Week 1: Kraków, Poland

September 14th-15th, 2018

Balcony view from my room.

Friday (99 days left!)

I arrived in Kraków at 11:15 this morning (my luggage arrived untampered as well) so off I went on a short adventure to find my Resident Director (RD). Two students were waiting with him when passed the terminal. Our apartment was a squirrelly, 20-minute taxi ride from the airport. Not 30 minutes off the plane and I was having my first culture shock experience. There are no speed limit signs! Evidently, everyone just follows these general rules: 140 km/h on the highway, 100/120 km/h on two-ways, 90 km/h on open roads, and 50 km/h on town roads. There were cars parked everywhere except the middle of the street and people walk or cross the street wherever they please. Although the cars stop for pedestrians, I will probably not run too much in the city with all the traffic (both vehicle and pedestrian).

I was shocked by the size of the apartment. I have never lived in a room this big. As you can see above, the balcony adds some space as well.

Within three hours, everyone from the group had arrived and our RD (a.k.a Mum and Dad) guided us to Stare Miasto. He showed us St. Mary's Cathedral, Eros Bendato, and Sukiennice (Cloth Hall).

Dinner was delightful at Polskie Smaki. I had Naleśniki ze Szpinakiem, czosnkiem i mozarellą (oops, the menu didn't mention the cheese or cream!) The spinach in the pancakes (or crepes) were rich, savory, and brackish, but the cream took away the harshness. On the way back we stopped halfway to take a tram before we got drenched. Poland has weather similar to Pennsylvania. It's sunny when you walk into a store, and it's raining by the time you come out.

I am definitely jet-lagged so I woke up at 12 am, which was quite pleasant because when I peered out my window the city was still buzzing hardcore. I think Kraków may have NY beat as "the city that never sleeps". The cars never stop coming on Aleja Adama Mickiewicza.

It looks like only a few cars, but behind them there are miles of vehicles waiting to move.

Saturday (98)

Surprise! I went running. Stare Miasto, Kraków is very easy to navigate because of Planty Krakowskie, a park the surrounds the old town. Always know the direction you came from and you can never be lost by backtracking to this park. There were hardly any people out walking at 6:30am, but the main roads were very active. By 7am, I had become familiar with all the roads leading to Stare Miasto so I ran around the plaza. At some point I heard a trumpet, but I could not see the musician.

Orientation started at 9:30am. We covered all the details of emergency, safety, academics, and practical information about Kraków. Some of the most important highlights:

• No smiling or staring. People will think you are crazy if they do not know you.

• No wearing school paraphenalia or sports team shirts. The school wear is tacky--you will not blend in--and the sports shirts (especially for football) may get you into a fight. Poles are very passionate about their "soccer".

• Do not say "Dzień dobry", "Cześć", or "Hello" to everyone on the street. This is bothersome and uncool.

However, being a hipster (a.k.a. wear glasses, grow a beard, own/ride a bike, have products with the Apple logo) is cool in Poland--our site director recommended this tactic of blending in. He is quite hipster himself.

Lunch was delightfully at Chimera. I had a vegan stew, stuffed pepper, potatoes, and buckwheat with vegetables. Vegan honey mustard on the side.

For dinner, the students in the apartment below me and I went for pierogi at Przystanek Pierogarnia. They had a ten piece mix option so I got Wegańskie pierogi and Śliwkowe (plum) dessert pierogi. The vegan had parsley, creamy potatoes, carrots, and lentils in a soft dough. The dough was like really well cooked pasta in taste but without the glutenous or gelatin-like mess, and it was still tough (although sticky in the mouth). I guess it was like regular dumpling dough (or mochi?). The plum had a subtle taste of the fruit, but it also tasted of hibiscus. The cream added a sweet cream cheese taste that was soft. They really nailed the Śliwkowe pierogi.

The whole API group decided to put a radar on the night life. It was intense! There are people everywhere. Like I mentioned on Friday night about this city never sleeping, this city is crowded at night. The bars are full, the square is buzzing, and festivals are happening with music galore. Horse drawn carriages plow across the street. It's hard to know where to go at first. You might be walking on a cobblestone courtyard thinking it is only a plaza for people to stroll, and then suddenly there's a car pulling up from behind you.

Next post will be up soon! Also, message me (SMS, WhatsApp, or Facebook) if you would like my postal information to send something or need my Polish number.