Arrival in Kraków - Moje przybycie w Krakowie

On the evening of 29th September I left Berlin by train, in Berlin-Lichtenberg I got on the train to Kraków. I had a big, big suitcase, a big backpack and sleeping bag with me. The polish train guard was surprised at my suitcase's weight by helping me to get it on the train. I was travelling during night and had booked my own little bed in a six men train compartment. There was really little space and furthernore the polish train guard told us to put all of our luggage in it. My big, big suitcase didn't go in this tiny train compartement with three beds on each side one above the other and six people. After a short discussion with the train guard about forbidden doings in his point of view, he put my suitecase in a free train compartment where clean linen were stored. Why this whole discussion about forbidden doings if there is a solution? But he wasn't unfriendly, it was like that discussion had to take place before finding a solution.

I sent several last text messages from my german mobile phone to friends. Last weeks in Berlin had been quite intensive. After my trip to South America, lasting 1,5 months, I had only three weeks to see my family and friends and to organize all stuff for Kraków. So even my last hours in Germany, during already travelling by train to Kraków, I was spending my time by contacting my friends and family in Berlin. Then after saying goodbye to all people in Berlin I started to talk with a Spanish guy, using my little Spanish language knowledge. He couldn't speak English at all.. A german medical student offered us a glass of vodka, he apparently already traveld to "Vodka-Drinking-Countries". It was funny to speak Spanish on my way to Poland, the German guy was quite well speaking Spanish, so that we continued our discussion in Spanish. After having explained to the Spanish guy that the Berlin Wall had passed all-around the town and finishing the Vodka bottle, we decided to go sleeping. The idea of sleeping in a train, which is rattling in a constantly way, had been great, but I didn't fall asleep during a quite long time and finally I slept only three or four hours.

Then we arrived in Kraków, on a sunny day. Together with a French-Canadian girl I went to a hostel, where she had already booked a bed, hoping that there will be also a bed for me. The german guy from last night helped me with my luggage and then left us at the corner of street where the hostel is situated. I got a bed! After had taking a shower I went for breakfast with the French-Canadian girl outside in the sun on the main market square. I ordered a so-called "Polish breakfast" and got toasted bread with cottage cheese, scrambled eggs and sausage. We discussed about German and Canadian politics, where we travelled and what we are going to do in Kraków. I was quite shocked when the French-Canadian girl asked me if we are just now in a communist country. I think exchange programs and travelling is really necessary for education, one of the best ways to learn about the world.

In the evening we went clubbing with Australian guys, a English guy and some Erasmus students. One of the Australian guys told us that he is paid from the hostel for going clubbing every night with the hostels' residents...

Next day I met Michał, a friend of a girl from my orchestra in Frankfurt (Oder), they had met in France during their Erasmus. "Bien sûre" he speaks french and the idea was to meet so that he doesn't forget to speak French language and that I learn some Polish with him. BUT the next days he also gave me a place to sleep and helped me to find a flat in Krakow, which was quite difficult because I had quite particular ideas about how this flat should be like. Finally I found one, near to the center and where three nice polish (!!!) students are living. Before I visited around five flats. It was interesting to see how different people live in Kraków and what rooms are hidden behind the exterior walls of different houses and unbelievable what rooms they want to rent. There was a old woman, who wanted, like a lot of other old women do in Kraków, to increase her small income by renting her living room. Then I slept also one night in a flat of a upper-class family, where their son still lives alone and every year together with new flatemates from around the world. In my room were two pianos, a lustre and the whole apartment had antique furniture. But there was also a cat and I really reacted allergic to it. In addition the son was a quite uncommunicative person, but I wanted to learn polish.. And at an other flat, I visited, was still construction work going on, but in the eyes of the owner I can immediately move in.. So I was walking around Kraków, calling and meeting polish people who could accompany me to visit the flats, because I couldn't really communicate with the polish speaking owners, checking announcements during approximately one week. I asked help from a lot of polish people I didn't really know and got confused about their notion of politeness. Do they really want to help me or are they only polite? I don't know yet. In relation to flats at this point I have also to mention that polish student very often are living in confined living conditions in order to save money. So for exemple they share one room which function as living room and within also stand three beds. In my flat also my three flatemates sleep in one common room. I have my own room next to them. The flat has old furniture and is colored in a lot of different colors, especially the bathroom. These colors really change atmosphere of this a little bit obscure flat, I like it!

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