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

Making progress

In case you were wondering, my packing and cleaning is coming along. I'll be at it for the next few days, with an overnight weekend trip to Warsaw in between. I can't believe Heather is leaving on Sunday. It doesn't seem real. We are constantly asking ourselves and each other what we'll do without the other...seriously. It's only a temporary parting though - thank GOODNESS - as we'll be meeting up in Florence at the end of the month!

I forgot to mention my classes in Koz last Friday. For my first two classes we combined with the other classes in the school and had a kareoke party. It was awesome. The kids were shy at first, but before we knew it they didn't want to leave. It was great to hear about 25 Polish kids all singing the Cranberries' "Zombie" at the top of their lungs. That and Barbie Girl were the most popular choices.

The weather has made its way up to the low-thirties, FYI. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow...and so on. I love it!

I had a great evening out with my Wednesday adult group. We sat at a patio and had some beer. It was a really nice finish. I told them I want them to come to South Korea with me so I can keep teaching them (I told the one woman she can bring her son too - who is Claire's age and who I teach. She told me he loves me as a teacher! Awww.). This group said they would pay English College to keep me as their teacher next year. It was so sweet. I am very sad to be leaving them! Of course, out-of-class conversation is when the real questions come. What do I think of Polish men? Do I have a Polish boyfriend? Do I have a boyfriend in Canada? (They were genuinely shocked when I answered 'no' to the last question, in a good way, I think! Hahaha)

Too hot to type. Back to cleaning and packing, and then off for my LAST TEACHING DAY. Whoa.

Mid-twenties and blue skies

The weather, that is! Luckily I've been able to enjoy it, though I do have to spend much time indoors, organising my life, as we're down to the final days. A week today I'll be boarding a plane to Rome! WOOOOOO!

I'm actually sorta kinda freaking out a little now. Things are slowly but surely coming together though, because, well, they have to. Having a lighter work schedule this week definitely helps. I've become a purging machine. My flat looks like a a tornado hit about ten times over, yet somehow I'm living in it. It makes things look more conquerable, because what I see is what I have to deal with. Please, no surprise guests.

Heather and I had a great Saturday - our last together in Radom. It was both productive and enjoyable! The weather was gorgeous, so we hit a patio late afternoon for some beer and perogies - how Polish is that?

I had another sleepless night a couple nights ago...to bed at 4am and up around 8:30am. Did you know it starts to get lighter outside between 3:30 and 4? That's early! Once again, it's been great catch-up time with friends, and it actually keeps me sane. Fortunately last night I had no trouble sleeping at all.

I'm looking forward to my adult class this evening, as the weather is fabulous. We're just going to a patio. And then tomorrow is my last day of teaching! Classes finishing up this week so far have been a bit lack-lustre, but I'm too tired to mind, and it makes leaving easier - less teary goodbyes to face!

Ok. Back to more cleaning and packing. WEEEEEEEEEEE!

Sleep is overrated

But I don't really believe that.

Tears have been shed this week, as some of my classes have come to a close. On Tuesday, two of my classes of younger students (ages 4-6, and 7-8) ended, and the latter group witnessed my tears. They gave me the best hugs, and held on tighter when they saw how sad I was to say good-bye. I've been getting some lovely gifts too, and I feel so spoiled. If I could, I would take some of these kids to South Korea with me, so I could continue teaching them. I'm going to miss them so much! I had a nice dinner out with my adult group on Tuesday, and had pierogi for the second time since living here! About time, eh? They were quite delicious! We're going out again this upcoming Tuesday, so I didn't have to say farewell just then.

I foolishly ate some chocolate before bed on Tuesday night, thinking I was too tired and the chocolate wouldn't affect me. I should know better, because chocolate ALWAYS keeps me awake. Sure enough, I had a fitful night and was up at 4 and again at 5. I stayed awake from 5am on, because I am a crazy person, and somehow got through the day! We had Thursday off, so I was able to sleep in. But then again last night I was up between 1am and 4:30am. There is a lot to think about right now, so I think that is keeping me awake. Plus I had a very full tummy from a delicious sushi dinner, so that wasn't helping either. The time has been well spent though, and is a great time to catch up with people on Skype! Haha

I predict more tears being shed today, as it's my last Friday. I love my Fridays. Then next week, Monday and Thursday are my only full days of teaching left! (Tuesday and Wednesday are dinners out with my adult groups.) WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN???

I think I am going to nap now...

Team Effort at its Finest

Life is good again. Saturday night Heather took home the excess cookie dough. Yesterday she baked the rest of it in her toaster oven (as she is sans oven). WE HAVE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES! It wasn't a complete waste after the minor electrical fire! But of course Heather has to have a mini flood in her washroom. Yup, I think we got it covered.

Oh. Last week the company car had to be TOWED back to Radom from Koz, because it broke down AGAIN. I wasn't in it, thank goodness. In fact, one of the bosses was driving it. THEY'RE STILL NOT GIVING UP ON IT THOUGH. I don't understand.

Rainy Monday. Thursday is a day off! Woo! In the mean time, back to work.

And then there were twenty-one

One of my classes finished on Tuesday, leaving only twenty-one left. I can't believe it's that time of year already. I surprised myself by not crying...they're a really sweet group of 12 year olds. They made me a really sweet card. It was a nice last class.

In Poland, Mohther's Day (and Father's Day) is on a fixed date - May 26. My young students asked me if I was a mommy. NOOOOOOOOOOOO way. Not for a while yet, thank you.

I'm reading two books right now - The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield), and The Mother Tongue (Bill Bryson). The latter is so fascinating and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. I honestly want to sit and memorise every little thing in it, and share it with everyone. English really is a funny and complicated language...it's oh so very mind-blowing.

I had a most unfortunate incident in my flat this afternoon. I was baking peanut butter cookies, and there was a little electrical fire at the back of my oven. I ONLY MADE TWENTY-ONE COOKIES! THERE WERE AT LEAST FIFTY MORE TO GO.

Hold-up. I've had the title for this blog entry thought up since Tuesday, when my one of my twenty-two classes ended. It totally relates to the cookies though too. That is too much. So now my oven doesn't work. Did I mention my toilet seat broke recently?

Well I suppose I will take the time to officially announce that I have a job in South Korea for next year! Mid-August start, for 12 months. I'll be just outside of Seoul. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!! I look forward to both the change and the challenge it will present me. The administrative stuff is almost all settled, so once that's set, then I can focus a little more on my upcoming Italy trip with mom! Timing also works out to meet up with Heather in Venice! You didn't think we could get away from each other that easily, do you? (We already have 2012 travel plans in the works as well...)

I'm really in no condition to be writing right now: I'm exhausted, and both the lack of peanut butter cookies in my life and the movies Heather and I watched tonight have left me heart-broken (as excellent as the films were). On that note...good night! xo

Stormy weather

I realise it's been over a week since my last post...eesh! How did that happen?

In case your curiousity got the best of you, the "appointment" I kept referring to in my Berlin story was successfully met last weekend in Warsaw...I GOT A TATTOO!! I am in love with it. Really. It's for me, and I am so happy that I can see it all the time. (Heather got her third, and it is so rockstar and awesome, like her.) I was so pumped and calm for it, but my nerves kicked in as we entered the parlour. I was so shaky. Heather was a solid support though, emotionally, mentally, and physically (you should have seen her hand when the work was done)! And we returned to our favourite club for a fabulous night of dancing - soul and motown baby. It's like they knew we were coming.

Before!

During! TADA!

Rockstar Heather!

The weekend in general was lovely. Mild weather, coffee shops, and a wee bit of shopping. Sunday morning it was pouring, but we made the trek to our French patisserie for breakfast before we headed back to Radom. Then the heavens REALLY opened up and poured. There have been some crazy beautiful storms here, with breaks of blue sky and sunshine moments. Long enough to catch some rays - like today. Heath and I did our usual Saturday morning grocery shop, got smoothies from the juice bar (the girl working was SO friendly and spoke great English!) and enjoyed them in the sun as we waited for the bus. Then we walked downtown to dit outside at a patio. Our walk was warm and summery, but it clouded over by the time we sat down. Once again, the rain came, but we were sheltered by an umbrella. It was really nice actually! And we tried this DELICIOUS Polish honey beer. We followed it with an espresso. A most delightful Saturday afternoon out. Tonight's plan involves sushi and our usual Film 101 session.

I had some great classes this week. I have come close to crying in a few classes lately, with the realisation that the year is quickly coming to an end. Last night with my gents in Koz we had a moment. Of course, there were many laughs to be had again. We were finishing the first "Allie and Mark" story in their text (which continues through in the next two series of texts) and I asked them to predict what would happen next. "Meet at conference. Meet at hotel. King size bed." Hahahaha It was classic. Not only was it hilarious, but they used terms they had learned earlier in the year! They make me proud.

With my 11 year olds, I had a riddle for them. They loved it so much and wanted more so we ended up doing problem solving riddles for the whole class (which was one of my favourite things to do at that age, so I remembered a bunch)...like "Two mothers and two daughters went out together. Each of them bought a bike, and only three bikes were purchased. How is that possible?" With my 10 year olds, one of them was singing "We are the Champions" by Queen, and for whatever reason, I decided to fully rock out, air guitar and all. Why? It doesn't matter. They loved it.

It makes me feel good when I can amuse my students. Last week with my 8 year olds, another teacher had to borrow the CD player, so I was left without one. I did the reading instead, changing my voice drastically for the different characters. They loved it! It made me happy.

Happy May 24!!!!