I JUST WANT EGGPLANT

Went to the shop to find some food for the rest of the week and saw some eggplant. Now, I've made the mistake before of not weighing and stickering my food and then getting up to the register and having to just leave it because I can't communicate anything. So this time, I was prepared. Only they had nothing to reference for a plu number, a picture, or even a price that I could attempt to tell the cashier. It's so odd not feeling comfortable enough to purchase a vegetable.

(Attempting to) work on my homework for master's while I dreamily look at master's programs in the states to get me certified to work in the school system when I get home. Thinking Chicago to stay with the whole Polish theme that is currently my life. I know they have some great kielbasa shops and that's key. (It means they probably have some good pierogie shops close by.)

Had some friends from the program come by yesterday. It's always nice to have some other English speakers visit. And to be encouraged that "the first year of teaching sucks" - it gives me hope.

WIGILIA

My first time in a hostel and I must admit - it feels awkwardly animalistic when you wake up in a room with 11 other people stirring in their sleep. Had an okay sleep though.

Yesterday went well. Got to walk the city for the entire day. I went to the Christmas market in the city center first. They had great performances. So cultural. There was a chorus of elderly Polish people singing carols, then a shopki reinactment of the birth of Jesus, and then children dressed as the three wisemen and an angel singing (well, it's more like yelling) Christmas carols. Everyone drinks the traditional warm mulled wine and watches while adults in costumes (one as a devil!) walk around and mingle with the crowd. Fabulous. After taking my time going to the shops in the market I headed to Kazimeriez, the Jewish area of Krakow. Took some pictures and went to the small market there (which mainly consisted of flower markets, a few men selling fresh carp and some vegetable stands), I headed to Wawel Castle. The "dragon's den" and the church were closed but I got to see some spectacular views of Krakow from the top of the hill (pictures to come soon, I promise).

The staff is currently getting ready to serve us Wigilia (Christmas Eve dinner) and I can't wait. Pierogies, pierogies, pierogies. Mmmmm... Then, on the 27th, it's back to Opole to start homework for Nowy Sacz. I could find a million things better to do though. (Well...maybe not in Opole but definitely in Krakow). But for now, can't wait to eat, be fat and lazy, and then play me some Scrabble.

Wesolych Swiat.

CRACOW CHRISTMAS

Left Opole this morning (thank God) and am now sitting in a hostel in Krakow. Spent a few hours trying to find the place but the beautiful shops helped me forget how much I packed in my "rucksack". The restaurants are lit up and there's the smell of warm bread in the streets. I'm in love.

Don't want to waste any more time at this computer. Will be heading out to go exploring and to breathe in that beautiful Cracow Christmas air.

ROUND-A-BOUT CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST

Getting ready for Christmas break and so excited for it. I do have a bunch of work to do for my master's program but besides that, just looking forward to doing nothing for a few weeks.

My Wednesday morning class took me to breakfast this morning. It was so awesome. One of my students was there to pick me up. Said he was tired cause his cousin came back from England last night so he was up drinking vodka last night. Said his breath wasn't "too fresh" this morning. Haha. Gotta love it. They split half a bottle and it was just a Tuesday night.

So they took me to this great little restaurant. It was totally next to this roundabout and attached to a gas station but it was so nice. Cloth napkins and leather menus, great coffee and an awesome Polish breakfast (2 kielbasa, onions, bread and butter, ham, a fried egg, slices of cheese and orange juice). So just some great conversation, tons of laughing (I love this class) and excellent food. At that moment, I was loving my "job".

Heading to Krakow on Friday to spend my Christmas break in the big city. Think we'll go to the Christmas market on Friday, possibly Aushwitz on Saturday and then Wigilia (Christmas Eve supper) at the hostel with mass at the main church in the square. Hoping to see the inside of Wawel Castle and hit some pubs/restaurants that my students suggested. Guess there's some traditional Polish alcohol that I have to have.

I MISSED YOU POLAND

Did a little border hopping this weekend. So nice. Sachin and I went to the Czech so he could get a quick stamp in his passport. We had dinner at this cute little Italian (Czech-Italian?) restaurant. Then we headed back to Poland to find that we missed any trains and buses that left the small city we were stuck in. So we got a hotel room and headed out to the bar. Had a completely relaxing weekend (despite my questionable ability to "go with the flow") and got to visit with someone that I definitely don't see enough of.

Thinking of checking out Warsaw for my next teaching "gig". I can't take this small city thing much longer.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING, THIS GOOSE AIN'T GETTIN' FAT

So Christmas is coming and I'm hinging on the decision of whether to play Christmas music and watch my Christmas dvd's for fear that I'll become more homesick than I need to be during this holiday season.

Shops in Poland don't seem to be as decorated as they are at home. In fact, they only just decorated the city center last week. A lot different than what I'm used to.

There's not much in the way of Santa's here either. Poles believe in a star or an angel bringing presents on Christmas Eve (Wigilia). Santa came on the 6th (St. Nicholas Day). The grocery stores are beginning to smell of a strong, fishy odor; the traditional Wigilia dinner consists of carp and herring, which they sell fresh in the shops. I've been told they take them home and cut off their heads after having them swim about in the bathtub.

Heading to Krakow for Christmas. Excited but nervous. I think that the lack of American Christmas carols has hindered my Christmas spirit and I'm hoping to just drift past the holiday and celebrate it in a more traditionally Polish way, thus dampening my strong wishes to be with my family for the holidays.

WEEKEND

This weekend was nice. Got together with the girls for brunch at Carrie and Annwen's flat. Had a ton of food. Then we got together later that night and had dinner at my flat. It was so nice to sit around, casually stuff our faces and talk about things other than work.

Still don't have internet and it's starting to give me migraines. I need to work on pre-course assignments for my master's program in February and I'm at a loss. Oh, and I found out that we could've done a 9 month contract but for some reason, the school signed us for 12 months. Not sure what that's all about. Oh, and Carrie found out that if we decide to be a commuter in our program, the only difference is that we won't have housing, transportation and books paid for like we do now. Which is funny...cause it's not currently paid for...

LESSON CURRENTLY BEING LEARNED

I hate being vulnerable.

And not speaking the language of the country you inhabit definitely qualifies for being vulnerable.

We have been trying to get internet for almost three months now. We have to pay for a year contract regardless of the fact that we will only be here for seven months. So basically, we've been paying for something that we don't have. So we were finally told that we would get wireless internet last Friday. (I even went so far as to write it on our makeshift contract with the school; there's more miscommunication than you'd think.) So last Friday, the guy comes in and installs a cable modem. *insert gameshow buzzer that shows you've given the incorrect answer* Not what we asked for. So they apologize and say they're coming Monday. Nobody shows. So we call them and they don't speak much English and they tell us someone will come Tuesday. *gameshow buzzer again* Nobody comes. So they claim that they said Thursday and not Tuesday. Supposedly it's a language problem and not an incompetence one on their part. So today is Thursday, my housemate is sitting at home and nobody shows.

BREATHING A LITTLE EASIER

Breathing a little easier, despite my run-in with some Polish hoodlums last week. (I was walking down the street and these boys pretended to kick me. They were yelling what I know to be not very nice Polish words at me as well. Not a good day.)

So currently relaxing on the living room couch with my Brit homey, Rog. No, don't have wireless on my computer yet but I do have a cable running along the living room floor and into my other housemate's computer. So, hopefully by tomorrow for all you fellow Skypers, I'll have something to chat on.

This week is going fairly well. Not sure if it's the package of meat that my grandpa sent me last week (thank you dziadziu!) or the fact that we're giving tests out (less teaching!) this week that's making it that way. Hoping to go to Katowice to visit with my friend Jakob and see his band play. Just wish I made more money so I could buy a drink or two. I'll figure it out. I'm just trying to save money for presents for the family and food during my master's program in February. Oh, and for Christmas. My friend Carrie, a fellow teacher, and her friends will be traveling and have invited me along. Might have to dip into the American savings fund but think it'll be worth it. I'm hoping we'll be in Krakow and can find a nice church to celebrate in.

GIVING THANKS

Although Thanksgiving was over a week ago, I have only now uploaded my pictures to give you a taste, no pun intended, of what my Thanksgiving was like in Opole. I made homemade mashed potatoes (as pictured above) and waited to share in the festivities until my other American flatmate came home from teaching around 9:15pm. We had some of the fixin's but lacked the staple turkey. It's okay. We were happy to have some candles and actual portions of food on a plate.

DRY THESE GREAT IDEAS

Since my first day in Poland, I have been (nerdily) noting all that is different from what I've known in the western world. I have been (trying) to take pictures for all of you and will soon (hopefully) be posting these a little more often as I hope to get internet at the flat in the beginning of December.

I love, love, love these drying racks. I hate clutter so obviously, the dish rack (hidden in a cupboard above the sink-brilliant) is totally awesome. At first we thought it was to store the dishes until we saw that there was a little water tray at the bottom. Awesome.
In the shower, a similar experience. See the little bars across the ceiling of the shower? Those are what I find to be one of the greatest inventions. They're little drying racks that you can pull down (see the little strings to the left of the picture - behind the shower head?) and hang your clothes on after you've washed them.

Sometimes I love Europe.

MY TURF

Take a right at the light and you're on the way to my flat. Don't ask me how to pronounce the street name (Sciegiennego...seriously...it's taken me weeks) but it's home.

The view once you've taken the turn. My flat is up on the left across the street from Biedronka, the token discount supermarket in Poland. Biggest competition for Biedronka in my neighborhood is the sidewalk vendor; he sells everything from laundry detergent to tomatoes.

This picture was taken on my walk home the other day. The river runs right along the city center and if you ignore the graffiti along the walls of the buildings, it's really very pretty.

JASNA GORA

Babcie's candle is that tiny baby one on the top stair, all the way to the left.

Jasna Gora

Seriously hope I spelled that right. This past week, on All Saint's Day, we went to Czestochowa to see the infamous Jasna Gora. It's a church and monastery that survived the Swedish invasion. We were able to venture inside this past Wednesday and see the Black Madonna, the catacombs and some very different confessional booths. I was also able to light a candle, for my late babcie, which was something I'm so glad I was able to do.

The trip home was even more eventful. Basically, we took the train to Czesto with the intention of taking the 6:30 train but knowing that we could take the 8 or 10pm. When we got to the station, we realized that the only train after the 6:30 was the 2am one. Ummm...yea. Had to teach a 7am class. So we venture to the cabbies and hope that one's corrupted enough that we can afford them to drive us all the way to Opole. No luck. 300 zl ($100 US) So we trek to the bus station where they tell us it costs 20zl for a bus at 1:20 am. A little better for time but it's not that much of a difference and train tickets are 12zl. So we decide to do the train but go to get some hot chocolate in the meantime. So it's freezing at this point and we find this little hut of a place that serves hot chocolate but doesn't have a heating system. We hang out there and suffer for an hour or so and then decide to head back to the station. We go to buy our tickets and find that they're 24zl. Okay...so we trudge up to the top of the station (it's less skeezy than the bus station) and try to sleep until security comes asking what we're doing. So we say we're riding the train (lie) and pick up and start heading to the bus station. Freezing again. We get to the bus station and it's closed. Of course. There's no way to get in and so I just start walking back. I get to the train station, buy my ticket, and we all just wait there until 2 am.

Nearly 2 am and the train is finally coming. We head to the platform and Carrie and I are literally hugging each other for warmth. With the snow coming down on the tracks and the distant whistle of the train, all that is going through my head at this point is the thoughts that people in the holocaust actually suffered and died in this intense cold. I can't even imagine.

So the train, after being delayed 15 minutes and a nice Polish gentleman telling us so in English, finally comes. We get on, sleep for an hour or so, and then come near the Opole train station. But we don't think that we're actually at the station so we don't get off here. We wait and end up missing our stop, on our way to Wroclaw. When we get there, we jump off, find the train for Opole and jump back on. Insane. It's about 6 am at this point and I'm supposed to teach at 7. I text my boss, finally walk home when we get to Opole, sleep for an hour (I called my awesome roomie who took my one on one for me) and start showering for my uber long day.

NALESNIKI Z TUNCZYKIEM

Love to eat. Most of you know this. And one of my favorite Polish dishes is the nalesniki. Last week, Roger (my housemate) and I went to this great lunch spot that just has tons of different nalesniki (they're basically the Polish version of crepes). I ordered this fantastic one with mozzerella and mushrooms. So this afternoon, I decided to take my friend Carrie. Somehow, I actually know more Polish than somebody and she asked me to order. We sat down, got our dishes, and started to dig in. Totally tuna fish. So uwaga (beware), when you see tuncyk on the menu at the nalesniki restaurant, it means stinky smelly fish pancake.

HALLOWEEN WILL BE MISSED

I am currently honoring the absence of one of my most favorite holidays, Halloween. The best is that I get to do a bunch of "culture" lessons where I just do fun activities and tell the students all about the holiday. It's awesome - and so odd. Most of them (actually, I think all) have never heard of a haunted house or a haunted hayride. It's great to see their eyes light up when they begin to understand the concept. So although I'll be missing the actual holiday, it's kinda like I have a bunch of kids and am reliving the initial fun you have on Halloween, but all through their eyes.

In Poland, this time is actually a very somber one. Wednesday is All Saint's Day and consists of them going to the graves of their loved ones. Which makes me curious - why do we not have anything like that in the states?? Anyhow, they sell those big red lanterns in all the grocery stores and I can't wait to see the cemetaries all lit up. I'm heading to Czestochowa on Wednesday, which is one of the holiest cities in Poland-I'm told, and will hopefully have some pics.

FRIDAY THE 13TH CAME LATE FOR ME

Do you ever hear that pregnant women start to get kinda airheaded about the simplest things? Don't worry mom, I'm not pregnant - but I am an airhead this week.

I took on a small side job to edit ten pages for an art catalog. I knew it was gonna be tight and that I'd probably have to pull a late night but the chaos that has transpired from the situation has proved to be much more stressful than was ever expected.

I received the text on Tuesday night. I worked on it, in between classes and all Wednesday night, and was only able to finish five pages. So I continued on through Thursday. I was in the computer lab at school, working on the last page when the gentleman who is in charge of locking and unlocking the school comes in and gives me the look (he only speaks Polish) that it's time to close up. I freak. I have one more page to do (which takes me about an hour) and no access to the internet aside from the dungeon that is referred to as the teacher's room.

So I pack up my stuff (the computer was also shut down so I had to boot it up just to send the pages I did have), walk the half hour home and freak. I call my friend that hooked me up with the job and explain that I have no idea what to do. I finally finish the last page and attempt (after much freaking) to find an internet cafe that my Polish (but English speaking) friend has given me directions to. My housemate and I walk a half hour to this supposed cafe and after walking around aimlessly (and attempting to get information from drunk people with the use of our more than elementary Polish), end up finding that it no longer exists. In its place is a skeezy bar with only two Thursday-drinkin' patrons.

All this time, the main coordinator is sending me texts telling me how important it is to have it and not understanding that I am trying but just have no means to send it. I write him back and tell him I can't send it that night but that he'll have it by 6:55 in the morning.

I of course get no sleep.

I wake up at 4:45, shower, freak some more (I have also not planned my lesson that I have to teach at 7am) and then start walking to school. I finally make it, send the email with the attachment, and then of course realize that I sent the wrong file. So I quickly send it again and go to class (after ten minutes of preparation). I'm a few minutes late for class and then realize that I left the tape recorder and listening exercise in the teacher's room, 3 floors down in the basement. So I give my students an exercise, haul ass down to the room, get the recorder and then hike back up to the classroom.

I make it up there and begin going over the "fun" exercise I had planned for them. It's a true false questionairre where you bet on whether you know the right answer. Well, one of the questions was, "You keep a dustbin in the kitchen." Well, my understanding of a dustbin seems to be different than that of the Brits (I'm finding that a lot lately) and so after my explanation, I was adamantly told by one of my students that I was wrong. Insert the fact that in the meantime, my phone has rung about 3 times with a number I think belongs to the gentleman I sent the file to. So not only does the student claim that I'm wrong but he pulls out his laptop, boots it up, and begins looking on the internet for the right answer. Unreal! I was so frazzled and annoyed. I just wanted to run out of there and cry.

So finally my class ends and I head down to the teacher's room. I check my phone and see that the coordinator has texted me asking for the file. He says I sent him the one from last night (which I did accidentally send first but quickly thought I sent him the correct one). So I jump online and pull up the second email and see that I sent it to my friend back home with the same first name. What a mess! I just gave up there.

So I'm hoping that the rest of my day will be better because as you know, it's Kluczbork! I'm planning fun Halloween activities with the class and am super excited. Just keep your fingers crossed that everything goes well-it's my first time driving there alone and with the day I've been having...

QUICK LOWDOWN

I have a few minutes to spare so I thought I'd take the time to give you a week in the shoes of me (Poland style). Hopefully, I'll have internet at the flat soon so I'll be able to put pictures up more frequently. Until then, you'll have to endure my recent complaining regarding my inability to teach English. But first, a cup of good news. My friend Sachin, from my masters program, has connections to English proofreading jobs in different areas in Poland. Luckily, he saved my butt this month and brought me a job that will pay me the equivalent to my current month's salary (minus about 30 zl) for about four hours of editing/proofreading work. I heart Sachin.

Now, a taste of my current teaching schedule looks like.

MONDAYS
7:10-8:40am : Conversation Business English (all students from Ecco, a Polish company)
This class is...well, there. It's at 7am on a Monday morning so I attempt to give them a topic that they can just run with for an hour and a half. This particular class is dominated by one gentleman in particular but at least he has a wide range of vocabulary and his grammar is, for the most part, very good.
5:40-7:10pm : Business English Cambridge Exam preparation
This class is so far, my most difficult. They don't know words like evolve and I have such a difficult time explaining them. This class also thinks I'm an idiot since I cannot explain these things to them properly. I believe I have actually caught them rolling their eyes to one another.

TUESDAYS
7:00-8:30am : Business English Pre-Intermediate Conversation (Ecco)
This class is four gentleman that, I believe, know English vocabulary very well but can't speak to save their lives. But they try. This class is a big pain in my behind because they want to have vocabulary for the next lesson. Problem with this is that planning my lesson for the next week is so annoying since it puts me on this weird schedule for just their class. Business classes can do whatever they want though. At least I get free coffee in the mornings...
4:00-5:30pm : Pre-Intermediate Teenagers (16-18)
Yea...don't really know what to say about this class. I loved my second class with them but my most recent was a nightmare. They love to speak in Polish, work with only their friends, and speak some more in Polish. Last class, they even asked me if I could understand them/speak Polish. (They want to talk about me/the class.) I try to make this class fun for them (there's only 4 students) but their parents make them come here and the motivation level isn't like it is in my adult classes.
5:10-7:40pm : Certificate in Advanced English preparation
I share this class with my housemate Maja and they're freaking awesome. They hate the book, love to learn about American culture and love to talk. There's about 8 students and they all have a great sense of humor.

WEDNESDAYS
7:00-8:30am : Business English Upper Intermediate Conversation (Ecco)
This class rocks. The four guys love to talk and make jokes. They ask questions about America and if it's really "free" and they love to use fun new words that they learn. (Last week was abstinent - I explained that we don't only use it in regards to alcohol but to sex as well. They had a field day...) Great morning class.
11:30am-1:00pm : One on one with the director at Makro (a business similar to Sam's Club)
I've only met this guy once but it was nice. He's really advanced and just wants someone to basically chat with in English for a few hours a week. Plus - I get a Makro card which gets me super discounts on anything in the store. Very awesome. Negative - I have to take the bus to get there.
5:40-7:10pm : First Certificate in English preparation
This class is the class that Maja and I refer to as our "boring" class. They are all tired and don't really like to talk. It's like pulling teeth to do a speaking exercise. And on top of it, they ask questions about grammar. I like to pretend I'm a substitute teacher for this class. I think they literally sleep with their eyes open when we're teaching.

THURSDAYS
7:15-8:45am : One on one with an executive at Ecco
This lesson almost cost me my job. Maja and I got minimal instructions from the school and ended up missing this lesson. I haven't actually met the guy yet and I'm kinda nervous that he's gonna hate us. More on this Friday.
3:40-5:10 : Business English Cambridge preparation-on site at Nutricia (baby food company)
This class is touch and go. The girls are all really nice and want to learn but they're so busy and usually kinda tired. I try to make the lame book fun but it's a stretch sometimes. And it's about a 15 minute walk from school. At least I can go straight home after it...

FRIDAYS!
So glad that all my classes on Friday are, for the most part, really good.
7:00-8:30 : Certificate in Advanced English (Ecco)
This class is good but I can't get the one gentleman to stop talking. And worse, he is probably at the lowest level of all the students (there are 4) and I've noticed that he usually likes to comment on political or social aspects of America that he does not agree with. I can totally see the other students rolling their eyes at each other (at least for this class it's not because of me) and I don't know what to do to get him to stop. And I think he's still thinking in Polish and translating it into English so everything begins with an "ummm..."
Kluczbork!!
The following classes I teach in Kluczbork and they're great. The director at the school is totally down to earth and is always trying to make me feel comfortable. She's bought me a hot water heater so I can have tea every class and she says that if the weather gets bad in the winter, she'll pick me up in Opole (it's about a 45 minute drive) and I can stay at her house and she'll drive me back Saturday morning. Other awesome thing is I get to drive "Tico", the school car, by myself (pictures to follow asap). I may have to leave Opole at 2:00pm to be in Kluczbork for a class at 3:30 but the time alone, and the awesomeness of getting to drive a manual in Poland, totally makes up for it. Also, they're all conversation classes (so no teaching grammar) and once the younger teen class starts, I'll be getting a free dinner!
3:30-5:00pm : Upper Intermediate Conversation with Teenagers (16-18)
These kids LOVE to talk and they're pretty good at it. My job is to give them a native speaker to converse with, some additional vocabulary (I love when they ask about something completely irrelevant that they just want to know the word for. Last week was "stilts" and "engaged.") to stimulate their minds. Totally excited to throw them an awesome Halloween party.
5:10-5:55pm : Pre Intermediate Conversation with Younger Teenagers (13-16)
I haven't actually started this class but it's young people and only 45 minutes. It should be good.
6:15-7:45pm : Certificate in Advanced English Conversation
This class is awesome (it's in Kluczbork, isn't it?) too. The adults are a little reluctant to talk, and you can sometimes tell that they're saying something just so that I can recognize that they're trying, but I think they'll get better. This class also has two of my favorite students, Agnieska and Sebastian. They're married, newly pregnant, and love to talk.

So there it is - a week in the life of me. Took me a little longer than expected though so now I must go off and eat lunch while I plan my afternoon lessons. Dowidzenia!

MATHEMATICAL ENGLISH

So I'm now a teacher. I'd better start teaching. But I'm petrified of having to teach grammar. Not only is it so innate, but playing with language and words is fun for me (obvious dork alert); having to put rules to it is going to be so stressful. I suppose once I know the rules, it'll be that much more enjoyable and challenging to play with them (double dork alert) but I just feel like there isn't enough time in the day right now. And on top of it all, I missed my one on one lesson this morning due to miscommunication regarding bus stops in Opole. Ahhh...I can't wait until this is all second nature.

I HEART CONVO CLASSES

Conversation classes rock. No textbook and just vocab and talking. I think I'm in love with them. I have a business English class on Wednesday mornings that is particularly stellar at talking - and they love to talk. Last class we discussed qualities you find in a person and they used "abstinent." (I think they were talking about their boss.) Well, today I explained to them that the word abstinent is not only for drinking (as how they had previously used it) but many times, for abstaining from sex - which is how we use it more in America. They loved it. Calling each other abstinent and making jokes about how they weren't - they're just too much fun. Which is perfect at 7am when you're tired and don't really feel like doing much at all besides drinking the free coffee and chatting with fun Poles.

TREADING WATER

So I thought I was loving teaching, until I realized I wasn't actually teaching yet.

Last two weeks have been mostly icebreaker games and review - getting students to begin thinking in English again. Yesterday, I almost had a heart attack when my students began asking questions about words that I just couldn't seem to explain. I mean, I did but then when they didn't understand or didn't use it correctly in a sentence, I was stumped. And I just sat there like an idiot - all flustered and not knowing what to do.

I'm noticing that most students want vocab. Vocab, vocab, vocab. So that's good. Except I also have a workbook and textbook for most of my classes that I need to get through. On top of that, I'm trying to keep things (somewhat) organized for my own records and it's just not happening. In addition, we have to create a syllabus with the teacher we share the class with (classes are taught once by you and then by another teacher the next class). I have no idea when I'll do this - or even where to begin with it. Also, I think I overheard someone say that we're supposed to be giving a test every unit (which is about every week) and also homework every class (that obviously needs to be reviewed and/or corrected). I just feel like I can't keep my head on straight. I have about 10 classes a week and I want to make them fun too. But some are more conversation, some are pre-intermediate teenagers, some are business, some are one-on-ones. I don't know. Maybe I'm being too particular here (or "anal" as I taught my Certificate in Advanced English class the other day).

FINALLY SHOOK THE TOOSH

Thank you Marta!

Finally went out for a beer and some dancing last night. Too bad it was Tuesday and I had a 7am class this morning (well, we all did). Marta, Annwen and I went to Drake, the local pub, and had a few piwo (beers). Annwen busted out first (poor girl was dancing by herself!) and did a whole number on her own. Next song, Marta and I headed out and it was like this massive rush to the dance floor. Before 10pm, that dance floor was filled with at least 30 sweaty people, one drunk guy nearly molesting Annwen and an outside perimeter of Polish men oggling the whole affair. It was fabulous.

CARE OF MAJA'S LESSON: HOUSE OR HOME?

Finally! Pics of the flat.

Living room (with a pull out couch for any and all that are wanting to visit) and balcony.

Our uber-modern bathroom with a touch of my own interior decorating (a bedsheet thrown over the clothes drying racks- also known as a shower curtain. I can't do the European shower thing).

The "eat-in" kitchen; equipped with a fridge built into the cabinets, a radio, and a window to watch the sketchy gypsies that mill around Biedronka (the discount grocery store across the street).

Kitchen, again. What can I say - it's my favorite place.

The best (bed)room in the house...which is currently mine. Has the only full size bed. We're on a rotating basis for this baby.

WHEW

I know it's been some time since I last wrote and this should be the time when I'm writing most - so many new things and new experiences. I'm trying to remember or write down the majority of things that happen so that I can at least tend to it when I have a minute to breathe. Funny thing is, I only work a few hours a day but seeing as I don't have internet in the apartment, moving pictures and such from my home computer is going to be a task that I'm just not looking forward to (and therefore, putting off).

Had a "eh" class and an awesome class yesterday. My pre-intermediate class (the one I was actually looking forward to) was so difficult. Like pulling teeth. One student (the class is 15-18 year olds) has no qualms about telling me that he doesn't want to be there and making it difficult for me to get him to speak any English at all. There's a challenge for me already. My class right after that is my CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) was so fun. They are (in my opinion) fluent speakers and so we just had fun talking and making jokes. I'm really excited about that class. At the end of October (not soon enough), we also have a conversation corner where we go to the local pub and drink and the students have a chance to speak comfortably with native speakers. (I think it's so weird that they call us "natives"; makes me feel like I'm from some aborigine group in the fields of Africa somewhere.) I'm getting slightly bored (despite my need to download pictures to this blog) and am starting to develop a strong itch to go meeting new people.

IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER

Okay. So it's not a van but I will be living near the river! Very psyched. Maja and I talked to the directors at school and they said that we'll be moving to a new flat that's much better than the one we're at now (which is not bad). We'll be living with Carrie and we'll be farther away but it's supposedly a really nice. Went to Nutricia today to have interviews with new business English students. That was interesting since I have no experience interviewing for placement. It was good though. I had a few people that were really nervous and I felt so bad. I tried my best to make them comfortable but I know how I am when I get like that. Forget it. Then Maja and I headed out to get my sim lock removed on my phone and grab lunch. On our way back we met a young guy advertising for English tutoring. He's Polish but his English is ridiculously good. He's studying to be an interpreter. We talked with him for a while and now we're about to head back and make some dinner. I'm so ready to just relax and not walk/stand for a while.

NEITHER HERE NOR THERE

So I'm finally here but I'm not fully settled in. I can't wait till I am though. Things are good. I'm starting to hyperventilate that I'm actually a teacher. Maja and I saw the rooms today and I can't believe I'm going to be at the front of one next week. I have to come up with some killer plans. Just breathe. Keep reminding myself.

Saw my apartment, well kinda. Maja picked me up from the train station last night and I just stayed in the extra room in her flat. I'm not sure if that's going to be my room for the long run though.

So yesterday. (Or was it yesterday and the day before as well??) I'm going into grave detail regarding my trip so I can see just how much time I spent doing whatever yesterday. I think of it as therapy, or like breaking up with a boyfriend - I think I need to relive it one more time to really let it go.

First off, my flight. I left Rochester at 2:30 on Saturday. Headed into DC at 4ish and then left there at 5:45. There was a buzz around the airline that they overbooked but luckily, I was not affected. Then it was on to the 8 or so hour flight from DC to Vienna where I was praying I didn't need a transit VISA. I didn't get much sleep at all because I stupidly crashed on the flight from Rochester and was unable to sleep again after that. I finally arrived to Vienna at 9 or so in the morning on Sunday. From there, I had to sit in the airport until 1:30 when my flight left to Krakow. I was starting to get hungry and thirsty but I'd already gone through baggage check and didn't know if I should go back. I thought twice about it and was about to gather my bags to go when I realized I didn't have any Austria $$ (Euros??) and didn't want to exchange the only US $$ I had ($50 bills) for a bottle of water. So I opted to sit at the gate (benches, not padded seats like the US) and wait for my flight.

So I flew into Krakow at 2:30 and luckily, you don't have to pay for those little wheelie things to put your luggage on. I grabbed one of those bad boys and carted my stuff to the nearest taxi. The guy spoke as much English as I did Polish and I finally figured out that he was asking me if I wanted to just have a taxi ride to Opole rather than to the train station. He quoted me 150 zl which would have been a great deal had I known someone to call when I got here and had I known he was going to charge me 90 zl just to go to the train station anyhow. Well, that didn't work out so to the train station I went with ALL my bags which was a feat in itself. Luckily, my friend Maria gave me explicit directions as to what train to take and when. I bought my ticket after not being able to understand the woman at the ticket booth (I later figured out she was trying to tell me what time the train left) and then got so frustrated that when I tried to do the little kick that I do to grab all my bags and cart them around, I broke my heel on my boots. So, I changed shoes and sat around, ate some weird hot dog and waited around some more for the train. It finally came and as I was throwing my bags onto the train (literally), a gentleman came off the train to help me with my last monstrous bag that was nearly impossible for me to throw on there. At that point, I just threw it all into the nearby cubby hole and just sat in there. It was like a little closet area on the passageway between train cars. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy but what could I do? I wasn't about to attempt bringing all my bags around just to see that there weren't any seats available.

So I rode the train from Krakow to Opole, which was about 3 hours, without knowing what was going to happen at the end. It was getting dark and the train stations we were passing were like something out of a bad movie. I was starting to get really nervous and think that I was going to have to sleep on top of my luggage in the station. When the train finally stopped, I threw all my stuff off it and as I gathered it up, saw Maja walking towards me. I almost cried. I was so overtired and just done with the day; it was nice to know I was going to have some place to sleep and shower.

VISA ISSUES

I'm waiting for my work promise certificate. As it stands now, I'm supposed to be in Opole in just a matter of weeks and I still don't have my VISA. I'm waiting to get my certificate from Poland (it was sent at the end of August) and then I have to send that, my VISA application, and my passport to the consulate in NYC. From there, it's supposed to take ten business days for me to get my VISA back in the mail. I'm waiting until I (at least) have the certificate before attempting to book any flights as I'm nervous to have to leave and not have even my passport to get on the plane.

HOSTILE TOWARDS HOSTELS

So I got an email back from the school. The language barrier might be preventing me from understanding the email properly but it seems that they are saying that I can't move in until the 18th because of permission with my VISA. But it's my understanding that I can be in the country for 3 months without a VISA so I'm not sure why that would matter. I don't want to keep asking them about it though. I feel like they've already done enough. But I also don't want to wait until the 18th to go to Poland. So I can either stay with a friend or stay in a hostel. But I'm totally afraid of hostels. Especially since I have all my stuff with me and I'm just not sure where to go and what to do with all that. I"ll have to think about it.

THAT'S THE TICKET

I'm waiting to hear back from the school I'll be teaching at in Opole. They finally got my paperwork in the mail and are starting the process for my VISA. I'm getting really anxious. Excited and nervous. I try not to think about the actual teaching. It's been a while and I know it's gonna take me some time to get comfortable. I'm trying to remember that failure is a part of success and I'm most likely gonna make a fool of myself more than once in front of my students. I just hope they're respectful, want to learn and are excited about the lessons. I was really lucky with my students in Denver. They all really liked being there and learning and that was awesome. But again, I'm waiting to hear back from the school to see how early I can move into my apartment. I'd like to buy my plane ticket this week so I can really look at my finances.

FAX THIS

Alright. I have now attempted faxing my paperwork to Poland twice. It's so not working. Guess that's what you get for having to fax something overseas. Seems my stuff is showing up as a big black stain. Not really gonna cut it for getting a VISA from the Polish government. At least the school is being really patient with me. I sent them the originals and am just waiting for them to get it.

Today was my last day at work and what a relief. Just taking it easy now. Gonna visit family and plan what I'm gonna need to get done before I leave this country for 9 months. Have to get everything together for my dad to do my taxes. Fun stuff. Gotta move out of my apartment and visit everyone "one last time." I'm sad but not. I know I'll keep in touch with whomever wants to keep in touch and I'll see those important to me again. I'm just so thoroughly excited to begin this chapter it's ridiculous. I've been emailing this boy I met in a bar in Nowy Sacz and we're planning on meeting up in Opole. Only a few small problems. 1. I don't speak Polish and his English is limited and 2. I'm not sure I'll recognize him when we meet up; I was slightly intoxicated when we first met. Either way, I'm super psyched for this adventure.

WORK, WORK, WORK

Ugh. I feel so stressed. I can't even sleep. I feel like there's so much to get ready before I leave. I'm not even working past July but I'm taking a few mini-breaks (I'm so Bridget Jones) and I have to move out of my apartment in August and I just can't seem to de-stress. I feel like there's so much to worry about before I move to Poland in September. I don't want to forget anything here. I want to get my EU citizenship. I have to fax over my paperwork for my VISA (which I have no idea where I can fax to an international number, Kinkos??) I have to buy another backpack (and probably find an EMS so I can get fitted for a good one). I have to make sure my money situation is good. I have to set up Skype on my parent's computer. I have to write my papers for my last two classes. I have to be sure I have enough $$ in my account to pay my student loans when I'm gone since I can't get a deferral even though I'm getting my master's. I have to handle all doctor's appointments before I leave and be sure I'm in tip top condition 'cause who knows about health insurance and medical attention over there. Besides, I don't speak the language. Oh yeah, that's the other thing, I have to learn POLISH. Wow. I just feel so overwhelmed. Plus I still have to buy my ticket but I'm waiting to see if I want to go to Spain beforehand or just fly directly into Poland. Wow again. But I must say, it feels good to get it all out.

AMERICA

Home again. I missed my friends a lot but I have to be honest and say that I'm missing being abroad. Maybe I'm still delirious from the kielbasa and lack of sleep but I'm ready to go back. Looking at pictures and thinking of it all in retrospect makes me yearn for more memory making.

My flight got in to JFK around 8:30 last night and didn't leave for Rochester until 9:30 this morning. I didn't feel too bad until a few hours into Heather's wedding. Champagne and lack of sleep is dangerous.

HOMEWARD BOUND

So it seems these two weeks have finally come to an end. When I first decided to do this program, I was hoping to just come in the fall and start living here. As it sometimes goes, things didn't work out as I had planned. I'm so glad they didn't. There's so much I didn't realize about living abroad and I wouldn't have realized till I got here. The stuff that'll be in my suitcase come September wil be a lot different than what would have been in there had I not come this month.

So tomorrow morning, a bunch of us head out to Krakow and then I'm finally going home. I just can't wait to sleep. With 8 hours of school a day and then homework in the evenings, it's been a little stressful. At least we got a chance to celebrate the end of the semester.

Vivian finally gets to cut loose.

Jenny's all business when it comes to Poland.

Seems there's something about Chumbawamba.

CRANKY PANTS

I hate that feeling when you know you've got work to do but you're just completely unmotivated and feel like you just can't seem to focus. That's so me right now. It's unbearably hot and there's no ending in sight; no pools, no air conditioning, no nothing. My feet are like mini swamps and I don't feel like I have a place that I really want to go right now. I should probably eat but I'm sick of eating at the same three restaurants but I really should eat some food (seeing as yesterday's meals consisted of cookies for breakfast, a snickers for lunch and two pieces of old pizza for dinner). I can't sit in my stinky room anymore. I want to take a cold shower but I only have enough clean clothes to get me through this week. I don't want to do homework but I don't want to sit around and smoke massive amounts of cigarettes, especially since Pall Malls seem to be the cig of choice around here and I feel like my throat is transforming into sandpaper.

FRIDAY NIGHT

A loving gaze between Jenny and her cowboy.

Due to the fact that our MIP class had successfully dirtied all the restaurant's liter glasses, Joshua happily opted for two half-liters.

And finally, Sachin bustin' a move on the floor of the dart board room around 4am. Not really sure though; seems that bars here don't have a closing time...

PEE-PEE ROOM

This is our dorm. At the moment, my actual room smells like a public restroom and my roommate and I are trying to figure out just how that happened. I can't even concentrate on my homework. It's been over a week since we got here and I'm still amazed at the fact that we can smell urine from the residents before us. I can't wait till I have an apartment...

JOB PROSPECT

Well, it's three days into the course and it's amazing how comfortable somebody can become in just three days. I still don't have a straightener but luckily, one of the guys here has super curly hair and he recommended/let me borrow all these products. I had a whole routine to do last night and this morning.

I think I have an interview this week for a language school (yeah!) in Opole which is cool. I was a little nervous about possibly having to do the university teaching thing - I don't feel prepared for that yet. Starting to get excited at the prospect of living overseass and although I'll be in Poland for two years, I'm already dreaming about all the other places I'd like to live(Greece...Spain...pretty much anyplace with the possiblity to live in a villa...). Everyone in my class is so well traveled and I feel extremely far behind at this point - can't wait to "catch up."

The bonus?? I have the ability to apply for EU citizenship since my mom was born in Poland which makes it a ton easier for me to travel. Seems if I get one, I won't have to worry about a work Visa or ever being an illegal immigrant in any of the EU countries. Very cool.

I'm taking pictures and promise to post as soon as I get internet on my laptop.

NOWY SACZ

Alley in the town square.

Another walk to school.

A walk to school.

This blog was handwritten (yet again-it's been some time since I've had internet) in Nowy Sacz.

Well I'm finally here - and there's nothing I want more now than to have a little order to what's going on. Right now I'm at a dorm that's not the original one I was gonna be at and I was hoping to meet some of my classmates tonight. Now - I'd be happy to find someone with a source of fire (I've already forgotten how to ask for a lighter or matches on the way down from my room) and a source for internet access. It would be nice to touch base with everyone back home.

My dorm is disgusting. My actual room is okay because nobody else has gotten to touch it but the bathroom and "kitchenette" have dorm written all over them.

Poland is awesome though. There's this great mix of beautiful houses peppered with culture and then mounds of rolling hills. It's great. I can't wait for my family to come here.

I really hope that I can pick the language up quicker than it's been going lately.

TEARS

This blog was originally handwritten sitting in the Warsaw airport.

When the plane landed, everybody started clapping. My friend Ranatta (that I met on the plane and am unsure if I'm spelling her name right) told me it happens every time - people are happy to have landed safely.

I looked out the window and thought about the simple appreciation of that gesture - and how these people are my heritage - and I was so proud. I had to look out the window and hold back my tears. Even as I write this three hours after landing, I'm starting to well up again. I've never even been to Poland before, I can't speak the language, and I don't know a soul here but yet somehow, I feel comfortable and at home. I love it.

PLANE RIDE

Warsaw airport.

This blog was originally handwritten on my plane ride from JFK to Warsaw.

It's ironic - I'm on the airplane, eyes closed, waiting for my flight to take off and for the fist time in a long time, I feel a comfortable peace in my heart. And I mean this literally, like I take a breath in, and then out, and all of a sudden I recognize a calmness in the middle of my chest. Picturing meeting new people and old friends unfamiliar places, exploring and learning. This past couple months I've been nervous to this point but I couldn't understand it - I know this was something I've always wanted to do. And now I realize it's all the preparation that made me nervous. Now that I'm detached from all that and I'm finally on my way, I feel good.

FINAL COUNTDOWN

Finishing up some homework. I'm done working the day job for two weeks and this trip, even though it's school, is gonna feel like this terrific vacation from the mounds of stress I've felt collecting on invoices.

I have an essay to do tonight and then tomorrow is packing. I'm meeting my parents out at the airport around 4:00pm and then by 5:30, I will officially be a world traveler. This will be my first trip to Europe and I'm finally beginning to feel more excited than nervous. Hopefully, if I remember, I can document this trip with some more pictures than just more chatter about my nerves.

RELIEF...AND THEN STRESS AGAIN

So one of the guys from school (not sure who, it's hard for me to follow this whole listserv thing sometimes) has volunteered to meet me at the airport when I get there next Sunday afternoon. What a relief. Even though I can't really do too much to prepare for my arrival next weekend, the thought of it was causing me major stress.

Starting to get a little freaked out about moving. I'm actually glad it worked out that I go for the two weeks in June rather than just moving there in the fall; I think it will help me become comfortable with the idea of it all before actually making the leap. I've been telling myself that once over there, I'm gonna have to really work on grasping the concept that Poland is now my home; it's where I live. I think that will be the most difficult for me to wrap my brain around.

AVOIDING HOMEWORK

Okay. First blog and I'm ruining it by admitting that I have not yet done my homework and I leave for my "first semester" (only two weeks long) in just a week. Working full time, moving out of my house and then attempting to begin what will most likely be a whole new life, has turned out to be a little more time consuming than planned. And then blogging it on top of it all...whew...I'm a spent girl.

I have been trying to get everything ready but feel so overwhelmed. It's funny, when I think about it on the surface, it's only two weeks of studying abroad. But when it gets down to the grit, I'm soon to be in an entirely different country, trying to speak what little Polish words I know, and trying to remember to do all the preparation leading up to this (passport, Visa, yahoo email groups, having someone meet me at the airport, packing, mentally preparing, homework, AC adaptors, dorm rooms, exchanging money, and much, much more).