The Countdown is On

We have been prepping and packing and planning and purging all in preparation of the big move!  It's hard to believe that it is just about a month away.  It is getting very real and the range of emotions are running their course on a daily basis.  Things really sunk in when we set up our "pack out" where the movers come and pack up our stuff to send across the ocean or to put away into storage locally for a few years.  As you can see, we have been making a lot of progress.  Although it feels like there are a lot of little things (like making a written list of almost everything that we are moving) to wrap up before the movers arrive in a few short days.  Wish us luck!

My Kind of Town

We had the pleasure of having some great visitors over the weekend.  My Aunt Irene came in for the weekend from Miami and my dad came up for a night to drop a few things off before the movers come.  It was so great to have family in town and spend quality time together.  My Aunt helped me run some errands but we also got to fit in some fun Chicago time.  She was quite a trooper in the Chicago weather and didn't complain once about the cold.  We made a trip to Garrett's for some popcorn, explored the new Whole Foods in Lincoln Park (my Aunt works in the health food industry) and had a nice night out at Shaw's Crab House! Thanks for coming to visit Aunt Irene.  Love you.

Euro Learning #1

Tom has been in Europe this week on business.  He was in Amsterdam the first half of the week and Warsaw the latter half....it's a rough life!  : )     His trip has been going well and he seems to be having fun and learning a lot about his new role.  

The first day into his trip he called me with "Euro Learning #1" as he so affectionately called it.  He was headed into his hotel room in Amsterdam at night and could not find the light switch anywhere in the dark room.  He spent a solid 10 minutes feeling his way around the room looking for the switch without any luck.  He finally broke down and called the front desk to ask how to turn the lights on.  For Tom to give in and ask someone is quite a feat.  He quickly learned that in order to turn the lights on he needed to insert his room key into a switch that would activate the lights.  Apparently this is quite common and is done in order to conserve electricity.

I am sure that this will be one of many Euro Learnings that we will experience....some harder to learn than others.  Our goal is to take them all in stride and have some fun along the way!

Euro Learning #1:  Use your hotel room key to turn on lights.

Trying to Smell the Roses

We are doing our best to stop and smell the roses with all that we have going on.  Part of that involves a visit from my Aunt Irene later today for the weekend!  Thought that this was a good reminder.

via

Under the Weather in 2011

Tom and I seem to have come down with the winter cold that has been travelling around.  It's a good thing that we have had time to rest up.  We are on the road to recovery and I am sure we'll both be feeling 100% soon.

2011 - A Great Year Ahead

Well, 2011 certainly will be a big one for Team Sullivan.  We hope that the upcoming year will bring us grace and ease as we embark on a number of changes for our family.  One of the things that Tom and I are most looking forward to is the new challenges, both personal and professional, that we will face.  We know that although these might not always be easy to face in the moment they will continue to help us grow in mind and in spirit.  

As we continue to prepare for our departure we look forward to sharing our experiences in 2011 in this blog.  Please feel free to add your email address on the upper right hand side to get our updates.

We came across this quote and really liked the message.  It's fun to think about what experiences we will have to share at this time next year.....

"Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." -Hal Borland

We wish you and your family a wonderful 2011 filled with grace and ease!

xoxo, The Sullivan's

Downtown Warsaw on NYE

Polish Christmas Traditions

We spent the past couple of days celebrating the holidays with traditions; both American as well as family ones.  This got us wondering about Polish Christmas traditions.  Here are a few things we've learned about Polish Christmas traditions.  We are excited to try some of them out in the coming year.

Weather-forecasting is quite popular during Christmas. Everything that happens on Christmas, including  the weather, has an impact on the following year. The weather on Easter and throughout the next year supposedly depends upon the weather on Christmas (snow, rain etc).

Straw is put under white tablecloth. Some maidens predict their future from the straw. After supper, they pull out blades of straw from beneath the tablecloth. A green one foretells marriage; a withered one signifies waiting; a yellow one predicts spinsterhood; and a very short one foreshadows an early grave.

Poles are famous for their hospitality, especially during Christmas. In Poland, an additional seat is kept for somebody unknown at the supper table. No one should be left alone at Christmas, so strangers are welcomed to the Christmas supper. This is to remind us that Mary and Joseph were also looking for shelter. 

 

It is still strongly believed that whatever occurs on Wigilia (Christmas Eve) has an impact on the coming  year. So, if an argument should arise, a quarrelsome and troublesome year will follow. In the morning, if the first visiting person is a man, it means good luck; if the visitor is a woman, one might expect misfortune. Everyone, however, is glad when a mailman comes by, for this signifies money and success in the future. To assure good luck and to keep evil outside, a branch of mistletoe is hung above the front door. Finally, old grudges should end. If, for some reason, you do not speak with your neighbor, now is the time to forget old ill feelings and to exchange good wishes.

   

Christmas Day, called the first holiday by the Poles, is spent with the family at home. No visiting, cleaning, nor cooking are allowed on that day; only previously cooked food is heated. This is a day of enjoyment, for Jesus was born. 

The Breaking of the Oplatek The oplatek is a thin wafer made of flour and water. For table use, it is white. In Poland, colored wafers are used to make Christmas tree decorations. In the past, the wafers were baked by organists or by religious and were distributed from house to house in the parish during Advent. Sometimes an oplatek is sent in a greeting card to loved ones away from home.


Warsaw's Old Town at Christmas