So Kay finished her semester in Ankara, Turkey a few weeks ago and decided to come up to Poland to visit the lovely ME! Unfortunately she was sick with a cold (later she found out it was actually pneumonia!) and exhausted and thus a lot of the time she was here we spent chilling outside talking. HOWEVER we did take a fun trip to Zakopane and while I was in class each day she did some fun trips/exploration.
We caught a bus on Saturday to Zakopane, a small town in the Tatra Mountains. The bus ride was about 2 hours and the scenery was breathtaking. Rolling soft green hills dotted with cute Polish houses and blue skies above. Much to the chagrin of the other passengers, Kay and I talked the whole way there and back. Once there we found the “main drag” and walked up and down souvenir shopping, stopping along the way for lunch. We both sampled the famous Zakopane staple of fried sheep cheese called “Osypek” and I finally tried some Polish blood sausage. Both were oh so yummy. We were going to go up to the top of one of the “mountains” but it started raining so we sat at a café instead. However, I got the impression the main thing to do there in the summer when there is no snow to ski on is to eat, drink, and enjoy the scenery and mountain air. Check out the pics.
So last weekend a bunch of students from University of Richmond who are doing a summer study abroad program in Prague came up to Krakow for the weekend. Since the lady in charge of their program also happens to be my advisor she contacted me and asked me to “help out”. They arrived on Friday morning and we took them out to breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants here called Dynia. I knew a couple of the students but I was REALLY excited to see my friend Kristen who recently graduated and was on the trip as a chaperone. After breakfast they went to Auschwitz and I met up with them that night for dinner and then some bar hopping. I took them down to Kazimierz and after one drink everyone just took off leaving me and my Krakow friends behind. The following day they left early and I didn’t even see them again. I must admit I did not enjoy myself. These students knew absolutely nothing about the city and country they were studying in. All they cared about was when and where they could get their next drink. Their conversations were about home and their fraternities. Now, I know this is not the majority of Richmond people, but now I’m really dreading going home. One of the first signs of reverse culture shock is “disillusionment with your home university…” Guess it’s starting already!
Some updates! So, thanks to EVERYONE who sent me cards, packages, emails, etc. My eyes are doing a lot better but it really helped to have some support from home. The doctor is EXTREMELY impressed with my progress and points out every time I go in that it shows that I am taking this serious. Two of the infections are healed, but my corneas are still a bit inflamed and my right eye is still a bit worse than the left. BUT after only two weeks I was told I could read again, go out in the sun, and even be at my computer for longer periods of time. YAY! Also, the best part is the pain is mostly gone! My eyes get tired easily and occasionally they sting, but the horrible horrible pain is gone. I’ve also finally gotten used to my new glasses… as well as not being able to wear eye makeup all the time (eek!).
Summer update. This summer I will be in (drum roll please)… Houston, Texas. I KNOW! I really wanted to go to Thailand or Morocco, but well, I am but a mere college student and my other adventures have steadily been draining my bank account. (Plus, if you check out the news, Thailand has been having problems with religious groups killing teachers… a fact I conveniently didn’t tell the folks) However, I have no doubt in my mind that I will one day go to both of these countries, but for now I feel like 10 countries in one trip is not a bad go. After my program finishes I’m going to meet my mom in Prague and then head back to Poland for a week before going off to Konstanz, Germany to visit my friend Lee! THEN I will be meeting my friend Fifi in Munich before flying back to the states on July 10th. When I return I need to go job searching like mad so I can start repairing the damage of this past semester. (Anyone know of any available jobs?)
Also, does anyone want a souvenir? The popular souvenirs here in Krakow are lace, folk dolls, amber jewelry, wooden toys, and anything with “Polska” on it. Or if you just want a postcard, email me your address!
So the next two weeks are going to be torture as the semester rolls to a close. I have three long term papers, two essays, three written finals, two oral finals, and one presentation. Luckily I’ve already done 1.5 of the term papers and one essay and my first final is actually today. I absolutely LOATHE finals, but I’m actually not dreading the papers as all my topics are interesting. For anyone who cares, here are my topics: Displaced Person Camps: Temporary Shelter for European Jews, The Influence in Western European Thought Due to Nazi Occupation, EU Enlargement: The Norway Question, Book Review: Under a Cruel Star by Heda Kovaly, and lastly a huge literature term paper which I have not yet decided my topic.
So that’s all for now. At least being busy is keeping my mind off the approaching end of my adventure. A month from now I will be in the States… I cannot believe how fast this semester has gone by!
Wow, you have a ton of intellectual output due in a hurry. This crunch of work remains a mystery to me of productivity. Yes, you always get it done. "How" is the word in question. I for one will delight in your Houston stint in July. For our trip, I like to people watch, and see markets, grocery stores, parks, landscapes, housing and listen to the sounds of life in all these places. Current events. I'd love some updates from you during our cafe breaks, and if you want me to read up on things prior, I will. Like our 2008 race for Pres. which I'm paying a smack of attention to. Enough. Until next weekend...