Friday, December 28, 2007

Ducks 2 Oilers 1

Sometimes I forget how much I love hockey. I guess living in Toronto for so long, where the Leafs rule, can do that to a person.

Going to the Oilers game last night in Edmonton helped me remember. Walking into the Coliseum (which will always be known as Northlands to me) was a thrill, and I acted like a giddy tourist, taking pictures of everything from the Stanley cup banners to the sparkly Oil derrick to the zambonis.

My favourite part was listening to the hockey chatter all around us. Two guys behind me kept up a constant commentary on the game, and a small boy kept asking his dad questions about the game. In front of us a slightly bigger boy quivered with excitement while constantly waving his big blue foam finger around.

It was all excellent. Of course it would have been better if the Oilers hadn't let that goal in with just over 3 minutes left in the third period.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Clicking my heels

This morning as I lay awake again (I haven't been able to sleep for more than 6 hours at a time in what seems like months, even though I am really tired), I was thinking about the meaning of home.

After I booked my ticket "home" in October or November, I became unbelievably excited about my trip back to Canada. My manager, who is also on assignment, but was born and raised in Poland, teased me several times about my use of the word home. He said that Krakow was my home now.

And he's partly right. If the old adage that home is where the heart is has any truth to it, my ticker must be shattered in several pieces and scattered across Canada, and now the world.

My first stop on this journey was Toronto, which has physically and emotionally been my home for the last 10 or 11 years. It's where my adult friends are, and where I really grew up - I got my first job in Toronto, bought my first house there - and where I thought I could happily spend the rest of my life.

Now I am in Alberta, where a large part of my heart still resides. My parents still live in the same house I grew up in, and when I fly into Alberta I almost always get choked up. Something about the patchwork fields always gets me, and I love the wide open spaces, even more so when they are covered in snow. It's funny, I never really noticed the landscape when I lived here, but now it is what I miss most.

But I am now starting to think of Krakow as home too. And in this Christmas season, I realize I am triply blessed to feel at home in so many places.

All the best to you and yours wherever you are at home this week.

Uberlaziness

5 minutes later. I am still lying on the couch, catching up on my friends' blogs, and my mom is doing my laundry.

I suspect you don't love the holidays so much if you are a mom. Particularly if you are a mom of a late 30-something couch potato daughter (even if she did come all the way from Poland to see you).

Laziness

I'm in Alberta now, at my parents home. And I'm doing what I always do here - not much.

No where else in the world do I feel as comfortable doing so little. It is nearly noon and I haven't showered and I'm lying on the couch eating, writing this.

Sometime later today, I'll get cleaned up and visit with the 55 (my gang of friends whom I have known forever). More eating, gossiping, and lounging.

I can't believe some people hate the holidays.

If you are reading this,

thank you. When I was in Toronto last week, I got to see several of you, and many of you mentioned how much you enjoyed reading the blog. I'm glad I can share my experiences with you virtually and that they are interesting enough to keep you coming back.

The highest compliment, albeit a bit backhanded, came from my friend E who told me that there weren't enough entries. And my dad, always my toughest critic, told me today that the recent entries haven't been very substantial.

I'll try to work on both. These next few entries are for you E. Dad, you'll have to let me know if the content is up to your exacting standards :)

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Home Sweet Home

Canada is colder than I remember (and I haven't even gotten to Alberta yet). And snowier. I arrived just in time for the biggest storm of the year in Toronto.

And Toronto is bigger and busier and a bit dirtier than I recall.

But there's no place else in the world I'd rather be right now.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Posing

My cousin Mel, who is a professional photographer, visited me in Krakow this past week. I took the opportunity to unleash my inner model.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Home

If all goes well, I should be in Canada in 3 days.

I can hardly wait!

Monday, December 3, 2007

Jinxed

As soon as I posted the pictures of Krakow with snow, it started to rain. Krakow now looks muddy, and dirty. Kind of like Edmonton in late April or Toronto any time in the winter months.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Snow

It started snowing in Krakow on November 9th, and it hasn't really stopped since.

Here's what Krakow looks like these days:







Online

I'm typing this from my Mac, which after 6.5 months in Poland is finally online.

And it is all thanks to the first hockey fan I've met in Poland. I won't hold the fact that his favourite teams are the Leafs and the Flames against him.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Fluffy towels

The dryer part of my washer/dryer machine stopped working ages ago. Sometime in July I believe. Workman came to look at it and reported it needed a new part, which took forever to arrive.

Yesterday, in a flurry of activity (5 different tradesmen showed up at my apartment yesterday!), the dryer was finally fixed.

I realized this morning as I was drying myself off that this means my towels will once again be fluffy and soft!

Now if only the IT guys can get my router and internet connection to my Mac working.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Fog

Apparently, Krakow is famous for its fog.

Who knew?

After living here for nearly 7 months, and experiencing all four seasons (winter came to Krakow a few weeks ago with a 25 cm dump of snow that is still on the ground), I understand why. It can be foggy at any time of day - spring, summer, fall and winter.

Tonight my friends and I stepped out of the gym into complete fog. It is pretty, but not so much fun to drive through.

The Wall

I first visited Germany early in the fall of 1989. I stayed with some family friends for a week or so in Stuttgart, in what was then West Germany. We spent several evenings discussing the political situation - the German family had been divided after the war, with several members of their family still living in East Germany. The Germans were hopeful that change might come to their country gradually, allowing them to be reunited with their family, but at that time no one had any idea of the magnitude of events that would shortly occur.

6 weeks or so later when the Wall actually came down, I was somewhere else in Europe - I can't remember exactly where - maybe southern France. And like every other backpacker in Europe at the time, my friends and I wanted to head for Berlin to witness history. But when we checked the train schedules everything was completely booked. We figured it would take us a few days to get there, and we were nearing the end of our trip.

So I never made it to Berlin in 1989.

I'm finally going tomorrow, 18 years later.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

B-ball boys

I spend my Tuesday evenings playing pick up basketball with some of the guys I work with. I'm the only female that plays (I used to drag one of the writers along with me, but she finally gave up on it, in fear that she'd get hurt) and I am sure I am probably ten years older than most of them.

The guys are exceedingly polite to me. They apologize profusely if they even brush against me and I don't think they try very hard to guard me. And they continue to pass me the ball no matter how many times I miss . . .

However, I feel like I finally may be getting treated like one of the guys. Tonight I went up for a rebound against several of them, and got elbowed in the side of the head!

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Cranky cat

It is only day 2 of Small's diet, but already she's meowing in protest. She gobbled up the "Obesity" wet food in seconds, and then started asking for more.

I weighed her today. 10.2 kg.

I've decided her goal weight should be about 8 kg (I've never seen what she looks like at less than 9 something kg). If she's still stout at 8 kg (if she ever gets there), we can readjust.

Wish us both luck. I think I'll need it more than she does.

All Saint's Day

Poles may not celebrate Halloween, but All Saint's Day on November 1st is one of the biggest holidays of the year in Poland.

Almost everyone travels to be with their families on All Saint's Day. People spend the day honouring the dead: visiting cemeteries to lay wreath's, flowers, and candles at the graves of their families.

Some friends and I went to one of the largest cemeteries in Krakow to pay our respects. Rather than being a somber event, the atmosphere was almost like a carnival. Vendors were selling candles, sweets, most notably bears made out of honey, while some street performers were even busking!

Once inside the gates of the cemetery, the mood was still festive, but more subdued, as people offered prayers and candles at individual graves. The largest group of candles were reserved for the Pope's parents.
The soft glow of the multicoloured candles lit our way through the dark to the area reserved for fallen Commonwealth soldiers. I lit a candle for the Canadian airmen killed in action in World War II, whose remains were recently buried here. We then lit our remaining candles for soldiers who had no family in Krakow to visit their graves.
Throughout the evening I thought of my grandparents, and wished that I could be lighting candles for them at their gravesides. The Polish celebration of All Saint's Day was one of the most beautiful and moving events I have experienced since being here, and is definitely one I'd like to continue in Canada.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

C is for cookie . . .

As promised. Apparently I was 5 the first year I was Cookie Monster.




And here I am with my brothers. We think Mike is a painter. As you can see, Matt's love for all things super hero started early.

Friday, November 9, 2007

The Great (Polish) Pumpkin

Growing up, I loved Halloween. I have always been a candy fiend, and really, what's better than running around with your friends in the dark, without adults, getting pillowcases full of candy?

Not much.

Plus I have a very imaginative mother who loved to come up with and then create fantastic costumes. My all-time fave is still the head-to-toe, fake blue fur Cookie Monster suit that I had when I was about 7. Dad, I'd be eternally grateful if you scanned a picture of that and sent it to me. I'll even post it here for all to enjoy.

Sadly, the Polish don't celebrate Halloween. They have no idea what they've been missing out on.

So last Wednesday morning I dragged two of my Polish Canadian colleagues to the local pumpkin patch (okay, it was really a market) to buy as many pumpkins as we could carry to take into work.



I was giddy with the whole adventure and kept snapping shots of the possible pumpkin candidates, much to the chagrin of one of the farmers. Apparently he was telling me not to take pictures, but since I didn't understand him, I just smiled and took his picture. He became much more accommodating when he realized I was spending major zloties at the stand next to his, and even started pointing out pumpkins he liked.

People didn't quite know what to make of me when I showed up the office with a trolley full of pumpkins. But my team embraced the jack o lanterns quickly. I had to explain to everyone that you had to clean the guts outside of the pumpkin, and then had to retrieve more than one pumpkin "lid" out of the garbage after they threw them out.

As soon as we had the first pumpkins finished and on display, other teams started asking if they could carve one.



Luckily my manager was out of town and wasn't able to witness me violating several office regulations as I lit candles in all of the pumpkins. It was well worth breaking the health and safety regulations to work in the soft glow of the jack o lanterns. And as the pumpkins heated up they gave a lovely smell, as if someone was baking in the office.

But my favourite memory of the day will be the look of childish wonder on the faces of the steady stream of people who came by to see the pumpkins. Most came back for repeat visits, often with their cameras.

Delivery

The veterinary-approved obesity formula cat food just arrived at my door. It was delivered by the company I purchased it from, and carried up the three flights to my apartment.

Delivery seems much more common in Poland than it does in Canada. Aside from the cat food, I have my drinking water delivered, and apparently doctors and vets make house calls.

The service industry in Poland is a contradictory hybrid. Waiters and waitresses although usually quite friendly aren't quite up to the service standards of many western countries, and don't get me started about the customer service ethic of many of the bureaucratic organizations. I have multiple horror stories about attempting to get a parking permit from Pani Ewa at the Motor Vehicles office.

But in other industries, the Poles are far more service-oriented. Apart from the home delivery services, many retail industry clerks actually serve you. For example, in small fruit and vegetable kiosks, you ask the clerk for what you want, and they get it for you. Same thing in drug stores (aptekas). It makes it a bit harder for a non-Polish speaker, since I can't just go up and grab the band-aids off the shelf, but it does make me practice speaking Polish.

I like it, particularly not having to drag 8 kg bags of cat food up all those stairs.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Jestem stara

Many of the new writers I have hired for my team here have similar educational backgrounds to mine - Master's degrees in English. In Poland, the degree is called English Philology and covers the areas of translation, linguistics, writing, and pedagogical theory, as well as literature.

Yesterday, I had coffee with one of my writers who is just finishing her master's thesis. We started discussing linguistics and the effect of cultural differences on languages and I told her a little about my master's thesis (which some days I can barely remember).

When I mentioned the main theorists involved (Brown and Levinson's Politeness theory for those of you interested in linguistics and literary theory), she exclaimed that they were the classic authors in the field and everything she had studied in the area was based on their research.

I remember the field being quite new when I was doing grad school research. I looked it up today, and their theory was first published in 1987, only 4 or 5 years before I started grad school. Of course my writer was only 4 years old at the time.

Yep, I feel old.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Grrr

Sometimes it sucks not knowing the language of the country you live in.

Yesterday, I called the company that is supposed to provide me with bottled water (no one in Krakow drinks the tap water although apparently it is safe). I haven't had water delivered since sometime in early September, although they keep sending me bills (which I keep paying). So I finally decided to try and call and figure out what was going on. My Polish hasn't progressed much past me being able to say Good day, do you speak English? The person said yes, so on I went.

But her English was not much better than my Polish, so I had to resort to asking one of my colleagues to speak to her.

And then my hair appointment was rescheduled to this afternoon, and the person who was going to come with me and translate can't make it. So once again I had to ask around for someone to accompany me.

Usually I don't mind asking for help, but some days I hate being so dependent.

Then this morning I spent an hour in an aerobics class that was full of dance moves I didn't know. I am more sporty than dancey (as anyone who has ever attended my step class can attest), so I probably would have struggled with this class in English, but I spent a good portion of the class feeling sorry for myself, even though four or five other women were having as many problems as I was.

The Polish language continues to humble me. I struggle with pronunciation and remembering the words, let alone the 5 grammatical cases, which I don't really even understand in English. My head is so full of work when we have our classes that it is hard to switch modes. And I feel inadequate since everyone around me speaks multiple languages.

But some days I have small victories. I can order in Polish in restaurants now, and I love going into shops and ordering fruits and vegetables and making other purchases in Polish. And I can understand a bit more when I listen to people speak, so gradually it will get better.

But some days it still sucks . . .

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

6 months

I arrived in Krakow for my big adventure 6 months ago today. Thus far, it's been everything I hoped for and more.

Life's good in Krakow. In many ways, my life here is not dissimilar to what it was in Toronto. The essentials are still the same - I go to work (a lot), I do my laundry, I shop for groceries, I work out (or talk myself into thinking I do), I go out for dinner, and so on.

But the difference is in the details. Everything here is still new to me. I go out for walks in the old town, or the surrounding streets and I find shops I haven't noticed before, or I see a detail on a building that makes me smile.

Many of my visitors have not known what to expect of Poland. They've been pleasantly surprised by the city, and I think by its vitality and vibrant nature. Krakow is alive these days, as Poland experiences a economic and I think, cultural, revival. I don't see much evidence of the country with a dour recent past, at least among the young twenty and thirty somethings I work with.

Everyone is eager to work - most of the students also have full-time jobs on top of their studies - I can't get one of my students who is working full time and taking her second master's degree to take a day off. Even the horses that pull the tourist carriages in the main square seem impatient to get going; they toss their heads and paw at the ground while they line up waiting for passengers.

Some days I long for the familiar - my friends, my family, the language, comfort foods, and my country, but most of the time I am too excited about visiting a new place, or trying something different to miss Canada.

I look forward to what the next 6 months will bring.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Dieting

Flannery and Small have gained weight. Apparently "light" cat food in Poland is not as "light" as it is in Canada.

I started looking for veterinary recommended diet cat food and found something referred to as Obese formula. I am assuming that it is supposed to prevent obesity, not contribute to it. I am ordering a case . . .

And I figured if they have to go on a diet, I might as well support them in their quest to lose a few pounds. Sadly there isn't much "light" human food in Poland either.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

TV

I've barely watched TV since I moved to Poland. Some weeks I haven't even turned it on. And since I screwed up my satellite reception (or rather since my dad screwed it up) in September, I haven't watched more than a few minutes of the news at any one time.

I didn't miss it.

Then, last week, several very obliging friends sent me copies of episodes I missed when I left Canada in April. I've watched something like 10 hours in the past two days.

Now I want more.

Goodbye Uncle Lou

My family's relationship with cats goes way back. Both my parents had cats as pets when they were kids (my mother's cat Spooky was still alive when I was very young). My own love affair with felines began when I was 6 and we got Tiger. Today, as you know, I have two of my own, and both my brothers have cats.

Sadly, my little brother's cat Uncle Lou lost her battle with diabetes this weekend. Here she is as a kitten 15 years ago - I thought my brother was crazy to call such an adorable little female kitten Uncle Lou, but he told me the name would fit when she was old and fat. And true enough she grew into her name. The last few years she has spent most of her time sleeping, but still loved to cuddle with my brother.

Lou, you'll be missed.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Road trip tips

Three things I learned from my road trip to Prague with my good friends K and DW this past weekend:

1. Remember to bring your passport, preferably before you are more than an hour into the 6 hour trip. Forgetting it at home adds 3 hours to an already long drive.

2. No matter how much you trust your GPS system, do not turn off the highway into a dark forest late at night when you have missed an exit. Driving on unpaved, unlit logging roads in the dark is very scary, particularly when your GPS loses its satellite connection.

3. Bring lots of Kleenex. If one of you has a cold when you start, you all will by the time you finish.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Happy


When I was looking at some pictures a colleague took of my hiking trip last weekend in the Beskid Sadecki mountains, I realized that in in every shot, most of them taken when I wasn't aware I was being photographed, I was smiling or laughing.
Yesterday when I was talking to one of my friends in Toronto and telling her of my plans for the evening, she said that it sounded like my life was really fun. I quickly retorted that I worked a lot, but I had to concede, that, yeah, it is really fun.

And a few times in the last month I have been happy to the point of giddiness, for no particular reason. Last weekend, standing in the dark in a soft rain laughing and talking, made me so happy that I was inspired to do a little impromtu dance for the gang. Much more laughter ensued, particularly when I hit a rock mid dance move and fell over.

Life can't get much better than that.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

The Tatras

At the end of June I went on a full day hike with many of my colleagues in the Tatra mountains, a few hours south of Krakow.

A full day hike translates into four hours up, and 3 hours down, with a few rest breaks in between.

The Tatras are Poland's highest mountains and are spectacular, even compared with my beloved Rockies.

Here are a few shots of from the few hundred that I took that day:













I'm going on another hiking trip with my team next weekend, in another of the mountain regions. Maybe I'll be able to post those pics a little sooner . . .

Happily ever after . . .

I attended my first Polish wedding yesterday. It shared many similarities with every other wedding I have attended: the bride was beautiful, the groom was very proud, family and friends were joyful.

However, unlike any other wedding I've been to, this one was held in a beautiful 14th century Gothic church. Fittingly several of the lovely hymns, sung by a choir composed of friends of the bride and groom, were also from medieval times. And the bride wore a long flowing dress and a crown of flowers that reminded me of portraits from the middle ages.



And, as my 3 year old friend Mis remarked several times, she was a princess. He was in awe of her, especially when he handed her a rose and she asked him for a kiss.



Before the ceremony my friends and I stopped in the Rynek (the main square) and bought huge bouquets of flowers for the bride. Flowers are extremely popular in Krakow - one corner of the Rynek is dedicated to flower stalls (see the yellow umbrellas in the picture below).



As I witnessed at some of the weddings I stumbled across this summer, everyone brings flowers for the bride. A few lucky friends or relatives are drafted into flower duty. Yesterday there were at least two flower bearers.



My Polish friend told me that there is a complicated system in place for distribution of all of the flowers after the wedding: some are given to the church, others decorate the reception hall, some are given to relatives, and others go home with the bride and groom.

And yes, it was all in Polish, except for a few Latin bits.

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Small's long lost sister

Check out my friend M's blog to read about and see pictures of her cat Lola.

I know Lola, yet reading about some of her habits (and seeing her pictures again), made me realize that she and Small must have been separated at birth. They are strikingly similar in both temperament and looks.

And like M, I love Small fiercely (perhaps because not many others do) in spite of all her quirks.

The tram party

I attended my first big party in Krakow on Thursday night.

The party included all of the usual elements - dancing, drinking, lots of new people - with one major twist - it was on a tram (or streetcar for those of you more familiar with the Toronto public transportation system). And not just some old show tram, but a normal part of the Krakow fleet, following a normal route.

So full of anticipation and carrying a bag of unopened alcohol, I waited at a nearby tram stop with a few of my colleagues. Sure enough, a few minutes later, the tram pulled up, lights darkened, music blaring. The conductor jumped off the tram, ushered us on, punched our tickets, presented us with a plastic glass, and a shot of vodka.

Thus the night began.

I quickly discovered that the Poles really only drink vodka, and that they drink it straight, one shot after another. Everyone was so generous, constantly refilling my tiny glass, that at one point I had to start emptying it out the tram window instead of drinking it. Using my Canadian citizenship as an excuse ("I am Canadian, I am not used to drinking shots of vodka straight for hours") didn't seem to work on them, so I had to get even more creative in my non-drinking strategies in order to remain standing for the rest of the night.

Aside from the vodka, the party had many other attractions, including a DJ at the back of the tram, which led to a modified form of dancing in the aisles and on the seats, and some sort of athletic activity that was a cross between dancing and doing chin ups on the hand rails.

And since there were well over a 100 people crammed into the tram, I couldn't help but meet new people. I have no idea who many of them were, and will most likely ever never see most of them again, but all were very friendly.

Several hours later, after driving through areas of Krakow I had never before seen, the tram stopped and we all piled out.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Elections and online shopping

Today I received my voter registration card for the upcoming Ontario election (my Canadian mail is forwarded to me here - just a tip if you ever want to send me a physical letter).

This will be the first election I haven't voted in since I reached the age of majority. Which is a bit of bummer. I did spend a few more minutes seeing if there was an alternate way to vote if you are out of the country, but the registration card didn't mention anything but advance poll dates.

So I guess Ontario's fate will be decided without me.

Coincidentally, Poland is also having an election in October. I have yet to see one sign for a candidate. However, one of my politically astute employees ensures me that there are some, and that there will be more soon.

So to drown my sorrows in not being able to vote in not one but two elections, I indulged in some online shopping. A month or so ago, one of my friends sent me a site that specializes in Canadian food for expats.

And although my grandma tried to talk me out of buying salt and vinegar chips (she told me I didn't need them, which is true), several bags of Miss Vickies will soon be winging their way toward me, accompanied by wine gums, jujubes and Kraft Peanut Butter.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Cabin Fever

I've been fighting the flu since last Thursday, which means I've been shut up in my apartment since Friday night.

It's a lovely apartment, but rotating from the bed to the couch, with occasional stops at my desk, is wearing a bit thin.

On the bright side, the cats are enjoying my constant company. However, they are getting a bit too used to the routine. This morning Flannery meowed at me when I sat at my desk instead of going back to bed.

I can't wait to get out of the house.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Fast food

One of the things I miss most about Canada is being able to stop somewhere on my way home from work to pick up a veggie burger.

Yep, it's sad. I miss fast food. Not that they don't have fast food here in Poland, but most of it (as in Canada) is meat-oriented. Hamburgers are scarce in Poland, and I am pretty certain in asserting that there is not a veggie burger to be found anywhere in the country.


I think this is my 100th post. Could the topic be anymore inane? Wait, don't answer that . . .

Babies

It's appropriate that my first post after "Weddings" is all about babies . . .

I just found out that one of my long-time friends had her 2nd child yesterday. Welcome Joe!

When I left Canada, I knew that I would miss these special events in my friends' and families' lives. Joe (who I assume might actually go by the name Joseph) lives in Calgary with his parents and big brother Thomas, which is pretty far from TO, but baby Diego, who was born in May, only lives a 10 minute drive away from my former abode.

Diego and Joe, and all my other small-fry friends, I'm thinking of you and your parents. I am sorry to miss all the major and minor events in your first years.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Weddings

I have weddings on the brain. Today I discussed Polish wedding protocol with several of my colleagues in preparation for the wedding next weekend. One of my writers asked me if I would get dressed up for it, and then we spent the next few minutes discussing dresses.

Yep, girls are the pretty much the same everywhere.

And I just now whiled away some time online looking at pictures of my little niece as a flower girl, and then reading all about a friend of a friend's wedding. The description of the dancing made me remember the promise I extracted from several of my friends a few years ago.

Shannon and Donna, whenever, if ever, I get married, you are on the hook to dance late into the night. I hold the rest of you reading this to the same standard.

Lights out

The street lights in my area have been out twice in the past week. It's spooky, not to mention hard to park in the dark, particularly when you park on the sidewalk like I do.

I keep imagining plots to invade the neighbouring embassy. Obviously I have been watching too many episodes of the British show Spooks (known as MI-5 in North America).

Polish wedding

One of my colleagues at work just invited me (and many other people we work with) to her wedding ceremony next Saturday. I'm excited!

As I've been touring around the past few months, I've run into several weddings (accidentally crashing a few ceremonies as I wandered into churches on Saturday afternoons).

Polish receiving lines appear to take place right after the church ceremony, in the church yard. Many people bring flowers for the bride, and the maid of honour ends up buried in bouquets, as the bride hands them off to the maid immediately after being given them. We also saw people give huge gift boxes, including children's toys, at one receiving line.

I am also looking forward to attending a wedding ceremony in which I won't understand a word.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

What I did on my summer vacation

Thought you might like to see how I spent my week on the Baltic coast of Poland.

I spent time visiting castles (this one at Malbork is a beauty),



walking through parks,



and hanging out at the seashore.

Expats

Today I attended my first expat event since becoming one. It's astonishing how many people from around the world live and work in Krakow - I met people from several different parts of Europe (a large number of French), India, Asia, and the US. No other Canadians though, although I know there are some out there since two work for me.

I am also amazed by the diversity of work in Krakow - I met people who work in fibre optics, IT, and someone who creates liquid nitrogen products that fuel space shuttles, (or something like that).

I had been a little hesitant about hanging out with the expat crowd before moving here (I thought I could more truly experience Poland by socializing with the Poles). However, the expat gang was extremely welcoming, and it's nice to be with people who are experiencing the same things as me (like struggling with the language!)

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Meow!

Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow.

It started sometime after 5 am and didn't stop even after I finally fed the little monster around 7 am.

Then the other one started up!

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Flying

I've flown to several European cities this summer: Paris, Rome, Gdansk. But I haven't flown directly to any one of them from Krakow, so I've also had pleasant stopovers in the Vienna, Munich, Milan, and Warsaw airports.

Krakow is not a hub and I can't ever get a good, cheap flight with one of the many discount airlines that apparently fly out of Krakow and fly directly to the above mentioned cities.

But, I don't mind, because one of the unexpected bonus of flying is free English language newspapers. Today I read the Warsaw Business Journal (yeah, I am a little desperate to read English newspapers), the Chicago Times, which I found lying in an airport waiting room, and the Financial Times, which is British and has an excellent weekend paper, including all my favourite weekend sections - lifestyle, arts, books, and home sections.

I have been reading more papers online lately, but nothing beats reading a physical copy.

Home

I just arrived back in Krakow after a week exploring Poland's Baltic coast with my parents. Like everywhere else I've been in Poland, the Baltic coast was surprisingly beautiful. The more I see of this country, the more entranced I am by it.

And on the way back from the airport, I realized that I felt like I was going home.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

My new haircut

Pauline in Toronto has been cutting my hair for years. For so long now that I can't even remember the last time someone else cut it.

Like most women, I have a special relationship with my hair stylist. I trust her implicitly not to make me look like an idiot, and she pretty much knows that she has complete control over me when I sit in her chair. Plus, we have really good conversations.

At some point during the long lead up to my move to Poland, Donna, who also gets her hair cut by Pauline, turned to me with a horror stricken look on her face and said, "but who will cut your hair in Krakow?"

I laughed because at the time I thought, "I'll find someone to cut my hair. No problem."

A few weeks ago I decided that 4 months between haircuts was probably long enough. I got a recommendation from my friend Magda, who actually called her hair stylist and explained to her that I didn't speak Polish and booked the appointment for me.

However, Magda was busy the day I actually got my hair cut, so I went it alone. How hard could it be?

It's harder than I thought. Just try and mime to your hair stylist how you want your hair to look.

And hair cutting techniques in Poland are different than in Canada. At one point I had to stand up while she cut my hair. Then I had to turn my head in different angles while standing. Finally, I was allowed to sit down again.

So far so good. But when we came to blow drying and styling things got a little tricky. At one point she showed me a picture of a woman with incredibly curly hair. I thought perhaps they have really advanced styling products in Poland if they could make my hair look like that.

Then they showed me another photo of a woman with straighter hair, but flipped out on the ends. I thought that might be manageable, so nodded my assent.

Yet, the reality didn't quite look like the picture. And trying to explain that I didn't want wings at the side of my head (complimenting my brand new straight across bangs) was beyond my abilities. The stylist and I just looked at other, neither really understanding what the other was trying to convey.

It all worked out in the end, and Magda says that the stylist will take me again. I just miss my conversations with Pauline.

Maybe I'll even post a pic of my new bangs.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

The princess and the pea

My mom is a notoriously poor sleeper. She's very particular about her sleeping arrangements and everyone knows if she hasn't slept well. As a result, both of my brothers and I have murphy beds in our homes (her bed of choice away from home).

After my first guest in Krakow told me that the sofa bed in the guest room was very hard, I started to panic. What could I do to make the bed more comfortable? Several helpful North Americans suggested I buy the egg shell crate foamy things you can put on beds in North America.

No such thing in Krakow.

So off I went (again) to Ikea to find something soft to put on the bed. My first attempt was a pillowy mattress cover. My second house guest said it was fine, but I knew it wouldn't be enough.

Before my third set of guests arrived, I went back to Ikea to find something else. This time I bought a mini mattress that was 5 cm thick to put on top of the bed. The third house guests said it was just fine (and one of those house guests sleeps on an extremely soft mattress called the Debutante).

I was hopeful that this solution would be enough - sofa bed, 5 cm foamy mattress, and pillowy mattress cover. For the first night it seemed to be.

But then a few days later, Mom admitted to me that she found the bed uncomfortable. So off we went to Ikea again. Mom's favourite option was a 30 cm thick memory foam type mattress (Dad looked aghast as he mentally calculated not only the price in CDN dollars, but how we would get it into the car and carry it up 61 steps). Fortunately, that one wasn't available in the correct size.

Instead Mom settled for a 10 cm thick foam mattress topper. Dad and I were relieved that it fit into the car.

Back at home, we swapped the 5 cm thick foamy for the 10 cm one. The next day, it was decided that the 5 cm thick foamy would also go on.

Since then, she's slept just fine (except when Dad is snoring). I haven't tried inserting a pea under all of those layers yet.

I've been busy

Can't believe I haven't posted for two weeks. My parents are here now, and providing me with much material for blogging (including burning toast which resulted in a visit from the fire department - 3 trucks, and an obsession with the reconstruction of the building across the street), but I haven't had the chance to sit down and write.

Mom and Dad arrived on the 23rd, and I've been working during the weeks (and a few too many evenings) while they've been here. I am on vacation now for a week, and we are off to Gdansk on Monday. Although I have been on a few trips since I've been here, this is the first time I've had more than a few days off in a row, and I am really looking forward to being able to relax and sleep in a bit. Plus, everyone tells me I'll love Gdansk, and that it is one of the two most beautiful citis in Poland (the other being Krakow).

The parents seem to like Krakow. Dad has developed a fondness for Polish beer and Mom has quickly found her way to the market, the cukiernas (cake and cookie shops), and several art galleries. Several times Mom has mentioned what they'll do on their next visit.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

A child in Paris


When I was with my friends in Paris, I laughed a lot and goofed around with the kids. My 20 year-old-self would have been horrified with the 2007 version, especially when I was walking along the Seine pretending to be an elephant, a bear, a tree, and whatever else Jack commanded me to be.
One morning, I also tried to keep up with Jack, who seemingly took about 8 steps for every step I took (he and Ella had pedometers to measure their progress). At one point I was doing the "funky Jack" and trying to copy every step, pose, and dance move Jack made, which of course made him get progressively crazier.

One of my guide books said it was refreshing to see Paris through the eyes of a child, and it definitely was an experience filled with more laughter and all out giddiness then when I have traveled with other adults.





After my friends left, I wandered the streets, got soaked in a downpour, spent too much money on jewelry, ate in a beautiful art deco cafe, lost my self in a good book while drinking the ubiquitous vin rose and slowly returned to my adult life.

I loved both versions of Paris.

Paris

Although I had fantasies of attending English boarding school (the result of reading too many Enid Blyton books as a child), Paris was the first European city I fell in love with, long before I actually traveled to Europe.

I am not sure exactly how I developed my love for Paris, but it was firmly entrenched by the time I was a young teenager - I devoured anything by Hemingway, and read every great and not so great writer's account of their time in Paris in the 1920s.

When I first went to Paris at age 20, I wandered around with A Moveable Feast in my hand, oohing and ahhing whenever I encountered a landmark described in the book. When I wasn't retracing Hemingway's steps, I was falling in love with the Impressionists, and visited every gallery I could.

My first visit was in November, when Paris was cold and grey, and relatively empty of tourists.

My second trip was last week (unbelievably 18 years later - how could I have stayed away so long?), in the middle of August, prime tourist season. Paris was still largely cool, and mostly grey, but overcome by tourists.

This trip I was traveling with my good friends Donna and Chris, and their children Jack and Ella. Our first stop on our first day was the Orangerie Museum, to see Monet's Waterlilies. I was entranced by the Waterlilies the first time I saw them, and was looking forward to seeing them again. But my heart sank in the first room. With so many people crowding in (many of who kept posing for photos in front of the paintings), I was having a hard time seeing why I had been so taken by them.

I was starting to think Paris had lost its charms.

Our next visit to the Orsay didn't do much to change my opinion. Again, crowds and crowds of people shuffled quickly past all the Impressionist paintings I loved.

But even the huge lineup, crowds of people, and the ever present gypsies couldn't diminish the charms of the Eiffel tower. As dusk started to fall, and I gazed out at the tower, Paris seduced me all over again.

Paris worked it's magic on six year old Jack as well. As it got darker, the tower started to light up and Jack couldn't take his eyes off of it.


All five of us were giddy with Paris, taking silly pictures, entranced by the glow of the old iron tower.

And then, the crowd collectively gasped and squealed as the tower started to sparkle.

How can anyone not love Paris?

Face off!

My parents are arriving this Thursday for their first visit to Krakow. As you know, I have been bemoaning the state of my apartment (cat hair, huge dust bunnies, etc) for quite a while, and have been hounding my landlord for a cleaning lady since I first arrived.
I told him last week I had to have someone in to clean before my mother arrived. So he arranged for what he calls "emergency cleaning" today.

He wanted me to be here while the cleaning lady cleans, so instead of cleaning myself Saturday morning (which is what I normally do), I am sitting here feeling over privileged and guilty, while a nice older Polish women cleans my apartment. I am attempting to assuage my middle-class guilt by catching up on work, uploading more photos, and contacting technical support to see if I can get my wireless router to work (still no luck).

The most memorable moment of the morning: Small asserted her ownership of the apartment by lying on the stairs and not budging while the cleaning lady attempted to clean them. At over 20 pounds, Small is a force to be reckoned with when she doesn't want to move. However, older Polish ladies are no pushovers. After some plaintive meowing, Small was banished upstairs with her tail between her legs, and is now hiding out in the bedroom.

Monday, August 6, 2007

Memory card full

Yeah, I know none of you regular readers will believe that the memory card on my digital camera is now full (meaning I have taken somewhere close to 700 pictures since I arrived in Poland a few months ago). But it is.

I am looking at some of the 700 odd pictures right now, on my other computer (you know, the one that is still not connected to the internet).

Maybe one day you'll see some of them. Must remember to change the memory card (or erase the pictures) and recharge the batteries for the camera before I go to Paris this weekend.

Visitors!

I had my first houseful of visitors this weekend. My close friends from Toronto, Chris and Donna, arrived early Friday morning with their two children Jack and Ella, and Chris' sister Yanti, who is currently living in Germany.

I dropped them off at the airport a few hours ago, and they pronounced Krakow a lovely city to visit, and stated that the accommodations weren't too shabby either.

At 6 and 8, this was Jack and Ella's first visit to Europe. When I asked Ella what she liked best about the trip thus far, she said she liked eating out and stated that at home she only gets to eat out 3 or 4 times a year.

I believe Jack's favourite activity was steering a paddle boat in Park Jordana while his big sister did all the peddling. He told us all, very loudly, that steering was very hard work. Ella stated even more loudly that her legs were very tired.

The fire breathing dragon we went to see on Friday was perhaps a close second.

Best quote from six year old Jack on the 6th day of his European vacation, "You mean we have to go out and walk somewhere every day?"

Roundabouts

Roundabouts, known as rondos in Polish, are everywhere in Poland. Today I encountered a large one in a big box parking lot!

Roundabouts, known as traffic circles in my home town, don't phase me, largely because I learned how to drive in one of the few (if not only) Canadian cities where roundabouts were part of the city roadways.

Every time I drive in Europe I am thankful that some unknown Edmonton city planner decided to include traffic circles on main city thoroughfares. Although driving the wrong way around roundabouts in Britain was a little unnerving (particularly with 8 lanes of traffic!)

Sadly, some other unknown city planner decide to remove all of the traffic circles from the Edmonton streets sometime after I left the city in early 90s. Thousands of Canadians will never encounter a roundabout on Canadian soil now.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

A cleaner house

I've been having a somewhat lazy day. It's 12:34 pm and I am still in my pjs. Last night I had big plans to go to the gym this morning (I went twice last week but haven't been once yet this week), but the new Harry Potter novel arrived in the mail yesterday, and I forgot how addictive they are.

So instead of going to the gym, I spent a few hours lying in bed and reading, which has to be one of my favourite ways to spend a morning. I do miss not having a paper to read - I used to while away hours reading the newspaper on weekends. But although I miss the act of reading the paper, I somehow don't miss not knowing what's going on in the world. I rarely turn on my TV to watch the news on CNN or BBC, and even though I could access any number of news web sites, I never do. I've realized now how much of my news I used to get passively, by listening to CBC while driving to work, or listening to it while getting reading in the morning or making dinner. However, not really knowing what is going out there just doesn't bother me these days.

To justify not going to the gym, I spent a few hours cleaning my house. I am still amazed at how dirty my beautiful flat gets in just a few days. I am constantly battling the cat hair, and dust, and always losing.
Last weekend I vacuumed before having my friends over for lunch, yet their 11 month old son's white shoes were black at the toes after he crawled around for an hour or so. So today, I vacuumed then swiffered. And it's cleaner. But in two days, it will all be back.

I really need a cleaning lady.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

20 years later

A few weeks ago my high school class celebrated the 20th anniversary of our graduation with a multi day/event reunion. (Yes, I said 20 years. I can't really believe it either . . .)

I was sorry to miss it, particularly the VideoMax dance that was planned for the Saturday evening. If you were a teenager anywhere in North America in the mid-to-late 80s, you'll know what a video dance is. My high school, much like the fictional high school immortalized in the 80s movie Footloose, banned dances on high school property until the year I graduated (I'll let you do the math for when that was). As a result, I spent most of my high school years attending teen dances at the community hall, dancing (or more often, wishing I was dancing) in front of a giant video screen showing the hottest videos of the day.

But I digress. Thinking about the reunion, and wishing I could attend it, made me realize several things. First, I realized that I have known many of the people who eventually attended the reunion since I was in elementary school, some from the first day I started kindergarten. Living in a place where no one has known me for longer than a few months makes me yearn for some of that shared history. It's hard to beat friendships developed over a lifetime.

Then I started thinking about what I was like in high school, and how my life has unfolded over the last twenty years.

Since I was a young child, I have always vaguely wanted to be a writer, although I remember agonizing over what to study in university (for a while I wanted to study math!) my last year of high school. But, I never envisioned that I'd end up as a technical writer.

And I assumed that 20 years later, I would be married and have a few kids.

However as bookwormy teenager, I always dreamed that I'd live in the Europe (mostly Paris) that Hemingway and others wrote about. So, I guess it's not that bad of a trade off to miss my high school reunion to fulfill a 20 year-old-dream.

But I still wish I could have gone - if you are reading this, and you have stories about the reunion, please share with me!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

The more things change . . .

One of my goals when I moved to Europe was to create more of a work life balance. I thought that the pace of life would be slower here in Europe, and that work schedules would be less hectic.

However, I should have realized that even though I have changed continents, I haven't changed my career (or my company), and work doesn't slow down when you change time zones.

So it's back to burning the midnight oil for the next little while.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Pilates. In Polish . . .

I joined a gym a few weeks ago, but with flying off to Italy, working 12 hour days, and a whirlwind trip to the Czech Republic, I haven't had a chance to go until today.

It's really hot in Krakow this week (35 degrees today), and I've been feeling a little wiped out from my last few weeks, so I decided to attend the Pilates and Yoga class tonight. I thought it would be easier.

What I didn't factor in was that although I have taken many yoga classes, I have never taken a Pilates class before. And that in Pilates, apparently you spend much of your time lying on your back, or on your stomach with your head face down, contorting your body in unusual (and sometimes painful) positions, and you can't actually watch the instructor.

Which is a bit of a problem when you don't understand the language she is speaking in.

But, it pretty much worked out. I told the instructor before the class started that I didn't speak Polish, and that I would try to follow by watching. She speaks English, but the class is in Polish, so every once in a while she'd catch my eye and sort of gesture to me what I should be doing.

I think it went well enough. I feel muscles that I forgot I had, so something was getting a workout. And the instructor told me after that I was doing everything correctly.

And as a bonus, I could understand when she was counting down how many reps we had left - those Polish lessons are paying off.

I may even brave an aerobics class later this week.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Po Polsku

I started my Polish lessons yesterday! I have my second lesson tomorrow morning. I wonder how long it will take me to be able to say more then "Hello, Goodbye, see you later, please and thank you" in Polish.

We spent much of our first lesson just going over the alphabet. But even that was exciting to me, as I have been desperate to be able to communicate for a while. I am often silent when I am in all Polish environments like the grocery stores, or other public places. And you know how unusual that is for me.

Polish is tough for me - my mouth is not used to making the sounds, and I can't understand much, even when I try hard to listen. Most days I just tune out the Polish being spoken all around me.

I didn't realize how tough, until I went to Italy on the weekend. I've been in Italy for a total of about 6 weeks in the last three years, yet I felt like I could speak the language or at least understand it. I could read what was on signs, and almost hold conversations (well, I couldn't actually say much other than Si,but I could understand the gist of what most people were saying to me).

But, I am hoping that will all change soon. However, I have to realize 2 hours a week will not work miracles. But I even have a text book now - "Hurra, Po Polsku 1"

Monday, July 9, 2007

Procrastination

I should be figuring out how to pay my bills online using my Polish bank account, but I can't remember how I logged into it, and it's late, and I haven't blogged for a while . . .

I got back late last night from a lovely 4 days in Umbria, Italy. As usual, Italy was fantastic. It's my third vacation trip to Italy in the last 3 years, and I love it more each time. Lots of stories this time, including driving the smallest car I have ever driven up and down over a mountain road that was little more than a track, but once again it's late in Poland and the stories will have to wait for another time.

When I got back to work today, I received two long-awaited items: my company car (wheels!) and my mobile phone (communication!). I haven't really missed having either a car or a mobile phone but I was happy to get both today. I am a little sad that my walking to work days may be over - but I'll just have to make the effort more now that I have alternate transportation.

So keep me honest and ask me periodically how many times I have walked to work that week.

Gotta go - more later - I promise . . .

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Oh Canada!

I've been thinking a lot about Canada and Canada Day this week, in a large part because my brother Matt created a font of iconic Canadian images (aptly named Adanac), which was then published in the National Post on Thursday. You can download your own copy from the 10four design link on this page. I'm pretty proud of my little brother (as many of you will know after receiving multiple emails about the subject).

But also, I've been thinking about what it means to be an expat. It's hard to express what it feels like to be in a country where not many people know much about your home, and where most people assume that I am American.

When I went hiking with 40 people from my office last weekend, most people wanted to know more about Canada. Did I hike in Canada? What were the mountains like in Canada? Does everyone speak French in Canada (this seemed to be the most common question, and they all seemed a little shocked when I explained that not everyone in Canada speaks French, and not many outside of Quebec speak it fluently). When Matt sent me a poster of his font, I took the opportunity to send it to my entire office, encouraging them to learn more about Canadians, and to use their newfound knowledge in conversation with their Canadian colleagues. I can only imagine how they will work John Candy, mullets, the jolly jumper and nanaimo bars into their next business meetings . . .

So it's a little weird to be the sole Canadian in my social circle in Krakow today. I looked online to see if there were any Canada Day celebrations in the city and couldn't find anything. I haven't wanted to seek out other Canadians or other expats since I have been here, but today, I understand a bit more about why communities of immigrants and expats gather together. Some days, you just want to be with people who understand your shorthand and your shared history (and don't just assume that you are an American).

Since I was a grad student in Waterloo, my friends and I have had an annual Canada Day get together. It's been getting smaller over the years, but some of us always manage to get together and do something to celebrate. My friends Shannon and Norm sent me this memento of their Canada Day in Waterloo.



Happy Canada Day to you all!

Time

The Poles follow the 24 hour clock - my clock, appliances, work calendar all show up in 24 hour time format.

Which really makes more sense, since there's never the problem between AM and PM. However, last night I was awake at midnight, and found it a little distressing to see 0:00 on the clock.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Dodging tour groups and cobblestones

I finally took my roller blades out for a spin today. For the last 8 weeks I've been watching others skate around Krakow, but I've always been doing something else.

I walked to the Planty (just a block or so from my apartment) and donned my skates and helmet there. I can't even remember the last time I roller bladed - I think it may have been two years ago at the Beach in Toronto, but I am not really sure. Anyway, it came back to me fairly quickly, although I felt awkward and don't want to imagine what I looked like.

The Planty is a 4 or 5km stretch of park that circles the Old town and recreates what used to be the medieval wall around the city. Most of the park contains a lovely, smooth, asphalt path that is a pleasure to skate (and walk) on. However, every so often (more often then I'd like on roller blades) the path is interspersed with cobblestones in a somewhat decorative pattern. Sure it's pretty to look at, but it's not fun with roller blades on.

Throw in massive groups of walking tours, who take up the entire width of the path, and multiple roads to cross (including tram tracks), and it's a bit of an obstacle course.

But I managed to go around twice without harming myself or running into any tourists. Tomorrow I think I'll try the Blonia and Park Jordana, which are a bit farther away, but have fewer cobblestones and tourists.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Well I didn't melt . . .

But it might have been better if I did. I am at work now, and I am soaking wet. GRRR!

Rain

It's raining. Really hard. Cats and dogs, buckets, downpour, I don't want to go out type of rain.

The rain woke me up at 5:30 am, pounding on my skylight, and pinging off my tin/steel? roof. When I got up a half an hour ago at 7 it seemed to have stopped, but I was fooled into a false lull.

I'm in the habit of checking the weather online before I go to work in the morning and when I checked 5 minutes ago, it said light rain. HA!

Apparently June is the wettest month in Krakow. I believe it. It seems to have rained almost every day this month (okay I am exaggerating), but thankfully usually just for a brief period every day.

Enough procrastinating. I'd better get going and get ready for work. As my friend K reminded me in one of her posts about running in the rain, we aren't gingerbread men, and we won't melt in a little rain.

I hope.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

I'm still here

Wow, I can't believe it's been a whole week since I have posted. I don't know where my time goes . . . It seems like I am always writing blogs in my head, but I never get around to actually putting them online.

As usual, I've got lots to report. In the past week I hosted my first Polish party - vodka, pickles and all, had my first encounter with the Polish medical system, finally rode my bike, and went on an 8 hour hike in the Tatra mountains.

I also found time to work, pick up my Polish PESL number (I am not actually sure what it is, but apparently it is important), buy a DVD player (which isn't compatible with any DVDs I currently own), and work some more.

I'll tell you more, particualarly about my trip to the Tatras, but it's late in Poland now, and I should really start getting ready to go to bed.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

A near perfect day

I just woke up from an early evening nap, after a fresh-air filled early summer day, and am feeling fuzzy but very content.

My Polish friends took me on an excursion out of the city again today (the third they have treated me to in the past two weeks), to the nearby towns of Wadowice and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.

Wadowice is the birthplace of Pope John Paul II, and is a pretty enough place, but filled with pilgrims. We stopped in Wadowice only long enough to admire the square, see the baroque church the Pope was christened in, and eat the pope's favourite cream cake, kreemowka.



We then drove to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which I thought was just a monastery. It took me a while to understand that it is a series of 40 chapels scattered throughout the surrounding countryside and has something to do with the stations of the cross.

Regardless of its religious significance, it was the setting for a perfect walk in the country. After visiting the main Baroque monastery church (from 1702), we started walking up a fairly steep hill into the forest. I thought we were just going to the top of the hill to see another church, so was surprised to see a series of small chapels nestled in amongst the trees. The chapels varied in size and style, but were all built between 1600 and 1632. I am glad I didn't really know what we were going to see, as each time I saw another chapel it was like finding another Easter egg in the hunt.




As we continued walking, we left the forest and walked through fields. We stopped to buy freshly picked cherries from an 81 year old woman, who had just picked the cherries herself. A few minutes later we sat in the grass under a tree and ate them, seeing who could spit the pits the farthest, and laughing at 11 month old Julia enjoying her first taste of cherries.

We then wandered by three sheep, who made me laugh with each baa they uttered. Their bleating really did sound like BAAAAAAA, but they had such dramatically deep voices that I couldn't help but giggle.

As we continued on the route, we encountered several groups of pilgrims, who sang as they walked. Magda told me they were singing hymns, but all sad ones in accordance with the stations of the cross. However, to me, they sounded quite joyful and it was lovely to hear the music periodically throughout our journey.

At one point Magda suggested we gather some of the wildflowers that were growing along a wheat field we were passing through. So the two of us started picking chamomile (I thought they were daisies), some pretty blue flowers, and stocks of wheat that had strayed onto the path.


I never really thought about the Polish countryside before moving here. It's unexpectedly lush and green, and deeply forested in many places. The areas near Krakow are full of rolling hills, dotted with red roofed houses, and like Krakow itself is, to me anyway, incredibly picturesque. The views from the monastery on the hill, and through the wheat fields were so lovely, that I was continually exclaiming aloud.

I never think of myself as a country girl (and I highly doubt any of you do either), but today will stay with me as one of my favourite memories, along with other walks in the country in the Cotswalds, the Lake District, the Scottish highlands, Austria and Tuscany.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Friday nights

I have rarely been lonely or homesick since I arrived in Krakow seven weeks ago. But when I am, it's usually on a Friday night.

Friday nights seem to have a special buzz everywhere, and Krakow is no exception. People leave work a bit earlier than normal, ready to start their weekends. Everywhere you go, people are in couples or in groups, and the air is festive and electric. When you are alone, it seems like other people are having a particularly good time.

I knew before I left that Friday nights would be the hardest for me. In Toronto I often met friends for dinner or a movie after work Fridays, celebrating the end of the work week. Fridays were never really planned (like a Saturday night event often was), but were just casual get togethers, low-key and spontaneous.

But even at home, Friday nights were the nights I would feel sorry for myself for being single. I once remember someone telling me that one of the best things about being married was always having someone to go to a movie with - perhaps he was thinking of Friday nights.

When I was worrying about my move to Krakow before I left Canada, I told myself it was only 104 Friday nights. And somehow that seemed like a manageable number.

And now it's Saturday morning (disregard the date on this post - I think it's on California time), all is well again.

Those crafty Swedes

I was at Ikea again Thursday night, buying more glasses and dishes for a small party I am having tonight, when I was excited to find pet supplies. There are several pet shops in Krakow, but the cat toys tend to be wind up mice and of the hard variety. My cats, particularly Small, love to carry their toys around with them, and then rest their chins on them.

Ikea (pronounced eee-kay-uh here) had several soft cat toys in stock, along with crazy things like cat tents, and cat loungers, which I did not purchase (although I was tempted). They even have litter boxes in a lovely shade of green!

I didn't realize until I got home that the toys actually had catnip in them. Flannery and Small spent the rest of the evening in a blissed out trance, rubbing the toys over their faces and then cuddled protectively around them.

Small is happy that she can cart toys around again. She just walked by meowing proudly to show me her toy.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Pizza delivery

Walking home from basketball Tuesday night, my colleague and I were stopped by a young guy on a bike carrying a huge bag on his back.

When I asked what it was, he answered pizza.

Since then I have seen 3 or 4 guys riding bikes and carrying pizza bags on their backs. I wonder if they deliver this way in the winter.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Stuff I like


I found this little courtyard off one of the main streets in the Old town. It's part of one of the university colleges.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, one of the things I love most about Krakow is the juxtaposition of old and new. The college is probably five or six hundred years old, while the sculpture is modern.






Although Krakow has strict building codes (nothing here is built more than 5 or 6 stories high, less in the center) and heritage regulations (the building I live in must adhere to them), the modern exists easily alongside the medieval.

Where have all the recycling bins gone?

Recycling is not hugely popular in Krakow. When I first moved in, I asked my agent about it, and she explained that there is no recycling pick up in Krakow.

Instead, you can bring your recyclables to large bins located strategically around the city. I noticed that there were several at the end of my street (for glass, plastic, carboard, almost everything I could recycle in Toronto, except for the compostable stuff).

So, I have been saving my recyclables in my laundry room and take them down the street on an infrequent/irregular basis.

The pile has been growing rather alarmingly, so I decided I needed to take it out. Fortunately, I didn't haul it all down the street (laziness has its rewards some days), because I realized on Friday night that the recycling bins have all been removed, at least from the end of my street.

I think it must have something to do with the new park and statue that appeared nearby a few weeks ago. The statue is a replica of one that was destroyed in the war, and was officially unveiled last week during the festival.

I guess recycling bins were found to be too unsightly for the official ceremony.

Now I am wondering if they will come back.

Bata, Blackberry, and Bombardier

Yesteday my new Polish friends, who are quite curious about Canada, asked me if Canada had any big name brands that they would recognize. I struggled to think of any, naming Air Canada, Petro Canada and Roots, none of which they had either heard of or were impressed by. (When I suggested Air Canada, they laughed and said LOT, which is the Polish airline).

I explained that Canada's main exports were wheat, lumber, oil, and hockey players, along with many other things that I either forgot about or don't know. Being a Canadian representative makes me realize I don't know alot about my own country - on Friday one of my writers asked me if Mount McKinley (the highest mountain in North America) was in Canada and I answered yes, only to discover it's actually in Alaska. Yesterday, my friends asked me how long unemployment was paid for in Canada, and again I had to guess (in Poland you get it only for 6 months, regardless of how long you have worked for, or how much you have made).

Last night I thought of many Canadian brands (Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, Molson, The Bay), many of which aren't Canadian owned anymore, but don't really exist outside of Canada.

My dad came up with Blackberry and Bombardier as examples that non Canadians might be familiar with. And I mentioned Bata shoes to my friends, as I have seen Bata stores all over Krakow. They thought it was a Polish brand.

I guess we aren't really a manufacturing country. If you can think of any others, let me know.