First days

I am in Polska. I still can't believe it. I'm having trouble coming to terms with the fact that I live here now. I'm not coming home in a few weeks; this is not a vacation. Homesickness is setting in and the only way I'm coping is by telling myself I'll be back before I know it. My attitude at present is a tad on the negative side and I know that this experience will be what I make of it. I can either embrace the fear and the change or wallow in unnecessary self-pity over a decision I have already decided upon. I think things will get easier once school starts and I get into the daily swing of things. After two weeks, I still can't get used to people driving way too fast in crappy cars on crappy roads (who needs seatbelts?!) the monotone voice-overs on import TV (90 % of it is import, mind you) and a phone I can't dial out on.
So far, I haven't had much time to get out and enjoy the culture. Stylisticly, things are pretty much the same. The clubs, pubs and lounges we have managed to hit so far have been way cooler than the ones I know back home. You can be on the dingiest of alleyways and you'll still find an awesome-looking bar. Booze and smokes are far cheaper than at home and it's been a while since I've felt the sting of cigarette smoke in my eyes.
My apartment has caused quite the headache since my arrival. Upon first inspection, I decided I hated it and will not, absolutely not, live there. After 4 days of tireless searching, phone calls and visiting apartments far worse than my original one, I decided that apartment number1 wasn't so bad after all (no climbing up 8 flights of stairs, down 5, through a garden and another alley to get to this place!). In order to make the place habitable, though, a trip to IKEA (pronounced E-K-A, here) and a fresh coat of paint were in order. The place looks pretty decent following the mini-reno and Mis should be helping me move in in the next day or so. It's close to the Rynek, but I still don't know how I will live without a dryer.
I have been taking tons of photos (although the ones here are from Mis' camera) and I will leave with a pictorial of my first days here for now:

Seems a little communist, no?

Cramming expensive cars into tight spaces is quite commonplace here

Think it's not possible to down a half litre and meet Dominika (10 min walk away) in 25 minutes? Think again.

A well-deserved Zapekanka from Endziora after a long night in Kazimeriz, Krakow's answer to Paris' Monmarte (or so I eavsdrop from the burak waiting in line behind me)

I like Orange.

The good old car and tram ram.

Difficult decisions.

Look of disgust on Mis' face. I had nowhere else to put my leg on the car ride home from Ikea in Dodo's Ford Puma. Let's just say we were all uncomfortable.

The view from Dominika's house.