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.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Flannery wants out
The only drawback with my new home is that it doesn't have any outside space. Thus far, this hasn't really been an issue for me, as I seem to be out so much anyway. Walking to and from work gets me out on weekdays, and other than the occasional downpour (not so much fun even with an umbrella and raincoat), and what seems like new blisters daily (my summer shoes are not as reliable as my Naots), I really enjoy it.
However, the last few days Flannery has taken to sitting at the front door and meowing for what seems an eternity (in reality it's probably no more than 10 minutes). A few times I have relented and let her into the outer foyer. This seems to have worked the first few times, but she now realizes that there is another door in the foyer that might lead to the outside.
Small, being a less adventurous type, is content to sit on the window seat and gaze out the window. Then she goes to sleep.
There is a small enclosed courtyard in my building,where we keep the garbage. I am wondering if I should carry my adventurous cat down there. But then I'd feel guilty about leaving Small inside, and I can't carry them both down . . .
However, the last few days Flannery has taken to sitting at the front door and meowing for what seems an eternity (in reality it's probably no more than 10 minutes). A few times I have relented and let her into the outer foyer. This seems to have worked the first few times, but she now realizes that there is another door in the foyer that might lead to the outside.Small, being a less adventurous type, is content to sit on the window seat and gaze out the window. Then she goes to sleep.
There is a small enclosed courtyard in my building,where we keep the garbage. I am wondering if I should carry my adventurous cat down there. But then I'd feel guilty about leaving Small inside, and I can't carry them both down . . .
A day of fire and dragons (and a little rain)
Krakow's legend involves the slaying of a fire breathing dragon, and the modern day citizens make the most of it. Wouldn't you?
As as result, the city was overrun with dragons last weekend. Some friends and I went to see the dragon parade, which started in the main square and ended up at the castle beside the legendary dragon's lair.
The dragons in the parade are mostly created by school children and other youth groups. I was quite impressed with their handiwork. This dragon made impressive sounds - never having heard an actual dragon, I can't comment on how authentic they were.
This was the only baby dragon in the parade.
I am not sure what this is, but I was impressed with it.
Younger children also get into the act. All along the parade route, small children were dressed as knights and princesses. The knights looked ready to slay any dragons they might meet.
Sadly for everyone involved, it started to pour shortly after the parade began. We took cover under an umbrella in one of the patio restaurants on the square. However an hour or so, with no sign of the rain letting up, we made a run for my apartment, which is only a few blocks to go. Not sure what happened to all the dragons - don't know if they melted in the rain.
It did stop raining in time for the floating dragon parade on the Wisla river later that evening. I wasn't really sure what to expect from this event, but it turned out to be fantastic.
Thousands of people gathered to watch floating dragons shoot off fireworks, and see flying dragons (some of which looked more like fish). 
As as result, the city was overrun with dragons last weekend. Some friends and I went to see the dragon parade, which started in the main square and ended up at the castle beside the legendary dragon's lair.
The dragons in the parade are mostly created by school children and other youth groups. I was quite impressed with their handiwork. This dragon made impressive sounds - never having heard an actual dragon, I can't comment on how authentic they were.
This was the only baby dragon in the parade.
I am not sure what this is, but I was impressed with it. 
Younger children also get into the act. All along the parade route, small children were dressed as knights and princesses. The knights looked ready to slay any dragons they might meet.Sadly for everyone involved, it started to pour shortly after the parade began. We took cover under an umbrella in one of the patio restaurants on the square. However an hour or so, with no sign of the rain letting up, we made a run for my apartment, which is only a few blocks to go. Not sure what happened to all the dragons - don't know if they melted in the rain.
It did stop raining in time for the floating dragon parade on the Wisla river later that evening. I wasn't really sure what to expect from this event, but it turned out to be fantastic.
Thousands of people gathered to watch floating dragons shoot off fireworks, and see flying dragons (some of which looked more like fish). 
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
This is where I live
After much time spent trying to install software on my iMac, more time cursing and swearing, trips to the electronics store, and way too many hours online (or actually not online), I finally decided to save pictures to CD and transfer them to my laptop. Not sure why it took me so long to figure out this simple option.
One day I'll get internet access on my iMac, but for now, this is the city I live in:
What I love most about Krakow is the architecture. Every building includes small details that you might miss if you don't look carefully. The first few weeks here I was so worried about spraining my ankles again that I was always looking at the sidewalk. Now I walk around with my head up, craning my neck to look at the buildings. This guy lives just down the street from me:
The juxtaposition between old and new is apparent everyday in Krakow. These beautiful women are in the gorgeous 19th century opera house/theatre in Krakow. Watching modern ballet from a New York City ballet company while sitting in a plush 200 hundred year old box was one of the highlights of my first few weeks in Krakow.
One day I'll get internet access on my iMac, but for now, this is the city I live in:
What I love most about Krakow is the architecture. Every building includes small details that you might miss if you don't look carefully. The first few weeks here I was so worried about spraining my ankles again that I was always looking at the sidewalk. Now I walk around with my head up, craning my neck to look at the buildings. This guy lives just down the street from me: 
The juxtaposition between old and new is apparent everyday in Krakow. These beautiful women are in the gorgeous 19th century opera house/theatre in Krakow. Watching modern ballet from a New York City ballet company while sitting in a plush 200 hundred year old box was one of the highlights of my first few weeks in Krakow.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Happiness is . . .
A new vacuum cleaner.
My new home contains beautiful hardwood and marble flooring. Unfortunately, my two cats seems to shed an enormous amount of hair, so much so that it was gathering in huge dust bunnies (or should that be dust kitties), throughout the apartment. So much so that when Susan was here she felt compelled to mention it.
Not to mention the kitty litter that they seem to track out of their own special kitty litter room.
I'd desperately been searching for the right cleaning solution to keep the dust/cat hair at bay. I looked all over the city for a Swiffer after one of my colleagues told me you could buy them at Carrefour (a French "hypermarket"), only to spend 40 PLN on a taxi to get there and then find out the next day that he realized he had a Swiffer when he lived in London, not in Krakow.
I ended up buying a dust mop, but that only seemed to displace the dust and cat hair around, not actually get rid of it.
Finally, I talked one of my employees into going to the mall with me to translate all the features of the various vacuum cleaners for me.
I spent Friday night putting the vacuum cleaner together (the manual had an English section!) and happily clearing away the reams of cat hair.
I wonder how long it will take to reappear.
Note - apparently Zelmar is the favoured vacuum cleaner brand in Poland. Even the woman who sold me the LG I bought said that even though she represented LG, she would prefer a Zelmar. However, I ended up getting the LG for its many hardwood floor and furniture attachments. So far so good.
My new home contains beautiful hardwood and marble flooring. Unfortunately, my two cats seems to shed an enormous amount of hair, so much so that it was gathering in huge dust bunnies (or should that be dust kitties), throughout the apartment. So much so that when Susan was here she felt compelled to mention it.
Not to mention the kitty litter that they seem to track out of their own special kitty litter room.
I'd desperately been searching for the right cleaning solution to keep the dust/cat hair at bay. I looked all over the city for a Swiffer after one of my colleagues told me you could buy them at Carrefour (a French "hypermarket"), only to spend 40 PLN on a taxi to get there and then find out the next day that he realized he had a Swiffer when he lived in London, not in Krakow.
I ended up buying a dust mop, but that only seemed to displace the dust and cat hair around, not actually get rid of it.
Finally, I talked one of my employees into going to the mall with me to translate all the features of the various vacuum cleaners for me.
I spent Friday night putting the vacuum cleaner together (the manual had an English section!) and happily clearing away the reams of cat hair.
I wonder how long it will take to reappear.
Note - apparently Zelmar is the favoured vacuum cleaner brand in Poland. Even the woman who sold me the LG I bought said that even though she represented LG, she would prefer a Zelmar. However, I ended up getting the LG for its many hardwood floor and furniture attachments. So far so good.
If there be dragons . . .
Krakow is celebrating the 750th anniversary of its foundation this week. Apparently the foundation is something different than the founding, as Krakow has been around in some shape or other since the 9th century.
The foundation was the passing of the Magdeburg Law, which was essentially (as far as I can tell) creation of good government, and allowed self-governmen, urban organizations, jursidictions, trade, religious and intellectual life.
Makes you wonder what Canadians were up to in 1257.
The week long celebrations include outdoor concerts all over the city, dance performances in many of the squares, the European Union Cup of Ballooning(?), competitions for the oldest Krakovian family and local business, sharpshooters, and parades of dragons, walking, floating, and flying.
I plan to see it all, but am particularly hoping to run into a few dragons.
The foundation was the passing of the Magdeburg Law, which was essentially (as far as I can tell) creation of good government, and allowed self-governmen, urban organizations, jursidictions, trade, religious and intellectual life.
Makes you wonder what Canadians were up to in 1257.
The week long celebrations include outdoor concerts all over the city, dance performances in many of the squares, the European Union Cup of Ballooning(?), competitions for the oldest Krakovian family and local business, sharpshooters, and parades of dragons, walking, floating, and flying.
I plan to see it all, but am particularly hoping to run into a few dragons.
An odd couple
My friend Marn, the owner of a very lovely, if slobbery, boxer named Flin, asked me after my last post if I had ever seen a boxer here in Krakow.
At that point I hadn't. But a few days later as I was walking home, I saw a boxer walking with a dachshund!
The dachshund pranced along trying to keep up with his much larger friend. The boxer just strolled along casually, wondering why some dogs are so low to the ground.
At that point I hadn't. But a few days later as I was walking home, I saw a boxer walking with a dachshund!
The dachshund pranced along trying to keep up with his much larger friend. The boxer just strolled along casually, wondering why some dogs are so low to the ground.
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