tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39483022176714124102024-03-05T01:40:36.736-08:00Life O' DanThis 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!dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-45379874139109552872012-11-17T10:36:00.002-08:002012-11-17T10:36:48.695-08:00A Marathon Man<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfArs6ToYfkdZdsP-ioa1dTeFnY4bn2glpGHQr3nazsfUU_nihlxS1hWqGojhKG5Hy3e4z7IrW2KhUqNrPDJCfeiyI-i__lmAAVTJZZ4nySb4Rd3YIPCnoseftkHnlHTJzS8IfJe3-Cs/s1600/285760_369444926463992_349218455_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfArs6ToYfkdZdsP-ioa1dTeFnY4bn2glpGHQr3nazsfUU_nihlxS1hWqGojhKG5Hy3e4z7IrW2KhUqNrPDJCfeiyI-i__lmAAVTJZZ4nySb4Rd3YIPCnoseftkHnlHTJzS8IfJe3-Cs/s320/285760_369444926463992_349218455_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slow and steady finishes the race with a smile!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A few weeks ago I was asked to contribute a short piece to the website of the running group I belong to about my experience in running my first marathon. The original text (http://www.warsawtriclub.com/news/) was edited a bit; however, the following is the orignal text.<br />
<br />
<br />
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Shortly after spending the first half of 2012 making the
transformation from weekend jogger to spirited runner by participating in the
Warsaw Half Marathon, I spent an evening under the influence of a couple of
beers pondering my chances of actually completing the full marathon in
September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As alcohol can often impair
one’s decision making process, I came to the beer-goggled conclusion that I
would be up to the challenge <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to complete
the 42.195K in one go by the end of September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So without making any other serious
calculations I made the proverbial leap of faith and registered on the
marathon’s website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After receiving my
race number a couple of days later, it became official.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to run in my first marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3tgVNTSI0qKorWZEWbDDeLfovlih7AM2utu9yY0mAysI7j_Jd2JDYpfv4paO39UsHWTZocYF_EzkbkFdCOidqZfEoFhT69XwEr5NqyYrEMqYwuLW7JsEQI9urdNQTdYVeymoauzK0sw/s1600/DSC04071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3tgVNTSI0qKorWZEWbDDeLfovlih7AM2utu9yY0mAysI7j_Jd2JDYpfv4paO39UsHWTZocYF_EzkbkFdCOidqZfEoFhT69XwEr5NqyYrEMqYwuLW7JsEQI9urdNQTdYVeymoauzK0sw/s320/DSC04071.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still standing!</td></tr>
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<br />
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The course of action was fairly straight forward: to run as
often as possible between May and September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately, being an English Teacher affords one an opportunity to take
advantage of those long vacation periods in order to rack up the miles in order
to be ready for a long run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All things
considered, the gist in getting ready (in my experience at least) is in fact to
run a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More specifically, however,
is to run increasingly longer distances until about two weeks before the
race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At which time one should be able
to run about 30-35K in one go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, a
couple of weeks before race day, one should let the body rest a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, at least, in three and a half months
I was able to transform myself from a moderate runner struggling to push
through a 15K run into someone maybe more similar to a Forest Gump type is able
to just keep running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only glitch
on my side was not taking in enough water on the long run before the marathon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a painful ending to a long 36K run in
the afternoon with only three quarters of a liter of water to carry. I found
myself feeling nauseous and unable to eat anything for a couple of hours after
the run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lesson learned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not an expert on running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if I could impart some advice to you
dear reader: stay hydrated.</div>
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<br /></div>
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On the big day I had my pre-run, morning breakfast ritual consisting
of a big bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios (no product placement intended) with sliced
bananas, a strong coffee, and about two liters of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After eating, I successfully attached my
race bib to my WITC shirt and made my way to the national stadium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon arriving, I dropped off my extra
clothes, and dutifully waited to use the bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judging by the size of the line, the other
participants all seemed to be well hydrated before the race as well. After the
bathroom break, there was no time to waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was time to run a marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Publically I mentioned to most people beforehand that my goal was to
just finish the race, but privately my goal was to finish under four
hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I moved myself as close as
possible to the 4 hour pacer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I got
started I didn’t stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With an exception
of one bathroom break around the 15<sup>th</sup> kilometer, I just kept putting
one foot in front of the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept a
pace of about 11K an hour and finished in just under four hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept a steady pace, and luckily didn’t run
into that proverbial wall most runners speak of so ominously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that was it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran my first marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think there were three or four things,
however, that carried me through the race; staying hydrated, good tunes, and
the amount of people who came out in support of the runners-especially, the
people from WITC who were all such a welcome sight with the cheers and
high-fives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks guys!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now it’s time for a run.</div>
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<!-- End of StatCounter Code -->dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-22902089160990644022012-09-02T08:24:00.000-07:002012-09-02T10:57:45.245-07:00A Touchdown for American Football in Poland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ6SZfrxvFih7dk5AACYiCU4IVNyrUaNj0pZ8csFudFNKUIGbLqAocKE5qjlN9xkE06q_psPH2xr89eOFHyEIR4tyTzMQVzA_2yGobjxfFatteUwJYQfX3NXPY8YbU1fM0YxbGt72XnY/s1600/DSC00158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ6SZfrxvFih7dk5AACYiCU4IVNyrUaNj0pZ8csFudFNKUIGbLqAocKE5qjlN9xkE06q_psPH2xr89eOFHyEIR4tyTzMQVzA_2yGobjxfFatteUwJYQfX3NXPY8YbU1fM0YxbGt72XnY/s320/DSC00158.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJ_zAbYq7Dse8TTyrkXzQuJ_RIxDPuci589dHpebKCFBh1i4J0gGJT5llpQFtGrvPz3aRICuQKXVMDIYFf9VT5L2OCaKrae0zgUqvXF8i_4T3poa3PFFMsABztyPgzdOtbkEolTcSXec/s1600/DSC00147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJ_zAbYq7Dse8TTyrkXzQuJ_RIxDPuci589dHpebKCFBh1i4J0gGJT5llpQFtGrvPz3aRICuQKXVMDIYFf9VT5L2OCaKrae0zgUqvXF8i_4T3poa3PFFMsABztyPgzdOtbkEolTcSXec/s320/DSC00147.jpg" width="320" /></a>It’s no secret that the most common kind of football in
Europe is the kind that actually requires regular use of the feet, and which
actually forbids any use of the hands unless one is the lonely goalkeeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, American style football is
starting to show its pigskin face recently in Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Poland
their league has grown enough to move their championship over to the national
stadium, which had 25,000 people in attendance in July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This weekend the national stadium in Warsaw
played host to the Euro-American Football Challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The organizers welcomed a group of scrappy young
American footballers to challenge the best of the European clubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twenty thousand plus curious fans turned up,
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I was lucky to be part of the large turnout as well. After scoring a free 50 yard line seat, I hopped on the bus and moved myself to the stadium. After finding my seat I noticed that it was a pretty noisy crowd for a country relatively new to the sport. The announcers were lively, and even seemed to be dropping explanations about the sport to help iron out some of the nuances for the newcomers to American football. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CTH9ymzsVZ94DSuxbKBgEQsyCWG_RdtT0xw7F5bBLdyB9-vG_0y8OYAT33ft4IAVvLHHsDtO6FLoaZb1x9uhyphenhyphenhyoTcJ-ttG2Vcuq1RbPVl40l0OCVrQ-xvnAdlkAsKUHgeuq2PLm65E/s1600/DSC00157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CTH9ymzsVZ94DSuxbKBgEQsyCWG_RdtT0xw7F5bBLdyB9-vG_0y8OYAT33ft4IAVvLHHsDtO6FLoaZb1x9uhyphenhyphenhyoTcJ-ttG2Vcuq1RbPVl40l0OCVrQ-xvnAdlkAsKUHgeuq2PLm65E/s320/DSC00157.jpg" width="320" /></a>The challenge itself was quite close throughout the first half,
with the score even at seven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, shortly
into the third quarter the challenge fell apart, with a few too many costly turnovers
by the European side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of this, the
American team quickly capitalized on the turnovers and scored a few touchdowns
against an apparently weaker and less experienced European team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite it nearly being an Olympic 'dream team' type
blowout, the European team did manage to slow the American momentum towards the
end of the fourth quarter to avoid a complete disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The American team won 34-7. </span>Regardless, the most notable thing about the event was
size of the enthusiastic crowd who nearly all stayed until the end of the
match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the lopsided result, it could
be the winning touchdown for the growth of the sport in Poland and in Europe.</div>
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I recently received a phone call from an English teaching Polish
colleague of mine regarding a question she had received from a journalist asking if the English slogan
used for the Euro2012 ‘Feel Like at Home,’ was linguistically accurate. As Euro 2012 is happening in less than two
weeks, a quite imposing series of murals circling the central train station
have been put up showcasing an array of international football fanatics in
their respective country’s colors. It’s hard to miss, trust me. The imposing size, the bright colors and the
eye catching slogan will undoubtedly capture even the most uninterested
pedestrian’s attention. Despite the size,
the relevant thing to many Poles here in Warsaw is the slogan ‘Feel like at
home.’ The debate is whether this expression is linguistically correct. </div>
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The headline states that many Poles are
upset about the supposedly linguistically invalid expression, yet many native speakers
of English are nodding in approval about the expression maintaining that it’s
not as natural as many of us would say; however, it’s logical. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_YB9UetMqzAGO2X32uVmOUPoE3d0vL-MMhJZHUF3z-hcSRteXMLG9bmXJTJD1PUjSZmfrkWlRrHXXXDcYBsZqoD36lwTuiqdMou85KajntI6Dmouu72WJ1ckJ_JtN6xZfm901vWl5jo/s1600/IMG_3635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_YB9UetMqzAGO2X32uVmOUPoE3d0vL-MMhJZHUF3z-hcSRteXMLG9bmXJTJD1PUjSZmfrkWlRrHXXXDcYBsZqoD36lwTuiqdMou85KajntI6Dmouu72WJ1ckJ_JtN6xZfm901vWl5jo/s200/IMG_3635.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Feel like at home', and Poles 2012 your hosts!</td></tr>
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To the native speaker’s ear it doesn’t sound too wrong. Anyway, if you look at the article found here(:
<a href="http://natemat.pl/16321,burza-wokol-hasla-feel-like-at-home-w-szklance-wody-polacy-wytykaja-blad-a-native-speakerow-like-nie-razi">http://natemat.pl/16321,burza-wokol-hasla-feel-like-at-home-w-szklance-wody-polacy-wytykaja-blad-a-native-speakerow-like-nie-razi</a> ) you will see that many are unhappy about the
slogan. Nevertheless, as one of the
native speakers asked for the validity of this motto, I will reiterate that it
doesn’t sound that bad. We hear a lot worse from you Poles-from the
best of you as well to boot. Anyway, as a
little experiment, I Googled the expression and it does not exist. Of course, the best expression and probably the grammatically correct
expression is the expression ‘feel at home.’
The expression ‘feel like at home’ is a direct translation from
Polish. Regardless, if Poland invites me
to feel at home or feel like at home, I will happily accept. So, Where’s the fridge? And can I help myself
to a beer?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv5X4Tl-9QSN-A4AvapGaP5YHZks4k3_8XaGbVxnUKV-NEwiV39qCeyPnhGPvWtraKI7lQaM-0BeUnosVTO8eVztnXH_d1mov7UElL7q2CMRZHVBEJW091fUnykcHJ6WV4FgFkzfUAM4/s1600/IMG_3631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv5X4Tl-9QSN-A4AvapGaP5YHZks4k3_8XaGbVxnUKV-NEwiV39qCeyPnhGPvWtraKI7lQaM-0BeUnosVTO8eVztnXH_d1mov7UElL7q2CMRZHVBEJW091fUnykcHJ6WV4FgFkzfUAM4/s320/IMG_3631.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind the main train station</td></tr>
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Is it running or jogging? It seems that I have always
considered myself a jogger. You know,
the type that throws on a t-shirt, shorts, socks and tennis shoes and makes a
few cheery rounds around a track or past a few houses before calling it a
day. The type of person who isn’t really
walking but moving at a pace that isn’t really moving that fast either and is
able to carry on a conversation about world events or poker strategies at the
same time. Nevertheless, it probably would have been accurate to mark me a nothing more than a complete beginner until recently. Jogging is an activity that often takes
little motivation to get me moving, yet I had never been able to cover long
distances in short amounts of time. Anyway, I was finally able to overcome
this barrier recently by completing my first half marathon at the age of
35. </div>
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About a year ago I
started training for the half marathon in Warsaw. I trained as often as I could. However, I had never gone over 20 kilometers
before. So on race day I felt rather intimidated. In March, on the morning of
the race I carefully found the back of the group (of several thousand) and sheepishly crossed the starting line. Frightened as I was, in the end, I finished it quite
easily. The training paid off and I was
able to complete the race in just over 2 hours which isn’t really a great time,
but for me it was one of those little milestones. I am more than a jogger now, at least.</div>
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Flash forward to a week ago on a warm Saturday. I competed in a 10k race
in my neighborhood, which included only
264 people, so it felt more relaxed than the half marathon. This was part of
the Warsaw Grand Prix series that comprises ten races over Warsaw during the
year. This was my first in the series. Despite the heat, I ended up pushing myself
without a water break, and crossed the finish line in just over 46 minutes,
which for me is a great time. I even
placed right in the middle of the group at 132 out of 264 runners. The next one is in June and I’m going to be
there. I even planning on doing the full
marathon in September.<br />
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So in some way, I guess I’ve become like Forest Gump. I’ll just keep running. No more jogging. Or whatever the vernacular is these days. On the other hand maybe the concept of running is more
about one's level of commitment. For me
the biggest difference is that I can run faster, but more importantly, is that
I take it more seriously or with more enthusiasm. It no longer is
just throwing on a shirt and shorts and making a few steps around in a
park. It has become more ritualistic. I
try to have proper shoes, comfortable socks, and a t-shirt that isn’t too
heavy or burns the nipples at long distances. I also watch what I eat
(slightly) more than before. Most importantly, however, I just do it because I feel better at the end of the
day. This is what’s important. </div>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-60396758410032661652011-12-29T09:07:00.001-08:002011-12-29T12:29:08.784-08:00Where's the Snow?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivT83ooaZjNNWbNw0ZSmbfnmE4zdaiR5QuZMV42Mr1xUjWQiYQQN98rKLvK4YnR-P3UiIG4zYh6Jt9EcO5AW1ZOdyEk3U8uIFDdSAeZ2IKNp7QihLyTRFc0zK4JUg6YMrSVMw5RUbLgDA/s1600/IMG_3440.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivT83ooaZjNNWbNw0ZSmbfnmE4zdaiR5QuZMV42Mr1xUjWQiYQQN98rKLvK4YnR-P3UiIG4zYh6Jt9EcO5AW1ZOdyEk3U8uIFDdSAeZ2IKNp7QihLyTRFc0zK4JUg6YMrSVMw5RUbLgDA/s320/IMG_3440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691649515084116210" border="0"></a><br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><br />One year ago there was so much snow in Warsaw. Where is it this year? I understand that bigger and more important things have happened over the year, and the lack of snow this winter is hardly worth a mention. Moreover, For me it is a welcome event as I’ve been able to go jogging a bit later in the year than usual, and I’ve been spared the sensation of experiencing the bitter cold when stepping outside at six o’clock in the morning on my way to work. Despite my small good fortune,it’s odd that the temperature is well above freezing, and that it still feels like autumn. I’m not complaining, I’m just saying it’s weird. It’s at least a little unusual, isn’t it? <br /><br />Flash back to November 2010 and you might remember a different situation. I took a short walk in the afternoon and was nearly blinded and blown over by a freak snow and wind storm. A month later, I bravely went on a freezing holiday stroll through the lit up streets of Warsaw admiring all of the glowing lights and snow covered trees before Christmas. This year, the lights and trees are present, but there is not a flake of snow. See for yourself in my video.<br /><br /><object id="BLOG_video-FAILED" class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="FAILED" width="320" height="266"></object><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxJF3cE9u3Nd50PYh_wHMDXo3CgOnyorLYd7yzmmC-Na3S0jNA6afDampiTjzzPZfQDymOZIs8FveIJyzwg5Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-51532662560362393122011-12-13T07:31:00.001-08:002011-12-15T13:23:10.853-08:00An American in Wroclaw<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbHhXIe0wrDNEO7emACH_M_GWZQ1F0ErOtkpW767MreOQ3tfUF7pJ0-y_eyjcfvZZ3UjkE4YDN2wjfz5f8ZvEw7EspDMLeijIvh0byoozVwLBavQxs6wmhDPwW0ah4x2twYZRZyOyCNQ/s1600/IMG_3400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbHhXIe0wrDNEO7emACH_M_GWZQ1F0ErOtkpW767MreOQ3tfUF7pJ0-y_eyjcfvZZ3UjkE4YDN2wjfz5f8ZvEw7EspDMLeijIvh0byoozVwLBavQxs6wmhDPwW0ah4x2twYZRZyOyCNQ/s320/IMG_3400.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685638020847740130" /></a><br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><br />Two weeks ago was the American Film Festival in Wroclaw, Poland. In one venue for five days a variety of films of past and present from the indie arena and Hollywood were showcased to a thong of eager film enthusiasts. Retrospectives from directors such as; Billy Wilder and Terrance Malick, cutting edge indie-directors, silent films, jazz themed films, documentaries, as well as lectures and workshops, were all on offer for film lovers. As an American citizen and American film-enthusiast myself living in Warsaw, this seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to stretch my curious wings, poke my nose around a bit, and have a peek. So I did and because of this was far from disappointed. After purchasing nine tickets for screenings beforehand from the festival’s website, procuring a train ticket from Warsaw to Wroclaw, and booking a room at the modestly priced Hotel Polonia beforehand, I was ready to escape the capital of Poland and enjoy three days of unadulterated film enjoyment in the charming and scenic city of Wroclaw. <br /><br />As Polish trains are notorious for being less than punctual, the train arrival in Wroclaw on Friday evening was no exception. In light of this arduous eight hour journey, I missed the first screening I had procured tickets for, which was Billy Wilder’s The Apartment. Steadfastly in my attempt replicate the first mishap of missing the first film, I dutifully hurried to check in at the Hotel Polonia and subsequently unloaded my luggage in an action not dissimilar to a hurried throwing motion across the room, and then set off for the festival, which was another 20 minutes on foot across town. Despite my hurried pace and following the map in meticulous fashion I ended up missing the start of the second film by about 15 minutes. Unfortunately, It was another Billy Wilder film, this time the film; One Two Three, which if you haven’t seen, you should. After missing this timeless film on the big screen, I soothed myself by thinking that at least I was in Wroclaw and was able to find the festival at Kino Helios in plenty of time before the third film, which was Robert Altman’s depression era jazz tribute Kansas City. <br />The plan had been to see nine films between Friday evening and Sunday morning. After missing the first two, the plan shrank to seven in three days. Because of this setback, I pledged that nothing was going to keep me constrained from seeing all seven. Anyway, after picking up my tickets and with an hour or so to kill before the late screening of the Robert Altman film, I decided to saunter over to the square a few blocks away and find something for my empty stomach. After enjoying a deep dish pizza, and a strong coffee, I made my way back to the cinema. After finding a seat in the partially full screening room, I was able to be entertained by the first of seven films.<br /><br />After a long series of adverts I was able to enjoy Altman’s film, which was quite entertaining. However, I would have to admit it fell quite short of a masterpiece. Nevertheless, Kansas City is a must see for anyone interested in depression era life, or the Jazz scene in Kansas City during this era. The acting is lively and entertaining, but Jennifer Jason Leigh’s charm didn’t win me over as I <br />thought her performance was bit over the top. Nevertheless, my pickiness aside, it was a highly enjoyable first film to inaugurate my weekend movie marathon. After the journey to Wroclaw and the two hour film, it was sleepy time.<br /><br />Saturday proved to be much more promising. After waking up at a respectable hour and having a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant, I was charged to enjoy an entire day of film enjoyment. The plan was to see five films this day. The first film was Buster Keaton’s ‘The General,’ which started at 9:45. I miraculously found myself at the festival at 9am, which left enough time to enjoy a third coffee to compliment the two I had consumed at the hotel previously. The screening room was disturbingly only half full. You see, it is my opinion that The General is one of the greatest films ever made. So, if a film like the General plays on the big screen, one would expect more in the audience. However, I guess, filling any people in a cinema at 9:45 on Saturday is an accomplishment in itself. There is not much I can really say that hasn’t been said about this masterpiece. Except for the fact that a new musical score was added to this festival print, which was quite memorable. If you haven’t seen ‘the General,’ I recommend this re-release of the original 1927 version with a new musical score.<br /><br />Four movies, a kebab, and a platter of fish and chips later, I found that it was nearly midnight. After watching the recent Phillip Seymour Hoffman film, two Terrance Malick films, and Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard, I was exhausted. It was an eventful day that could be written about for too long to bore the average blog reader to death. Nevertheless, I must be said that after this full day, my highlight was a re-discovery of the brilliance of Billy Wilder films. For those only familiar with his most famous film ‘Some Like it Hot,’ should really take the time to see his lesser known films.<br /><br />Sunday, I even managed to make it over in time to see another Billy Wilder film. This time it was a courtroom drama with mixture of British wit, American fast talking, and the screen seductiveness of Marlene Dietrich in the plot-twisting film ‘Witness for the Prosecution.’ I highly enjoyed it, but the biggest surprise for me was Sunset Boulevard, which finished with a loud and quite spontaneous applause the day before. My biggest recommendation would be to see this film. The awarded films from the festival were the indie film ‘Somewhere Tonight,’ and the documentary ‘Sing your Song.’ The most popular attraction was the Todd Solondz retrospective and his appearance at the festival. All of these attractions I skipped in favor of watching older films. Watching older films on the big screen is purely a selfish activity based on the fact that I prefer having a chance to see black and white films on the big screen. Nevertheless, the newer films were definitely the more popular options. <br /><br />After swiftly making my exit from Kino Helios, I boarded the EC train to Warsaw promptly at 1:45, which was only 15 minutes late for a change. I’m already counting down the days to the next festival, which is probably too soon. <br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwODvochM4IMcL9GGhpIf-vZVJHIQ18Bu8FchvVpgnfrtetLYs6N4-GHLkdzhf477Wohiv3SPi_jO92OhyfKQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-49098394634759996552011-06-28T13:40:00.000-07:002011-07-01T02:13:57.883-07:00Are You Ready for Some Schnitzel?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmL7oXTpkJ12peOI-OrIzh8F4JXLz72pmN2_Kk4CeL4jAVGQr6n8t1t1ZDzAsQgqMKe9GisHArHX_bFWpP8Av3UM0FFwSDbMAIVEglqCLWahJFcr-ZQiRcYLa_DciuYAmhqyh_5NGY8s/s1600/IMG_3085.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmL7oXTpkJ12peOI-OrIzh8F4JXLz72pmN2_Kk4CeL4jAVGQr6n8t1t1ZDzAsQgqMKe9GisHArHX_bFWpP8Av3UM0FFwSDbMAIVEglqCLWahJFcr-ZQiRcYLa_DciuYAmhqyh_5NGY8s/s320/IMG_3085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623379687730785538" border="0"></a><br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv3aIbb9Uy8ITaHAV-PTQWPm0wGDz8uXMZLb3uBv1FBstqyCYkSaecw9NOTb80c88RoWCDkU5f4FDKO2Ntf9-X1e0EP0ToFsktt7I6Mi-0KzHs_VJ3gF4HpKuelwitX4p6LSKwjglhGg/s1600/IMG_3078.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv3aIbb9Uy8ITaHAV-PTQWPm0wGDz8uXMZLb3uBv1FBstqyCYkSaecw9NOTb80c88RoWCDkU5f4FDKO2Ntf9-X1e0EP0ToFsktt7I6Mi-0KzHs_VJ3gF4HpKuelwitX4p6LSKwjglhGg/s320/IMG_3078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623374718405919570" border="0"></a><br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><br />For many guys back home in the States, the tradition of Monday Night Football is something that has always been close to our hearts as something to cheer us up a bit after surviving the drudgery of another dismal Monday working day. It’s been a part of American culture for as long as I can remember anyway, which is getting longer as each day passes. For 16 weeks a year there is always Monday Night Football. That means during this period there is always a chanced to escape and relax a bit after the short weekend. However, if you’re a guy in the states, it’s too bad you don’t live in Poland for Monday night schnitzel and beer night at U Szwejka (at Szwejk’s) in Warsaw. Here it's not only about escaping, but it's like getting another weekend evening getting added to our life. Sorry, but Mondays in Poland are better for the guys (and girls too). <br /><br />Read the following information with caution. May cause hunger!<br /><br />Imagine, cutting board sized Vienna style schnitzel steaks coated in bread crumbs, with fresh lemon juice, a side of sour kraut, red cabbage, served with French fries, for a mere 15 zlotys (five dollars). Sound good? Then come to Warsaw on Mondays. If you’re not convinced yet(and shame on me for not mentioning this yet,) the best part is that the beer is on special on Mondays. One liter of Czech Pilsner Uriquell, or Polish Tyeskie, will only set you back 7.50 Zl. (two dollars and fifty cents). You can procure a full liter on Monday nights for less than a half liter will cost you in other pubs. If you come to Paris for the proverbial romantic weekend getaway, make a stopover in Warsaw on your way home. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYEcybGxiOFUertk2AYeS_5h6cekNTfVSsGmTD5Qggcs5pNnM20sXlXtiYW5UO_9OaaBl2DRX8Ui7gjj5CAYh9bqLuqftbORyifhzi1RkwioPvuqEgzwxoIGel2aPdXdfZmKP65afXe0/s1600/IMG_3086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYEcybGxiOFUertk2AYeS_5h6cekNTfVSsGmTD5Qggcs5pNnM20sXlXtiYW5UO_9OaaBl2DRX8Ui7gjj5CAYh9bqLuqftbORyifhzi1RkwioPvuqEgzwxoIGel2aPdXdfZmKP65afXe0/s320/IMG_3086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623380315049369826" border="0"></a> <br /><br />The Czech style restaurant is fashioned in tribute to the Hasek novel “The Good Soldier Sviejk,” which is partly a World War I satire centered around the tribulations of the central character Svejk. When reading the novel, Svejk immediately might seem harmless and fun loving to the reader, which in a way characterizes the restaurant’s fun and gregarious atmosphere. A friendly place, which offers a cozy and convivial setting that would impress the grandest of Czechs-even Svejk himself. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHOcVI0nGS46OK7yroQo_KW9CjeZRpz3fHu5-IdP0gkbpqXzLFwiZswJI2QAylDd6bHrtiDttM6jzIrtPalxFbFw77IxdZdnr1lSQBDtORkujY9vpjoqDJSafl0kma8Zdt05wiSSqOEI/s1600/IMG_3083.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHOcVI0nGS46OK7yroQo_KW9CjeZRpz3fHu5-IdP0gkbpqXzLFwiZswJI2QAylDd6bHrtiDttM6jzIrtPalxFbFw77IxdZdnr1lSQBDtORkujY9vpjoqDJSafl0kma8Zdt05wiSSqOEI/s320/IMG_3083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623376726347002034" border="0"></a><br /><br />It’s crowded though, so don’t expect a free table on arrival. The plethora of servers whizzing around bringing giant beer mugs to tables are friendly enough and will help you find a table if one is free. Normally though, be ready for a bit of a line outside the door. However, we’re usually sitting in a table in ten minutes tops after turning up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmIOCVM1hInajq7uDOs5Z5XQ2jJGyv9DGRb2PDLzNwXa62xI3q4eSQ5Ss6OvMw40h-FVDVridFzYpo4ElXzroIQRUAHMTNR0sBoc4nPYrJw9hAObjXbUduHzNgV3QnATq7o5qNhJRXVs/s1600/IMG_3082.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmIOCVM1hInajq7uDOs5Z5XQ2jJGyv9DGRb2PDLzNwXa62xI3q4eSQ5Ss6OvMw40h-FVDVridFzYpo4ElXzroIQRUAHMTNR0sBoc4nPYrJw9hAObjXbUduHzNgV3QnATq7o5qNhJRXVs/s320/IMG_3082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623376088034962050" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKw1feS4z8ZUSXIihCJQrmVRpUg5U2gevKE5ZNr_lqQ-xYnbxMXAScYfh2Xh6e8hXpUb6lyYYCU8KwWWr5AIkF-nmwMD7RrCPRvZ-5flfSAygruX-P-sWU3s4Ov-SHpLQzH9Yk-OOAVU/s1600/IMG_3056.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKw1feS4z8ZUSXIihCJQrmVRpUg5U2gevKE5ZNr_lqQ-xYnbxMXAScYfh2Xh6e8hXpUb6lyYYCU8KwWWr5AIkF-nmwMD7RrCPRvZ-5flfSAygruX-P-sWU3s4Ov-SHpLQzH9Yk-OOAVU/s320/IMG_3056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623381401433021138" border="0"></a><br /> <br /><br />By the way, some of us teachers have started a little club. It’s called the Szwejka Monday Night Schnitzel Club. This is no April fools joke. It's no ruse. We’re on facebook. We have members. We’re growing in numbers. We mean business. We can all attest to the fact that it’s better than Monday Night Football as well. Give us the Pepsi Challenge. We unanimously choose Szwejk over NFL on TV on Mondays. Join us. Come for the Schnitzels, and stay for the beer(s). Oh and by the way, girls are welcome too. They also have 10zl (three dollar) strawberry margaritas.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzgeAaiSd97XatcSF-AxaVRfONmxYTsD71ZYGDsWeV-DxYKSEVjv8WKPUHWc6eY3FvuwaJIFrLtKKKN6akf4g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-34470507262894079352011-06-06T14:35:00.001-07:002011-06-11T05:03:14.248-07:00367 Days and Counting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXZXH6wjWeZT7nrVB8GcudlbXVprsMLGojzMxOcfP9KISc8Pi-FYv53-k3dPXmDGTEH6wWrV7PzDYPOMh0pQt2wCb4wyMZx8CMgTwHEztNDgroqzPRiVyQi_sWGgVVS07hTEmQqN5fIE/s1600/IMG_3033.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXZXH6wjWeZT7nrVB8GcudlbXVprsMLGojzMxOcfP9KISc8Pi-FYv53-k3dPXmDGTEH6wWrV7PzDYPOMh0pQt2wCb4wyMZx8CMgTwHEztNDgroqzPRiVyQi_sWGgVVS07hTEmQqN5fIE/s320/IMG_3033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615224383112302098" border="0"></a><br />In just about one year Warsaw won’t only be the capital of Poland accommodating close to 2,000,000 residents, but the city will also play host to European Football Championship. From today in fact, the kickoff will be in 367 days. This means, well a lot. More specifically though, it means people of all European walks of life, all shapes, sizes and beer preferences will be traveling here to root for their respective nation’s football club. As a reminder to myself, I plan to stay out of their way. Anyway,it means that in addition to the normally hectic pace of life around these parts, and as a foregone conclusion thousands of football fanatical tourists will be struggling to find a hotel room and a bar seat on lively Nowy Swiat. Oh, and yes, the brand spanking new national stadium is also expected to be open for business.<br /><br />Seating 55,000, boasting 4 mega restaurants, a massive glass roof to protect the bellowing fans in the winter, close to 900 restrooms, and an ultra modern design showcasing a 100 foot tower reaching out into the sky, the soon to be finished stadium will rival any other major stadium built in Europe. Of course it just has to finish before June 2012. According to Sports and Tourism Minister Adam Giersz, it is the Symbol of the Euro 2012 project, which is being co-hosted by Poland and the Ukraine.<br /><br />It’s no secret. Rising out of the sky as one traverses by tram across the Vistula River, the stadium under construction will catch the attention of any curious or out of town passenger. The construction site now looks as if something truly grand might just grace Warsaw with a truly magnificent treasure any time soon. It just has to finish before kickoff for the opening match in June 2012. Go to the website and chart the progress for yourself. The website is chalked full of interactive gadgets to keep you busy for a while, and you can even check out my video from a week ago.<br /><br />http://www.stadionnarodowy.org.pl/index.php?lang=en<br /><br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzRJndw23uPIHw_XICWcnhj61UMn4ovhXM7wRmO0_b0we4gy-n8yF1S7tRIn8y4nFZD7sbfIU2foCKpvLoW4A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-31432590493311777152011-02-11T11:34:00.000-08:002011-02-11T11:54:04.029-08:00A Kafkaesque Experience<!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /> <br />What is a Kafkaesque experience exactly? I’ve read The Metamorphosis, and to me I got the impression that one goes through a process of feeling less and less significant and relevant as time passes. Then you finally you get squished and no one cares. That’s life. Luckily, this wasn't what happened to me when I went to Café Kafka by the University library last week.<br /><br />This is what my Kafkaesque experience was like. To start, unlike visits to Starbucks and other mega-coffee houses, I was treated like an anonymous customer, which was a pleasant change. There was no chirpy Starbucks banter greeting me as I approached the cash register, no ultra-clean Coffee-Heaven Uniformity, and no there were no prices on the cakes in the display case. I went inside, as one of the handful of available mellow employees while calmly, almost surreptitiously took my order, and invited me park myself in a comfortable seat where I would be served a welcoming cup of coffee by another amicable, yet reserved resident coffee maker. I got nothing spectacular, just a simple coffee. Or a cup of Kafka with a small flask of warm milk. For a coffee house these days simplicity was a pleasant surprise.<br /><br />What’s interesting though is the atmosphere. A wall of books (which are for sale by the kilo,) a random wall of antlers, furry bar-stool seats near the window, a disorganized colorful chalkboard menu, a pile of board games, cartoon posters, and black and white tile floors, which in sum gave me the feeling that I was back in Berkeley in the mid 90’s before average Americans got the infections coffee bar buzz and before everything got all corporate.<br /><br />It was almost like everything had been recycled. Café Kafka is a testament to all those places that don’t exist anymore in America, and will slowly be erased by the mega-coffee franchises globalizing their way to a neighborhood near you. If you want a quiet place for a chat, bury yourself in your book or lab-top or want an escape from the typical coffee scene in Warsaw, then metamorphisize yourself and opt for something simpler.<br /> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzN82LaWHsibtsJyUTw30Rmsd5W65vu-4cmdy-sMyUJ0-DuPkTLp6_ok1fKBVPCQVm8CU3_3pSio1rVTYkIhg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-37662821100221020092010-12-12T13:37:00.000-08:002010-12-12T14:24:51.711-08:00Out For Some Air!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpoMT2xU_U4_YZCWtsEiMJr_1S3JJxGQrdkTBLNEbZ4WH_TlDvqPZo9Rw977nFAtMrWr_qe_DPO9gUgcu1id-U-VXUUJ8NJ3o8eT3b6l2Cey-7EGZic7zxx6oBCyukmquf3jPbTO8WOA/s1600/IMG_2890.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpoMT2xU_U4_YZCWtsEiMJr_1S3JJxGQrdkTBLNEbZ4WH_TlDvqPZo9Rw977nFAtMrWr_qe_DPO9gUgcu1id-U-VXUUJ8NJ3o8eT3b6l2Cey-7EGZic7zxx6oBCyukmquf3jPbTO8WOA/s320/IMG_2890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549919025823530418" border="0"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0NRCI66YetRbB6NRB6v-eTmxjNIiXxmgO48Q-MGoqL1siawjFq2C8U1luqWFsB4dXowkyBjEAUWztAr3EFxsDf0B_ygJovRLsAs7KDRaJvMVz_2_aMcaeiGTWu7qcUySnKNGQmW2YXM/s1600/IMG_2894.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0NRCI66YetRbB6NRB6v-eTmxjNIiXxmgO48Q-MGoqL1siawjFq2C8U1luqWFsB4dXowkyBjEAUWztAr3EFxsDf0B_ygJovRLsAs7KDRaJvMVz_2_aMcaeiGTWu7qcUySnKNGQmW2YXM/s320/IMG_2894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549917928440168450" border="0"></a><br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><br />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. <br /><br />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!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dylktkalIdKEk-IcBCZYbqYzOAuW7K9sy_wrSSVA3AmPfYAhzZnuqqgEh_utBGaCbfvTJWpx7G308GULHng2g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-17060781818375454662010-12-03T12:16:00.000-08:002010-12-03T12:31:51.434-08:00How to Go Back to School When You Are Old<!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br />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.<br />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!<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Below is a short interview with a couple of my younger but more successful classmates!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyJhATecMy---MybXPm4qMp591bkE4Ft8TJU4BjrEqln-eqj36K1bOqsMQX7BgdzSMDA8WfcwIGJxCocqcE-Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-34058304436734675792010-12-01T00:36:00.000-08:002010-12-01T01:06:23.948-08:00An Early Winter<!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyv4IGBB153vS609cOJ3O1-RSWXA_L_d-tASrFODcAZljSxETy-NsBD0_gVtL4cmM0Hd479EWAVpDNiccPnzA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-77536230891077399652010-11-05T12:58:00.000-07:002010-11-05T13:09:49.203-07:00My Fair Lady of Warsaw<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rWe-M7Ef5PvEYtkVc7WUVTo4n2TPhOAuFUH8a8JDBL3Z3khyphenhyphen0LfNjPCtrB3aePNR0vEXnhpgoL1-k1q2jtKMnRE9ZrPfViVGGs0V9bwfBOC0sm55Fj-trFLPpF4uFMxVdckcZXzg8bg/s1600/IMG_2286.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rWe-M7Ef5PvEYtkVc7WUVTo4n2TPhOAuFUH8a8JDBL3Z3khyphenhyphen0LfNjPCtrB3aePNR0vEXnhpgoL1-k1q2jtKMnRE9ZrPfViVGGs0V9bwfBOC0sm55Fj-trFLPpF4uFMxVdckcZXzg8bg/s320/IMG_2286.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536160292868975362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iVebaOuk6TJCWFahSIoalL4DItXQQ88AmCBsbrUo1-xUcDZFQvrxYTq2MLZPtMn5cZTpk_gABi2lpXuZuTAWb3QyUd0tmgAOB-NYf5VmsWMHUOatKSX3b44gLTppHCW4VKlXzlZO1fs/s1600/IMG_2726.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iVebaOuk6TJCWFahSIoalL4DItXQQ88AmCBsbrUo1-xUcDZFQvrxYTq2MLZPtMn5cZTpk_gABi2lpXuZuTAWb3QyUd0tmgAOB-NYf5VmsWMHUOatKSX3b44gLTppHCW4VKlXzlZO1fs/s320/IMG_2726.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536159419866498770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRvKdHuHcxzcv2Pl7y15lVhvFmXuHquPXr7Bs3HPLX4_UgPWZsTbqFXb65soMwQIyyOE-0EG7F9H6-1nCdBqri0Yw-JwG7ARqsw7QYb21t8npK7artwsTclMwnwheK5GmwDYyPmgfftU/s1600/IMG_2722.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRvKdHuHcxzcv2Pl7y15lVhvFmXuHquPXr7Bs3HPLX4_UgPWZsTbqFXb65soMwQIyyOE-0EG7F9H6-1nCdBqri0Yw-JwG7ARqsw7QYb21t8npK7artwsTclMwnwheK5GmwDYyPmgfftU/s320/IMG_2722.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536158688586883106" /></a><br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><br />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.<br /> <br />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.<br /> <br /><br /> 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.dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-7203811647724438422010-09-14T08:34:00.000-07:002010-09-14T09:01:39.113-07:00What's about to Hatch in Warsaw?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.<br /><br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwzSHhofhu_XSkRejsAm3tZEqgcNVuSnVt9KvEZUTxxt1Ba-UscxUvouK0n-f2_J_-_Z5sTIFZqba1UtXV4EQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-23442746503452955182010-09-05T07:30:00.000-07:002010-09-05T11:17:42.275-07:00Chopin in the Sun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXEkA1auaqfanyOkle_C5YGxG9v_xRWULNyEGyU-5DHGPT41PyhjESjwVivxJkv9bryxpAMKOGqOC8LARJzyDexW1SoiYX3DwWyxENMrErsIV8EkbLCqp7-zu2ejFM0M28G242njokKw/s1600/IMG_2449.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXEkA1auaqfanyOkle_C5YGxG9v_xRWULNyEGyU-5DHGPT41PyhjESjwVivxJkv9bryxpAMKOGqOC8LARJzyDexW1SoiYX3DwWyxENMrErsIV8EkbLCqp7-zu2ejFM0M28G242njokKw/s320/IMG_2449.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513495223455011778" /></a><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />And, if you want, you can check out the concerts here online: www.koncertychopinowskie.pl <!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><br /><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </SCRIPT><br /><br /><SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><br /><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-d02a02e9225ed64e height=266 width=320 contentId="d02a02e9225ed64e"></OBJECT>tedbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-75845023510951882252010-08-27T08:16:00.000-07:002010-08-28T02:37:22.334-07:00A City in Ruins<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfM0xA3SToBs27d1IZ1EpSPjMzgmM20K2cGw-KvTWYF-0i75M7pxeg_1ObgqOfwuGxW7WHH8ns-77_3CmCye3ZJob8RM4pUlZCO1YaLg3kwolVaH4X47MBdnHL2UgdMesnmu614Hbrwk/s1600/IMG_2633.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510110163893019186 style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfM0xA3SToBs27d1IZ1EpSPjMzgmM20K2cGw-KvTWYF-0i75M7pxeg_1ObgqOfwuGxW7WHH8ns-77_3CmCye3ZJob8RM4pUlZCO1YaLg3kwolVaH4X47MBdnHL2UgdMesnmu614Hbrwk/s320/IMG_2633.JPG" border=0></A> <br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHYo8HBTHVA<br /><br /> <!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><br /><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </SCRIPT><br /><br /><SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><br /><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-4a5cca28bf91c494 height=266 width=320 contentId="4a5cca28bf91c494"></OBJECT>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-21064810534893131262010-07-18T08:18:00.000-07:002010-07-18T08:30:00.387-07:00Touristy but Must Re-visit!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? <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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?<br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-605ac2a506460d8f height=266 width=320 contentId="605ac2a506460d8f"></OBJECT>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-84206131114752917802010-05-18T09:22:00.000-07:002010-05-18T09:28:53.674-07:00An Easy Boycott!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* <br /><br />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!<br /><br />*Another decadent, gooey chocolate found in Poland is the famous Lion Bar..it's Nestle<br /><br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code -->dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-26997871035682568382010-05-04T07:09:00.000-07:002010-05-04T07:18:40.188-07:00Liberty in North Korea Presentation Links!<!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><script type="text/javascript">sc_project=3788059; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=40; sc_security="505d8c57"; sc_text=2; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><br />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!<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms4NIB6xroc&feature=related<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QaktifOSPM<br /><br />http://www.linkglobal.org/dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-50493960108515084672010-05-02T07:13:00.000-07:002010-05-02T13:01:16.151-07:00Thoughts about April in PolandApril 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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-c787acbfd1fa1aa3 height=266 width=320 contentId="c787acbfd1fa1aa3"></OBJECT>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-15999018380159897972010-02-19T12:34:00.000-08:002010-02-26T10:26:32.101-08:00Something Strange on my NeckA 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br />sc_project=3788059; <br />sc_invisible=0; <br />sc_partition=40; <br />sc_security="505d8c57"; <br />sc_text=2; <br /></script><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><br /><!-- End of StatCounter Code -->dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-47906626705124191072010-01-03T11:43:00.000-08:002012-02-12T07:14:20.335-08:00A New Resident in 2010!Dear Reader,<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br />1.) Started School-M.A. program in International Relations.<br />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.<br />3.)received a legal form saying the police would come interview me for my residence status.<br />4.)cops came and were nice.<br />5.)Came to a realization that studying International Relations wasn't easy while teaching English.<br />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.<br />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.)<br />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*<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />13.)Came back to Poland and got a new visa stamp for 90 days.<br />14.)got really sick-probably swine flu<br />15.)tons of homework/presentations/mid-terms etc.<br />16.)received decision on Residence Card-Approved!<br />17.)Became totally burnt out.<br />18.) Went to Opole for Christmas, had a relaxing time, and wrote one of 3 term papers.<br />19.)Picked up residence card and had a happy new year.<br />20.)enjoying last days of vacation before I go back to Work on Tuesday and begin exams next month!!<br /><br />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!<br /><br /> <br />*I still wouldn't recommend being detained by the UK Immigration officials at Stansted Airport.<br /><br />Here's your moment of zen- a bus in the Ukraine!<br /><br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br />sc_project=3788059; <br />sc_invisible=0; <br />sc_partition=40; <br />sc_security="505d8c57"; <br />sc_text=2; <br /></script><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><br /><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwRfNbBIwedheZ2o9O__5Xyok5VU_AAtQh3QYjR0IdXES95FB6PiYa4YYRL0Jbgn0BLZEeb2cugnZ4ljlRC' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-37889280759446283862009-10-20T11:40:00.000-07:002009-10-20T11:51:03.405-07:00Last WeekSomething happened last week that I had thought would totally never happen. Nevertheless it did. Keep in mind last week was only the second week of October. Also keep in mind that October is the fall. As it is fall, leaves turn color, people bundle up(a bit,)and we use adjectives like; fresh, brisk, and cool. We normally stagger out of bed and peer at the frosty air greeting us before you journey out into the post summer rain on the way to work. Despite this, last week these things we all expect didn't happen. Watch the video and find out what really happened!<br /><br /><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br />sc_project=3788059; <br />sc_invisible=0; <br />sc_partition=40; <br />sc_security="505d8c57"; <br />sc_text=2; <br /></script><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c41.statcounter.com/3788059/0/505d8c57/0/" alt="free web page counters" /></a></div></noscript><br /><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxjfTdhu5_wl_RrW0iCHnQ3BzAfsaZ7VeTjCzO-CJcNeEN3EFlcwGOXpTc7lgPwF6WLE9MBHC-a863dcuE3xA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-51029871501489196312009-09-21T04:33:00.000-07:002009-09-21T05:10:20.708-07:00In Celebration of our 50th Post and 5000th visitor!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFyco7gW3O5acYCkusyyO1mZGLNlEcTiKyV7d47OFYuoSw7-K9WR_zsJYTS5EcYR6l_U5_8kgEBva-hjPMBJqhPHPysvuyLRhxIe6fRQaq0i9cY45LARuS_L264vg7QNnEV07XiAdaTM/s1600-h/IMG_1622.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFyco7gW3O5acYCkusyyO1mZGLNlEcTiKyV7d47OFYuoSw7-K9WR_zsJYTS5EcYR6l_U5_8kgEBva-hjPMBJqhPHPysvuyLRhxIe6fRQaq0i9cY45LARuS_L264vg7QNnEV07XiAdaTM/s320/IMG_1622.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383891712045423698" /></a><br /><br />Well, I've been in the business of keeping a positive attitude, whilst saying nice things about people and places for just over a year now. I have also tried to make the most of my paltry photography skills to show some of what I have seen around the the globe to show you that the world is truly a friendly place, and deserves to be enjoyed more. Recently, I have noticed that I have had about 5000 visitors. So to those people, thanks and keep coming back. Interestingly, this will also be my 50th post. So if you're a numbers person, that makes it a tidy 100 people per posting. Not a bad gig.<br /><br /> Regardless in the spirit of hopping the proverbial fence and escaping out into the great mysterious, I have chosen a few of my favorite pictures to share with you of my own experiences over the last year and a piece. I have included people I have met, places I have seen, and food that was consumed in dangerous portions. Thanks for tuning in, Dan <!-- Start of StatCounter Code --><br /><SCRIPT type=text/javascript><br />sc_project=3788059; <br />sc_invisible=0; <br />sc_partition=40; <br />sc_security="505d8c57"; <br />sc_text=2; <br /></SCRIPT><br /><br /><SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><br /><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!-- End of StatCounter Code --><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-74044d4cfecb1756 height=266 width=320 contentId="74044d4cfecb1756"></OBJECT>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948302217671412410.post-69178265715171095592009-09-12T04:45:00.000-07:002009-09-12T11:01:13.287-07:00What's Burning?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAzRQ9uyWa77fRFNKJuD-Qw8vtbQbuinMnU_6VgXWQwQr8AuzxCQ_K_hBPD9yk9XF7Z-hMBbm1HYothQnR_ok0qeXv_9n2nLgyTjk9htTY0BQXxHfLGNUSonvfbaYZn3rsbrcSH2LSSM/s1600-h/IMG_2188.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAzRQ9uyWa77fRFNKJuD-Qw8vtbQbuinMnU_6VgXWQwQr8AuzxCQ_K_hBPD9yk9XF7Z-hMBbm1HYothQnR_ok0qeXv_9n2nLgyTjk9htTY0BQXxHfLGNUSonvfbaYZn3rsbrcSH2LSSM/s320/IMG_2188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380623344075880098" border="0"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XISqhOyNE54Dol6dF5feLNcJGJ6pRCtaML4rAMQCJY9aEG_3MTPULWxCesyof04pxHdUDyHmM9GJVSYYQiXcCgQ66LDtBSnXqy2vgbwKw25Llv5xHMBXcKFN9KccGPAHa35S5KvkPkM/s1600-h/IMG_2187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XISqhOyNE54Dol6dF5feLNcJGJ6pRCtaML4rAMQCJY9aEG_3MTPULWxCesyof04pxHdUDyHmM9GJVSYYQiXcCgQ66LDtBSnXqy2vgbwKw25Llv5xHMBXcKFN9KccGPAHa35S5KvkPkM/s320/IMG_2187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380623205667879698" border="0"></a><br /><br />One of my good pals in Warsaw, Mohamed, who is from Iran, told me that it is forbidden to make outdoor fires in Iran. It's ironic, since he and his other Iranian mates in Warsaw like nothing more than going to various parks in Warsaw and building gargantuan,roasting fires for grilling. Despite the fact that many Poles(Warsawians included,) like to partake in outdoor grilling adventures, I have also heard that it is in fact quite popular to have grilled food with fires in Iran as well. Even though it's 'illegal' in Iran, it's a pastime partook by most law abiding Iranians. <br /><br />Moreover, even though myself as an American claim to be one of those west coast barbecue savants, I have to regretfully admit that I got nothing on these Iranian grill experts. Where did these guys learn to cook like this? It's a strange notion for me. If somethng's illegal, then in most cases it isn't done. Anyway, it's just a campfire.<br /><br />So last Wednesday (for some strange reason) I had the day off, and set out with Mohamed to Powsien park in Warsaw for an Iranian grilling adventure. Usually we cook up chicken or lamb concoction, but this time Mohammed managed to procure some minced beef. With the beef he added some curry spice, pepper and egg. When this was finished; he mixed it all up, smashed it together a bit, produced some metal Iranian kebab sticks, then carefully rolled the meat on the sticks. Once on the fire the kebab roasted quite quickly. It was a difficult task to keep the dripping meat on the kebab sticks, since hamburger meat tends to sag a bit when it cooks. Regardless, we managed and to add a little Californian flair we put the meat into tortillas and indulged ourselves in a delicious outdoor feast, while washing it down with strong Polish beer.<br /><br />Once the food was finished, we built the fire again and enjoyed the warm fire and cold beer while our stomachs digested the meat. After all that was done, we considered it a mission accomplished, threw away our rubbish, hiked down the road a bit and hopped on the 519 bus back to the city. If you're even slightly interested in Iranian/Californian fusion please take a minute to have a look see at my video from Wednesday.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw1AbTUluQEyLXfz1UL0JW278QdeRCLsqeTqMz7ZXLt93ovJAgIQTzUY5ls6j2G8k_CyG7AsxabwIcvHT_u' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>dbmiller24http://www.blogger.com/profile/04886212927746619006noreply@blogger.com0