Ten Things I'll Miss in Poland

Since last week I wrote about all the things I'm looking forward to in the U.S. I thought it was only fair to write about things I'll miss in Poland.  So here's the list (as always, in no particular order).

Detroit's People Mover IS NOT
public transportation.

1. Public transportation... As much as I miss driving, I absolutely love public transportation.  Instead of driving for twenty minutes on my own, I get to read a book.  I've read SO much more here than I do in the States because I have significant periods of time in my day/week to do nothing but stare at people or read.  And having not adapted to the culturally accepted staring contests on trams, I prefer to read.
2. Smietankowe ice cream...Seriously the best flavor ice cream ever invented.  It's like cake batter, but better.  And it's made by all the major ice cream makers, not just available from the most expensive ice cream store on the planet (Coldstone).

   

   This is how I got to Poland

3. The ease I have in deciding what to wear...I said I'm looking forward to more clothing selection.  On the flip side, I'm dreading it!  When I only have a week and a half's worth of shirts, it's EASY to pick one...which one have I worn the least since I did laundry last.  More choices=more time.
4. Fresh bread...I usually refrain from eating bread back home, however it's impossible here.  You walk into a grocery store and see the bakers pouring warm rolls into their containers.  Cannot resist.
5. Cheap alcohol...Not in the sense of PBR and Bud Light, but in the sense that I can buy something that tastes like Killians or Leinenkugel for half the price of Bud Light and get twice as much!  Plus, the wine here is fantastic and inexpensive.
6. Working with the American Corner...Although my university placement has been much less awesome

   

   My partner in crime, Ania, from the
   American Corner!

   than I expected, my saving grace and sanity-check has been volunteering with the American Corner.  I've talked with some outstandingly intelligent community members and met my closest friends at AC.  Plus the weekly talks I gave with high school students were awesome!
7. Polish Mass...As much as I'm looking forward to saying "I believe in God the Father Almighty" in a congregation of Americans again, I will miss the beauty of the Polish Mass.  I'm finally getting the hang of all the "prz"s and "szcz"s, so it'll be sad to leave that.
8. Quiet time...I have a lot of time to myself (sometimes a day or two)  Having my dad and brother here made me realize that while I miss my previous hectic college life, I'm going to have to take some steps to readjust to grad school because if I jump right in, I'll
   
   probably end up with a mental breakdown.
9. My balcony...I have a beautiful view off of my balcony.  In the mornings, I can sit on it and absorb the sun with the babcias in my block who don't work during the day either.
10. Being cool because I'm from Detroit...This is the most unexpected thing.  People here know Detroit and think I'm AWESOME because I'm from there.  Yes, once in a while someone might ask if I killed someone, but everyone wants to talk about cars, Kid Rock or Eminem, and cheap houses.  It is entirely possible I'm mistaking "Wow she's cool!" with "Wow, she's scary."   I do know for a fact though...no where in the U.S. is Detroit cool.