We'll always have Poland

Bittersweet parting words, careof Heather, on Sunday morning in Warsaw. I thought I was going to keep my cool, but a sudden burst of sadness came over me and I cried like a baby, minutes before her bus to the airport came. My eyes teared again as the bus pulled away, and I softly sobbed myself to sleep on the lonesome train ride back to Radom that afternoon. It's like I'm missing a limb....I know we're meeting up in Venice (in 15 days!!!), but it's not the same. Our life together in Radom is over. The end of an era. Man oh man did we have a fantastic year though! Some of the best memories and laughs ever. A real adventure with a true friend. We survived Radom...now where's our T-shirt?

We went to Warsaw Saturday to hang out. We met up with one of Heather's students, and also with a long-time friend of Heather's who is travelling Europe with her boyfriend right now. It was a most excellent time - gorgeous sunny weather, beer, perogies, and our favourite night spot.

Thursday night Heather and I went out with Gosia, one of our Polish friends/colleagues, for a drink. It's sad how quiet the town was at 10:30 on a Thursday night! The mosquitos were killer but the beer was good. Heath and Gosia went to the washroom at one point, and came back with a guy from Radom THAT HAD BEEN TO THUNDER BAY! Apparently my reaction to this was an evening highlight. I jumped up with 150% enthusiasm and asked if he'd been to the Persian Man. Haha He agreed, though I'm not sure he knew what I was talking about, as he was 11 when he went. He also informed us of a Canadian guy he met living in Radom. I had heard that at the beginning of the year, from a student, but never actually met the guy.

Friday night the same trio of us went for sushi one last time. We predict Gosia will be calling us within the month to let us know the restaurant went out of business, since we seem to be the only clients. It was delicious, and I had worked up an appetite after cleaning my flat all day. I don't think I've sweated so much since Bikram yoga...well, maybe not that much. But it was SOOOO hot. I'm not complaining, lovely weather, but being inside my flat was too much. A 7-11 slurpee would have hit the spot.

Friday morning was a chore and a half. Heather and I went to the bank to close our accounts. Because we wanted the close date to be at the end of the month, we needed a letter, written in Polish, explaining this. Our boss had given us such a letter, so we brought it and signed it in front of the teller. Unfortunately it was missing an important line...basically it was two hours of a broken Google Translate conversation between us and the teller. He was SO helpful and actually rewrote the letter for us, but it was definitely a headache (which had nothing to do with the events of Thursday night...). Haha

Yesterday my suitcases got picked up by a shipping company, my flat checked, got my final pay...and today I'm just passing time until my early morning departure tomorrow! One of my friends/coworkers is coming over tonight to hang out, which will be nice for my last night. It still really hasn't hit me. I'm excited for what's to come, but I'll miss living in Europe. I have friends scattered throughout, and it's so wonderful to meet up now and then. I know I'll be back though. Wow.

Italy with mom for the next four weeks! I'll still be blogging, though I can't say with how much frequency. But I do take my journal with me everywhere, after all! Thank you to all who have followed, commented, stayed in touch, mailed, emailed, loved, thought, supported, laughed, everything. We'll meet again soooooon! xo