Her parents are just great. One day, Magda, her mother, and I went on a day trip to Radom; they were making some arrangements for her sister's wedding. Her mother could speak some English, but was more comfortable in Italian. Magda also speaks Italian and French. I speak almost no Polish, but I do speak Spanish, some Italian, and some French. So, during that whole day, we spoke French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, and English to each other. In my life, fewer things have happened to me that are so hilarious, ridiculous, and sweet all at once. That day remains one of my best Poland memories.
It's very interesting how valuable a language barrier is to me, or even just a cultural one. I really haven't spent that much time in Poland — about four months over the past 5 years — but the friends I have here are so special to me. I find it much easier to talk to people abroad than I do at home. Certainly, a lot of it has to do with the difference in my attitude and perspective when I travel; but the barriers give me a degree of comfort that is really rare in the States. There's more I could say on that, but now it's time for photos.
Pałac Kultury i Nauki, waiting for Magda.
First tourist photo Magda took of me.
It was amazing weather on Friday, when Magda and I met up. She bought me some ice cream and we went for a walk, taking time to catch up. She works in a legal firm and continues to do extremely well. She's finishing her PhD, so is very busy; I'm grateful she had time to get together. That night, her university was putting on a free concert for its students. There were several bands on the bill. We got there for one called Łąki Łan. It turns out that they are completely crazy. They're Polish, but sometimes sing in English, and I thought their accents were very good. I really enjoyed them, actually. I'll probably buy some of their music. This video is very shaky, but in it you get to see Polish guys in costumes (bee, bunny, wizard) singing Kriss Kross's mega-hit JUMP.
After, we met Magda's close friend Milena and two of Milena's friends. They wanted me to take some wódka with them; they reasoned that it was a very Polish thing to do. They gave me wódka mixed with grejpfrut juice and it was OK. I don't like liquor but I was being cultural. You will see, below, a blurry photo.
It's a picture I tried to take of the inside of the bar where they took me. There is hardly room to breathe even if it were empty, but as shots were 2zł each, the inside was ridiculous. They invited me to a party, and Milena offered to take me around Warsaw if I needed a tour guide. She threw her arms around my neck to bid me farewell. Completely sweet, and possibly had more wódka than I did.
With Milena, in front of the Kopernika statue.
Magda and Milena
Herself and mine
Magda took me to get a bite to eat around midnight. It was gzik, a traditional dish in some area of Poland, consisting of potato, white cheese, and chives. I was so hungry and it was the most perfect thing I could have eaten at that exact moment. We then embarked on a walk of about 1.5hrs, wherein she took me to different sights I may not have seen before. She knew that I would have lots of photos from this trip, but few that I was in, so she was determined to help me with that. Taking tourist photos in the middle of the night was a bit crazy and I loved it.
At the base of Ujazdowski Palace.
Outside of Parliament. A guard was watching us and that made me nervous.
At the gates to Magda's high school.
I spent the night at Magda's apartment, where she lives with her fiancé Michał, who spoke to me about politics, drawing opinions out of me I didn't really know I had. In the morning, the weather was cold and rainy, but the delicious breakfast she prepared — as well as the loan of a sweater — gave me courage to face the day. She showed me a few more sights on the way to the bus stop, and then I returned to prepare for the wedding.
Irises outside of her house.
Castle near her house. There are just castles everywhere really.
Wednesday, I will see Magda and her parents. I think I should brush up on my Italian.
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