It figures I find an amazing library in a museum that holds many many resources for my research. So all I could do was take pictures of the pages, and write down other books in a list. But I have to say, I didn't want to leave. Ever. Just look! Inside and the view! (And the smell and books and all that good stuff). The library is part of the Adam Mickiewicz Museum of Literature, on the very top floor. I tell you, I felt so proud of my Polish going in. I had to communicate to the guard what I was looking for, and then he just hands me the phone to talk to the library, with no assistance from him (although he was extremely nice!). I know I made mistakes in my grammar, but to get through a formal, research related phone call, and to function in a library entirely in another language is something I am very proud of. At least for today.

I can't believe how busy things got after my internship "officially" ended at Zachęta. I worked a festival for an entire day, which was a lot of fun, but tough being in the sun and working backstage for 14 hours, while being eaten by very ambitious mosquitoes. But the concert was great, and I really enjoyed meeting some of the most well known young contemporary artists in Poland.

source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:POL_Warszawa_Teatr_Powszechny_4.jpg

A few weeks ago, I wasn't so happy in my internship. It wasn't because the gallery is boring, or that anyone was unkind or unwelcoming. It was because I didn't have enough work. Figures I'd be the one unhappy when a summer internship doesn't keep me busy as a bee. But after mentioning this to my host institution, I was presented with another internship opportunity that only now manifested itself.

Last weekend I went with some gallery girls (one from mine, and her friend) to Krakow for a photography exhibition. I was so thrilled when I learned the theme was fashion photography... right up my alley. It was a great, and interesting weekend, aside from Zuzia and I being kind of sick. But the weather was amazing and we had some really good food. It was the first time I'd been to the city and not done tourist things. But since I'd been there several times before, I was ok with that.

Jessica, a friend from back home in NC is doing an internship in Riga, and decided to visit me this weekend. So I had approximately 36 hours to show her as much of Warsaw as possible. In a nutshell, it consisted of: a lot of raining, the need for refreshing some biking skills, Japanese business men that thought we were Polish and oddly wanted to take a picture with us and later upon seeing them in a mall waved to us like we were their best friends, a peacock with a major attitude and self-confidence, a good free-walking-tour that ended with the guide not only explaining the Polish vodka traditions but actually taking us to a bar for free shots and pickle/lard sandwiches, lots of good food, and a chilly but fun night out with another Civitas intern. I'm sure she will be detailing every second on her blog here (http://livininlatvia.wordpress.com), so I'm just going to attach a few photos below.

Horse says hi.

There are some fun things about living and working here, and there are some funny things about living and working here...

cell door and lock from Pawiak

I owe this guy (see link below) a huge thank you for my dinner. Used a spoon, opened that darn can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE3vMNwj7FQ
Too bad it wasn't that satisfying in terms of taste. You know; the not so great flavor and all. Actually. It was only slightly above the level of "Bad." But I had just worked so hard to open the can! My wrist bruise little red spot that doesn't actually hurt will tell you so.

http://www.zacheta.art.pl/page/view/55/wydarzenia-wyklady-spotkania

Now I'm not claiming to be a professional translator, and certainly nowhere near to being an interpreter. However, it appears I am the only native English speaker in the building, now. So once they figured out I can not only check English translations over, well hey, they just send me the whole darn document to translate from Polish now! I certainly don't mind, as it actually gives me something to do other than read about previous and upcoming exhibitions (but not doing any work on them). It also is helping out my vocabulary, for sure. Trouble is when I open my mouth. But when it's all on paper it's no problem (metaphorically speaking, perhaps? seeing as I spend all my time at that computer, constantly bumping into the nice plant as seen in the picture, next to the giant mushroom, getting stared at as visitors buying tickets peer through the glass in those doors, right at me). Also, my bilingual art terminology is getting pretty good. I now have used the words for screen-printing, exhibition, screening, tapestry, blackness and whiteness, and the list goes on and on.

1. Yes lady, I'm giving you 100zł for a 12.55 total. I need to beef up my coin collection. I apologized profusely, and I know you just hate the need to count.

1.a. Keep lots of coins/change on your person.

1.b. Coins are a must.

1.c. Don't be afraid to anger the cashiers once in a while. You need the change.

Saturday in Warsaw was Night of Museums. It's a night when every museum is open free to the public, with special exhibitions, concerts, meetings, etc. It's wonderful, but someone didn't think it through that by offering hundreds of options, many might become overwhelmed with having to choose just a few. Luckily for me, I felt obligated to attend Zachęta, seeing as it's my current employer and I need to be in their good graces, still.

So I haven't really gotten into a good food pattern, my back isn't happy with the bed that has a huge crevice down the middle (basically a couch folded out), and my sleep isn't really normal, either. But things are settling down, and I went for a really nice walk and evening snacks with a girl from work yesterday. Her boyfriend works on a boat that is on the Wisła where you can buy good drinks and delicious, affordable food. It was really nice (until the mosquitos came out from where ever their devilish horde was hiding and attacked my feet).

After giving in on Monday night and finishing the bread and ham sandwich, and consequently feeling slightly "icky" for having eaten a tad too much butter (which is already 100% more than the 0% of butter I usually eat) I am determined to find a better easy-food alternative. At least I had the will-power to reserve the jug-sized (I exaggerate, sort of) yogurt for breakfast. (By the way, mom, on the yogurt container zbóż means grain; and the butter was supposed to be lower in fat, I think...) However, I've lost some weight already and my clothes don't really fit (those of you who have traveled with me on the "Lara travel diet" will understand), so I could stand to have a tad bit of unhealthy-ness in my meals right now.

I had the morning free before a meeting, so I planned to go to the Chopin Museum. It seems as though the lobby cleaning process at 8am will be my alarm clock during my stay. At least students seem to (relatively-so) respect the quiet hours policies.

So as the apartment I had planned to stay in fell through, I got help from a generous family friend to reserve a room in a dormitory about 25 minutes out of the city. I'm glad to have some space in the more rural area, as already I am tired of the hustle and bustle of a big city. I wonder if living in a big city will grow on me, but so far it's not as wonderful as I thought, as I can't seem to be calm when in the downtown like I can in more rural areas.

With a free afternoon to myself, I wandered to the two major sights in Warsaw: Łazienki Park and Stare Miasto. I used to think I was good with direction. Not so much anymore. I also got frustrated by a failed attempt to buy a 3-day bus pass. I went through the whole process at a ticket machine. Got it paid for, and got the receipt printed. But. Where's the ticket? Oh, you know, it just didn't PRINT. So I have a receipt but no ticket. I might as well have eaten the $5, as it may have provided more nutrition that way.  And the kiosk nearby was closed, probably because it's Sunday, with nobody around to ask for help. So I did what any normal person would do in a frustrated moment, and walked into a used bookstore and bought some books. And a Gofry z bitą śmietaną (aka a waffle with tons of whipped cream).
But anyway, back to the journey, ignoring all the times I got lost.

I've arrived in Warsaw! It's my fourth trip to Poland, and for the first time, I'm going to actually get to know its capitol city! I landed Friday afternoon after a relatively sleepless trip. But I managed to stay awake until 21:30 after eating some decent spaghetti and going for a walk. I haven't yet broken out my nice camera, but I snapped a few pictures on my iPod. So far, the strangest thing is how much like America this city has become. Prices and portions are pretty much the same. It's still odd when I see young people passing and then hear them speaking Polish and not English. In terms of my Polish, it's a smattering right now. I was so exhausted yesterday it came out along the lines of Slavic-word-vomit. I don't think that will stay the case but it might take a while. Luckily, the people I'm staying with for the weekend aren't English-speaking aficionados, so sometimes Polish is the only option!