Soaking it all in!

Well, eventually they’ll be some type of rhyme or reason to these posts, but for now I feel like I’m experiencing so much in such a short timeframe that I’m just going to have to post more frequently. Today was our first day going to the church here, St. Nicholas (I didn't get a pic, but will soon, mom ;) )! There was a churching and so many children! The church was jam packed, about 90°, and no air-conditioning, and wearing a head covering made for a slightly woozy Delaney - not something I typically wear, but most were, so it only seemed appropriate.

After church, we had brunch with an Englishman named Edward, who is looking to get baptized soon. Alexis met him when he was here before, and they bonded over books and church theology. We had a lovely time chatting about all sorts of things, and his journey to the Orthodox faith. It was nice to chat with someone who spoke the same language as us and I didn’t have to feel bad for not knowing Polish. Hah! Although, I continue to try!

I’ve been pondering some of the questions that I’ve had a few family members ask… The two main questions that have come up are..."What do people dress like?"… and, "What's the food like?" To answer the first question, it’s nothing too out of the ordinary from what you would see in Alaska, actually. The Polish people, at least in the community we are in, appear to be mostly middle-class working folk. I haven’t seen a single designer dress or fancy pair of heels. Overall, it’s a pretty modest and simple way of dressing, and because the weather is so warm, people dress in very light fabrics to keep cool (Lol to this... I’ve seen a lot of underwear and boobs with nothing covering them, but a light t-shirt). In America this is sort of a taboo topic to discuss, but since I’m not in America, I’ll just say it: The first full on chest I saw was definitely in the range of D, and there was a seriously loud, “Whoa!” that went through my head. Haha!

The one common outfit I have seen, or rather, accessory, are the tennis shoes! In my entire life, I have never worn tennis shoes other than to work out at the gym (that's not to say others don't do this- I am sort of an odd duck in this department). Everyone here wears tennis shoes with every type of outfit. This is largely due to the fact that everyone walks, takes public transportation and/or rides their bicycles. On that note... one thing I find interesting is that there are very clearly marked sidewalks. There is part of the sidewalk, which is paved, for cyclists and scooters, and then a cobblestone side that is for walking. Also, be aware of the "green walking man." J-Walking fines are huge, and there is no cutting across unless the sign is green, traffic or not.

As far as food is concerned, I can’t say that I’ve noticed any one particular food type that seems exceptionally common other than the standard pierogi (which I haven't had yet... Paul C. makes a pretty mean pierogi, so we shall see how these measure up) or gelato inspired ice cream, but all I can say is, the food is delicious! And CHEAP! (by American standards) There are some interesting combinations in flavors that I wouldn’t have expected, but they work really nicely together. They use a lot of plum sauce on things like burgers or sandwiches, and goat milk based products are popular. Also, last night we had pizza, and essentially mine was a salad on dough. I have never seen lettuce or cucumber on a pizza, but it was exactly what I wanted, and boy was it good!

Another observation is that on Sunday's, it’s like a trip back in time. Many of the stores are closed and there is certainly far less hubbub on the streets. You’ll get a few folks at the cafés nearby having coffee and brunch, but overall it’s quiet and very peaceful; the way it should be, in my opinion. And on that note... I'll sign off.

We have had a busy few days, so here is a nice little photo dump for you, and check out my new sporty mom look. Haha!

Picture worth noting...Woodrow Wilson Park in lower right corner

Until next time, Love from Poland!

*I'll work on getting more photos of our surroundings and the sites. We have stayed pretty local this week, but plan to branch out next week for Lex's 4-day weekend!*