“I don’t want to leave!” the author whined.

I can’t believe this is my last day here. The week flew by. On Thursday I talked to all kinds of kids; elementary, middle and high school. I was going to take a picture of the high school students, but then I got to talking with them and I forgot. Duh.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic This yogurt is one of the yummiest I have ever eaten. When I asked how it translated, the best people could come up with was “grain” because it has wheat grain and seeds and stuff.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic Most of the grocery stores in the city are tiny little shops. This is one of the larger ones close to my hotel. I bought some candy and cough drops (black currant-flavored!) in here.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic This morning I talked to the second graders, who are all waving to you in this photo.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic This is Adam and me. Adam is the wonderful Polish teacher who toured me around the city on Wednesday.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic Sandwiches in the cafeteria: salmon, and “joint of pork.” They cost about $1.40.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic The pastry tower looked particularly delicious this morning.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic The jam selection included plum, peach and cherry.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic Pawel and Kacia are Poles who work at the school – they are amazing and made my trip very easy. Thank you!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic This is a popular series for Polish middle school students.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic So is this one – it has at least 56 books in it. The title (very roughly translated by some Polish kids for me) is “Mr. Car and Knights Templar.” The series is the adventures of the guy who uses the funny-looking car as he explores for various historical artifacts. My 7th-grade informants assured me that they are great books.

I am speaking to 6th graders this afternoon, then dinner with some new friends who teach here, then back to the hotel to pack. Tomorrow I fly to London, then Chicago, and then finally, to Syracuse. BH tells me the dog keeps pacing around my office and whimpering. I miss her, too. And BH. And everyone.

I will try to have a Polish attitude as I leave; happiness colored with a wee bit of melancholy. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to hang out at the school, see a tiny bit of the city, take my first taste of Eastern Europe. And I am sad that I have to leave. And I am happy I will soon be home. And I hope I shall come back.

Do widzenia, Poland. Dziekuje!

10 Replies to ““I don’t want to leave!” the author whined.”

  1. LOVE Europe and their black currant flavored things. I am always so sad we don’t have any in North Carolina.

  2. The Post Standard Interview

    I’ve been an rss subscriber for a while and I just wanted to stop by and congratulate you on the wonderful full-page article in Sunday’s Post-Standard! It was fun to read and very informative. Were you still out of the country today, or were you able to pick up the paper and see it?

  3. Laurie, if you get a chance, go to CCC in Fulton this week because they have this amazing thing called the “clothesline project.” Its t-shirts that rape victims wrote on, then hung on a line. I’ve never been raped, but reading the t-shirts gave me goosebumps and made me cry and I thought of you immediatly obviously because of speak.

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