Nie rozumiem po Polsku!

Seriously, it's starting to annoy me that I don't know any Polish. I went grocery shopping today (which was, apparently, really stupid of me. I've never been in a grocery store that busy before; not even before a Tennessee snow storm) with a specific list of things to buy. I found most of them, but the things I wanted most — dill, and a can opener — were nowhere to be found. I couldn't tell where the spices were for a long time. Then, when I found a few, I realized I didn't know what dill was called. But I did something very ingenious: I went to the large seed packet display at the front of the store, found the picture that looked like dill, and tried to figure out which word on the front of the packet was the important one. (Turns out, it's "koperek.") Despite my best efforts, I still didn't find any dill. Now, this is Poland, so there's GOT to be some. I just didn't have any idea where else to look. Add to that the fact that I seemed to be the only one in the store willing to get out of anyone's way, and... well, I've never been so stressed grocery shopping in my life.


I guess that's the only truly frustrating experience I've had so far. Most of the time, I can figure out what I'm getting into. Or at least I'm prepared for the inconveniences caused by my ignorance. Also, Google only wants me to be able to search things in Polish. I CAN'T DO IT. IT IS TOO HARD. THERE ARE TOO MANY CONSONANTS.

The last few days have been very good, despite my complaining. On Tuesday, I went to my first English Club meeting. I was put in a group with three Poles, but Susan matched me with the ones who seemed to be at a higher English level. Though I did notice that she used the phrase "throw you to the wolves" once or twice. I don't consider myself much of a conversationalist, but I think I did a decent job of keeping three strangers engaged with me. It helps that they were all very eager to participate. It was at English Club that I discovered my camera was broken, however, so that put a damper on my night. At home, I might leave my camera behind for a couple of days in a row. But here, meeting new people and experiencing new things, it really hurts not to have it.

Wednesday was the first meeting of the Bible Express: Old Testament group. It's pretty cool, actually. The concept of it is to learn how to vocalize the gist of the Bible, to easily share it with others. We learned a story to help us draw a map that places about 90% of the geography in the Bible. Now we'll be going through the OT chronologically, being able to place different eras and events on the map. It's a very simple approach, but that's why I think it will be effective. I'm excited to learn all I can. What's more, it's getting me to seriously read the OT. It's been a while since I really delved into it with a purpose, and I feel like I'm seeing it in a whole new light. The class is small: Kaylin is leading it; then there's a European named Nats, a Malaysian named Li Yan, and me.

Thursday, Przemek and Joe invited Kaylin and me to see a documentary, It Might Get Loud, at the communist-era cinema in the PKiN. (That's the Polish abbreviation for the Palace of Science and Culture. To me, it looks better than PSC.) I enjoyed the film so very much. More and more, these days, I'm realizing that music is a greater good to me than photography. I truly love photography, don't get me wrong. But it seems I would rather be a musician than anything. I can't really explain it. I just know how much love it gives me. Anyway, I want my brother to see it, if he hasn't already. I love Led Zeppelin and Jack White, and I kinda like U2. But he loves them. And he's an awesome musician.

That evening, I went back to my apartment, sat in my room, and played ukulele. After a little while, my upstairs neighbor began to play piano. Now, normally he just sings with this earnest, exuberant, opera-style voice; but I've been told that in the past he has only played piano. So he began to play and sing "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. (Though it's been covered by 50 million people so I'm positive you've heard it at some point.) I sat there and listened. When he paused for a minute, I began to play it and sing on my ukulele. I tried to be loud, in hopes he would hear me. He remained silent, though later on I heard him again; I like to think he heard me responding to his song.

In the morning and the evening, he sings or plays. In the afternoon, he fights with his woman.

Now Friday was a gluttonous day. And probably quite glutinous as well. Susan met me at Metro Pole Mokotowskie. Finally got my metro pass. I opted for the Chopin design. Then, since we had plans that evening, we decided to eat together and bide time til then. Originally we thought perhaps a small salad. But we went to these three specialty stores to see what they had, and then there was no hope for us. I ended up eating 5 big pierogi (spinach & feta, blueberry, cinnamon raisin), celery root salad, most of a cucumber, and later on a blueberry/yogurt/granola desert. Holy cats. I was so uncomfortably stuffed, yet so fulfilled. I need to learn how to make pierogi while I'm here. The frozen ones will never be acceptable to my palate again.

After a couple of hours, it was time for Malaysian food night! Our friend Li Yan is one of many Malaysian students sent over on scholarship to medical school. So she helped organize a night where many of them would come over and cook for us. Kaylin's apartment had... let's see... well, I don't know, but probably right at or just over 20 people in it. The girls did the cooking, and the guys showed us how best to eat it with our hands. They made two chicken dishes, sweet corn fritters (also a southern American delicacy), and Nasi Lemak. Nasi Lemak, meaning "fat rice," is rice made with coconut milk and onions. I think maybe some ginger too. But the best part about that was the sambal sauce they made to go with it. It's made of chilis and is very hot, although I think they made it slightly milder for us. It is probably the most delicious thing I have ever tasted. They printed out recipes for all of us to have, which is very exciting, because I definitely want to have that again.

Beyond just the food, I met some really lovely people. They are all quite young — around 18 — but extremely smart, interesting, and easy to talk to, with good senses of humor. It was just really divine (and I don't mean that flippantly) to see everyone enjoying each other. Poles, Americans, Malaysians of different ethnic descents. I hope we get to spend more time together in the future. I know they were pleased that we enjoyed their food. Well, it would be my pleasure to enjoy it for them again soon.

Yes, I like food. So what? I'm trying to convince myself that the reason the floor makes cracking noises when I walk on it is because it is cheap and poorly installed...

Torday, Saturady,

Umm, let me start that paragraph again. Sorry. I don't know what happened.

Today, Saturday, I was supposed to meet Magda for coffee. Magda is a really great girl I met last summer. We only saw each other once or twice, but I really like her, and I think she likes me. She had to cancel because of a family dinner, but I've got 3 months (as a Polish woman at English Club reminded me, when convincing me to give them a Tennessee presentation), so I'm sure we'll get together soon.

So that's all I've been up to. The days can be pretty long, but they are all good ones. Today wasn't so great, but that's ok. I got some knitting done. Tomorrow is home group, Tuesday is Eng. Club, Wednesday is Bible Express, and I'm sure there will be enough socializing to keep me interested. Now I'm going to try to knit and fall asleep, in hopes that I'll wake up to go with Kaylin to her bazaar tomorrow. That is where delicious pierogi live...



Smacznego!

CLB