Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day now has an added meaning to us --Since it was on this day one year ago Tom, Charlie and I arrived in Warsaw with five suitcases and a new life awaiting us.  We were filled with a quarter of excitement and three-quarters of nervousness as we had no idea how our new life would unfold. 

After arriving we were tired and hungry and set off to get a bite to eat.  This proved to be quite a challenge as we did not have a reservation and it was Valentine's Day!  And, to top it off we definitely weren't dressed up and looking our best after the long trip.  After trying to get into four different places we gave up and headed back to the hotel bar to grab a quick dinner and then get some sleep.

I still remember those first few sleepless nights...my mind buzzing with a million thoughts.  Will we ever find an apartment to call home?  Will our furniture and belongings get here in once piece? What will Tom's job be like?  Will I get used to not working in the corporate world?  Will Charlie like it here?  How will I ever learn this difficult language? 

As they say, "It's amazing the difference a year makes" and these words could not ring more true for us!  I am proud of  our transition over the past year and all that we have learned about the culture, ourselves and each other.  We now call Warsaw home and have built a great and balanced life. 

So on this Valentine's Day we will take a minute to reflect on our path over the past year and want our friends and family to know "Kochamy Cie!"  (we love you) on this Valentine's Day and always!

Pretty Crazy...

There is major construction going on through the city of Warsaw as they are expanding the metro line.  The current subway has one line that goes north and south covering a distance of about 17 kilometers.  The new line that is being developed will go east and west and will cross underneath the Vistula River.  This is quite a feat and is a very labor intesive project that will take a few years to complete 

One of the stops that they are expanding for the new line is a few short blocks from our house.  Imagine our surprise this week when we heard that the entire metro line had been shut down for hours at this particular stop. 

Why you ask?  Well, during their excavation the metro workers found an unexploded World War II bomb buried underground.  Pretty crazy!  Kinda cool...also a bit scary! 



The metro station near our house where the bomb was found. 
Can you pronounce the name of the station?





Two Breakfasts?

We've come across a wonderful blog that shares great information about Poland.  This past entry was one I wanted to share.  It discusses the schedule and way that the Poles eat, including their two breakfasts.  This is one of those things that I should have written about sooner as it is an interesting cultural twist.  Enjoy, and thanks Polish Language Blog for perfectly describing it.

When you’re abroad, never assume that your habits are the same as those of your business partner or client. In Poland, as in many other countries, even mealtimes are different.

Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Supper  - that’s usually the order.

Many British business people are caught out by the Polish second breakfast tradition. They decline the first because it’s too early and are ‘faint with lack of nourishment’ by the second. It’s just the Polish way of doing things. After a light breakfast, called śniadanie, before leaving home for work in the early morning, Poles eat a second breakfast any time between 10 am and 1 pm, which replaces the British lunch, and then work straight through until they finish work.

In fact, most people stay at the office during the British lunch hour and are not in the habit of going out to buy something to eat; they bring whatever they fancy eating for ‘second breakfast’ from home. The lunch culture is spreading more widely now, because there are more representatives of foreign businesses, particularly in large cities, where business culture is changing and more people work with foreigners.

Lunch, in fact called “obiad”, is usually eaten at home with family any time between 4 pm and 5.30 pm, and the hours depend on how quickly one gets back home. Some non-Polish business people admit to being caught out by this. The answer, when you know it, is simple. Have a good breakfast and take a piece of fruit or a snack to keep you going. Poles have another meal after their lunch “obiad” meal, called “kolacja”, which means supper. It is a light meal, usually a small sandwich or snack with tea any time in the evening.

So, in fact, if you are invited to a restaurant for a meal it could be either “obiad”, a midday meal ( a substitute for a late lunch) or “kolacja”, supper in the evening , both of which will be very elaborate and rich, as Poles are known for their hospitality not only at their homes but also when inviting guests to restaurants.

Awesome Thing About Living in Europe #19

Awesome Thing About Living in Europe #19: Winter Fashion Accessories

It is unseasonably cold over here in Warsaw right now.  We have highs of -17 degrees Celsius (which is about 0 degrees farenheit).  Although I braved ten Chicago winters I have never quite felt a cold like this one.  It is bone chilling and gets to the core of your body.  Its so cold that the minute you step outside and take a breath you can feel ice crystals forming in your nose.  And, the cold weather has shut down the outdoor fruit and veggie market near our house as the produce (and workers) cannot be outside in this weather for long periods of time.  Needless to say Charlie and I are taking quick walks and hoping this bitter cold ends soon. 

One of the only bright spots of the cold is watching all of the Poles dress for it.  They are seasoned pros and bundle up.  I have never seen such an amazing variety of fur hats before.  They come in every shape and color you can imagine and there seems to be one rule - the bigger the better.  And, even all of the men wear them too.  While at first thinking they looked a little over the top they are really growing on me. I might have to invest in one for the winters over here. 

Awesome Thing About Living in Europe #18

Awesome Thing About Living in Europe #18: Oscypek

Oscypek is one of our favorite Polish delicacies.  We like it so much that we brought some home to share with family at Christmas. 

It is a smoked cheese made from the salted sheep milk (don’t buy imitations made from cow’s milk) and formed in traditional wooden forms. Oscypek is an absolute “must taste” when you visiting Polish mountains. Very tasty when served with red wine and grilled.

It is produced in the original form of small, spindle-like blocks with typical regional decorating pattern. Oscypek is one of tourist attractions of Polish mountains. You can eat it as cold or hot (grilled and served with the cranberry). Fresh oscypek is really tasty.

The first mention of cheese production in the Tatra Mountains dates back to the 15th century, in a document from the village of Ochotnica in 1416. The first recorded recipe for oscypek was issued in 1748 in the Żywiec area.

Before Poland voted to join the European Union, some Polish Eurosceptics warned that oscypek could be banned in the EU due to its use of unpasteurized milk and its production by unlicensed farmers. No action has been taken yet against the sale or production of the cheese.

source

To all of our Travel Snob Friends...

Warsaw has been voted in the Top 10 Places for Travel Snobs....so come on over!  And check out the article below.

Top Ten European Cities for Travel Snobs Article

It feels like Christmas morning....

One of our dear friends is leaving Warsaw next week, so goes the ups and downs of expat life.  While we are so sad to seem them off I was more than happy to take their precious American leftovers since they will not be able to take open items back to the states.  It's so funny how coveted certain products are over here beacause we don't have easy access to them.  : )  I feel like a kid at Christmas today....Thanks Camille!

The holy grail....a 220 volt crock pot!  I am pumped!!!