First Day

Today was the first day of classes.  I awoke to an email from my mother saying, "It's a school night."  So she continues the streak.  Class went well, quite a long day but the classes seem good.  Mostly review.  Many of the young kids were fairly lost when we went over organic chemistry because in the states chemistry is strictly taught inorganically in high school.

It was very interesting having instructors teach these subjects in their second language.  I commend them!  There are a lot of ehhh or ummms as they think of what to say but that is very impressive nonetheless.  One thing I noticed today was the size of the paper.  All the handouts we received were larger than 8.5 x 11in.  It was more like 9.5 x 12.

I was going to get one of these cooked half or full chickens from the P and P store.  It is Pawel i Pietor, or P and P for short, but the did not have any.  Looks like I'll have to go next door and get more pasta with meat sauce.  I did get one of the elusive books and an upper classmate will let me borrow her other two.  Time to eat and relax before another long day tomorrow.

School Night

Today is what my mother would call a "School Night."  Slightly bummed that she hasn't said that to me yet.  I can confidently say she has told me that EVERY night before a new year of school.  Today nothing really went on except for a book sale that got interrupted by some showers.  I went to try to find at least one of the three books I will need for the next few weeks, but unfortunately I was unsuccessful.  I asked some other upperclassmen I know for their old ones and I'm waiting for a reply.  I can get two of them at the local bookstore and one, the most expensive, I have located online but many places do not ship to Poland.  This girl I know did not have any luck finding the right books either, so I'm not the only one.  I do have an hour break between classes, which I will use to hunt down these elusive books.  Many people got some books for the year but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.  The bookstore has a lot of used books, decently priced as well so I did not feel the need to rush.  Here is a video of the room that is feeling more and more like home.  We still need to eat better and do better cooking.  Maybe I should speak for myself because Dennis cooks these interesting stews.

 My apologies to the angle of this video.  During this post, Dennis made his dinner and put some stew on pasta, topped with a hard boiled egg.  I was able to capture him preparing one of his famous dishes.  Yummy?

Time to get ready for the day tomorrow and go to bed early tonight.  

Do widzenia

Sunday

Woke up and did the thing I normally do first, check out sport scores and news.  Looks like the Angels lost Mike Napoli also.  Fuentes hurled a 1 out save yesterday.  I slept pretty well last night on my new pillow.  Today will consist of getting prepared for class tomorrow.  I got out all my notebooks and pens.  At the REAL store yesterday I did confirm the notion that in Poland you cannot find notebooks with lined paper.  All the paper in these notebooks is graph paper.  Strange.  The weather looks to be quite wet the rest of this week.

I'm actually kind of looking forward to class.  It's been since the fall of '08.  It'll be nice to keep busy with these classes and should be cool as one of the older students.  The 6-year program I hear is at a slower pace than the 4-year.  I've spoken to second years in the 4 year program and they say I should do great with the pace considering the educational background I've had.

Good End to a Good Day

We have recently set up our wifi in the room so now I can hook into it with my iPhone and use this very amazing MLB application where I can listen to every game.  Laying in bed listening to the Tigers vs Blue Jays game is a great way to end the day.

Good Night

REAL

Today we went to the REAL store.  It is much like a Target, you can get anything and everything in there.

Some say this is a statue of male fertility.  Can you see it?

On the few kilometer walk to REAL, we walked along one of the main roads that is being redone for the Euro Cup.  There were no barricades, signs, cones, or anything prohibiting us from walking in their construction zone and everyone does.  In America if I trip on a stone they had out I could sue and probably win a pretty penny saying they didn't tell me to be aware of the construction.  I like this relaxed atmosphere here.

It really is like a huge Target.

The roommate Dennis Adjpong.  Not very happy as his debit card was just declined.  

Upon leaving the store, it was pouring but also blue sky was visible.  Typical unpredictable Poland weather.

Precourse

Precourse is pretty much academic boot camp.  I think it's designed to filter out the weak ones.  I heard that the grades do not really count and a lot of people don't go to many of the classes.  Here is my schedule:

0800-0930 Chemistry
0945-1115 Polish
1130-1300 Chemistry
1330-1500 Physics
1715-1845 Biology

Luckily all the classes are in the Collegium Stomatologicum on 70 Bukowska Street.  That is right around the block from my dorm so it will be very accessible.  Here is a shot from inside the building.  My classes will be held on the third floor basically opposite this photo.

I've had a little trouble finding the books.  There is a website medicalbooks.pl that is the official store to purchase our books but I can't find exact matches to the titles and you cannot search very well on that site.  One is sold out too.  I'm going to see what others are doing then make some choices on which to get and where to get them.  

My roommate right now is cooking some interesting stew with items that he purchased at a very dirty roadside merchant.  The store AND the food was pretty dirty, I am not going to eat that.  Especially if he adds anchovies to it.  That was number 1 on his grocery list.  He actually searched for the cheapest anchovies from the grocery store and got them, they were 3zl or $1.  I feel that fish products are worth spending a little extra on.  I've found a nice Italian place close to my room.  It's good to get some warm food, you can only eat so many sandwiches and ramen bowls.

I'd also like to say farewell to Angels closer Brian Fuentes.  I finally do not have to watch you blow games.  

I just received a text message during this post.  I will share it with you:

Witaj w Orange POP. Tylko z tym starterem mozesz SMSowac za 1gr w Orange przez 3 miesiace.  Wyslij SMSa o tresci BONUS pod nr 268 (koszt SMS w Orange).  Translate anyone?

Speaking of the Polish language...  I will attempt to record my roommate during one of his Rosetta Stone lessons.  And I thought I sounded funny trying to speak Polish.  

Freshman Party

Last night we had the annual freshman party at the Club Eskulap.  It's behind the dormitory Eskulap and it's University owned.  I went with a couple friends and it was actually very fun.  Some good music, singing, and dancing.  After that, it was one of my friends' 22nd birthday so we went downtown near the Stary Rynek to this club Chocolat.  The clubs and bars here don't close at all.  You can dance and drink 'til the morning.  We ended up leaving around 5am.  Good times.

I've noticed here in Poland that they amount of money for items is the same, but just difference currency.  5 for a beer, 7 for a pasta dinner at a take out place,  3.50 for gas, 20 for a round of drinks, etc.  But it's just the dollar in the states and the zloty here in Poland so the amount is divided by 3.  Very convenient.

I got my phone's SIM card yesterday.  Not sure exactly what I purchased as there was a language barrier during the transaction but I got something that went in my phone and now I can call.  The carrier is Orange, which is the best in Poland from what I gather.  Who knows how many minutes or texts I have one it.  Today I might go to Ikea, depending on how the birthday boy is feeling this morning.  It might be nice to get a pillow and some silverware/dishes.  Tonight there is an annual pub crawl for incoming freshman.  Might have to twist my arm to attend that one!