Day 3

Okay...I'm nearly finished playing catch up!

Today I woke up and got my things ready to go. I tried to go and sightsee before my train departed, but was caught in a downpour and was completely drenched before I could get anywhere (NOTE to Jeremy: BRING A RAIN JACKET!!!!!!!!). So I turned around and came back to the hotel and called a taxi to take me to the rail station.

I arrived and had no idea where to go/what to do. I was supposed to meet two students from Jagellonian University on the platform, but was unable to find the platform. Nobody I ran into seemed to speak English, but eventually I found someone with enough knowledge to direct me in the right direction. I found my way and the two students. Unfortunately our tickets were for different cars and we had to split up. I did, however, manage to find myself in a car (three seats facing three seats) with two people from England and 1 from Michigan (but originally from Poland). We were able to converse and managed to talk non-stop IN ENGLISH!!! for the 5 hour train ride. It was very interesting and America's health care system came up several times.

After the train ride, I met up with the two students who were planning on staying with one of their friends during the conference. They told me they'd give me a ride to my hotel and were so extremely nice. Example: One girl came over and grabbed on to my suitcase and was trying to tell me she wanted to help me pull it because she knew I was tired. I know that I didn't look tired and I know that I wasn't struggling with the suitcase. This was just her wanting to help. It was one of many examples of their extreme friendliness. The english isn't great, but they are so helpful, you feel like you are connecting somehow. I arrived at my hotel and found it to be amazingly small!!!

Here is a video showing the size of my room:

After situating myself, I walked to the conference site and registered. I will present tomorrow at 5pm (11am RDU time). I then found a restaurant and had some soup - white sausage bread soup I think the translation was - and pierogi's. The pierogi's were stuffed with cottage cheese, "meat stuff" and "mushroom stuff." Honestly, that was what the English menu stated. STUFF! My meal was very good.

I'm going to prepare for my conference now and get some rest. I've had a great few days and hope to have a great next few days before Jeremy gets here. I hope all is well in America and will post more tomorrow!