Things I’ve started doing since I moved to Poland

I’ve had a lot of firsts here and started a few good habits. Here are a few:

Driving a stick shift. Manual transmission. Whatever you wanna call it, I can drive it. This is one of my biggest accomplishments since moving to Poland. As an American, it was pretty strange for me to spend the first 1.5 years of my life here not driving, especially since I’ve been driving since I was 16. It’s possible to buy an automatic but the difference in price is so big that it’s just not worth it. So before I bought my car, one of my friends gave me driving lessons in the middle of the night. I couldn’t imagine something more stressful.

Using both feet while driving? And both hands?! Don’t get me started on hills. I avoided streets with hills for like 2 years. Driving a manual is so much harder that people in Poland actually have to take driving lessons before taking the exam. I mean this is an actual law, not just recommended. In America you just get in the car and take the exam, which, by the way, takes 10 minutes and you’d have to be a moron to fail it. Luckily for me, to get my Polish driver’s license I didn’t actually have to take the practical exam in Poland, only the theoretical (which I took twice). Now there’s really no difference for me between manual and automatic, however I think if I had the choice I’d still choose automatic. My life is complicated enough, you know?

Using different forms of measurement. A.m./p.m. or the 24-hour clock. Celsius and fahrenheit. The imperial system vs. the metric system. Why in god’s name we use those things in America, I have no idea. The a.m./p.m. thing isn’t bad but fahrenheit? Come on. Freezing is 32 degrees F. That’s not a very round number. A mile is 5,280 feet. Also not very easy to remember. Children in the third grade in America have it so hard. I agree, the metric system makes more sense, fine, but still to this day I have trouble asking for things like deli meat by weight. And the worst when Americans ask me, “what’s the temperature there?” or Poles tell me “he’s almost 2 meters tall”. I suck at math so forget formulas. The key is to remember a few measurements like how much you weigh or how far in kilometers something is from your house and then use them to judge everything else. Works for me.

Continuing education. I’m a teacher, so I know how popular it is for people in Poland to continue learning in their adult lives. I’ve had students who were well into their 50s and 60s. The desire to improve oneself is something I’ve always admired about my students. For that reason, I committed myself to taking Polish lessons and also why I decided to get a Master’s degree in Poland. And lately taking some amazing workshops in Gliwice from Good Cake and Pani Kwiatkowska. Not only does this improve my quality of life, but I really enjoy the learning process… on my terms.

Eating more bread. Nowadays there are more and more bakeries in the States. It all depends on where you live, but when I was a kid, all we ate was that horrible white bread from the supermarket that didn’t go bad for weeks. Here, there’s a bakery on every corner. Seriously I can buy fresh bread at like 5 places within 10 minutes of my flat. Not to mention cake, cookies and everything else you can imagine. It’s kind of a love/hate thing.

Enjoying seasons. We have two seasons in Florida – fucking hot and not so fucking hot. Not complaining, our winter is typically like 15-20 degrees celsius (65-75 F for Americans) so it’s lovely. But Floridians are really missing out on spring and fall, which are the best seasons for me. When the one depressing gray cloud lifts from above our heads around March/April, everyone is brimming with delight. When the trees change colors and chestnuts fall in autumn (more importantly, when you can start drinking spiced wine again), it’s joyful.

Drinking tea. I was always an avid coffee drinker. Tea is not a very American drink, unless it’s iced with 10 spoons of sugar per glass. I’m talking about hot tea, the kind you drink when it’s cold and it makes you all warm and cozy. Before I moved to Poland, I think I’d drunk actual hot tea a total of 3 times. Here, it’s normal to drink tea after dinner. Babcia says: water after dinner isn’t good for your stomach. There is something magical about a nice cup of tea.

Sunday dinners. I have some friends who do this in the States too and I think it’s brilliant. I’d never pass up the opportunity to eat delicious Polish food (usually rolady, or stuffed beef rolls, and kluski, or potato dumplings) and stuff my face with cake (in my family, usually multiple types).

Walking somewhere. If I can manage the time, I always try to walk. That’s actually possible here given the layout of cities, with everything concentrated in the center. So if you live near it, there’s plenty to do on foot (plus, that way I can get away with not exercising). Sadly, because of the sprawl of cities are where I’m from, it’s rather impossible there.

Using the heater. Ok this probably seems ridiculous, but again, I’m from Florida, so the weather here is a big change (read: winter sucks). I know all my Floridians feel me (hello to all my friends who live in NY where it’s much colder!). I think this is one of the hardest things about moving for us. You have to change your tires in winter? (Never heard of it.) Scraping the snow and ice off your windows in the morning? (Huh?) Boots are not a fashion statement but a necessity? Who knew? Floridians are really a special group of people.

Did I miss anything? I’m sure there’s a thing or two. Let me know if you think I left something important out.

All in all, I’d love to say I’m a flexible person. Living in another country, you have to be open to change… but I can’t lie. Some of these things were a struggle for me. I still struggle during the winter (doesn’t everyone?) and sometimes I just want to feel normal. Then I eat żurek and I feel fine.