Home Sweet Home

I've been at school a lot this week and haven't really been taking pictures that are terribly exciting. So, I thought that I would share some photos of my room. All of the rooms in the Hotel Hera are different. There is a dorm side and a hotel side. We were lucky enough to be placed on the dorm side, which is older, but larger. There are two beds, a couch that pulls out into another bed, chairs, a desk, shelves, a changing room with closets, and a bathroom. Basically, we have an entire apartment. It's pretty incredible (especially compared to some of the other, smaller rooms). They are nice too, though. The only thing that we don't have is a shower. There is a bath tub and a shower hose, but it doesn't hook onto the wall or anything. In fact, even in the actual showers there is no place to hook the hose, you just, sort of, hold it. It kinda strange when you are used to a stationary shower set up, but we've gotten used to it. The room is really nice, but we don't spend much time here. We are in school from 10 to 4 during the day and then stay to do homework on the computers or go to the internet cafe (to update blogs). Today our first big assignment is due, so I will be here working all day.

**Photos: The room from the door/Our beds (Whitey is there on my bed)/ the Bathroom

Poland: Food Edition

I knew it would be tough to be a vegetarian in Poland, but considering my love for a variety of pickled foods, I went for it. I was right, most restaurants have little in the way of vegetarian options aside from pizza. In fact, I have been eating a lot of Italian food. However, I have recently found some great food! Maciek, my professor, recommended a great place that is almost all vegetarian and we went there for lunch on Monday. It has a cool coffee house atomosphere (my style) and tasty fresh sandwiches and salads. The next day was when I really found the perfect food for me. We went to a small restaurant with another instructor, Irina. Where I order polish soup. I love soup. It is a beet based, cold soup, with yogurt, cucumbers, green onions, and dill, topped with hard boiled egg. Yum. (and it's a really pretty magenta color) So, basically, this is what I'll be eating for the rest of the trip. This place also had other great options like vegetarian baked beans and crepes.

** Photos: Monday's lunch spot/ Food pictures from Tuesday (isn't that color awesome!)

the tour continues...

On Sunday we had another whirlwind experience with George, the tour guide. The day began around nine when we got breakfast. We then proceeded to make a 2.5 hour trip to Kazimierz, which is a small touristy village outside of Warsaw (way outside). George narrated the entire trip until we stopped at a park to look at some of the architechture there. While, George's enthusiasm was great, we all grew impatient after several hours without a restroom. When we finally made it to Kazimierz, there was (thankfully) a restroom as well as a great castle that we climbed, complete with a watchtower. It was built in the 13oo's and much of it is still there. After climbing the tower, we were all tired and hungry so we had to talk George in to taking a lunch break. We were convinced he didn't eat. We then split up and explored the village in small groups. On the way home to Warsaw we were able to stop at the small remaining Jewish cemetery, as well as a Russian Military cemetery. We finally made it home after getting caught in rush hour around 8 or 9, we all passed out immediately.

P.S. Thanks for the comments- I love them!

** The photos are as follows: The Jewish cemetery/Everyone in the group and the busGeorge, the tour guide/The city square in Kazimierz/Stephanie and Niki next to a life size version of the rooster shaped bread they sell in the village/Lee, Jeanette, and Nicole in the castle/Lee and Stephanie at the top of the tower

Speed Tour of Warsaw

The first day here we had a break from the conference on sociology. We were all hungry so we went to the closest cafe to school, Roosters. It turned out to be the polish equivalent to Hooters..so yeah, it was awkward. Later that night, we went out to dinner which was really nice. The next day we went on the fastest tour of Warsaw. Our tour guide was a small, polish man named George. He was very hard to understand, but very charming. Here are several sites of Warsaw. **photos are: top, left- this is the monument for Chopin in the park near our hotel. top, right- this is a view of the Warsaw library (my favorite thing so far). second row, left- roosters. sec row, right- old town everything has been rebuilt to look as it did before destruction. cool mural I saw walking home. next, is the summer house of a king. Finally, is the front view of the library before the storm we got caught in. <3 Lee

I'm here!

I made it to Warsaw. Two of my flights were delayed and I lost my bag, but I'm finally getting into the swing of things. I have met everyone and so far, we are all getting along well. My roommate's name is Jeanette, she is very sweet. We are all staying at the Hotel Hera, which is affiliated with the University of Warsaw and houses all of their guests. I will be adding more about the tours and school soon. ** pictures: the top, left picture(from left to right) is jeanette, nicole, niki, and stephanie in front of school. the top, right picture is Hotel Hera, and the bottom picture with the statue is school (IFIS)