* Going native

All right, 3 weeks later and I still feel like my language skills are no better than a 5th grader. I thought by now my tongue would untie itself. How did I get this bad? I mean I started speaking the mother tongue way before I could say things like 'It wasn't me'. Now I understand why I was loosing about 2 students a week when I taught Polish 101 - its an impossible language. My greatest problem is the grammar. Unlike English, all your nouns are gender specific which are assigned to their adjectives – so one has to learn each noun’s gender and speak appropriately. Fat chance I’m ever going to learn how to write, though fortunately a 5th grader can read, and figure out the convoluted Warsaw train system and find the right train platform.
For those of impatient temperament, I can tell that my attempts to express myself are tolerated with a great deal of shortness, fortunately there are many people that are patient with me and enable me to at least attempt to speak at length - thus getting the practice I desperately need. I’d say I can understand about 80% of what is spoken, but speak at about 60% level.
Trip Reports: Well, I finally had a chance to leave the concrete jungle last Sunday on a sightseeing excursion. My brother George, Edyta and I drove to two, medieval villages. The first was Sandomeirz, a well preserved Gothic village. It was like a experiencing a real life Renaissance festival equipped with colorful guards and princesses sporting their wares. There was a Gothic cellar where we got to pretend, in genuine dress, to be warriors and wenches. I was shocked to see the various, sharp spears available our various Fuji moments. When I asked the young warrior manning the cash register , if anyone has been accidentally speared by a tourist , he said ‘that they can’t stack the bodies fast enough in these cellars’
The last stop was to a popular riverside gothic village, called Kazimierz. This village is extremely popular for day trippers and motorcyclists, especially the loud harly kind. .
I took a long weekend to visit with my long time friend, Tomek, in Lublin,who I’d met in Australia way back in 1990. The old town of Lublin was home once to a large Jewish community and synagogue. Its historic building, fortunately, were not destroyed by the war, but time has left its mark – and its all in the process of refurbishment. On Sat evening Tomek took me to a Jewish restaurant, where a lively band played authetic music. Who ever said Jewish music was mournful and sad, needs to see this group, live. It was heaps of fun. Other than attending a 40th b'day dinner party, visiting the old town, we just took it easy, spending time at a park and with his mum. Unfortunately, most of Tomek’s days and some nights at 2 area hospitals, diagnosing and looking after patients, has left him more than a little weary, so there were a few cat naps in between (or just plain pasted out, sitting naps too). As always, the generous hospitality of Tomek and his mum was much appreciated.
A 2 ½ hr train ride and short tram stop later, I’m back at the bloc, back to the city grind in my little bachelor pad, looking forward to this weekend’s road trip…