First two days of class

Our two week intensive language course started yesterday early in the morning. I was incredibly nervous. Our teacher "Pani Anna" (Pan/Pani is like saying Mr. Or Mrs.) walked in with a bright smiling face, excited to start the course. She speaks to us strictly I'm polish except in cases where English is needed to explain a certain word or phrase. We have to be sure to try using as little English as possible, so instead we explain things to each other with Spanish. The first day was exhausting, we began with learning the alphabet and how to say my name is... And simple things like that. We ended the day learning five verbs such as |to be| (I am, you are, etc.), the verb for to call oneself (we don't know the direct English meaning), and |to live|. The first two verbs are more like the Spanish verbs Ser and Estar, comparing them to Spanish makes understanding much easier. The class is 3.5 hours each day with a 15 minute break halfway though, by the end it's 12:00 and everyone in our class is exhausted. We've already noticed that after two days we've covered a lot and are beginning to understand the basics. However, our nauchycielka (teacher) (nah-oo-cha-ch-el-ka) doesn't stop to explain what everything means, so very much of what we have learned so far are polish words we don't know the meaning to. The pronunciation is also difficult to get used to, but we have only been in class for two days after all. 

Thankfully we have no meetings or tasks after our class each day, we probably wouldn't be cognitive or able to function if we did. This gives us time to mentally relax and think about what we need to get done, such as what to cook for dinner, grocery shopping, and finding a gym. Learning how to use the post office is also on the list. The weather has warmed up since our arrival but it's still cold when we walk to school at 8. Taking coffee or food to go isn't something you do in Poland so taking time to sit down for breakfast every morning is new to us all. Although we have stopped for pastries on the way to school or meetings a time or two. They're always fresh and delicious. 

Cooking meals at home will be something to get used to, we all have basic cooking skills and each of us knows how to make certain meals, however, going to the grocery store every few days and planning meals is harder than we all imagined. Especially when we don't have most basic cooking items or utensils. Luckily some students from last semester left olive oil, flour, and sugar, but everything else we need to buy for ourselves. This afternoon we're going to the grocery store again for food for tomorrow's lunch and dinner, lots of veggies are in store since we've mostly had breads as of yet. The produce is limited since most produce is out if season until later spring. 

I hope everyone is well at home! I have thought of home often, letters will be in the mails soon. Do widzenia!

I'm not sure of the polish word for it but it was like a baguette with mushroom and cheese melted with ketchup on top

St. Mary's Basilica 

Darcy, Sam, and I

After our first day of class