[for the new folks, I'm in Poland right now. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eastern-europe/ to see the previous journal entry.]
What have I done since I saw you last... let's see. I have explored Lodz (pronouced "woo-dge") inside out, from the buildings to the markets, to the people to the nightlife... I have picked up a few phrases, like "przepraszam" "dzienkuje bardzo" "Ile to kosztuje?" "Jestesh glodne?" which translates to "excuse me" "thank you very much" "how much does it cost" and "Are you hungry?"
A few moments here and there, that I will share with you:
-last night, on the train back from Warsaw to Lodz, I and two
friends had a room (2 facing couches and a window, like you've seen in
old movies) alone, so we turned out the lights and talked the whole
length of the trip (1.5 hours) about spirituality and astrology. Then I
felt inspired, and warm (from the big wool sweater I was wearing) so I
opened the top part of the the window and leaned out into the night to
gaze at the stars. It was simply incredible; a great full sky like in
Cherry Valley (my home), frozen air brushing your face, the occasional
electrical pole to avoid alongside the tracks... I pointed out the few
constellations I knew to my friends Piotr and Radek: big dipper, 7
sisters, Orion. Of course the milky way... The rush I got put me
instantly into old-time movies... All I'm missing is a floor length fur
coat, which apparently sell for $400 USD, if anyone has a request. :-)
-this afternoon and evening, walking with a friend Rafal through
the woods near Lodz, I felt perfect. I told him of the stories Mom and
Grampa used to tell me, where a young boy (a relative, obviously) ran
from a wolf, jumped in a barrel, rolled down a hill, got picked up by a
giant stork... all of that. :-) There are not many hills where I am now,
but the forests are very very beautiful. So still and crisp (quite).
The conversation was wonderful too. Rafal, I and my angielsko-polski
dictionary crunched along on the fallen leaves talking about common
interests: -the role of national and international governments in local
economies, learning from the mistakes of American urban design, namely
"urban sprawl," what is most important to us in our lives... etc. For
Rafal, what is most important is staying true to his ideals, which are as
follows: money is superficial, respect your foes, who you are is more
important than what you have. We paused for a while in a small cabin in
the middle of the forest, packed with people munching on globki and
drinking tea.
(sigh) It's moments, or even hours, like those that make whatever stress or apprehension that exists disappear. Another is laughing uproariously with someone who speaks a different language, and then learning she is a dancing fiend!
Some contradictions: imagine a great building, with columns, granite and commanding statues. Then put a giant neon sign for Nokia or Coca-Cola right above the door, and you have Warsaw. Another one: walk down a stone street with old ornate buildings caked with dirt and soot, cleaned only up to the first floor. Then turn the corner to enter the Vietnamese district. Enter a small restauracje, choose from the vietnamese menu in polish, be served by a young polish girl, eat food cooked by a young polish boy and observe the vietnamese owner looking on. This is Lodz, and I've heard Poland in general.
Prices: food much cheaper than I expected, everything else not that much less than normal.
Well, this will have to do. For those of you who worry, I'm having a fabulous time, surrounded by wonderful caring people, and am quite healthy and warm. I'll let you know if any of these change. :-)
Love,
Angelika Gosiewska