The first day

After seven hours of over the Atlantic and two over the comparatively diminutive Europe, I had my first glimpse of Poland over the wing of the 767. The misty rolling hills were hard at first to distinguish from the mountains puffs of cloud on the descent, but soon we broke free of the cloud cover to see the red rooftop-spectacled countryside of Poland. And although the airport is technically in Krakow, it was definitely countryside, until one reaches the medieval center, Krakow itself seems to simply be a an oddly expansive woody village.

Poland looks undeniably similar to Pennsylvania with its hills, grassy fields and hardwood forests, but twice as brightly colored: rich green forest, gold fields, and red geraniums dripping out of the balconies that dangle of every domicile, including my own.

Yes, there is still plenty of communist architecture, but its taken on a distinctly Polish hue, quite literally. Piast, my dorm, a giant concrete block, is now lime green and yellow. Many of the old concrete structures are a patchworks of pinks, echoing the traditional red roofs and pinkish beige stucco (is that the word?) of Polish homes.

After the airport, Pani Zielinska from the center took us to the dorm, where, despite everyone's grumbles about Polish bureaucracy, we were processed quickly enough and on our way to the suite. Our, by the way, refers not to myself and the mouse in my pocket, but Tim, a student from Univ of Illinois I met on the plane. His room shares a bathroom with my and Monika's room. Monika, luckily for our suite, is fluent in Polish and tirelessly friendly.

After riding the tram to the center, Tim and I were shooed off with maps to go change our money. We wandered to the Square, well, I wheedled for Tim to come with me and he nicely agreed. It was amazing. I'll take photos soon. None of my words can adequately describe it.

My Polish may be nonexistent, but Pani Zielinska half-laughingly pointed out I already know the important words: excuse me, good morning/afternoon, please, and my favorite phrase, "Sorry, I don't understand, I don't speak Polish." I'm learning though. Most the students here know more than me, but I'll get down the basics soon enough.

Lots of love to all