A Crazy Week

School

I have completed my first week of school! It wasn't a full week because Monday I only had an assembly, but I met some girls in my class and they took Olivia and I to a popular cafe in Olsztyn called Green Way. They were very sweet. Two of the girls spoke English very well and they were very welcoming, it was a great start to the week. 

The first day of classes was draining, my mind was so confused! Everyone spoke polish and they spoke so fast. The girls that had brought us into the city sat with us and introduced us to teachers but I felt pretty helpless. The colors and numbers I learned in the language camp were not helping me understand the romanticist period of polish literature! The first day was so overwhelming and I must admit I did a lot of day dreaming. 

The next day I went to school ready to learn! I wasn't sure what but I wanted to make progress. I wrote down all the polish I could, planning to translate it later. Of course it takes hours to type all the crazy words into google translate and then it just comes out a scrambled mess! I felt a little defeated having not understood anything still. 

Thursday I decided that I would try for ten words a day. This was more manageable, Olivia and I would compare the words we picked and then look and listen for the words in the classes. It was still frustrating because I didn't really understand anything but I had added a couple new words to my vocabulary. 

Friday Olivia wasn't in school and it was lonely. I was shocked to find that no body approached Olivia or I in school. At Harwood exchange students are interesting and everyone wants to meet them and talk to them. Here we are ignored for the most part. I'm still figuring out how to start a conversation in between classes when everyone is already in their 'group' of friends. Interestingly enough gym was my favorite class this week. 

I normally dread gym, but I realized that it gave me a chance to be in my class without having the structure that our core classes enforced. Even though I could not understand the other girls and they could not understand me, we shared the dislike for gym class. I shared more smiles and acknowledgement with them in that last class on Friday than I had all week. 

My Favorite Parts of the Week

My host brother Sebastian (Sebak for short) is a runner! I was so happy to hear this, he goes to training three times a week and this week I went with him! The trainer only speaks polish but it's so fun. There's a great energy in the group and I already feel included! 

This week I also got to see some more of Olsztyn with one of Dominik's friends Kuba. I met him after school one day and he showed me some of the bridges and lakes in the city. We also went to the main beach in Olsztyn, it was a rainy day but it was still nice to talk to someone and se more of where I'm living this year. 

Thursday I met with my Rotary counselor and introduced myself to the Rotary club that is hosting me. It was a short meeting but everyone was very welcoming! I also met a couple students who are doing or have done another exchange program for college students. It's a short term exchange where the students intern at different companies. 

One more exciting thing this week...I am now officially a Canadian!!! I am so happy that I can say that :)