Dzien Dobry!

Hi all! Dzien Dobry! (good day.)

So I am now approaching the end of my second complete day here in Krakow, which is really growing on me. For me, I see so many positive similarities between it and the other major European cities (main squares, food/restaurants, etc.) without the big downside that the other European cities have: high prices! The polish currency, the zloty, trades at about 3.25 zloty to a dollar, and on the main square in Krakow, you can get an ice cream cone for 2 zloty. It is amazing (although I have probably gotten enough ice cream from them to make up for the low price.)

So yesterday was the first day of orientation in which we had a morning meeting to go over some specifics of the program, then we had a tour of Krakow in the afternoon with nice tour guide. Several things particularly struck me about the tour, but specifically, both the inclination of the Poles towards Western Europe and their respect and love of the former Pope John Paul II. First about Europe, in Krakow there is a plaque in the main square commemorating the entry of Poland into the European Union in 2004. The tour guide was kind enough to make sure we understand Poland (and Krakow) was as part of Europe as any other country (which I happen to agree with considering how great of a city Krakow is.) Then, about Pope John Paul II, she told a wonderful story about how he would return to his original residence in Krakow to rest up, but the first time he came back, many people in Krakow went outside his residence to sing and pray for him. Eventually, he came out to tell the crowd that he had come back to rest, and wanted to sleep (over a jubilant crowd.) But, the crowd would not let him go to bed until he whas blessed them and led them in prayer. For each of the next 7 visits, this became a tradition.

The picture here is of all of Learning Enterprises Team Poland in the Krakow Castle at the end of the tour.

After dinner, in the main square, there was a weird event that happened that included a man on a fake horse that you would pay some money too and then he would tap you with his special silver wand. Even the police officers there for crowd control joined in!

Today, we had a short session on Polish history (which is quite interesting despite the fact we barely touch upon it at all in history in the United States), then made our way to Auschwitz. I have to say, Auschwitz is probably the most depressing place I have ever visited, especially when considering the huge amount of people killed there and the remainders left of them. The thing that struck me the most, however, was the fact that all prisoners were practically shaved when they entered and after they were killed (either in the gas chamber or by natural causes or even shooting) because the Nazi's would use the hair to make fabrics.

Lastly, I'll leave with a comment the tour guide at Auschwitz (what is the most depressing job in the world that I have heard of yet) believed about how such a thing could happen. Paraphrased, his comment was, "Everybody has some good and some evil in them. Here, the situation was set up to bring out the evil in all of the Germans soldiers."