Horrible Days

What horrible days these last five have been! I've been extremely sick and I'm still not completely better but I feel much more healthy than before...whether or not I actually am! Tomorrow I better be though because after my evening class I'm heading to Warsaw! This weekend is national long weekend with Monday and Tuesday off, but I won't be gone for that long.
In Warsaw, I hope to do some touristy things and see the capital a little but on Friday, I am planning on spending the day in the library! Yep...you read that right! I got permission to go to the College of Europe in Natolin library so I can do some research on my dissertation. I've heard that it's a pretty decent place so hopefully I'll get some good stuff.

Sorry this is short but I'm heading to bed to get plenty of sleep for my busy day tomorrow (lots to do before I leave!)

Have a great weekend! I'll come home with lots of pictures!

Friday Morning

Good morning!

I woke up early today...well 9:45 ish. Sure that isn't early but considering I don't have any engagements (except with my computer to write a paper) it's not bad! I slept a lot - well was in bed a lot last night. I was feeling horrible yesterday so I decided to give up at about 1o to 10 last night. It was wonderful. I'm hoping that it will help me focus tons today so I can sit down and write...write like the wind...can you write like the wind? You can run like the wind....hmmm.

Portland was on the BBC website today - already! It was an article related to the recent annullment of thousands of gay/lesbian marriages. I think it is the first time I have ever read anything related to Oregon - especially Portland.

Well I'm off to be productive - this paper will be closer to being done tonight!!!!!

Way Too Long

As the world awaits white smoke and bells, Krakow is slowly returning to its former liveliness. The large flags have been removed from the city streets and shops, pubs, cafes, and clubs are returning to their former opening times. Pictures of the former Pope and smaller flags still remain - and I believe they will be there for quite awhile to come!

This weekend and yesterday brought some amazing temperatures. I was walking around in only a t-shirt! It was absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately the glory didn't last as today was gloomy and damp. There was even snow predicted this week, but today's update seems to have removed this forecast. It does continue to show a considerable drop in temperatures, however, with it returning to the negatives at night! Oh well... Hopefully one day soon I will be able to rely on a more consistent warmer temperature.

This last week I have been working hard. I have my first paper due next Monday, so I have been reading hard. Only two more articles to read and hopefully in a few hours I'll be ready to start writing. I don't think I have ever read quite so much for a this length paper but all the articles seem to be relevant and necessary - while also reporting information not pertinent to me - so going through them all is proving to be quite time consuming. But like I said, only two more to go! We also had the last real lecture in the class on Monday for which I am writing the essay. At the beginning, I was quite negative about the class - and my initial opinions really did prove to be true - but I guess I had an attitude adjustment because now I quite enjoy it sometimes, even though my thoughts have been verified. I won't miss getting up at 7:40 for that class every Monday, but in some way I will miss it.

On Monday, our friend Amanda left. She had been studying Polish here for a month but had to eventually return to Exeter, I suppose! I miss you, Amanda! :(

But before that, we did some fun stuff over the weekend. On Saturday, we went to see an English film, 'My Summer of Love', which was really interesting and pretty good! Have to say I have ones I prefer more but I really did enjoy it! Later in the night, Amanda and I also watched Mona Lisa Smile! It was a film-filled day! Perfect! :)

OH! I almost forgot!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLAN!!!

I don't know if you will read this or not, but there it is! :)

I honestly can't remember what else has happened over the last week. I know I watched lots of football and ate too much food at the Sheraton...But other than that I'm not sure!

I need to take more pictures around town. I have barely none of the actual old town and ZERO of the area behind my house - Kazimierz. I will have to go on a long walk (probably after my essay is done...) and then post lots of pictures for you. I don't like just doing that though. I would rather they have more people in!

Well that's all for now... mind's gone blank.

Woo hoo!!

I have exactly 500 songs on my ipod!! I didn't even plan it!

Last night was a great night. I stayed at home and talked online with my favourite person in the whole world for hours! It was fabulous!

Today I am just reading a lot for my gender paper about teenage mothers and fathers and the roles that they play. It is really interesting, actually. If only I were diligent enough to get through it all quicker and just write the stupid paper! Hopefully I will do it this week. I set myself goals but I can't seem to keep to them if the actual official deadline is further off. That is something I really need to work on I think! :)

Look what I found! Maps! It is completely cool!

1982-1994 - Worthing, England:
Bramley Road (there was somewhere before this but I don't know the name)
1994-1994 - Novi, MI, USA:
Wexford Boulevard
1994-present - Beaverton, OR, USA:
183rd Avenue (no.1)
183rd Avenue (no.2)
Those of you who know where I live now can look at my current house! Or you can ask me and I'll show you!
2004-2005 - Exeter, England:
Culverland Road
(Sorry there is no cirle - it was really hard to get this one to work. Culverland Road is the road in the center next to two others that start from the same - almost parallel to each other then Culverland bends to the left. I lived right on the bend!)
Present: I have a map to where I live in Krakow - if you want to see it I'll email it to you but I'm not going to post it here! :)

Look!!!!!

I did it!!! Well with a lot of help - thank you! :) But I changed all the colours by myself! I'm so proud! hah! Let me know what you think of the new pictures and the colours! Yes - that's me imploring you to leave me some comments!

I also added a new section in the side bar with some special peoples' sites on it. If you want me to add a site - let me know! I would love to have lots of links!

Also - 43 Things. I found this a long time ago but never did anything with it. Today I finally started and even asked Nathan to do some. Our lists are growing - there is a link to it in the 'take a look' section. If you start one, let me know so I can add it and we can all compare! Yes - do that via a comment, too! :)

Well I hope life is great for everyone! Miss you lots!

Poland Mourns Loss of Pope John Paul II

Bells Toll, Millions of Poles Bid Farewell to Pope

The flags from another angle - this was just one my walk to class this morning. While I was taking these pictures the cathedral bell was ringing again - it is said that it will never be rung for a Pope again. Each time it is rung 84 times. 

The large church next to my sociolgy building - and some more flags.  

Flags across from my sociology building 

Today - over the weekend flags have been put up all over the city like this and from buildings as well. The whole week has been declared a week of national mourning 

The night of - the Polish flage was draped out the window of the Church with a black cloth across it. There is also another flag on the otherside now. 

Par of the huge crowds that gathered all night long. 

Sorry these aren't very good pictures but here are a few from the night the Pope died. His house now, is completely surrounded by flowers and candles and the street shut off from trams. Look at the pictures on BBC if you can find them because they are truly spectacular and really show what Krakow is like right now. 

Pope's Polish Home Cannot Let Go

Poles Remember Their Pope

Poles Grieve for their Champion Pope

Poland Mourns the People's Pope