Since we have been in Tartu for a month and a half, my restaurant exploits have been reduced and eventually replaced by a much more amusing activity. Now, I am a proud member of Tartu University's gym. The gym has a full indoor track, the usual weight rooms, a room of row machines, several basketball courts, a table tennis room, a badminton court and indoor football court. I would move in there in a heart beat. My favorite place is the track. It has places to practice discs, high jump, long jump, triple jump, and hurdles. It's a full track... but inside!
In this gym, athletes train in hopes of representing Estonia in the Olympics. I can't think of better motivation than that. This is one of the many differences between the American gyms I have attended and the Tartu gym. In America there seems to be three groups: the big guys who everyone suspects are pumping steroids, the people who just want to be fit, and then the people who are trying to lose massive amounts of weight. This being said, one hardly sees Lycra or Spandex as an outfit in America, but here everyone wears it. Okay, okay, it is not the bright leotards from the 80's, but they are just as intimidating. When running, I sometimes feel so out of place wearing my cotton tee shirt and pants.
During the first two weeks of my membership, I attended several workout classes. Not surprisingly, the classes were taught in Estonian. The first class was equivalent to Body Pump, which is one of my favorite classes back home so I didn't really need to listen to the instructor. I just had to mimic what she did. Then I went to a dance and step class. I have never had trouble with those classes back in the US; however, I was fumbling about in the sea of Lycra. The step class was traumatizing.
Therefore, I have not gone to a class since. I appreciate my indoor track all the more since it doesn't make me look clumsy.
While running one day I saw this old man and little boy running ahead of him. In my mind I was gushing over the pair. "Oh, how cute! I want to bring my children to the gym when I get older. Not only does it promote healthy living, but they also run out all their energy. He's so smart!" Somehow I lost track of them for a few laps until I saw the small boy doing curl ups on a pole and the old man angrily scowling at him. Then it hit me. This guy wasn't his father, it was his coach. I felt so ridiculous.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Ah, Poland.
This past weekend Leigha and I traveled from Tartu to Wroclaw.
One of the most memorable experiences was trying to get to and from the airports. Finding the right bus and the right stop in a different language was really challenging. For me, the actual traveling part was stressful at least that is until I got on the planes where I would normally fall asleep immediately.
My first impression of Wroclaw when we got off the tram in Grunwaldski Plac was "Oh geez this place is depressing. Where are all the cute buildings I saw on Google Earth?" Later I found out that G.P. is in the industrial part of Wroclaw. On our way to meet up with the other UNCG students, Leigha and I managed to get lost in this area. A moment that stands out for me during this time was when we had walked over the Most Grunwaldski Bridge into a run-down area. To get across the street we had to go through an underground tunnel. Normally, a tunnel does not scare me, but there was so much graffiti that the tunnel seemed really intimidating. In Tartu there is graffiti, but it is not as prevalent. That moment where I was standing paralyzed by fear of a tunnel seems quite ridiculous now after exploring the Rynek.
Once in we arrived in Rynek, I felt at home. The small size and quaintness of the town really appealed to me.
We have a couple of churches in Tartu that I've explored, but Wroclaw's cathedrals were amazing. I really enjoyed when Danielle and Robert showed Leigha and I around the churches at night. Not only were they amazing architecturally, but the lighting on the churches was unbelievable. When we came back to the churches the next day, although pretty, I was not as flabbergasted as I was earlier.
I also realized another trait about my travel style in addition to falling asleep as soon as I am on a plane. Ironically, I feel like I look more toursity when I have a map in my hands searching for a site or road then when I have my camera out snapping photos. In the future, I think I will definitely study a map before I leave and learn how the public transportation works.
Overall, I really enjoyed our trip to Poland and am thinking about going back in May to see the rest of the country.
Poland!
This past week I had my first ever experience in Poland. My initial impression of Wroclaw was completely overwhelming. After spending so much time in Tartu, I had become pretty accustomed to the small-town feel. I can basically walk out of my dorm, turn right, walk for about 5 minutes or so and be at the central buildings of our university and the town square. I knew that Wroclaw was not huge, but a fairly big city compared to Tartu, but I wasn't quite prepared for the many trams, buses, people, and towering buildings.
We managed to find our way from the airport to our hostel, but only with a lot of help. I immediately fell in love with the Polish people. We met so many who were cheerfully willing to go out of their way to help us find where we were going. I noticed, too, that they were much more open than Estonians. Which is not a surprise given how introverted Estonians are compared to many people groups. But after becoming accustomed to this social norm I had strangely almost forgotten what a more open was like. In the way that the people in Wroclaw interacted with each other, it reminded me a little of America.
When we finally found the university campus and met up with the other UNCG students, they took us exploring through the city. It was a relief to finally be with someone who knew their way around. We visited a couple of the many churches in Wroclaw, which took on a looming ambiance in the night and gave quite daunting effect. I enjoyed walking through the cobblestone streets and grass without worrying about ice or snow. This was definitely a change from our white-blanketed Tartu.
After a while of being tourists, food was definitely next on the list. I really enjoyed Polish food, and the low prices! My favorite food there was, of course, pierogies. I also enjoyed the thousands of coffee shops. Here in Tartu we don't really have coffee shops, just small cafes that. Coffee shops are the go-to location for college students, I feel, and I hadn't realized how much I had missed one.
One of my favorite things about Wroclaw was all of the little gnomes hidden around the city. As cheesy as it may seem, it was fun to hunt for them and take pictures of the comical little scenes they each played out. We also had the chance to climb the tower of one of the churches and look out over the whole city. That was a breath-taking surprise and one of my favorite moments.
One random thing I noticed that was different between Wroclaw and Tartu was that in Tartu, I have not really noticed people smoking. Of course they do, but not in or close to public places like restaurants. I did notice our first night in Wroclaw that while we went from place to place looking for an open table (which is definitely another difference from Tartu), there were people smoking inside almost every place we went to.
I'm sure I'm forgetting so much to talk about, as there are so many new things to take in in a new location and culture. I did enjoy my time in Poland very much over all, although I think I hold a fondness for Tartu and was very happy to return.
We managed to find our way from the airport to our hostel, but only with a lot of help. I immediately fell in love with the Polish people. We met so many who were cheerfully willing to go out of their way to help us find where we were going. I noticed, too, that they were much more open than Estonians. Which is not a surprise given how introverted Estonians are compared to many people groups. But after becoming accustomed to this social norm I had strangely almost forgotten what a more open was like. In the way that the people in Wroclaw interacted with each other, it reminded me a little of America.
When we finally found the university campus and met up with the other UNCG students, they took us exploring through the city. It was a relief to finally be with someone who knew their way around. We visited a couple of the many churches in Wroclaw, which took on a looming ambiance in the night and gave quite daunting effect. I enjoyed walking through the cobblestone streets and grass without worrying about ice or snow. This was definitely a change from our white-blanketed Tartu.
After a while of being tourists, food was definitely next on the list. I really enjoyed Polish food, and the low prices! My favorite food there was, of course, pierogies. I also enjoyed the thousands of coffee shops. Here in Tartu we don't really have coffee shops, just small cafes that. Coffee shops are the go-to location for college students, I feel, and I hadn't realized how much I had missed one.
One of my favorite things about Wroclaw was all of the little gnomes hidden around the city. As cheesy as it may seem, it was fun to hunt for them and take pictures of the comical little scenes they each played out. We also had the chance to climb the tower of one of the churches and look out over the whole city. That was a breath-taking surprise and one of my favorite moments.
One random thing I noticed that was different between Wroclaw and Tartu was that in Tartu, I have not really noticed people smoking. Of course they do, but not in or close to public places like restaurants. I did notice our first night in Wroclaw that while we went from place to place looking for an open table (which is definitely another difference from Tartu), there were people smoking inside almost every place we went to.
I'm sure I'm forgetting so much to talk about, as there are so many new things to take in in a new location and culture. I did enjoy my time in Poland very much over all, although I think I hold a fondness for Tartu and was very happy to return.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Aptekas
I have been blaming Poland for all of my problems lately, which it has been, but how can an entire country not have anything for a runny nose? I guess it's part of that culture shock thing, not very fun. A neat thing is that they have pharmacies called aptekas and their soul purpose is providing medication over the counter. So I didn't have to guess at what I was getting, I just handed over my list of symptoms and she gave me a plethora of goodies. Unfortunately none of them take care of a runny nose.
What has been fun are the courses I've been taking. For once I am completely interested in the courses I'm enlisted in. I love going to class only one time a week and having the rest of the week to study and figure out what I want to about the course material. It makes me want to study abroad for the rest of my semesters at UNCG. Looking up classes for next semester is making me never want to go home with a class everyday and exams every week and papers every month. Ugh... I wish our system would take on Wroclaw's for erasmus students.
The girls from Tartu came into town this past weekend. Most of us left town for Prague but it was neat to show them around a little the first night they got in. It made Wroclaw really seem a part of me, like an actual home. Oh yea, Kathleen, student days in Tartu run the week before Russia so I think us Wroclaw students won't be able to attend them. It would mean two trips up to Tartu and I don't think any of us are willing to do that. But we were thinking we'd stay the weekend after we get back from Russia instead to do our Tartu adventure.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Because I can't expect everything to be "on campus."
I have always liked UNCG's campus. It is very attractive, as well convenient. All classes are "within ten minutes walking distance from each other." I am sure everyone from UNCG has heard this line. I believe it is flaunted at every single orientation that UNCG hosts.
I would also like to commend UNCG on its spacing and multitude of courses. Usually, if course times conflict, there is a way to arrange your schedule so you can take everything you want. The times may not be your top choice, but you still can manage to arrange it so you can get to all the courses.
Maybe it is just that way because I am an American student at an American school. All courses are available to me because courses are taught in English and, you know, I can speak enough English to get me by.
However, all the courses here seem to overlap. "Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism" starts at 14:00 and "Social Psychology" starts at 14:40. "Islam in Europe," "War Crimes and Genocides," and "Balkanization to Europeanization" all overlap each other by about 30 minutes. Which, in all honesty, is bad enough. But then you have the placement of classes.
Each faculty building is in a different part of the city here. I'm unsure of exact mileage, but I can tell you the time it takes to get from one place to another. From my dorm, Olowek, it takes at least thirty minutes to walk to any classes in the Rynek. This includes any history classes, which I am taking several of. I would like to know more about Poland's history. In order to get to classes at the Social Science buildings, which include Political and Psychology courses, which I am also taking several of, you have to walk between forty five minutes to an hour in the complete opposite direction you would go for classes in Rynek.
Now, I will commend them, there is public transportation. But even then, to get a bus or a tram from History to Social Sciences would take 45 minutes to an hour. So even if you have 30 minutes to an hour between courses but they are at seperate faculties, chances are, you'll never make it on time. Hence, you won't be able to take the course. Which, in honesty, is terribly frustrating because there are many classes I wanted to take, but they fall under this situation.
I quite miss UNCG's convenience.
I would also like to commend UNCG on its spacing and multitude of courses. Usually, if course times conflict, there is a way to arrange your schedule so you can take everything you want. The times may not be your top choice, but you still can manage to arrange it so you can get to all the courses.
Maybe it is just that way because I am an American student at an American school. All courses are available to me because courses are taught in English and, you know, I can speak enough English to get me by.
However, all the courses here seem to overlap. "Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism" starts at 14:00 and "Social Psychology" starts at 14:40. "Islam in Europe," "War Crimes and Genocides," and "Balkanization to Europeanization" all overlap each other by about 30 minutes. Which, in all honesty, is bad enough. But then you have the placement of classes.
Each faculty building is in a different part of the city here. I'm unsure of exact mileage, but I can tell you the time it takes to get from one place to another. From my dorm, Olowek, it takes at least thirty minutes to walk to any classes in the Rynek. This includes any history classes, which I am taking several of. I would like to know more about Poland's history. In order to get to classes at the Social Science buildings, which include Political and Psychology courses, which I am also taking several of, you have to walk between forty five minutes to an hour in the complete opposite direction you would go for classes in Rynek.
Now, I will commend them, there is public transportation. But even then, to get a bus or a tram from History to Social Sciences would take 45 minutes to an hour. So even if you have 30 minutes to an hour between courses but they are at seperate faculties, chances are, you'll never make it on time. Hence, you won't be able to take the course. Which, in honesty, is terribly frustrating because there are many classes I wanted to take, but they fall under this situation.
I quite miss UNCG's convenience.
Excuse me, I need to phone my fashion consultant...
I am still behind in my blogging. Please bear with me as I catch up!
I have become aware that I need to phone home for a new wardrobe. Going to class in sweats and a tee is NOT an option in Poland.
Thinking of class at home, I have to laugh. The majority of students are in sweats, pajamas, or just plain jeans and tees and it's a miracle if they walked into class actually on time. Literally rolling out of bed and going to class isn't an odd occurrence. Girls sport their hair in ponytails that resemble a rug that's been put through a blender, make-up may still be on from the party they attended last night, and breakfast is being eaten while class is in session. Guys also go for the "Hello, professor, I JUST woke up" look. If someone comes to class in heels and a dressy top, you assume that they are either giving a class presentation or they are going on an interview or an important meeting after class. Dressing up for classes just isn't common.
However, in Wroclaw, Poland, I feel that I am constantly being chased down the sidewalk by a pair of stilettos.
When arrive to my courses, I usually feel a person wearing red at a funeral. Everyone is dressed so nicely, especially the girls. Their hair is done nicely, and if it's in a ponytail, it's not because it hasn't been washed or because they had a bad case of bedhead. Make-up is perfectly (if not liberally) applied, the shirt is fresh and fashionable. Jeans or other skirts with leggings/tights are polished off with an attractive pair of heels or boots. And of course there is a matching or complimentary handbag. Even their coats are nice, though. I know I was hard-pressed trying to find a decent looking warm winter coat in the states, but here, they are everywhere.
I've never been one to dress up everywhere I go, and it's a bit difficult running errands here. If I need to go to the shopping center to pick up some food, I can not go in my sweats. I did once, and I received a lot of unpleasant looks. At home, I work around the house in sweats and a tee and just run errands as need be, no changing necessary. Here, I change when I'm milling about the dorm, but as soon as I need to go anywhere, I have to put on "decent" clothes. Even just walking room to room, I get odd looks if I'm not dressed "properly." And what I wear out still usually looks too casual next to what they have on.....
Maybe the Polish girls just wear nicer pajamas than I do.
I have become aware that I need to phone home for a new wardrobe. Going to class in sweats and a tee is NOT an option in Poland.
Thinking of class at home, I have to laugh. The majority of students are in sweats, pajamas, or just plain jeans and tees and it's a miracle if they walked into class actually on time. Literally rolling out of bed and going to class isn't an odd occurrence. Girls sport their hair in ponytails that resemble a rug that's been put through a blender, make-up may still be on from the party they attended last night, and breakfast is being eaten while class is in session. Guys also go for the "Hello, professor, I JUST woke up" look. If someone comes to class in heels and a dressy top, you assume that they are either giving a class presentation or they are going on an interview or an important meeting after class. Dressing up for classes just isn't common.
However, in Wroclaw, Poland, I feel that I am constantly being chased down the sidewalk by a pair of stilettos.
When arrive to my courses, I usually feel a person wearing red at a funeral. Everyone is dressed so nicely, especially the girls. Their hair is done nicely, and if it's in a ponytail, it's not because it hasn't been washed or because they had a bad case of bedhead. Make-up is perfectly (if not liberally) applied, the shirt is fresh and fashionable. Jeans or other skirts with leggings/tights are polished off with an attractive pair of heels or boots. And of course there is a matching or complimentary handbag. Even their coats are nice, though. I know I was hard-pressed trying to find a decent looking warm winter coat in the states, but here, they are everywhere.
I've never been one to dress up everywhere I go, and it's a bit difficult running errands here. If I need to go to the shopping center to pick up some food, I can not go in my sweats. I did once, and I received a lot of unpleasant looks. At home, I work around the house in sweats and a tee and just run errands as need be, no changing necessary. Here, I change when I'm milling about the dorm, but as soon as I need to go anywhere, I have to put on "decent" clothes. Even just walking room to room, I get odd looks if I'm not dressed "properly." And what I wear out still usually looks too casual next to what they have on.....
Maybe the Polish girls just wear nicer pajamas than I do.
Running Behind...
So I just counted my blog entries and realized that I'm two short, so here's another.
With all this traveling around Europe, it makes me really want to see more of the US. I wish only that it was just as cheap to fly or catch a train somewhere. Or of course as timely to go by car but that's still expensive too. I've seen a lot of the East coast but I haven't even been to California. I really wish that cheap jet system would not have gone under, what was that thing called? I now also think Greensboro should invest in some trams. They are so much fun to jump and just take you where you need to go. It was nerve wrecking when I first started figuring out where they went but now I know and it gets me to class on time. I think it won't be as intimidating when it's not in another language either. :-P
Speaking of language difficulties, self medicating is tricky. I have only pictures to go by when picking out cold medicines and now I thank goodness for these marketing techniques.
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