Monday, July 27 2009 9:00pm - Gliwice Poland!

We've arrived! The flights were relatively uneventful. I got stuck by the bathroom again and in a seat that didn't recline so I was grumpy when I got to Vienna but I was really relieved when my flight connection in Vienna went very smoothly (and I got my first passport stamp!). I (and my luggage!!)arrived in Krakow and met up with Lesley and Taia. I was tired but pretty darn excited to finally set foot on Polish soil. After an hour and a half in a hot packed van we arrived in Gliwice this afternoon around 2pm (9am in NB!) and got ourselves settled.

We're staying in a school that's empty for the summer. We've got cots in bedrooms, a gym and a basketball court as well as this wonderful computer lab that will allow me to keep this up to date while I'm here! I took a bit of nap as I was exhausted (discovered I didn't know how to work my travel alarm clock as I slept past our meeting time); it was a good refresher. We then had a bit of an orientation and some introduction to who we'll be working with. They have a guy from Georgia here for a few months so we got to chat about builds in the states and such.

Supper was absolutely amazing! I am so excited for the food here. We had a delicious soup and then something they call goulash (essentially just chicken and gravy poured over mashed potatoes) with a delicious pear/carrot mix and pickle beets. We finished with delicious plums for dessert (somehow they are just better in Poland!)

I'm really enjoying myself thus far: the country is beautiful and the people are nice. Our group is really great and we have a great mix of people; our leaders are also pretty awesome. I'm loving the signs, the architecture and the colorful toilet paper! Not so much a fan of the springy cot I'm about to sleep on or the bubbly funny tasting water but it's all part of the beginning of an amazing experience!

Can't wait to share more!!

*Picture is of the school where we are staying.