There are so many hours in a day

This week I've been thinking a lot of how my daily routine at home compares with the one here. It seems that during the school semester at UNCG, I hardly have time to breathe. With every day scheduled down to the last minute of study, I run from class to activity, from meeting to meeting. Although it's quite overwhelming and exhausting sometimes, I enjoy the busy life pace. My typical day in Tartu, however, is a little slower. Each class only meets once a week, so actual classroom time is cut down considerably. The work load is also very different. With classes at home, I'm used to having several assignments given and due everyday. In contrast, my lecturers here assign papers with aloof topics and vague due dates. I have a good amount of work and reading to do, but nothing pressing to be done. The Estonian students are incredibly disciplined, with any assigned work always done and the up most respect given to every lecturer. So maybe I don't feel so much pressure directly from my lecturers because it's expected that I don't need it to be motivated.
It's possible that the slow and easy pace is unique to Tartu. I finally had the chance to visit Tallinn, the capitol of Estonia, this past weekend. Tallinn is certainly bigger than Tartu and felt much busier. But still, in comparison to other cities, Tallinn could be considered a little bit slower too. I enjoyed my visit there. I got to see the Estonian Parliament building, the president's house, and many medieval themed shops and costumes in Old Town. One if the biggest things that stuck out to me was how closely we could get to the President's house, and without being monitored. I was just in D.C. over Christmas break, and could not even take a picture of the White House without feeling the security guard's stare. Of course, I must recognize that even though Tartu is certainly a calm town, this is only the observation of my small bubble here.
It also hit me this week how much the U.S. has infiltrated seemingly everything. My teachers continually reference U.S. history. And just today in a t-shirt print shop I saw several design options that promoted America somehow. It always takes me off guard when I see or hear these things, because at first it seems natural to here about the U.S., but then I suddenly realize that I am not in America, and quite far from it.

Russia Trip

Hey Danielle,
I think that my posts said we are meeting in Estonia to leave on a bus the evening of the 8th, and arrive in St. P's the morning of the 9th. So, meet on the 8th, but we'll be in Russia May 9-13.

Hope this helps,
Kathleen

"The semester is almost over"

That's what everyone keeps saying as we all plan for trips out of town. With the promise of warmer days soon to come people are realizing that soon we'll be going our separate ways before we know it and we've decided we all kind of like each other and aren't sure if we want that day to come so soon or not. It's a weird feeling.

So some more Polish observations: tram etiquette. Every Polish student I've seen respects their elders through always offering a seat on the tram. I have never seen a grandma or grandpa have to stand. I gave up mine for the first time the other day. It felt really nice to do it. I know that's super cheesy but it did. I hope I said the right things in Polish but she said "dzenkuje" none the less and sat down. 

So Kathy, to  change direction, when exactly is our trip into Russia? The 9th and 8th are both on this blog. I have a plane ticket for the 7th into Riga, I just have to figure out bus schedules which Kelsey has been a big help with.

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. 

Hey from NC!!

I'm loving your posts! I've been on that hike in the Karpacz mountains in the snow--amazing! and I loved reading about the students' visit from Tartu to Poland. You were hosts!! You showed them around your town! YAY!

I'm finalizing the plans for our trip. We will be meeting in Estonia and taking a bus on May 9 (step one). Robert and Gabriel should be getting their visa support/instructions from Gordon Stearns very soon--onwards from there!

I can't wait to hang out with you and show you St. Petersburg--
Keep posting!

Living harsh. I think this is Poland. Nothing is soft in this society. From the language so chock full of "zh" to shot after shot of vodka and strong bad beer on dirty cement, dilapidation, and angry old women scrambling up from their chairs and lace curtain ensconced hiding places by the bathroom to shriek that you owe them 2.50 zl for the use of the urinal. I need a plush chair, a softly lit living room, and a movie.

I met a Polish guy named Casper this weekend, in the mountains, on a get away trip half Polish half international. We met because he plays guitar, and the conversation started on this subject. The guy is a classic husky Pole. Wide shoulders and a wider face, smoking cigarettes with a thug jacket and a new york gangsta wide brimmed baseball cap tilted to the right. A stocky man if I've ever seen one. He had a bit of a friendly bumbling demeanor, but immediately seemed dangerous. I commented on his hoodie which featured a 1700s painting of hell or somesuch, demons cracking skulls, and dark knights impaling the innocent, it was faded. Joking I pointed to it and said something like 'that hyper violence, hell yeah.' His response wasnt what I expected, he moved in a little bit, dipping his cap over one eye, an enthusiastic and slightly manic smile twisting his wide jowls. "You like the violence? You know, you know, I don't know, but sometimes when things get hard, violence can be good." This was said with a sinister camaraderie that expected my full approval. It gave me the chills.
Shot after shot and smoke after smoke, these people were drunk the entire weekend. We left Wroclaw for the mountains on Thursday by train, a group of about seventy heading for a lodge at Karpacz. The spirit of the trip seemed to be to get drunk as much as possible, and to get as drunk as possible. Police met us as we got off the train, immediately fining one of the Polish boys still holding his beer as he left the train. You cannot drink on the street in Poland. Most of the French, German, and Spanish, and of course Polish, were drunk upon arriving, and continued to drink. I cannot comprehend these peoples tolerance for alcohol and will to drink, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes while scrambling up icy slopes on Saturday afternoon, vodka from ladles in the evening.
Good trip though. On Friday we hiked up a mountain for about three hours in the snow. A long line of people trudging ever upwards in the soft light, and white between the spruce trees. Apparently there are reindeer in the mountains of Poland.

Why do you park on a driveway and drive on a parkway?

Or, in the case of Poland, drive and park on sidewalks?
The photograph, by the way, is of a normal parking job in Prague. Notice how the car is NOT on the sidewalk.
Never in my life have I seen so many cars parked on the sidewalk. I have been witness to a few in Greensboro, but they have always been in the process of getting tickets written or they were involved in an accident that made them go up on the sidewalk. Never in my life have I seen people drive up on the sidewalk like it's normal.
Yesterday, I was witness to an astonishing event. A woman, I would say around her late 50s to early 60s, was walking down the sidewalk a little ways ahead of me with shopping bags in her hands. As I would come to find out, they were groceries and she was on her way to the tram stop so she could take her food home. Well, something happened, her bag ripped or something of a similar effect because a few cans hit the ground along with a head of lettuce (or maybe it was cabbage) and a loaf of bread. She cursed (some of the few words I've learned and can immediately recognize in Polish) and stooped to pick up her things. I hastened my step a bit to help her, but as I approached, a car pulled on the sidewalk moving far to fast, squealed to a halt before it hit her, and the driver proceeded to roll down the window and shout at the woman. The woman shouted back, and curse words were flying between the two.
Now granted, my Polish isn't worth much. Maybe I totally misunderstood, and the driver wasn't yelling at the woman for being in the way of his parking space, even though his gestures to his car and the sidewalk and the cars trying to get around in the lane behind him certainly indicated so. Maybe he was a really nice young man, and the woman was his mother, and he was frustrated that she hadn't let him give her a ride home. I have to admit, I've invented a bit of a game with the Polish people. Whenever I pass conversations in the market or in the street, I try to catch words and phrases that I know. Most of the time, I understand so very little what they are talking about. So I make up a conversation for them in my head. It's sort of like watching a television show on mute...the Polish people are very animated, and I love them for it. Hence why I created two scenarios that could be occurring between the young man and the grocery lady...Although, I don't think someone would swear at their mother the way this young man was swearing at her.
And that's not the first time I've seen a pedestrian nearly run over by an automobile on a sidewalk. I've nearly been a victim myself a few times. And I've even seen an car waiting at a crosswalk light on the sidewalk here....I was shaking with laughter when I saw that. I mean, it was a tiny car and all, but it still had no business at the crosswalk. My biggest question however was what the driver intended to do when the light turned green. Was he going to use the crosswalk to cross the street and get to the other lane? Or was he going to use it to turn out into his lane and resume "normal" car activities? If I hadn't been running late to class, I would have stuck around to find out.
Oh Poland, the many curiosities you house.....