Not so much the Great Pumpkin, but a pumpkin patch? Like most things in Warsaw, Halloween is catching on. They don't celebrate the holiday like we do in the States, but get a kick out of the Americans going all out. A limited amount of costumes are available, but no trick or treating.
We were quite pleased to find a pumpkin "stand" on the side of the road near Thing 1's school. It was the closest thing to a pumpkin patch I had seen here. We stopped by and purchased a few pumpkins for our house and for Thing 1's pumpkin carving activity at school. The kids had fun picking out small pumpkins for themselves.
At school, the reaction to pumpkin carving by the parents from other countries was simply amazement. You would think that they had never seen a pumpkin carving. The Cat volunteered for this activity and he told me that he was approached by several parents asking if they could take one of the pumpkins home.
Halloween - taking over the world one country at a time!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
ASW UN Day
Every year the American School of Warsaw (ASW) hosts a UN Day. With children from so many different countries, they set aside a day to celebrate the different cultures. Today was actually the culmination of two weeks of presentations by the parents and students to their classes about their home countries or ancestry.
With Thing 1 being half Cuban, a quarter Scottish-Irish, a quarter French Canadian with a little Cherokee thrown in for good measure, he had many options. His teacher however, asked that Thing 1 represent Cuba. So began my first school project since I finished my masters degree. I put together a presentation for the kids about life for children in today's Cuba. I left them all dumbfounded on that one. I also taught them the clave rhythm on borrowed claves from the music teacher and we played some salsa music for the class. It was an enjoyable afternoon. On UN Day, each classroom holds a luncheon where parents bring dishes native to their country. I brought picadillo over rice, a mom with kids from Thailand brought pad Thai, an American mom brought macaroni and cheese, a Danish mom brought some cookies, etc, etc. It was quite a feast.
Following the lunch, the kids were assigned to different moms and we took them through the hallway tables and onto the gym. Thirty different countries were represented on 58 tables decorated with national crafts and artifacts, representatives in traditional dress, and cuisine (snacks). It was a huge event. The children were given ASW UN "Passports". Their mission was to visit as many tables as possible, answer questions about the country's table and receive a stamp in their passport. Thing 1 enjoyed visiting the different tables and collecting treats and country specific goodies form each table (especially candy).
For Thing 2, all ended when she reached the South Koreans. They had brought a display of native drums and hand drum. Thing 2 was in heaven. So much so that when I tried to give back the drum, she flipped out. The South Koreans were nice about it and let her play with the drum until we left. It served as a tracking device too since I could always tell where she was by the beat of the drum.
This was a wonderful experience for all the kids. Their understanding of the world just doubled. What a wonderful program!
With Thing 1 being half Cuban, a quarter Scottish-Irish, a quarter French Canadian with a little Cherokee thrown in for good measure, he had many options. His teacher however, asked that Thing 1 represent Cuba. So began my first school project since I finished my masters degree. I put together a presentation for the kids about life for children in today's Cuba. I left them all dumbfounded on that one. I also taught them the clave rhythm on borrowed claves from the music teacher and we played some salsa music for the class. It was an enjoyable afternoon. On UN Day, each classroom holds a luncheon where parents bring dishes native to their country. I brought picadillo over rice, a mom with kids from Thailand brought pad Thai, an American mom brought macaroni and cheese, a Danish mom brought some cookies, etc, etc. It was quite a feast.
Following the lunch, the kids were assigned to different moms and we took them through the hallway tables and onto the gym. Thirty different countries were represented on 58 tables decorated with national crafts and artifacts, representatives in traditional dress, and cuisine (snacks). It was a huge event. The children were given ASW UN "Passports". Their mission was to visit as many tables as possible, answer questions about the country's table and receive a stamp in their passport. Thing 1 enjoyed visiting the different tables and collecting treats and country specific goodies form each table (especially candy).
For Thing 2, all ended when she reached the South Koreans. They had brought a display of native drums and hand drum. Thing 2 was in heaven. So much so that when I tried to give back the drum, she flipped out. The South Koreans were nice about it and let her play with the drum until we left. It served as a tracking device too since I could always tell where she was by the beat of the drum.
This was a wonderful experience for all the kids. Their understanding of the world just doubled. What a wonderful program!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Kazimierz Dolny, Nałęczów and Puławy
I just returned from another language immersion trip. We left at 5:45pm on Friday. The trip is only about 90 km away from Warsaw , but with the road conditions and accidents along the way, we did not make it to the area until about 9:30pm. Have I mentioned that the roads in Poland are the worst I have ever driven on? Bumps, potholes, one lane each way, people playing chicken by passing cars as oncoming traffic gets closer and closer....you can find all of this on Poland roads. Anyway...
Once we arrived we found our pension (other word for B&B). However, another couple on the trip was staying at a hotel higher into the hills. So here we are at 10pm in the van climbing up these hills in a forest in pitch black darkness. I was expecting Jason to jump out with an ax at any moment. We get lost of course because the roads are not marked. Finally, we arrive to find that no one is at the reception. We all had a Scooby Doo moment as we explored this isolated house in the middle of the woods. We heard some guests in their rooms and some in our group proceeded to knock on their doors but they spoke no English. So, the couple that was supposed to stay here chose to rent a more expensive room at our hotel instead. We headed back to the “Mystery Machine” and headed to Hotel Wenus. Yes, it sounds funny, but the W is a V so it’s really Hotel Venus. We finally ate dinner at 11:30pm. I was exhausted.
Our hotel was nice. It was clean. But like most hotels in Europe if you do not reserve a 4 star and above be ready for some surprises. Let’s starts with the room. The room was tiny. Picture this: Open the door and there are two twin beds lined up (each bed touching the other) against the wall with a small wardrobe behind one of the beds and a small dresser with a TV and chair on the opposite sides of the beds. The bathroom felt larger than the room itself. For the most part, the place was clean and well kept. It was ok since we were just going to be there to sleep, but sleeping was part of the problem.
The beds were hard. In fact, I probably could have slept on the floor and had the same experience. The pillow was the only thing that was soft. Forget having matching towels or sheets! I brought my own towels and I probably should have brought sheets too. The only sheet on my hard mattress was a thin white sheet that was more of a blanket. It did not even cover the entire mattress. I did not sleep well either night. If it were not for the huge cups of expresso they served for breakfast, I would have been a zombie all day. Speaking of breakfast, the usual continental breakfast served in the US is quite different here. Instead of pastries, they serve fruit, yogurt, meats, cheeses, eggs, juice (in tiny cups) and of course, coffee.
We spent all of Saturday walking and hiking, exploring Kazimierz. I have never experienced such cold weather in the middle of September. It felt more like late November. It must have been in the low 50’s F, but the wind made it feel more like 40 something. For the most part, despite a few short rain showers the weather cooperated.
Kazimierz is a town on the banks of the Vistula River dates back to the 11th century. Some of its medieval history is well preserved. The streets are all cobblestone. There are wooden cottages with thatched roofs (like Shakespeare’s at Stratford upon Avon ) amidst more modern dwellings. An old wooden well sits in the middle of the Market Square. There are many artists who live and work here. There are galleries selling their work practically everywhere. There are also vendors selling all kinds of crafts.
We climbed a few hills to reach the ruins of the Zamek (Castle) and Baszta (Tower) built by King Kazimierz in the 14th century. The Tower looked more like a lighthouse to me and probably served that purpose. There are panoramic views offered to those willing to climb to the top (see pictures). Boatrides/Ferry rides are offered on the Vistula River for other views of the area.
As we walked around, I kept seeing signs everywhere for Koguty which mean “rooster.” I was rather surprised thinking that there were roosters for sale (this would be odd, but in Poland you just never know). I later found out that the “rooster” is a symbol for the city and that the Koguty is really a sweet bread shaped like a rooster. And to think I thought I could bring home a real rooster as a souvenir! We took a carriage ride and a ferry ride. In the evening we had dinner and went to a bar to listen to some live music. We had a great time. When we got back, we turned on the tube to find the “Miss Polonia” pageant. We had a good time comparing our pageants to theirs. These girls paraded around the stage with smiles that would not cease. The botox must have been passed around because I just don’t know how they could keep smiling for that long. And forget the tears of joy when the winner was announced. The winner just kept smiling showing no other emotion. They also did not seem to know that the answer to any pageant question is “world peace.”
Sunday, we left Kazimierz for Nałęczów and Puławy. Nałęczów is a spa area renowned for its mineral water (some of which is bottled and sold throughout Poland ). People travel here mostly for R&R. There is a park connecting all the facilities with a pond in the middle where swans were swimming. This part of the tour was not very exciting (I would have rather checked in at the spa for a few hours) until I found the Wedel House. Think coffee house with chocolate instead of coffee. I have never seen something like this. All the drinks are chocolate. You can order truffles for a snack or decadent desserts. A group of us found our way there and ordered truffles and chocolate drinks. And it was not even lunch!
We had some lunch in Nałęczów and then drove out to Puławy for a tour of the palace there. I didn’t take any pictures of these areas because they really did not offer much (unless you are going to the spa). But, one of our travelers did and his photo link is below. We took a bumpy ride home after the Palace tour and made it back to Warsaw by 6pm. It was a short, fun trip and I hope to go on the next one that they offer.
Links for Kazimierz Dolny, Nałęczów and Puławy:
http://www.kazimierz-news.com.pl/wersjaa.html
http://www.naleczow.com.pl/index_en.html
http://www.um.pulawy.pl/eng/news.php
Once we arrived we found our pension (other word for B&B). However, another couple on the trip was staying at a hotel higher into the hills. So here we are at 10pm in the van climbing up these hills in a forest in pitch black darkness. I was expecting Jason to jump out with an ax at any moment. We get lost of course because the roads are not marked. Finally, we arrive to find that no one is at the reception. We all had a Scooby Doo moment as we explored this isolated house in the middle of the woods. We heard some guests in their rooms and some in our group proceeded to knock on their doors but they spoke no English. So, the couple that was supposed to stay here chose to rent a more expensive room at our hotel instead. We headed back to the “Mystery Machine” and headed to Hotel Wenus. Yes, it sounds funny, but the W is a V so it’s really Hotel Venus. We finally ate dinner at 11:30pm. I was exhausted.
Our hotel was nice. It was clean. But like most hotels in Europe if you do not reserve a 4 star and above be ready for some surprises. Let’s starts with the room. The room was tiny. Picture this: Open the door and there are two twin beds lined up (each bed touching the other) against the wall with a small wardrobe behind one of the beds and a small dresser with a TV and chair on the opposite sides of the beds. The bathroom felt larger than the room itself. For the most part, the place was clean and well kept. It was ok since we were just going to be there to sleep, but sleeping was part of the problem.
The beds were hard. In fact, I probably could have slept on the floor and had the same experience. The pillow was the only thing that was soft. Forget having matching towels or sheets! I brought my own towels and I probably should have brought sheets too. The only sheet on my hard mattress was a thin white sheet that was more of a blanket. It did not even cover the entire mattress. I did not sleep well either night. If it were not for the huge cups of expresso they served for breakfast, I would have been a zombie all day. Speaking of breakfast, the usual continental breakfast served in the US is quite different here. Instead of pastries, they serve fruit, yogurt, meats, cheeses, eggs, juice (in tiny cups) and of course, coffee.
We spent all of Saturday walking and hiking, exploring Kazimierz. I have never experienced such cold weather in the middle of September. It felt more like late November. It must have been in the low 50’s F, but the wind made it feel more like 40 something. For the most part, despite a few short rain showers the weather cooperated.
Kazimierz is a town on the banks of the Vistula River dates back to the 11th century. Some of its medieval history is well preserved. The streets are all cobblestone. There are wooden cottages with thatched roofs (like Shakespeare’s at Stratford upon Avon ) amidst more modern dwellings. An old wooden well sits in the middle of the Market Square. There are many artists who live and work here. There are galleries selling their work practically everywhere. There are also vendors selling all kinds of crafts.
We climbed a few hills to reach the ruins of the Zamek (Castle) and Baszta (Tower) built by King Kazimierz in the 14th century. The Tower looked more like a lighthouse to me and probably served that purpose. There are panoramic views offered to those willing to climb to the top (see pictures). Boatrides/Ferry rides are offered on the Vistula River for other views of the area.
As we walked around, I kept seeing signs everywhere for Koguty which mean “rooster.” I was rather surprised thinking that there were roosters for sale (this would be odd, but in Poland you just never know). I later found out that the “rooster” is a symbol for the city and that the Koguty is really a sweet bread shaped like a rooster. And to think I thought I could bring home a real rooster as a souvenir! We took a carriage ride and a ferry ride. In the evening we had dinner and went to a bar to listen to some live music. We had a great time. When we got back, we turned on the tube to find the “Miss Polonia” pageant. We had a good time comparing our pageants to theirs. These girls paraded around the stage with smiles that would not cease. The botox must have been passed around because I just don’t know how they could keep smiling for that long. And forget the tears of joy when the winner was announced. The winner just kept smiling showing no other emotion. They also did not seem to know that the answer to any pageant question is “world peace.”
Sunday, we left Kazimierz for Nałęczów and Puławy. Nałęczów is a spa area renowned for its mineral water (some of which is bottled and sold throughout Poland ). People travel here mostly for R&R. There is a park connecting all the facilities with a pond in the middle where swans were swimming. This part of the tour was not very exciting (I would have rather checked in at the spa for a few hours) until I found the Wedel House. Think coffee house with chocolate instead of coffee. I have never seen something like this. All the drinks are chocolate. You can order truffles for a snack or decadent desserts. A group of us found our way there and ordered truffles and chocolate drinks. And it was not even lunch!
We had some lunch in Nałęczów and then drove out to Puławy for a tour of the palace there. I didn’t take any pictures of these areas because they really did not offer much (unless you are going to the spa). But, one of our travelers did and his photo link is below. We took a bumpy ride home after the Palace tour and made it back to Warsaw by 6pm. It was a short, fun trip and I hope to go on the next one that they offer.
Links for Kazimierz Dolny, Nałęczów and Puławy:
http://www.kazimierz-news.com.pl/wersjaa.html
http://www.naleczow.com.pl/index_en.html
http://www.um.pulawy.pl/eng/news.php
Monday, August 27, 2007
The Long and Winding Flight
Thank you to everyone who has e-mailed me this summer missing my weekly (sometimes daily) blogs. I do enjoy writing them, but we had a busy summer. We are now back and after a busy week getting Thing 1 ready for kindergarten, getting everyone’s inner clocks on Warsaw time, catching up with old and new friends, etc., I am blogging once more.
Our flight back went better than expected. I was stopped several times by people offering to help and wondering how I was managing with three carry on's, a stroller, and a car seat. They were really curious about how I was managing the car seat. So, here is a visual......to get around the airports with all that stuff, I placed Thing 1's backpack in the stroller storage area (it also contained the DVD player). Thing 2 was strapped into the stroller. Her diaper bag was hanging from the back of the stroller. My backpack was on my back. I flipped the car seat over so that the seat part draped over the stroller's handle bars and the head of the seat was pointed towards the floor. I had Thing 1 hold on to the stroller and I pushed the car seat/handle bars to make my way through the airport. When claiming the bags at the terminal, Thing 1 wheeled Thing 2 around (without the car seat hanging off the stroller) while I wheeled the baggage cart with all our stuff.
Here is a little travel log I kept (partly documented in flight while the children slept)....
2:50pm/8:50pm ( Miami/Warsaw ) – Whew! We made it to the gate with 10 minutes to spare. Thing 1 is confused because he is happy to see his dad, but sad to be leaving the rest of the family. How can he feel both things at once, he wonders?
3:00 pm/9:00pm – Pre-boarding has begun. This is one of the few perks of traveling with young children. Thing 1 is walking in front of me with his backpack and Thing 2 between us. I am carrying a heavy backpack, diaper bag and a car seat. Thing 2 finds a nice roomy chair in the first class area and proceeds to accommodate herself. She has good taste although she gets quite upset when I motion her to keep walking. A nice flight attendant begins talking to her and she forgets about her disappointment. This keeps her entertained while I install the car seat and get situated. Thing 1 is a pro at this and by the time I finish he is already seated, buckled in with his backpack underneath the seat in front of him.
3:30pm/9:30pm – We are beginning to taxi. Thing 1 is "reading" the safety pamphlet. Thing 2 is flipping through a Lufthansa magazine telling me about the pictures. She then plays with her headphones and is amused by the music she hears coming out them. We begin to pretend that we are the Little Einsteins and are about to blast off. Thing 2 begins to pat-pat-pat on her lap and plays along. We are airborne!
5:00pm/11pm – Thing 2 has not had a nap today. A flight attendant brings out an early meal for her. She eats a bit, but she is more tired than sleepy. I need to keep her up a bit longer. Out comes the DVD player and as she focuses on that, Arthur and the Invisibles starts on the flight screens. Both kids are happy and entertained.
7:00pm/1am - The kids need to get some rest. What I am about to describe, only a parent can understand. Thing 2 is constipated. Either that or she is not comfortable pooping on the plane. She keeps grunting in her seat and it is obvious that nothing is happening. I take her to the bathroom which she hates since it is so small. I check her diaper and nothing. I rub her tummy and try to move her legs a bit to give her some support in case she wants to go. Nothing. I put on a fresh diaper. She is irritable at this point. She drinks her bottle of milk (not the best option for her predicament, but a soothing one to her) and passes out within the hour crying out in her sleep periodically due to the gas pains she must have been experiencing. Mylicon is the one medication I wish I had brought.
8:00pm/2am – The DVD player battery dies. Thing 1 willingly falls asleep shortly after. As people begin reclining their chairs, I begin to wonder why small commuter planes seem to have more leg room than these larger planes used for transatlantic flights. If someone reclines their chair, you practically have their headrest in front of your face. It makes no sense. It should be the other way around. I try to dose off, but Thing 2 is obviously uncomfortable and keeps tossing, turning and crying out every so often. Another child is screaming down the aisles. I am thankful it is not my child.
9:00pm/3am – Thing 2 is up again. She tries to wake up her brother, but he is sound asleep. She throws a minor fit before I give her the "not acceptable" menacing look and she gets herself together. She begins watching a little of the second in-flight movie and babbles for about 45 minutes before falling asleep again.
10pm/4am– I finally dose off for about an hour.
5am/11pm (EST) – Coffee and breakfast are being served. The kids are sound asleep. I am exhausted.
6:15am/12:15am (EST) – Passengers clap as we land in Frankfurt . Exhaustion (and Thing 2’s constipation) aside, the flight was uneventful. I change Thing 2 into her regular clothes while we wait to deplane. Thing 1 is not waking easily. He says he wants to stay in Germany . I finally tell him that we have 1 hour to catch our connecting flight and if we miss it, we won't see daddy today. He gets up. We deplane and make our way to our transfer terminal and through security once again. I make everyone go to the bathroom (Thing 2 is still constipated!) and we make it to the gate with 10 minutes to spare.
6:55am/12:55am (EST) - I let Thing 2 walk around the waiting area. A little activity may help her situation. Thing 1 has a snack while I read a USA Today paper.
7:15 am/1:15am (EST) – We board our next flight and the flight attendant tells me that my car seat (which I just used on another one of their flights) does not meet their "regulations" for the aircraft. He will have to ask a supervisor. I tell him don't bother – just take the seat. It has been a hassle to carry.
7:45am/1:45am (EST) – Thing 2 is quite happy in her own seat and looks very proud of her "big girl" privilege. The flight attendant asks me how old Thing 2 is. I know what he is getting at: children under 2 have to be harnessed to their parent during takeoff. I lie "she just turned 2." She is wearing size 24 month clothing after all, so technically she passes for 2. They leave me alone and Thing 2 has harness free flight. She eats her breakfast. Thing 1 plays with his toys.
8:30am/2:30am (EST) – I smell something foul. Thing 2 has pooped. We get up to change her diaper. There is only one bathroom with a changing table and some woman was in it putting on make up for at least 15 minutes. I gave her a dirty look as she exited. Thing 2 feels much better. She is clean and fed.
9:15am/3:15am (EST) - Thing 2 passes out in her seat as the plane lands in Warsaw . We deplane and make it to the terminal for passport control. I am the first in line. However, there are three guys at the window and guess where they are from? United Arab Emirates ! So, we have the Polish version of the national guard reviewing their documents, and not one, but two agents reviewing the passports. I appreciate their thoroughness, but my patience is wearing thin. The only thing that makes it tolerable is that the kids remained quiet during our wait. While I am the first in line, I am the last from my flight to clear passport control. My bags are ready for pick up on the belt. The Cat is calling on the cell phone.
9:45am/3:45am (EST) – The Cat is waiting at the terminal with flowers for me. Thing 1 practically abandons Thing 2’s stroller as he runs to his dad saying "I miss-ed (pronounced just like that) you so much daddy! I am so excited to be home." Thing 2 begins to kick her legs and throw her hands up in the air for daddy to pick her up.
12:30pm/6:30am (EST) – After a shower and lunch, I pass out for an afternoon nap. The kids play with the Cat and begin dropping like flies around 2pm. My nap helps get me through the evening, but I am up Sunday morning at 5am wandering the house aimlessly while everyone sleeps until about 10am.
Jet lag continues for about 5 days….
THE END!
Our flight back went better than expected. I was stopped several times by people offering to help and wondering how I was managing with three carry on's, a stroller, and a car seat. They were really curious about how I was managing the car seat. So, here is a visual......to get around the airports with all that stuff, I placed Thing 1's backpack in the stroller storage area (it also contained the DVD player). Thing 2 was strapped into the stroller. Her diaper bag was hanging from the back of the stroller. My backpack was on my back. I flipped the car seat over so that the seat part draped over the stroller's handle bars and the head of the seat was pointed towards the floor. I had Thing 1 hold on to the stroller and I pushed the car seat/handle bars to make my way through the airport. When claiming the bags at the terminal, Thing 1 wheeled Thing 2 around (without the car seat hanging off the stroller) while I wheeled the baggage cart with all our stuff.
Here is a little travel log I kept (partly documented in flight while the children slept)....
2:50pm/8:50pm ( Miami/Warsaw ) – Whew! We made it to the gate with 10 minutes to spare. Thing 1 is confused because he is happy to see his dad, but sad to be leaving the rest of the family. How can he feel both things at once, he wonders?
3:00 pm/9:00pm – Pre-boarding has begun. This is one of the few perks of traveling with young children. Thing 1 is walking in front of me with his backpack and Thing 2 between us. I am carrying a heavy backpack, diaper bag and a car seat. Thing 2 finds a nice roomy chair in the first class area and proceeds to accommodate herself. She has good taste although she gets quite upset when I motion her to keep walking. A nice flight attendant begins talking to her and she forgets about her disappointment. This keeps her entertained while I install the car seat and get situated. Thing 1 is a pro at this and by the time I finish he is already seated, buckled in with his backpack underneath the seat in front of him.
3:30pm/9:30pm – We are beginning to taxi. Thing 1 is "reading" the safety pamphlet. Thing 2 is flipping through a Lufthansa magazine telling me about the pictures. She then plays with her headphones and is amused by the music she hears coming out them. We begin to pretend that we are the Little Einsteins and are about to blast off. Thing 2 begins to pat-pat-pat on her lap and plays along. We are airborne!
5:00pm/11pm – Thing 2 has not had a nap today. A flight attendant brings out an early meal for her. She eats a bit, but she is more tired than sleepy. I need to keep her up a bit longer. Out comes the DVD player and as she focuses on that, Arthur and the Invisibles starts on the flight screens. Both kids are happy and entertained.
7:00pm/1am - The kids need to get some rest. What I am about to describe, only a parent can understand. Thing 2 is constipated. Either that or she is not comfortable pooping on the plane. She keeps grunting in her seat and it is obvious that nothing is happening. I take her to the bathroom which she hates since it is so small. I check her diaper and nothing. I rub her tummy and try to move her legs a bit to give her some support in case she wants to go. Nothing. I put on a fresh diaper. She is irritable at this point. She drinks her bottle of milk (not the best option for her predicament, but a soothing one to her) and passes out within the hour crying out in her sleep periodically due to the gas pains she must have been experiencing. Mylicon is the one medication I wish I had brought.
8:00pm/2am – The DVD player battery dies. Thing 1 willingly falls asleep shortly after. As people begin reclining their chairs, I begin to wonder why small commuter planes seem to have more leg room than these larger planes used for transatlantic flights. If someone reclines their chair, you practically have their headrest in front of your face. It makes no sense. It should be the other way around. I try to dose off, but Thing 2 is obviously uncomfortable and keeps tossing, turning and crying out every so often. Another child is screaming down the aisles. I am thankful it is not my child.
9:00pm/3am – Thing 2 is up again. She tries to wake up her brother, but he is sound asleep. She throws a minor fit before I give her the "not acceptable" menacing look and she gets herself together. She begins watching a little of the second in-flight movie and babbles for about 45 minutes before falling asleep again.
10pm/4am– I finally dose off for about an hour.
5am/11pm (EST) – Coffee and breakfast are being served. The kids are sound asleep. I am exhausted.
6:15am/12:15am (EST) – Passengers clap as we land in Frankfurt . Exhaustion (and Thing 2’s constipation) aside, the flight was uneventful. I change Thing 2 into her regular clothes while we wait to deplane. Thing 1 is not waking easily. He says he wants to stay in Germany . I finally tell him that we have 1 hour to catch our connecting flight and if we miss it, we won't see daddy today. He gets up. We deplane and make our way to our transfer terminal and through security once again. I make everyone go to the bathroom (Thing 2 is still constipated!) and we make it to the gate with 10 minutes to spare.
6:55am/12:55am (EST) - I let Thing 2 walk around the waiting area. A little activity may help her situation. Thing 1 has a snack while I read a USA Today paper.
7:15 am/1:15am (EST) – We board our next flight and the flight attendant tells me that my car seat (which I just used on another one of their flights) does not meet their "regulations" for the aircraft. He will have to ask a supervisor. I tell him don't bother – just take the seat. It has been a hassle to carry.
7:45am/1:45am (EST) – Thing 2 is quite happy in her own seat and looks very proud of her "big girl" privilege. The flight attendant asks me how old Thing 2 is. I know what he is getting at: children under 2 have to be harnessed to their parent during takeoff. I lie "she just turned 2." She is wearing size 24 month clothing after all, so technically she passes for 2. They leave me alone and Thing 2 has harness free flight. She eats her breakfast. Thing 1 plays with his toys.
8:30am/2:30am (EST) – I smell something foul. Thing 2 has pooped. We get up to change her diaper. There is only one bathroom with a changing table and some woman was in it putting on make up for at least 15 minutes. I gave her a dirty look as she exited. Thing 2 feels much better. She is clean and fed.
9:15am/3:15am (EST) - Thing 2 passes out in her seat as the plane lands in Warsaw . We deplane and make it to the terminal for passport control. I am the first in line. However, there are three guys at the window and guess where they are from? United Arab Emirates ! So, we have the Polish version of the national guard reviewing their documents, and not one, but two agents reviewing the passports. I appreciate their thoroughness, but my patience is wearing thin. The only thing that makes it tolerable is that the kids remained quiet during our wait. While I am the first in line, I am the last from my flight to clear passport control. My bags are ready for pick up on the belt. The Cat is calling on the cell phone.
9:45am/3:45am (EST) – The Cat is waiting at the terminal with flowers for me. Thing 1 practically abandons Thing 2’s stroller as he runs to his dad saying "I miss-ed (pronounced just like that) you so much daddy! I am so excited to be home." Thing 2 begins to kick her legs and throw her hands up in the air for daddy to pick her up.
12:30pm/6:30am (EST) – After a shower and lunch, I pass out for an afternoon nap. The kids play with the Cat and begin dropping like flies around 2pm. My nap helps get me through the evening, but I am up Sunday morning at 5am wandering the house aimlessly while everyone sleeps until about 10am.
Jet lag continues for about 5 days….
THE END!
Friday, August 24, 2007
School is back in session!
You never quite understand the wonderful feeling of school starting again until you are a parent. I have spent three weeks trying to keep two children entertained at home since it has been hovering near 0 degrees for the past 2 weeks and after the holidays I have no interest in seeing a shopping mall for a while. Don't get me wrong - I have enjoyed doing things with both kids while they were home for the holidays. But it is a paradox because it can be exhausting trying to keep idle hands and minds from become too bored.
Since Thing 1 began going to school regularly, I have come to the conclusion that when any given child is alone with their parent, they are a dream to be with. Add another to the mix and it become a chemistry experiment gone awry. Sure, they love each other. I see it when Thing 1 defends Thing 2 as she gets in trouble or Thing 2 gives her brother an impromptu hug. But, if boredom gets in the way, watch out!
Boredom tends to bring on trouble - sibling strife now being the most popular form of trouble in my home. It goes something like this. One child becomes bored. They rely on you to find something for them to do. If you cannot accomplish that task quick enough, soon enough, you will hear the shrieking of your other child as child one decides to have fun by tearing up someone's LEGO creation or taking away their blanket. And as usual, the other child always started it - even in toddler babble!
Silence is never a good sign when a child is in the home. Silence usually means someone is up to no good. In the past three weeks, I heard the sounds of silence a lot and while I usually enjoy it, in this context, it was nerve-racking, especially when my youngest would go missing somewhere in the house. I would find her shortly after she had dragged all her blankets out of the drawer and had proceeded to drag them all over the floor. Then of course, came the screaming when I would pick up the blankets and give her only one - it's never the one they want is it? Other silent moments led me to find her going through my purse and pulling debit/credit cards out of my wallet. To avoid moments like this, we had art time, music time, looking through pictures, ball pit/tunnel time, etc. But there are only so many activities you can do before they (or you) lose interest.
Technology is your friend when you have two kids to entertain. Forget TV - all these websites with kid friendly programming are fantastic. Nick Jr. and Noggin were a big hit. I must have watched every video from Jack's Big Music Show. They have all these coloring pages you can print out. You can make music, read, etc. Both kids love watching animal videos on You Tube too and of course the Jib Jab animations over the holiday were fun and had to be played over and over. Thing 2 even learned how to replay it. Of course, being stuck in the house, you have to find some way to get the energy out. Nothing like giving the kids two soft pirate swords and unleashing the swashbucklers on each other. Keeps them entertained so they forget that you are there.
And the secret weapon - have a friend over! Bring in a third child to make things more interesting. Unfortunately, in our situation, most of Thing 1's friends were away for the holidays, but that first week, we took full advantage of anyone who was still home. Thing 1 and his friends play with each other and Thing 2 just follows them around trying to feel like she is part of the action. Your house is turned upside down and it looks like a hurricane came through, but at least it gives you another way to keep the kids busy - clean up time!
Thing 1 was very excited to go back to school. He is still at the age where school is enjoyable - no tests to study for or papers to write, etc. But, no one is more excited than us parents who send our eager children off to school today - at least through winter break!
Since Thing 1 began going to school regularly, I have come to the conclusion that when any given child is alone with their parent, they are a dream to be with. Add another to the mix and it become a chemistry experiment gone awry. Sure, they love each other. I see it when Thing 1 defends Thing 2 as she gets in trouble or Thing 2 gives her brother an impromptu hug. But, if boredom gets in the way, watch out!
Boredom tends to bring on trouble - sibling strife now being the most popular form of trouble in my home. It goes something like this. One child becomes bored. They rely on you to find something for them to do. If you cannot accomplish that task quick enough, soon enough, you will hear the shrieking of your other child as child one decides to have fun by tearing up someone's LEGO creation or taking away their blanket. And as usual, the other child always started it - even in toddler babble!
Silence is never a good sign when a child is in the home. Silence usually means someone is up to no good. In the past three weeks, I heard the sounds of silence a lot and while I usually enjoy it, in this context, it was nerve-racking, especially when my youngest would go missing somewhere in the house. I would find her shortly after she had dragged all her blankets out of the drawer and had proceeded to drag them all over the floor. Then of course, came the screaming when I would pick up the blankets and give her only one - it's never the one they want is it? Other silent moments led me to find her going through my purse and pulling debit/credit cards out of my wallet. To avoid moments like this, we had art time, music time, looking through pictures, ball pit/tunnel time, etc. But there are only so many activities you can do before they (or you) lose interest.
Technology is your friend when you have two kids to entertain. Forget TV - all these websites with kid friendly programming are fantastic. Nick Jr. and Noggin were a big hit. I must have watched every video from Jack's Big Music Show. They have all these coloring pages you can print out. You can make music, read, etc. Both kids love watching animal videos on You Tube too and of course the Jib Jab animations over the holiday were fun and had to be played over and over. Thing 2 even learned how to replay it. Of course, being stuck in the house, you have to find some way to get the energy out. Nothing like giving the kids two soft pirate swords and unleashing the swashbucklers on each other. Keeps them entertained so they forget that you are there.
And the secret weapon - have a friend over! Bring in a third child to make things more interesting. Unfortunately, in our situation, most of Thing 1's friends were away for the holidays, but that first week, we took full advantage of anyone who was still home. Thing 1 and his friends play with each other and Thing 2 just follows them around trying to feel like she is part of the action. Your house is turned upside down and it looks like a hurricane came through, but at least it gives you another way to keep the kids busy - clean up time!
Thing 1 was very excited to go back to school. He is still at the age where school is enjoyable - no tests to study for or papers to write, etc. But, no one is more excited than us parents who send our eager children off to school today - at least through winter break!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Malls in Poland
I've been meaning to comment on this for a while. I speculate that the fact that they went from communism to capitalism must have made them a bit nuts when it came to building the behemoth malls that spring up around here every couple of month. Since we arrived I think about 3 malls have opened up just here in Warsaw. From what I hear, this is going on all over the country. They seem to have the need to outdo the most recently built mall with an even bigger one.
You can buy just about everything at your local "Centrum Handlowe" which in essence means "shopping center." Each comes equipped (standard) with a supermarket (smaller than those hypermarkets - pseudoTarget/Wal-Mart stores like Real, Auchan or Carrefour), Kino (movie theater), and IMAX (even the movies need to be shown on larger screens). Multiple restaurants are scattered about as well as coffee shops (Starbucks will soon join the fray at long last!). Each mall has a playcenter with some funky name where (get this!) you can drop off your children while you shop. The kiddies get to play in bounce houses, obstacle courses, ball pits, etc. They get to tire themselves out while you enjoy your shopping experience. I haven’t tried that yet because I hate leaving Thing 1 by himself, but by the time Thing 2 is 3 and he is 6, I may let them go together.
Each mall is attached to a covered parking garage. Each parking slot has a a light above it signaling occupied (red) or available (green). Each row of parking spaces has it's own electronic display letting you know how many spaces are available in each row. And, if you wish to have your car washed while you shop, you can drop it off in the garage and it will be ready when you leave. The most convenient thing about this covered parking is the fact that if it’s time to go grocery shopping and it’s pouring rain outside, it matters not. Just head to your local Centrum Handlowe and shop there without getting yourself or your purchases wet.
Apparently, this mall building is a nationwide epidemic because they are now popping up in lesser known cities in Poland. Now what they have to do is pay for newly paved roads to take people to some of these malls!
You can buy just about everything at your local "Centrum Handlowe" which in essence means "shopping center." Each comes equipped (standard) with a supermarket (smaller than those hypermarkets - pseudoTarget/Wal-Mart stores like Real, Auchan or Carrefour), Kino (movie theater), and IMAX (even the movies need to be shown on larger screens). Multiple restaurants are scattered about as well as coffee shops (Starbucks will soon join the fray at long last!). Each mall has a playcenter with some funky name where (get this!) you can drop off your children while you shop. The kiddies get to play in bounce houses, obstacle courses, ball pits, etc. They get to tire themselves out while you enjoy your shopping experience. I haven’t tried that yet because I hate leaving Thing 1 by himself, but by the time Thing 2 is 3 and he is 6, I may let them go together.
Each mall is attached to a covered parking garage. Each parking slot has a a light above it signaling occupied (red) or available (green). Each row of parking spaces has it's own electronic display letting you know how many spaces are available in each row. And, if you wish to have your car washed while you shop, you can drop it off in the garage and it will be ready when you leave. The most convenient thing about this covered parking is the fact that if it’s time to go grocery shopping and it’s pouring rain outside, it matters not. Just head to your local Centrum Handlowe and shop there without getting yourself or your purchases wet.
Apparently, this mall building is a nationwide epidemic because they are now popping up in lesser known cities in Poland. Now what they have to do is pay for newly paved roads to take people to some of these malls!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
10 Items or LESS!
Thing 2 and I took a trip to our local store to purchase a few things I couldn't find at the other store we went to yesterday. I had 5 items so I got into the 10 artikuly czy mniejszy (10 items or less) lane. There are 3 people ahead of me when a older couple in the line begin to put much more than 10 items on the belt. What the f***? I thought to myself in English ,wishing that I knew how to say that in Polish (need to ask the Polish teacher about that one). I'm not even a native and I can read the freakin' sign.
I haven't been in a hurry since I moved here so while it was annoying, I let it go. The people behind me however, did not. This lady went up to the couple and called them on it. This older man began to justify his prescence in the line by trying to infer that groupings of the same type of items (for example, several different beers, different fruits, etc,)all counted as one artykuly. It got ugly. A manager was called. The guy must have said something derogatory because the manager went off to get security. People in other lanes started chiming in their opinions. It was crazy. I paid for my 5 items and got out of there.
I'm sure that this happens in the States all the time (although I have yet to be a witness, probably because I usually have more than 10 items and wouldn't be in that line anyway). But, it was much more humorous to witness in Polish.
I haven't been in a hurry since I moved here so while it was annoying, I let it go. The people behind me however, did not. This lady went up to the couple and called them on it. This older man began to justify his prescence in the line by trying to infer that groupings of the same type of items (for example, several different beers, different fruits, etc,)all counted as one artykuly. It got ugly. A manager was called. The guy must have said something derogatory because the manager went off to get security. People in other lanes started chiming in their opinions. It was crazy. I paid for my 5 items and got out of there.
I'm sure that this happens in the States all the time (although I have yet to be a witness, probably because I usually have more than 10 items and wouldn't be in that line anyway). But, it was much more humorous to witness in Polish.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
