This blog is intended to be a series of random anecdotes, videos, and other media about my daily life as a curious foreigner in in foreign countries. From my misadventures, endearing cultural experiences, friendships, and strange encounters, to the coffee shops and language pitfalls, I promise to share it all!
After a spell of an unusually cold and snowy introduction to the winter, there was a brief pause in the frigid temperatures this weekend. As a matter of fact, It was just brief enough to pop out for a stroll down Novy Swiat and on through the old town in Warsaw to see Christmas lights and other ornate decorations in all of its phosphorescence.
Most of the Downtown of Warsaw is strung up with Christmas lights, and it's hard not to notice the large array of shiny decorated lights everywhere you walk. If you're feeling cooped up from the recent cold temperatures, a good way to confront the loneliness is to bundle up and step out for some fresh air in the old town, and to have a look at the well decorated streets in all its Christmas glory. The best way is to start from the Three Crosses Church, and continue on Nowy Swiat and down through Krakowskie Przedmiescie past the Presidential Palace. From here just follow the crowd to the Castle. Check out the gargantuan tree flashing as you approach. From there it's just a few steps to the home stretch on the square, where you can warm yourself with some hot wine from one of the kiosks at the Christmas Market. Have a look at my video from the journey!
There is one word I often associate with myself, and those who know me probably associate me with the word too. That word is naive. Case in point, despite graduating from a relatively esteemed University in Northern California, I have to admit, going back to school after a ten year proverbial lost weekend has been a lot more challenging than I could have ever predicted. Despite reading enough books over the past ten years to fill a small apartment, and having more than enough motivation to pursue a graduate degree, I’ve encountered a few problems coping with the first year back in school. Getting back into the groove of school wasn’t easy. It would be naive to think it would be.
Why was I naive? I can give you two reasons. The first was that I thought my life experience would overcompensate for the fact that I wasn’t the best student during my bachelor’s studies. The second reason is that I didn’t have any clue on how to study effectively when I started last year. I was too ambitious and I tried to read everything required for the course, but I wasn’t able to focus on the most relevant themes or ideas. Additionally, since I didn’t consider changes in technology over the past ten years, I wasn’t able to save that precious time that could have been saved by consulting the internet.
This is not to say I have been completely unsuccessful. I am still managing high marks, and maintaining a pleasant and quite informal rapport with my classmates and professors. As a bonus I seem to get along with everyone. In one sense, having old school manners helps in some respects, it’s one of my advantages. It is true, my likeableness has always been a plus, and that is one of my good qualities. Even better, on another positive note; currently looking back at the first year, I have evolved into a more realistic and effective student. After a daunting first year, the second academic year feels more breathable, and I should manage to finish with decent enough marks
Nevertheless, in the beginning, the first year of coming back to school for me was a wake- up call in several aspects. So if you’re mulling over your inner voice calling you to pursue a two –year master’s degree after a decade or more long break from school, then don’t fret! For now simply pay heed to some simple advice to make the beginning less problematic for you, so you won’t find yourself as lost as I was. Of course, the most important change over the last ten years has been the speed and availability of the internet, and everything that goes with it. Ten years ago, I had (barely) an internet connection, but I wasn’t connected in today’s sense. The Wiki-world ten years ago it wasn’t. Doing research ten years ago back in the late 90’s required a little more leg-work. Therefore, searching for knowledge took a bit more effort. For technophobes like me, it sometimes seems counter-intuitive to just search whatever is being researched on the net. To make a long story short, I have learnt to embrace the internet instead of shy away from it. Everybody else is doing it, you should too!
However, be forewarned. With the internet comes all the information you would ever need-and don’t! Joseph Nye has a famous quip called ‘the paradox of plenty,’ meaning that there is a swarm of information infesting us these days that you need to pay heed to legitimacy and academic appropriateness of it to do proper research. With an overabundance of information, your source can be more important than the material itself. For this, simply googling something might not be enough for gathering materials for thesis writing. The main search engines such as Google and yahoo are more often used for commerce, but building scholarship can be difficult through these engines. I have discovered places like J-Store and Pro-Quest search engines, which are solely academic sites, and are more trusted with doing research. The University Libraries should have these installed in their computers. Regardless, the best advice is to always consider how reliable your source is. These days with the internet everyone can pass as an expert!
Yet, as you know not everything you learn will exist over the internet. One will eventually have to read a book or two. Recalling my first world politics class, I can attest that I had to read a plethora of them. The reading comprehension wasn’t the difficult part. What really tortured me were my weak time management skills. For me, everything is interesting, yet when learning academically, one really needs to know what is relevant and what isn’t. As was the problem when I had to read a lengthy article and give a short presentation on one main idea. My fault was that I read the article and summarized every single idea the author had written. My task was to give a short analysis on Kissinger’s reasons for the end of the Cold War.
What my result was to say the least-different. The professor wanted a short and sweet, albeit direct summary of the fore mentioned topic, alas I presented my fifteen page summary of the entire article which consisted of me giving a boring lecture of every treaty and meeting between the 1970’s and 1980’s between the USA and the Soviet Union. The problem was that in reading everything, I wasted a lot of time, and wasn’t able to pin-point the main idea clearly, which is kind of the point in academic life-getting the main idea. We all have ideas, but to study someone else’s ideas you need to understand them.
I had a bumper sticker on my car once that said; ‘the truly educated never graduate.’ I consider myself educated, I can’t tell you how truly although I’m still learning. What’s truly interesting though about learning, is peeling away some of the layers, and understanding that the learning process is educational itself. Regardless, I tell everyone that if I won the lottery, I’d always study. Learning is important. For what end, it’s hard to say. We’re all different. Maybe I’m naïve, but learning isn’t really a bad thing.
Below is a short interview with a couple of my younger but more successful classmates!
Author and New York Times Foreign Corespondent Thomas Friedman in a recent article called our current epoch of radically changing weather conditions 'global weirding.' For me it's an honest expression, without any political connotations. It doesn't imply much, other than the fact that hey, weird things have been happening with the weather.
Take Warsaw for instance. Maybe it isn't exactly weird for you, but for a Californian boy, it's odd to see so much snow before December. In my own bemusement, I spent a cold afternoon documenting some of this weirdness in Warsaw. Winter has come early here.
Warsaw is a city that has no shortage of symbols. Chopin, Copernicus, and the historically appreciated statue of General Pilsudski stoically standing guard near Plac Bankowy are just to name a few. They are all appreciated and iconic in their own right. Yet, none seems to grace Warsaw with their presence in such a refined and graceful way as Syrena the Mermaid.
The legend of the mermaid is normally attributed to the sea, however in Warsaw it is another matter entirely. Syrena the fair lady of the capital resides permanently in numerous locations. For example she can easily be recognized on the square and on Swietokrzyski Bridge near the University library. Her permanent stature there wielding sword and shield is a symbol of beauty and guidance. Moreover, in a more transitory context you can see the permeating beauty of Warsaw on busses and trams as you guide your way around the center. She will also be the symbol for the 2012 Euro Football Championship, which will be co-hosted by Poland and the Ukraine.
The legend is that she helped Prince Kazimierz find his way during a hunting expedition by firing burning arrows into the sky. After finding his way, I hope he thanked her. Regardless, the original statue is in a museum, where the model for the statue was actress Krystyna Krahelska.
A couple of weeks ago a giant sized egg appeared in front of my work. How did it get there? Who hatched this odd monstrosity? Anyway, after taking a few minutes peeking inside, I noticed that it was an ingenious display of a modern ecological community in action. In side of the tiny peepholes, one can gander at a mix of a variety of activities occurring in an environmentally safe world. Also, what's even more interesting is that it becomes interactive. With a touch of a button, you can make a windmill turn, or make a bird cross over a modern lake house. Pushing the magic buttons can even control the direction of movement of a little farmer checking out the affairs of his property. Indeed, it's little things like this that keep me entertained, and since it's next to my employer(see shameless plug in video), things like this will also make me late for work. For that I sincerly apologize for my tardiness. I'll be there soon.
This year, 2010 is the 200th birthday of Chopin. Obviously he isn’t kicking around in physical form, but in Warsaw his music is alive and well. Actually, I need to back up a tad. Come to think of it, technically part of him does physically exist in Warsaw-his heart, which is buried in a church across from the University. Nevertheless, Chopin is as much as a symbol of the Polish nation as any national hero can be anywhere on the planet. They named the airport after him! We’re talking John Wayne status.
Kidding aside, what’s even better is that his music is just as beloved everywhere else in the world as it is here in Poland. Therefore, it’s your loss if you have never taken the time to enjoy his music. Also, if you are not a classical music fan, then listening to Chopin might actually make you one. Moreover, if you are a music lover, but haven’t had the pleasure to listen to his amazing piano creations, then you should at least pick up a CD.
What would be even better though, if you find yourself here during the summer you could treat yourself to one of the free Chopin concerts in Lazienki Park? If you haven’t had the chance, there is still time until the 25th of September. The performances are at 12:00, and 4pm. If the weather disappoints, the music won’t. Even gazing at the imposing statue of Chopin next to the stage is an experience. If you can’t make it in time, there is a plethora of Chopin exhibits and concerts all over Warsaw this year to commemorate his 200th birthday.
Regardless, as free summer concerts go, this one was a pleasant surprise. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a summer afternoon in a European capital than listening to Chopin concertos and lazing in the sun. It was definitely a few notches up the proverbial musical staff than the disappointing Orange Festival in Warsaw last week. In grading, Chopin received an A sharp, but alas many would give the Orange Festival an F minor. Anyway,that is neither here nor there. As an extra FYI, please enjoy the video posted below of the free concert we went to last month.
And, if you want, you can check out the concerts here online: www.koncertychopinowskie.pl
Imagine going on a fly-along in 1945 over the Vistula River after Warsaw was obliterated b y the Germans. Picture to yourself the sight before you of an entire horizon of decimated and ruined buildings. The wreckage itself is a potent reminder of the harsh realities of war. Worse, is the reality that the city which was home to 1.3 million residents just before the war, was left with approximately 1000 survivors after the war.
Today, I saw for myself how the end of World War II unfolded in Poland. A current exhibit at the Warsaw Uprising Museum is showcasing a 3D film of aerial footage of Warsaw after it was annihilated by the Germans in 1945. For 7 zlotys you can see it too. The film’s footage is essentially a recreation of Warsaw in 3D. The city which was meticulously recreated, gives on the feeling of being on a sweeping flyover in the past. For five minutes you see nothing but a crumbled mass of a once thriving capital. The film, despite being short, is effective at proving as a grim reminder of the destruction caused in Warsaw.
The result of the destruction is rooted in the Warsaw uprising, and the Russia’s failure to help the Polish Army in attacking the occupying Nazi’s. On August 1st 1944, the Polish Home Army launched a strategic attack on the occupying Nazi army, while hoping the approaching Soviet Army would relieve some of the burden on the Poles to the strong opposition of the Nazi’s. However, despite waiting on the opposite bank of the Vistula River for some time, the Soviet Army refused to intervene until the Germans completely destroyed Warsaw.
After the war, Warsaw was in ruins. The Soviet Army occupied Warsaw, and Poland, and thus, the beginning of Poland’s division from the West. It’s hard to imagine now sitting in a Starbucks just a few meters from the museum, how much has actually changed in such a short time. Speaking of modernity, here's the link to the trailer posted on Youtube. Also, take a peek at some of the photos I took during my brief visit to the museum.
Maybe it is because of the fact that I have been living in Warsaw for the last year, that I wasn’t initially prepared for the intensity of the tourist commotion transpiring in front of my own eyes throughout the tourist center of Krakow. I felt like I was in another country. Who were these people selling sight-seeing tours of the city center? What were those convivial electronic cars zooming between the square and Wawel Castle? How did all of these British and Spanish tourists end up here? How come Warsaw doesn’t have a tourist information office on each of the four corners corner of the square? Warsaw has visitors in droves, but where are the tourists?
Warsaw is a city with its share of foreigners, but is lacking the no nonsense, picture snapping, and bustle so familiar in Krakow. Yes! Ironically, Krakow is less than half the size of Warsaw, yet for swallowing tourists, it has become a city with an ever expanding waist line. Despite the fact that there is a rather large congregation of tourists in the city-center of Krakow these days, it still doesn’t spoil the fact that it is indeed a grand historical and majestically stunning city worthy of spending at least few days taking in the wonders of this charming 12th Century European settlement.
If you've met me you know it's true that there aren’t many things I can attest to, however, I have spent a lot of time in Krakow and after seeing it grow in popularity over the last decade I am able to impart some information to you. You should be here too. Even back in 2002 Krakow wasn’t a secret. The city was full of tourists. Unlike Warsaw, the city survived the war, then after 1989 the iron curtain rusted and collapsed; tempting folks from all walks of life to venture unreservedly and discover the once mysterious post soviet world and inevitably becoming bewitched by Krakow.
As I’ve said Krakow is no secret, nonetheless it needn’t be. It is true however that I am neither historian nor travel expert, yet am a creature who has resided in Poland long enough to have a feel for the different towns and cities here. That being said, if you are a bloke like me who has settled here for a time, and are thinking weather Krakow is worth visiting despite the huge amount of tourist interest, I can at least offer you some piece of mind, and urge you to waste little time and hop on an express train while the weather is hot, and the day light is long.
This is Poland, right? As Krakow offers the best of Poland, it’s a foregone conclusion that there is at the very least a magnificent square, with a surplus of cafes and restaurants lining the square beckoning visitors of all walks of life to soak up the summer while it’s here. This is what I like anyway- bathing in the ambiance of cities, (and sipping a few cold zywiec.) At the very least if you are anything remotely like me in the sense that you have been living in Poland for a while, and possess a tendency to duck out of the tourist traps, you still need to hop on your high horse and visit Krakow. Touristy places exist here, but so do some of the most important historical sites in the entire world.
Even if you are a lifer expat in Poland who isn't interested in crowds, and who has already walked down Ulica Florianska whilst being prone to strong bouts of tourist apprehensiveness, Krakow is still worth a second or third visit. Besides, you're in Poland, it isn't January, and the sun is shining. Time is of the essence this summer! What are you waiting for?
Last week during an NGO lecutre, the topic of Greenpeace protesting Nestle because of their choice of location for procuring palm oil to add to their chocolate came up. If there is anyone who is an avid fan of devouring both white and dark chocolate forms of kitkat, it would be me. Nevertheless, a thought dawned on me that day that I had never formally boycotted any product. So with a gusto, I officially withdrew myself from consuming thier chocolate products. I conveniently switched to non-nestle brands in Poland*
Luckilly, I came across an article today that the monkeys' will be given a break in the amazon, while Nestle conducts palm oil purchases elsewhere! Say what you will about Greenpeace, I'll be enjoying my KittKat's again!
*Another decadent, gooey chocolate found in Poland is the famous Lion Bar..it's Nestle
The first link is a one hour presenation from 2008, the second is a two minute news boradcast. The third link is the link to the link website-that's three links for link!
April was a difficult time in Poland. A plane carrying 96 Polish citizens crashed in Russia. On the plane were; their president, top generals, the head of the central bank, key politicians, advisors, religious leaders, cultural figures, pilots, and flight attendants. They were on a plane to commemorate a sad moment in Polish history. Sadly, in a way, it seemed like a cruel joke, but there is no punch-line it really happened.
The crash initiated a spontaneous outpouring of grief. Polish citizens came out in the tens of thousands of all ages with flowers and candles to lay at the presidential palace. This marked off a weeklong period of mourning, which sparked a flood of citizens to lay tribute to the victims. An ensuing media circus circulated around Warsaw day and night, flags hung over buildings at half mast (two black flags blew in front of the gates of the University,) and the world gave its condolences as the international arena was respectively at a loss for words.
Poland is a nation that has had a lot of misfortune historically. In recent times things had been going well here. Yet, there was an unusually long cold winter this year, and this event happened just as it was getting into spring. It was like the gods were not over with handing down to Poland unwanted and unfortunate news.
Despite this, looking over the past month, I must admit I am impressed to see how well this nation has dealt with this tragedy. So much has already been reported, analyzed, updated, and cited. Yet, as visitor to Poland living through this, I would like to humbly add how impressed I am at how a relatively large European nation has been able to get back on its feet and show amazing resilience.
On a human level, it’s unfathomable to lose so many people in such a sudden manner. The memory of the victims will always be enshrined in Polish history. Yet Poland has always been regarded as a strong nation, and the strength comes from its people. After this catastrophe, the nation is as strong as ever.
A short while ago I popped outside to pick up a couple of bottles of water from the shop on the corner. I took the necessary February precautions one would take in Warsaw by putting on my thick jacket, scarf,gloves, punctuated by a woolly hat. Even for me, it has almost become a reflex before opening the front door. If you have been living here like me for the last two months you would understand. You see, this winter has brought an incredible amount of snow.
There has been so much of it falling from the sky, that it has been regarded by many as one of the heaviest snowfalls in Warsaw in a generation. I can attest to it as well. Garbage cans have been buried in single evenings, park benches have gone missing, cars have been fishtailing in a manner not unsimilar to automobiles climbing steep mountain passes in the winter, the floors of buses have ceased to be cleaned and are all covered by muddy slop left over from our snow absorbed boots. Despite this unprecedented level of sloshiness, it came as a huge shock to me that when I ventured outside today, I didn't feel snow on my neck, but something at the same time familiar, but completely different-rain. Can you believe it? It seems that the temperature has done something that hasn't happened in a few months around here; gone above zero centigrade. Anyway, it seems like spring is a possibility-even in these parts. Now I just have to find my raincoat.
Are you out there? Have you wandered off down another corridor in the blogosphre? Shame, shame, shame! Anyway, I'm still kicking around, and am grateful and indebted to anyone with the patience and curiosity to tune in and see what I have been up to these days.
Instead of giving you the typical paragraph,anecdotal style run-down of my life over the last two or three months, I am going give you a chronological list of things that have been thrown at me that I have been trying to manage more or less mildly successfully since October or so. 1.) Started School-M.A. program in International Relations. 2.)Became so busy all of a sudden with work. Ironically when I became a student, everyone in Warsaw decided during the same week to learn English from me. 3.)received a legal form saying the police would come interview me for my residence status. 4.)cops came and were nice. 5.)Came to a realization that studying International Relations wasn't easy while teaching English. 6.)after a misunderstanding regarding my paperwork in order to live in Poland as a legal resident, i was told at the last minute to leave Poland and the Schengen area to get a new stamp in my passport. 7.)after being told that The Ukraine wasn't a good place to go to because of swine flu, I was advised it would be wiser to go to England(a non-schengen country.) 8.) Was detained by the UK authorities because they said I was violating EU law and working in the EU illegally, and promptly sent back to Poland after spending the night in a detention room* 9.)after being told that I was a 'polite bloke,' by the UK authorities, they escorted me to my plane back to Poland and informed the pilot to tell the Polish customs officers to go easy on me when they detain me. 10.)taken off the Ryan-Air plane in Poland and interrogated as to why I was detained in the UK, but after everyone(including myself,) that no one had any idea why I was detained, I was set free. 11.)Despite the fact that I was a free man, I only had one legal day left to stay in Poland, so two days of little to no sleep, I jumped on a bus to the Ukraine-a non-Schengen country to try again to get a visa stamp. 12.)went to the Ukraine for two days. Had a nice time, drank cheap beer, stayed in a cheap run down hotel, and had a nice meal. 13.)Came back to Poland and got a new visa stamp for 90 days. 14.)got really sick-probably swine flu 15.)tons of homework/presentations/mid-terms etc. 16.)received decision on Residence Card-Approved! 17.)Became totally burnt out. 18.) Went to Opole for Christmas, had a relaxing time, and wrote one of 3 term papers. 19.)Picked up residence card and had a happy new year. 20.)enjoying last days of vacation before I go back to Work on Tuesday and begin exams next month!!
So that's all for now. I have been one busy creature, but it's better to be busy than bored. I'm definitely got a lot to do. I'm even technically wasting time writing here. Anyway, I'm not bored, so I'm better off than most!
*I still wouldn't recommend being detained by the UK Immigration officials at Stansted Airport.
