Navigating the Grocery Store

I went for my first big grocery shopping today.  It's a challenge to stock a kitchen from ground zero - especially when you're not exactly sure what you need (I should get one of those kitchen pantry books that my friend Matt told me about) and you also aren't sure what you're buying.  Luckily I'm not completely new to the world of foreign grocery stores. In fact, I really enjoy wandering up and down the aisles to see what is given prime real estate on the shelves. Lots of things are the same, but when they're different, it really can throw you for a loop.

I set out for the Carrefour in a nearby mall early this morning.  I've been there once before (that time I hauled a microwave on the metro) and was looking forward to just roaming and purchasing things I couldn't get at my two local (much smaller) groceries.

It all starts with the cart.

I was prepared for the cart process from my time in Hungary.  In order to get a cart - as opposed to a basket - you need to insert a coin to release the chain from the cart in front of it.  Your cart comes loose and off you go.  I was not - however - prepared for the fact that there were three bum carts at the end of the row.  I was juggling carts like a crazy lady - insert coin, connect to different row of carts, release coin, insert coin in new cart - and security was watching it with (not so secret) glee.  

Off I went into the Walmart like aisles of the large supermarket!!  Bread was first, and I was definitely tempted as I rolled though the pastry section, and I even stopped to look at a couple before deciding I didn't need any of them.  I did not pass up the opportunity to look even crazier than the cart shuffler I was just a few minutes before, and I used my Google Translate app the whole way through the bread department.  I wanted to know what was in all the pastries and all the various bread loafs they had.  

If you ever travel to, or live in, a country where the language is not your first Google Translate is a life saver.  You choose the language the words are in, and select what language you'd like to translate it into - and either hover your smartphone camera over the foreign language, or input the words using the keyboard.  It's nothing short of amazing.  

Here is what a label in Polish looks like to the naked eye. 

Here's the translated label using Google Translate.  Voila. 

While not a fool proof plan, it certainly helps distinguish signs, documents, labels - the works.  It's really helpful, but does nothing to advance my practice of trying to blend in like a normal person.  I walk around with my phone wandering from product to product as if there is a rare Pokemon Go hiding inside a box of pasta.  

On to the produce section.  Generally I'm okay with produce.  I can identify lots of the products, and I'm aware of the whole weigh your own make sure you get the sticker practice.  I was NOT prepared however, for the guy who pulled out a machete to cut his own sliced watermelon.  Really?  I put in hours at Byerly's cutting melon, wrapping it and making sure it was prepared in a way that would exceed customer expectations.  This guy was in it to win it.  Knife, slice, wrap, done.  

Note that his small child's fingers are right in there helping dear old dad out.  

If you aren't familiar with the weigh your own produce, it's fairly easy - no machete necessary - and it's less work for the cashiers at the front end.  The only mystery is making sure that you press the right button for the fruit or vegetable you have in hand.  I spent a good five minutes, traversing to three different machines, trying to find the code for limes before I realized the price was for each lime, not by kilogram.  Always a learning curve...... 

I'm not sure what you do with an entire sunflower head, but you can get one at the store if you want.  Maybe my dad should bring his to Cub and see if they can use them!

At the very end of the produce section was something I hadn't seen before - and it was fascinating. I'm not sure how one tends to it, or who is in charge of making sure they are good and not over saturated (if that's even a thing).  They had right smack dab in the produce aisle - bulk pickles.  

While I didn't partake in them this time, I'm sure I'll try them sometime in the future (after a few minutes spent watching exactly where one puts bulk pickles.  Do you wrap them in a bag and weigh them?  Is there a jar?  What do they even taste like?) after I've made baby steps in the rest of my life in Poland.  

The other interesting thing I had to contend with today, and at IKEA yesterday, was the new class of men I call "MOFO's without licenses." They drive without abandon and give zero fucks that there are people in the aisle, product in the aisle, poles in the aisle.  It doesn't matter.  They'll keep going without pause, and do it at a speed that rivals only that of MY driving record.  If you encounter one of these men, get out of the way, do it quickly, and keep lookout for when they'll come around again.  I personally think there's an internal bet to see how many people they could take out before someone complains to management. 

MOFO Without License - in action 

And he's off!  All that is left are two trails of soapy water...... 

Moving into the dairy section.  I was in search of Greek yogurt - not hard to find - but specifically plain Greek yogurt.  As I was scouring the aisle that was chock full of yogurts - joghurt in Polish - I came across this:

I like yogurt, and I try to get protein into every meal.  What would happen if I were to consume this yogurt?  In an age where we're trying to move toward equity in so many different facets of public life, we're really producing yogurt that is for men?  Side note: they're larger containers than the other ones, because you know, men need to eat more than women. 

On to the spices.  I put together a list of basic spices I'd need on a list- with the Polish translation next to it - prior to leaving my apartment.  Luckily, there are pictures on the front of the envelopes that spices come in here.  They're a lot like they are in Hungary - no container, just an envelope.  Kind of annoying when you're trying to organize your pantry, but it's what we have none the less.  

A spoonful of zioła makes the medicine go down?

As I continued to wander the aisles, I was pretty good at not filling my cart with things I didn't need. I was enjoying perusing the different things that Poles flock to in each aisle, and I of course was people watching the entire way as well.  I did perk up even more when I came to the ethnic foods aisle. Someone at school mentioned they were looking for siracha- they had it.  Tortillas?  They have it. Soy sauce, Japanese ramen, chili sauce, french jams and jellies?  They've got it.  Several regions of the world were represented boasting foods that natives would desire while living in Warsaw.  Until I got to the part of the aisle labeled "America."  ppppppfffffffftttttttttttt. ugh. 

Candy, flavor syrups, something called fluff, and more candy.

Jif is now "new" in Poland.  #Murica

I checked out and got home without incident, but thrilled that I can return and get Jif anytime I need. Oh Poland.  

Where in the world is Carla?

A couple of people have asked me how to stay in touch, so here are some options.

My snail mail address is:

Carla Staffa
American School of Warsaw
Bielawa, ul. Warszawska 202
05-520 Konstancin-Jeziorna
Poland

It's the school's address, it's a bit more complicated to get things to my apartment, so let's just avoid that.  If you're interested in googling where I live, it's Bukowinska 22A.  The school said that lots of things get held up in customs if they're not labeled correctly or the contents aren't clear.  If you're planning on sending me really expensive things, that might get caught up and lost too - so maybe underestimate the cost.

I have What's App - which uses my Polish phone number +0048 537 323 966  (yes, that's enough numbers) and you can text me for free.

That's also my phone number +0048 537 323 966

Obviously Google Hangouts and Facetime

I can get texts to my gmail - so if you have an iphone, I will receive texts if you send them to my gmail (castaffa@gmail.com).

Additionally, I'm experimenting with Goole Voice and my old phone number.  I am able to receive text messages and voicemails to my emaill.  The voicemail has a written transcript of the message and I have the ability to listen to it as well.  Luckily I'm still on a thread of texts from work and I get funny bitmojis every now and again ;)

Last, I talked to Matt Deutsch on the phone the other day, through Facebook.  What tha?

So at any rate, there are many ways you can reach me.

Adele Never Gets Old...

As I was preparing to leave the states just a few short weeks ago, Adele's "Hello" came on the radio and someone I was near said immediately, "ohmygod I hate this song, change it!" I'm not sure how anyone can hate anything that came from Adele's mouth.  She's down to earth, pleasant, generous, humble and extremely talented.  But that's neither here nor there.

I just got home from my first official day today.   Today was the first time leaving my new apartment crossing my fingers that I had everything I needed.  It was my first time navigating my way to the school on my own.  First time packing a lunch for school in a singular building since 2014. First time reporting to a new team when all of us were there together.  First time in a full faculty meeting with entirely new faces since 2008.  First time navigating a school cafeteria in many years.  First time logging into new technologies I have not experienced yet.  You get the point.  It was an exciting, exhausting day.

I got myself home on the bus - (albeit with several other staff members, so we definitely weren't going to die on the bus) walked myself to the CrossFit that is near me and spoke with a coach there about joining their facility.  I stopped at the other grocery store near me to check it out and compare selection to the first one I went to.  I got home, cleaned a bit and started making dinner.

I'm finally at a point where all of my suitcases are unpacked, the place is mostly cleaned to my liking, and I was able to relax and read before bed last night.  Yes, there is still a ton to do, but I'm settling in. My Apple TV is hooked up, and I decided today that while I was making dinner, I'd listen to the radio instead of "watching" Netflix since I'd not be able to see the screen.

As I prepared to make dinner, I navigated my way through the channels and such on the Apple TV and I chose a station.  I sat on the couch, thinking about this new life when the first song came on the tv.  It was, you guessed it, "Hello" by Adele.

I'm not usually one for signs, but this hit me, and hit me hard.  It was as if it was a sign from home that I had made the right choice.  You see (many of you experienced this live at the TIES Conference last year) we wrote a spoof of "Hello" for the opening videos for our winter conference last year.  I happen to be the singer voicing the song for my oh-so-talented colleagues who were the dramatic beauties on screen.  (click here to re-live the delightful opening video - and if you have some time, watch the whole thing- my team was pretty awesome)  Hearing "Hello" today as I was just getting into my routine of this new normal here in Poland was a reminder of my team at home, and of the great work we did there.

Without that experience at TIES, I would not have been prepared to enter this world I'm in today. I learned more than I taught, and grew as a teacher as the result of the excellent work my peers do there.  Without the conversations we had, the collaboration we did, the growing pains that come with instructional technology(at any level), the events, coaching and workshops we put on, I would not have been equipped to take on this role.  I relied on the gentle leadership of Caroline, the patient teaming of Kari, the technical expertise of Troy, the knowledgable and humor-filled instruction of Mary, the organizational skills of Cara, the tech perspective and experience of Kate, and the positivity and open-mindedness of Ashley.  Without these folks, I would not have grown, changed and matured as an instructor.

Thank you to these great colleagues, not to mention Amanda, Connie, Dorothy, Floyd, Deb, Chris, Danielle, Scott, Mike and all the others who helped me to spread my wings a bit further so I could take on day one in Poland with success.

Day One - #Nailedit

We had our first day as a full staff today.  It was great to begin to see the staff in it's entirety, though I'm sure I learned a bajillion names today which I will never remember.  We began with a delicious breakfast of pizza, fruit, muffins and yogurt cups.  Most of the newbies stuck to each other - which is expected I suppose - and it's only the first day.  Give us a break :)

The pizzas and breakfast spread!

Panorama of the staff enjoying breakfast

Opening slide of the Head of School's presentation

The Head of School welcoming all staff

It's so interesting to me to be in the situation I'm in right now.  It's been two school years since I have been in a building, and eight years since I taught in Hungary.  It has been quite a while since I was a "newbie" in a building as I was in Burnsville for 13 years.  Admittedly I was a newbie in Hungary, but since everything was in Hungarian, I had no idea what was going on so I always kind of functioned in a cloud.  Here, it's as if we are an independent school in the states, but when you leave everything around you is in Polish.  Don't get me wrong, there are Polish faculty, staff and students, but for all intents and purposes, things are status quo - in terms of schools - here. 

There was a welcome breakfast - with different offerings than I remember in my last district, but still the same.  People catching up, asking about their summer vacation with perhaps slightly different answers- "did you go anywhere? Oh, Greece, huh?  How was that?"  People groggy from the first alarm since the summer began, but their excitement to return and get going again is palpable in the room of staff.  PE teachers and chemistry teachers look like PE and chemistry teachers the world over.  We gathered in the theater (no food or drink allowed) and kicked off with a welcome from the Head of School.  Status Quo.  Until John (Head of School) started talking.  Today, as at the newbie welcome, he gave us permission to fail.  He recanted that there were great things which happened last school year, and did not dodge the topic of shortcomings of the last year.  He has been here three weeks after a somewhat mysterious end to the last Head of School's tenure.  

Regardless of what went down last year, he convinced us that we are all in this together.  He stressed that ALL students are OUR students, and that we need to connect behind our mission and values as we move into a brand new year.  He also included in his talk an image that I posted on my Facebook page earlier this week:

                                            

"It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do: we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do" ~Steve Jobs 

Many of us "newbies" agreed to come to this school based on conversations we had with the former head of school.  I will say though, that this guy, who is only two weeks more veteran to me, has managed to say the right things, and convince me that there is something special happening here at ASW.  As for right now, I like his approach - he identified himself as a 'servant leader' and one who was here to be involved and make ASW the best it could possibly be.  It was a great start to the day.  

We had some other smaller department and team meetings, but I wanted to share about the Middle School/ High School meeting we had.  As a staff, we are separate in terms of elementary, middle and high school.  The principal for the middle school is the same guy as the high school however, so there will be some joint meetings to deliver information and things of the nature.  We met the vice principals and did some quick info stuff.  Then he had us write on a piece of paper, one thing that a teacher did for us as a student that we remember.  Once we had our statements written, we 'chose our method of delivery' (some were crumpled into balls, I folded mine into a weak as heck airplane) and we threw them.  We were tasked to read at least three people's statements - re-crumpling and re throwing in between statements.  He managed not only to get us up and moving, but had us partake in a quick, meaningful reflection, and allowed us to read about the small things other teachers did to help students.  Some I read included information about supporting students, a smile after a tough day from a teacher, a note home about something small.  One stuck out to me that talked about how a teacher held her hand as she puked on the stairs of the school after a play she was in.  While it seems a bit trivial to participate in an activity like this, it allowed us to stop and remember that the small things matter.  Truly.  Each and every day we can do something small to make a difference - teacher or not.  

So while the day seemed status quo on a lot of levels, I am pleased to be part of a team who believes in their teachers, in their students, and in the power of each and every person in the room to contribute to the betterment of the lives of others.  Cheers to a new year! 

No Longer Homeless

Well, it wasn't an easy process, but I am no longer homeless!!  It was quite an ordeal, but I have finally signed the contract and will move into my apartment on Saturday.

Admittedly, I was hired late in the game here at the American School of Warsaw.  Having said that, I'm doing my darndest to get caught up in all of the procedural things that have to take place to make the transition successful.  Finding housing is one of those things.  From the first time I heard that we would be working with a realtor, I thought it would be easy peasy.  They sent us a questionnaire and we gave them our preferences: # of rooms, size, special requests, location and the days we were available to see them once we got here.  

The location piece was difficult because even though I've been here in Warsaw before, I had no recollection of the neighborhoods, or their pros and cons.  I didn't know if I wanted to live in the hopping city center, or nearer to school to ease the commute.  I sought out and found an episode of "House Hunters International" which featured a different teacher from ASW on her journey of apartment hunting for school.  We were even lucky enough to have a Google map of different teachers' homes and videos and pictures of the areas they were in.  Even with all this legwork, I still was a bit frought about where I wanted to live and what I was looking for.  

I knew initially I preferred two bedrooms - ripe with room for people to visit when they decide to. My big thing that I wanted was a shower with a mounted shower head at standing height.  Not really that much to ask, but a terrible inconvenience if not available.  Yeah, it's possible to roll it around your body and clean yourself with the shower head in hand, but really - how annoying.  Granted that it is way up there on the list of first world problems, but it's what I want.  I was interested in a balcony for Boo, and a spacious area to make it feel comfortable and like home.  I also decided that I wanted to be in one of two areas that were not in the direct center of the city, but were kind of mid-way between downtown and school.  I communicated a few times with the realtor (Alicja) and she sent me a list of 10 different offerings.  I dutifully mapped them out, made pro and con lists, and narrowed down which ones I would like to tour upon arrival.  I thought I was set.  Well, the joke was on me.  The offerings I was sent were all "examples."  None of them were actually ones I was interested in.  

Back to square one.  I emailed her and said after talking with some to-be colleagues, I shifted the location I wanted a bit.  Still mid-way, but maybe a bit closer to the happening places in town.  She said she would put together some more options and we would tour them when I got to Poland.  

On Saturday afternoon (my first day here) I got an email (along with another teacher here) indicating that we were going to tour apartments the next day starting at 2 pm.  I emailed back right away and told her that would be great.  Less than 30 minutes later, we got an email cancelling the appointments for the following day.  She asked if we were free the next day to see some in the morning - and she sent some apartments to look at.  This is where it took a quick downward turn.  Not only were the apartments not what I was looking for, they were tiny (32 square meters) and out of my price range (or shall I say the school's price range since they are giving us a housing stipend).  Really?  What were the questionnaire and emails for if she wasn't going to show me what I was looking for?  Additionally, we were at school the following morning (a schedule she had had since July) so NO, I was not available to look at apartments tomorrow.  Keep in mind, that the other teacher hadn't been told that the afternoon appointments were cancelled - thank goodness I was there to tell her.  

She told me her colleague would contact me the next morning and we could see some the next day. When her colleague finally emailed me back - at 1pm - we settled on that afternoon to look at some. At the assigned time I was to go look at apartments, there were three other teachers waiting in the lobby for the same real estate agent.  Wait, what?  I was going apartment hunting with three other teachers all looking for the same thing?  How is that good?  Were we to arm wrastle for the one we wanted?  Ugh.... so we piled in this tiny car and set out to see four apartments.  One was not in an area ANY of us were looking, one was WAY over our budget, one was nice, but farther out than we wanted and one was nice and in a good location- it just didn't fit my taste.  So now what?  What were the next steps?  Alicja's colleague would find some more offers, and take us out again.  

I definitely wrote an email to Alicja stating my disappointment in the offerings as they did not match my criterion, and in the fact that we went in a group of four.  In the mean time, I had discussed real estate agents with several other teachers at the opening dinner and first days, and as it turns out, Alicja with a J was not doing well by other clients as well.  So I reached out to a different agent and decided to tag along on another teachers series of visits the next day.  The apartments she was to see ended up getting jumbled because the owner of one had the wrong meeting time, and so we decided to go out to a different one and come back to that one.  Well the one we went to was greatly different than the pictures, and was quite far out in terms of convenience to either the city center or school.  We had to return to the first one, but by that time I had to meet my tech team for dinner.  At any rate, THAT agent (not Alicja) told me she would search for some apartments, but to remember that so many people were unhappy that they all contacted this agent and she was quite overwhelmed.  I told her I had patience and could wait a bit since I was an add on.  Keep in mind that there are teachers here who have very small children, who also are not getting housing or help from their agent.  It's been quite a mess.  

After getting back from the second set of bum visits, I talked with some other teachers.  they toured one that they thought I might like, and that they didn't want, so I contacted the landlord.  Turns out, I had already been emailing the landlord herself from a posting that was sent earlier in the summer.  A teacher from the school lived there earlier and he liked the apartment quite a bit.  So I arranged to get myself to her - no agent involved - and see the place.  

Turns out it was perfect.  Two bedrooms, two baths, two balconies, large living space, nice kitchen and location 50 meters from a metro station and the bus depot.  I can take one bus directly to school.  Genius.  Turns out I'm a better real estate agent than anyone in Poland.  JK.  Here are some pictures: 

second bedroom with pullout couch

Living area - kitchen on the left, patio out the doors

kitchen - freezer door is open on left, fridge is above it.  There is a dishwasher and oven, and the washing machine is in the cabinet to the left of the oven 

bedroom with balcony

bathroom with shower

bathroom with tub

one side of the patio

other side of the patio

living room

I decided yesterday after visiting that it indeed was the place for me, and emailed her that I would take it.  I returned today to sign the contract and finalize things with a walk through to see what worked and what didn't.  She is going to buy a television and (maybe) a new couch - I'm not sure if it will happen because we had a bit of a miscommunication on this but we'll see.  

Here she is going through the contract with me

paying my deposit and first month's rent

here she is editing the contract - the one I signed... 

I mean penciling things in is legit, right? 

I don't know if it's an advantage or disadvantage to not have an agent, but I don't tend to sit back for long when I have something to do or that I want.  I took care of business.  She seems nice, and the last teacher lived there for six years, so I'm going to give it a go.  

You should come visit and check it out for yourself!  

It's 9:30. Do you know where your grandparents are?

The other night we were able to enjoy a wonderful touristy/traditional meal near the Warsaw Old Town.  I went into the Old Town area a bit early and poked around - refreshing my memory of the area.  I wandered until I found the hostel that we stayed at when I was here four years ago.  It was nice to wander and think about the fact that I didn't have to rush, and wasn't looking for tourist gifts or things to purchase. I am going to be here a while, and that is nice to think about.  Though I wasn't in search of souvenirs at this point, I was tempted by ice cream several times.  

As we finished up dinner, I opted to take the bus home.  Though still new to the area, I feel good about navigating the area at this point, and I know it'll only get better with time.  I waited for the bus with an older man, and when we got on the bus, I felt as if I was one of the younger people riding.  This struck me because it was 9:45 at night.  There was a slew of blue hairs chatting, laughing and enjoying themselves - even this late at night.   

I am excited to be in a city with life - even if that means that MY life is the equivalent of people twice + my age.  

The clothes make the man...?

One of the things that I find to be quite interesting in Europe is the fashion.  I knew transitioning from my plane in Paris that I wasn't in Kansas anymore.  The men in capri pants crack me up, ladies and their high heeled shoes, nylons with shorts, see through shirts, it's all fascinating to me.  Though in the grand scheme of things, who am I to judge?

image source

Well, actually, I'm one of the biggest people watching judgers of clothing the world has probably seen.  In my head I make up stories about where the people come from, what they do for a living, why they bought that outfit, and where they are in route to.  While in Hungary I learned that literally anything goes in Europe.  AN-Y-THING.  But that isn't always bad.

Upon arrival to Poland, I was walking through the exit of the customs area to where I was to meet my ride, and I saw an American? burst with joy as he met his family? waiting for him at the exit.  The man had on dress pants, nice shoes, a collared button down shirt - looked very business class American.  He was talking to his travel partner on his way out of the customs area... in flawless accent-less English.  When he saw his family (three of whom were men wearing capri pants) his register switched immediately without a hitch to Polish.  I thought to myself how impressive and awesome it was that he in some ways had a dual life he was living.  I showed up to Poland wearing jeans, a t-shirt that announced that I was from Minnesota, flip flops and a crossfit sweatshirt.  And when I met my ride, though equally joyful since I actually made it, and made it alive, I continued to speak in English.


I spend quite a bit of time thinking not only of this upcoming presidential election, but of the makeup and fabric of our country as a whole regarding immigration.  I was lucky enough to teach many classes in Burnsville which not only were explicitly ESL - full of students from many different countries, but I also had multiple countries represented in mainstream classes.  When I was interviewing for this job, it stuck out to some at ASW that I had taught at a Hungarian school, but they were all Hungarians.  There was a concern that I had not taught in an international environment - for many reasons - not least of which was that I had no experience juggling the multitude of cultures they have in one building.  After the conversation I began to reflect on that a bit and I thought to myself, "shit, I had that many cultures in one class in Burnsville" which allowed me to grow in ways I had never envisioned as a teacher.  

At any rate, I have a great admiration and a large amount of envy for people who possess the ability to return "home" to their culture which they tend to be immensely proud of.  As an American am I proud of what our country is?  Definitely.  Am I concerned at the way immigrants are treated?  You bet.  I don't know if I will ever be able to blend in here in Poland like the American in the airport did, but I am going to give it my all.  How can we learn to better balance the beauty and contributions of others who move to our country?  How can we as Americans reach out and better connect to those who have dual "homes" or cultures which infuse their lives?

I know that there are people reading this thinking about those who have gotten to America illegally, perhaps overstayed their visas or for whatever reason did not enter legally and I don't know how to solve that problem.  I do know however, that I am incredibly impressed with the multitude of folks who move to another country, take on the culture and language, and contribute to society in a meaningful and productive way.  I hope to be one of those people in Poland- who will return to my family out of the customs area in the airport with joy and switch from Polish to English upon arrival.  Wish me luck in this endeavor!