Learning Polish in Krakow

Hello friends -

A belated greeting from Krakow! I haven't emailed yet partially since I have pretty killer jetlag (it's getting better), and partially because, as of yet, there seems to be relatively little to report. On Friday, Jim flew into Pittsburgh, and we drove to Jersey right after my graduation ceremony.

We got in at midnight, had a drink and caught up with Brooke, and in the morning took most of my worldly possessions back into the house, stuffed everything else into a suitcase and a messenger bag, and headed into the city for a quick all-you-can-drink champaigne brunch with Selda, Sarah Medway, and Lisa before heading to my flight, which left JFK at 6 pm.

Flying was uneventful, except that I started and finished Water for Elephants (pretty good, quick read). I arrived in Krakow, found my apartment (more about that in a moment), and met up with the rest of the folks in the program for dinner at a Milk Bar (authentic Polish food at inexpensive prices. Kind of like their Denny's, but good for you).

Our apartment is in a really perfect area of town - right off of the old town square, about a five minute walk from the street culture, quasi-touristy, really vibrant area. You can eat dinner on the square for about $5 a night (or $15 if you prefer the fancy food), so we've been sticking pretty cloe to our area - but today I think we're going to venture out.

I live in this apartment with four other women from the Pitt program - three of them go to Pitt, and the fourth is from Smith College. The apartment is huge, but oddly spaced, with a three-person bedroom, a single room, and a couch in the living room, where I sleep. It's pretty interesting living with this many people/women, but so far so good =)

We have school from 9:30 to 2 each day, which is a pretty good mixture of review and new material. In the afternoon there are always actiivities, which I've slept out the past few days, but today I think I'm going to venture to Nowy Hud, the old steelworks, with the folks from the program. This weekend we're going to Warsaw for a few days, and then back to the school!

So, there's nothing much to report so far. I do Polish, I am reading Love in the Time of Cholera, and I watch about half an episode of Twin Peaks a night before I go to sleep. There is only very spotty internet in the house, but we have a phone, which can receive calls but not make them, so if you miss me I can pass along the phone number.

I'll update every once in a while as things become interesting. Until then, I am alive and well and living Krakow for the next few weeks!