Random Observations

I've enjoyed getting to know Warsaw a little this first week. Here are some random things I've observed...

Correct change seems to be very important. At least a half dozen transactions this week, I have been asked for exact change or smaller bills. Once I was given .20 Zloty more than I was owed in change because she did not have .80 Zloty to give me. Or maybe she was just making sure she would have enough to get through the day? .20 Zloty, BTW = about .06 cents USD.

There aren't many Americans here. We are in the minority, and that's OK with me. Warsaw is not a big vacation destination for Americans, but I find it's been a great place to "ease into". And by that I mean, it's pretty laid back, no tourist mobs, no monumental sites. Lucky for us, English is the universal language, so that makes it pretty easy for us to communicate. Smiling and pointing can get you by a lot. We are leaning basic phrases, and if I want to amuse our waiter I will try and pronounce my dinner. But seriously, a little goes a long way here--a simple dziekuje, dzien dobry, or do widzenia -- is met with a warm smile, which encourages me to try more.

People here are kind and respectful. Everywhere we go, we are treated kindly and patiently. Servers are friendly, store staff are helpful, market vendors help us by writing down prices when they realize we don't know Polish. I have observed on many occasions young people voluntarily giving up their seats to older folks on the train.

The city is in transition. This is the block we live on. Our building is nice, but there are three abandoned buildings on this same block. One block over is a very new and shiny Hilton Hotel with another new and shiny building going up across the street from it. I've seen this all over the city.

UPDATE: We moved over the weekend a couple blocks away. We have a city view now, but you can still see "both sides of the city". The views are as different as, well, night and day...