Le Convenience d'Wroclaw

Le Convenience d'Wroclaw

Being of a simple nature and rather easily pleased, I must admit to finding Wroclaw far superior in terms of convenience to that of UNC Greensboro. With all due respect to my colleague's remarks in an earlier post, I have found this city simpler than Greensboro. However, as the disclaimers say, "Actual product may vary." In this case, Wroclawian experiences may (and do) vary. From the moment I landed in Wroclaw's Copernicus Airport, it has simply been one convenience after another with just a few exceptions.

After acquiring my suitcase from baggage claim, the very first thing I did was walk over to the Bankomat, or ATM, in order to withdraw some Polish money to handle initial Wroclawian expenses. I slid my debit card in the slot, and was immediately presented with Polish, English, and German language choices on the screen, thereby beginning to evidence convenience. I will readily admit that in the last month or so I have used ATMs in Deutsch multiple times simply because it is enjoyable to use my second language. The last two ATM transactions, though, I have actually completed in Polish. 

As mentioned in my original post, the first full day I was in Poland I went to the international office at the main university building in order to check-in, get my student ID, and various other small details. Well, this trip to the international office took less than ten minutes, and that included my wait time. In fact, the four or five times I've been to the office when I had any sort of question, including when I took Leigha and Kelsey there to get them some help, I have always received attention above and beyond the call of duty in such an expedient manner that I have spent only ten minutes or so of my time on the entire thing. I have my doubts as to whether many schools in the United States would be able to match such administrative efficiency. 

This next point is perhaps the most significant one that would fall under the header of varied Wroclawian experiences. For me, the slate of classes I have wound up taking are all located in the same room of the same building of the Rynek, making it absurdly easy to attend my classes and make it to the next one on time. However, from what I have found out, that sort of luck is rare here, so take it with a grain of salt. 

In line with that element of convenience, the prawo, or Law, building that my classes are situated in also has a small cafeteria-like restaurant on the first floor with decently cheap prices. Granted, the Bryan School of Business at UNCG is possessed of its own cafeteria-like area, but last I checked, nothing that I termed 'real food' was to be found there. However, the food in this small restaurant is quite sufficient at passing my inspection and includes traditional Polish food in addition to more mainstream dishes such as French fries and lasagne. I have eaten many a meal at this place so far this semester and will continue my patronage.

Another convenience would be Hala Targowa, the one-stop-shop that is the tram stop closest to the main university building and subsequently my prawo building. Hala Targowa means 'covered market' and within its distinctive doors are many vendors selling meats, produce, flowers, baked goods, clothes, alcohol, souvenirs, kitchen products, et al. I actually bought my wrist watch there whilst showing Kelsey and Leigha around town. This market provides a location right at my stop to go back to Olowek, allowing me to shop without going out of my way at all. Moreover, the market is decidedly Polish, certainly a benefit in terms of my learning the culture. 

Decidedly in the realm of conveience lies the proximity of the Rynek to Hala Targowa and my classes - the Rynek being where many of Wroclaw's most famous churches and buildings reside. Additionally, housed within the Rynek are dozens and dozens of eateries along with shops of all sorts. There was a Polish bookstore I walked into where I used my German with the proprietor in order to search for a book, which alas was not there. Quick access to the largest mall in the city, Galeria Dominikanska, can also be had at this locale. Right by the Rynek, incidentally, is the Cathedral of St. Mary Magedelene, from high atop which the picture accompanying this post is taken. On the left hand side of the photo you can see two skyscrapers in the clouds, the one on the right of those is Olowek. 

Okay, so the convenience of downtown/the Rynek has been covered, but what about at our place of residence? How convenient IS Olowek? For the answer to that question, the best place to start is simply with the dorm rooms themselves. As a former Moore-Strong resident, one of UNCG's fairly newer dorms, I have to say I would much rather pit my living conditions here in Olowek against those of Moore-Strong, with no hard feelings towards fellow MSers. In Olowek, we are given two-bedroom one-bath (shower) kitchenette flats with a small foyer. These two bedrooms house two people to a room, for a total of four people sharing the rooms. Just a quick visual guess puts the room to be larger than Moore-Strong rooms. Not only are the rooms a bit more robust, but each bedroom has its own balcony, unlike the few communal balconies at Moore-Strong that are locked most of the time due to the immaturity of some residents. These balconies prove invaluable for contacting people while your roommate is asleep, or for merely enjoying the silent fall of snow or the distinctly mute fall of rain. 

Another advantage to having these kitchenettes per flat is that they are much easier to maintain - Moore-Strong has a single communal kitchen for over 300 residents, and as such, I always ignored the fact we had a kitchen, since when I went near it I needed a gas mask connected to a tank of pure oxygen stolen from an intergalactic Molly Maid just to be able to survive. If anyone has ever read War of the Worlds or seen the Tom Cruise movie of the same name but not the same quality, one will know that the aliens could not survive in our atmosphere/environs - all we needed to do was send those aliens to Moore-Strong's kitchen, and much loss of life (and a bad movie) could have been averted. 

But I digress from the point of convenience, it is true. Therefore, I shall return to discussing my thesis. The foyer is perfect for leaving those shoes and coats covered with snow or rain. In Moore-Strong, those items just have to be brought in the room regardless of their overall condition. Even the bathroom is also rather convenient, as in Moore-Strong you either share communal restrooms or lives in a suite with people who do not clean up after themselves, speaking only from my personal experience and the experiences of those I know who resided within said suites. 

Following that, we now have a place for classes, a place for exploring, a place to sleep and live, but I have yet to discuss intrinsic and inherent functions of life - eating and drinking - not that kind, the kind that actually hydrates and replenishes. Situated within a 30-second walk from Olowek, if even that, are a gas station convenience store, a McDonald's, a bakery, a grocery store, a Pizzeria that serves the so-far best pizza in the city, a smaller, more specialized market, and two tram/bus stops. If I left Moore-Strong and walked for 30 seconds I would reach absolutely nothing of value to replenishing my vitality. Perhaps in 90 seconds or so, one would reach The Caf, but as we veterans of said establishment know, how much does The Caf really do towards replenishing vitality? 

If that is not enough convenience to you, within the breadth of one song on your mp3 player, Sony PSP, or any other kind of audio device, you can arrive at Pasaz Grunwaldzski, my favorite mall in Wroclaw. This mall even has a larger grocery store on the bottom floor if you cannot find what you are looking for in the two right next to Olowek. The mall also has a movie theatre for entertainment purposes. Lastly, if one cared to listen to just over one song, perhaps long enough to hear one's favorite introductory pattern to a song, one would arrive at Biedronka, which is right across the street from the Pasaz. Biedronka is essentially a budget grocery store, providing many products at less than half the price of the markets right next to Olowek. Indeed, the first time I perused the aisles there, I bought 20 zloty worth of food and drink - at the market next to Olowek I had spent 47 zloty on the same amount of food and the same type of food. For me, Wroclaw has been a city that has proven to cater to the majority of the whims I have thought of since arriving.