli, and chicken... ... I liked the former better. :P
Whoops... so I didn't finish this yesterday, so now finishing it today!
But yeah, after that, I went back to the hotel, met my resident
director, Piotrek, met my roomie in our hotel room, Gosia, and then went
back down for a meeting. I also met everyone else. Well, minus the one
boy, Nate, cause he unfortunately missed a flight. I feel so bad for
him, because I know that's never any fun. lD' But everyone is really
nice! We had our orientation meeting. Blah. I am so tired of orientation
meetings. They are all the same, to be honest. Don't be stupid, stay
with people, keep your stuff close. Then again, I'm used to this sort of
stuff, so I understand why it's necessary, but argh... it's so boring
to listen to. Ah well! After that, we went to dinner at a nice
restaurant. Strawberry pierogi, woo! I wish I could've had blueberry. :(
Then we went back to the hotel, and I stayed up a bit late, using the
computer after the internet decided to work.
Though, I must say... It's really weird... Everyone is experiencing
culture shock, comparing how things are here to "back home," and
homesickness... Then there's me... Who, at the age of 13, hopped on a
plane to Poland on my own without a second thought about home... I'm
finding it difficult to really understand what it's like to be homesick,
to be honest. I definitely try my best to be supportive and empathetic,
but... culture shock and all of it has just gone over my head. It's not
a big deal. It's always interesting seeing the comparisons, the
differences, all of it, but... it's there, and that's that. People live
different lives.
In the morning, we got up, ate breakfast, had another meeting, except this one was focused on SCHOOL!
No, guys, I am really excited. Really. Really. Excited. I plan on
taking Poland in Europe in the 20th Century, which is a challenging
class, apparently, The Holocaust and Its Cultural Meanings, and Poland
and the European Union, along with my Polish language course, of course.
Hopefully, I manage to take a course in Polish as well, as I'm the only
one of the seven of us that knows how to read and write in Polish as
well, and I'm so willing to take the challenge. Piotrek has to figure
things out, but... it seems to be a possibility? If not, I'm taking
Secularization in Practice and Theory, I think is the name? I can't
quite remember... But... if all goes well with my Polish language
course, this means I'll have courses from Monday to Wednesday...
BAHAHAHAH! I can travel to all the places I want to comfortably
now! This includes Lviv, Ukraine; Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna,
Austria; and the one I was really hoping for but thought wouldn't be
possible to travel to on a short weekend, Istanbul, Turkey!!! I've been
wanting to go to Turkey for a while now, so perfect opportunity! Of
course, this will all depend on travel buddies, don't worry. (: If I
can't go to Turkey, I might go to Ireland instead, since some people are
all ready planning that trip, and I've wanted to go there to. Aka, I'm
liking this.
Also, in regards to school, I find it really ironic cause everyone's
asking about the easier courses and then there's me... Poland in the
20th Century is difficult? TRY ME! A course in Polish? You bet! I'm such
an academic type... I am meant to be a professor, and I am meant to
spend the rest of my life in schools, studying. Most reassuring feeling
ever that my life goal for the past few years is legitimate.
Eventually, today, we moved into our apartments! (I... don't understand
why we didn't go straight to our apartments. One night in a hotel
seemed rather pointless, especially considering that people, when they
fly into a place they are living at permanently, want to immediately
settle down instead of moving around so much. Ah well!) All I can say is
wow! I love it! It's very spacious! Three rooms, one double, two
singles. I'm sharing the double with Gosia, which is nice. The bathroom
is nice, and there is a separate toilet just in case someone is
showering and someone else needs to go use the bathroom. The kitchen is
awesome. I think it's the part I'm most excited about. Home. Made.
Meals. I get to cook. And bake. I've missed it. Honestly. And Nate
brought a Polish cook book! Hoorah! Plus, the apartment came equipped
with kitchen supplies! Super helpful! API did a really good job setting
up our apartment, I'd say, as I am very pleased. Plus! We have three
balconies! One in our room, one in Michelle's room, and one by the
kitchen! (The door doesn't work, there, though...)
After a while, we went on a small tour of our neighborhood. Ya know,
farmer's market, groceries, places to buy what we need. It was nice. And
we went on to the trams to get to Old Town, met up with our tour guide,
saw the place our classes would take place. Our tour guide was super
nice, though I'll be honest... So much walking ended up killing my
legs... Of course, we went by all of the important parts of Krakow,
listened to the stories and legends, like about the dragon, and about
the trumpeter, and learned about the kings, and of course, our (aka, the
Polish) Pope, Pope John Paul II. I know what I plan on getting some of
my nieces and nephews now too.
When the tour finished, Monica went with me on the tram to go back,
which was faster, and I needed the break for my legs. I'm glad someone
went with me. Of course, I'm used to traveling by tram, but it's still
just more pleasant going with someone. Then, we all got back to our
apartments, my apartment went to Rossman for some drinks, and then... we
all took a trip to Ikea together for bedsheets and necessities. I ended
up buying a hand towel for the room (super cheap), and lots of hangers
for my closet, cause I neeeed theeem! But besides that, it was fun.
Adventures in Ikea, whoot! More like, adventures post-Ikea. We took the
bus. First time figuring this out, for us. But we needed it. I mean, we
lucked out in that the Ikea security guard lives near the area we are
at, so he gave us directions! And it worked out just fine, even though
some people got a bit nervous cause it was dark, and we weren't
completely certain about it. Going a route the first time, yeah. A bit
weird. Although, I saw our bus stop, we got off, and then we came back,
super late! Now I'm here. Finishing up this blog. Feeling like I've
missed out on a lot, cause I'm tired, had a headache all day, and my
legs are super sore from the walking.
Plus... there's a bike tour tomorrow... And for those of you that don't
know, I have hip dysplasia, aka, my legs are weaker and get sore
faster, and it's hard for me to do a lot with them, including biking. So
I dunno. Piotrek suggested a two man bike, and I just don't peddle...
but first off, I'd feel bad, and secondly... My legs are really sore. Ah
well! We'll see how the day goes! Off I go! (I feel like I absolutely
forgot something, ah well!)
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