I'm keeping this blog to keep everyone updated on my time spent in Europe so that I'm not clogging your email boxes with fascinating tales of how much more exciting my life is than yours. You already get that while I'm at home, and I think that would just be a little braggy now. ... Anyways.
Today we (Matt, my roommate and other Lexia student) finally have our internet up and running so I'm using all this pent up energy from not being online constantly to start up this blog.
So Far....
Full Day 1 (Saturday Feb 6): Got up early. Ran across the street in the park. Got some strange looks, probably cuz I was the only runner ... and a girly at that... and i looked so fly. But as a Grinnell xc runner, we are pretty used to that, all of the above. Something I'm not used to though is 48º sunny weather! While all the Cracovians were walking around in sleeping bags, hats and gloves I was wearing a light weight rain jacket and sunglasses. Ok, there were other clothing items on me too...but nothing interesting. Later, Anna gave Matt and I a practical tour of Krakow. So, where our classes would be held, where the post offices are, pharmacies, tram system (I didn't understand at all),etc. etc. Its so strange to walk through Krakow and think that this is where I'm going to live for about 4 months. But again, Grinnell has prepared me for big city life. Thank god Matt speaks Polish very well because I just do the smile, speak slow English, and point thing. I guess the one thing that I add to Matt and my partnership is my navigation skills at getting around the city. Image- picture of Wawel Castle.

Day 2 (Sunday Feb 8): Anna gave Matt and I a tour of the Zwierzyniec district and Kosciuszko Mound. Later, Matt and I wandered around Krakow. I think I got us lost looking for an internet cafe. Later, we met up with Matt's cousins and friends in their bachelor pad and engaged in the greatest of Polish past times Vodka + Techno (and some Beyonce for international unification). They were impressed by the American girl who took shots of vodka without any chaser, but Polish vodka goes down so smooth (compared to Hawkeye) it really wasn't much of an effort on my part. Well, not too much "Don't be a hero Maggie". Images- Kosciuzko Mound

Day 3 (Mon Feb 9): Went to our first day of class where in 1.5 hours we crammed 1000's of years of Polish history. Which is interesting to hear from their perspective. Round 2 (1800's to present) tomorrow. Again, more roaming about the city buying yummy food the whole time. Image- (below) Krakow rainy day

Day 4 (Tue Feb 10): First day of Polish. Now I know how everyone else feels when they look at my name. My stomach dropped when i see all the "cz" and "ps" and "dz's". Some words only have one vowel in them. Or expressions like, "wszystko w porzadku"... are you serious? Anyways, we've decided my name is Magda Kamraczewska. So thanks to all those people out there who call me Magda for preparing me to react to that name. Oh, and another big thanks to all those people snickering behind my back for letting me go by Kamraczewski...a boys name. So, tomorrows my b-day and I already have a plan to celebrate..but you'll hear about that later. Image- (right) café

thanks for bearing with this exhaustingly long post.