Language Camp

Poland is absoleutly incredible. For the past ten days or so I have been at a boarding school in Piekary, which is just outside of krakow. Here I met all the other exchange students who will be sharing a similar experience to mine. Many of the students are so kind, and I am excited to get to know them better. I have had ups and downs of the camp. Ups have been getting to know new people, and see some beautiful places in poland. Some of the downs of the camp are long long polish classes, and of course the infamous homesickness. I really love the attractions i saw in Poland, especially the Wielicza salt mine, in Wielicza. To get to the mine we went down 52 flights of steps, but the descent was well worth it. There were whole structures carved from salt, and even a cathedral. The walls were so pure you can lick them and taste salt (which i did)! Also we did a trip to the wawel castle, the royal castle in Krakow, there I saw many crypts of deceased leaders, including the latest Lech Kaczynski. Krakow is an absoleutly stunning city, so old and so charming. I am hoping that I return but have more free time to explore the old town. The Hejnal Mariacki Bugle Call can be heard from the top of St Mary's Cathedral, in my opinion the most beautiful cathedral I have ever seen. our group also went to the Tyniec Cloister, I didnt find it as interesting as our other trips. It was a short tour, but the church in this monastery was so draw dropping. The pulpit was coverd in gold, and the crucifix was also covered in gold. We also went to the Tatry Mountains, specifically the city of Zakopane. It was so beautiful, like the banff of Poland, but instead the main street was cobbled, and the stores offered shirts and sweaters Homesickness has really gotten to me the last couple of days. One day it was just absoleutly terrible, but from than on it wasnt as bad. The polish classes that the camp had were three or four hours of boredom. Today I had a polish exam and I am hoping that I did at least decent. These ten days are now drawing to a close and I think that this has laid the foundation for a fantastic year. I think that this is a positive start for the year to come. On monday I begin mainstream school in Czestochowa, so lets hope that its not overly difficult. I will write again in a week or so, but until then who knows what my exchange has to offer.

Too good to be true!

I cannot believe that I am in Poland! I woke up on the 14th of August at 5:30 AM because I was not able to sleep very well due to excitement. I than flew to Calgary and than to Frankfurt. Both airports were rather difficult to navigate through, but Calgary more than Frankfurt. My nine hour flight to Frankfurt was good but long, very long. I was fortunate to have one other person in my row of seats, so therefore I got two seats intstead of one! I landed at Frankfurt at about 6:45 and it really is a big airport. I followed the signs which ended up taking me to some sort of border crossing? I dont know what to call it but some person stamped my passport so I think I was entering the European Union. I had pins in my carry on, and every airport asked to open my bags! I really did hate security at all airports. I landed in Warsaw at about 9:30 AM and met with my host family. They are so kind and friendly! It was a three hour drive to Czestochowa, but it was so beautiful. Poland looks alot like Canada, but in Poland beautiful cathedrals and palaces are in the country side. when driving from Fort McMurray to Edmonton, its all mostly trees, but in Poland it is farm houses, restaurants, and cathedrals! On the way from Warsaw, I saw this beautiful domed cathedral the dome jutting just above the trees, it was so beautiful. After three hours I arrved in Czestochowa, and met a second host brother, and was suppose to go to the Jasna Gora Monastary, but I fell asleep! I woke up and it was dark, I thought it must have been three in the morning, and thank god I turned on my computer to check the time because it was only 10:20 PM. I went downstairs and everyone was still up! I went to bed, and surprisingly fell asleep but woke up at 5:45 AM, and my laptop did not have internet! But now it does, so if it ever happens again, I can just go on my computer! I went for a walk with my host mother this morning, and Czestochowa itself is such a beautiful city! Beautiful flats line the streets of where I am living, and the streets are so narrow that in Canada they would just be a back alley to someones home. I have such a beautiful view from the room that I am staying in, and there is a small little magazine store and pharmacy at the corner of my street! Tomorrow I am going to Krakow, the old capital of Poland, it was never bombed in World War II because it was protected. I am very excited to meet all the exchange students who are in Poland from many different places. It is 10 days with visits to Zakopane, and the Wielicza Salt Mine, which is a sort of city carved out of salt. I am also keen to learn Polish as well. As I finish writing this post I hear the beautiful chime of bells from a church nearby, I cannot believe that this is happening!

Only 12 more days!

I remember the time that I applied for my exchange, and it seemed just like yesterday. I cannot believe that now I am so close to leaving! I am sooo excited, and I may not feel it now, but I am going to be nervous the day that I leave, bording the plane to some country that I have never been to before. I have made most of my preparations, visas I had to go to Vancouver for, but it was such a nice trip and I really did enjoy it. I have my awesome new netbook for this trip as well, and all my necessary documents, with the exception of an ISIC. I sent for it about a week ago and I have confirmed it made it to its destination, which made me feel much better. I have made a packing list as well, but I think that I might improve it, as it seems very basic, and I believe there should be more items. I have finished summer school succesfully, but my mark is unknown, hopefully I can find out my mark before I go. Everyday that comes to me, is everday closer to my departure, today may be twelve days, but before I know it will be five days, and than I will find myself at the airport! I cannot believe that this is happening, it is too good to be true, but I think this feeling will escalade onto a whole new level when I wake up on the 14th of August, and think that today is the day.