My first time...

... at a classical balett.

Guys,

this was just great! I just got back from watching the "Swan Lake" balett at the national opera.

It was so beautiful! I'll ask Marta for some of the pictures tomorrow!

Cheers,

Elias

Want to see something really funny?

You know these situations, when you really feel like you need a good laugh? But there's just the usual crap on TV?

Well, I have got a special recipe for you...

1. Take about 30-50 Erasmus students. The best ones are those from countries that are not very familiar with ice and snow. So try to limit the amout off Russians, Scandinavians and such...
2. Take them to a public skating rink.
3. Get skates for everybody.
4. Have the ice polished right before you get on.
5. Take the students on the ice.
6. Turn on your video camera.

Enjoy!

Cheers, Elias

Thanks to Sara for the photo.

By the way: The acrobatic guy (Alvaro) was skating really well by the end of the day ;-)

Photos from Trip to Auschwitz and Krakow

These pictures are from Alvaro, Sara and Maxime, some of my fellow Erasmuses!

Thx a lot guys!

Cheers, Elias

Another great video...

... from Aurélie!

I love this girl :-)

Fight For Kisses //// www.ffk-wilkinson.com
Hochgeladen von killafather

Political Pasta!

Why there are no Italian Muslims...

Off to Krakow!

Hey Everybody,

tomorrow really (I mean like really freaking early) we are leaving for Krakow, so you won't hear from me for a little while. I'll be back Sunday night and update you about the trip...

Cheers, have a great weekend,

Elias

KARAOKE Time!

Hey Folks,

I tried to post this earlier, but for some reason it didn't work. So I'll get busy on this article again.

Cheers,

Elias

Yesterday I went on a long walk, doing some more exploring. My goal was this time was Park Lazienkowski.

This park is right south of the city center. It is quite large (800 000 sqm) and really beautiful. Because it is quite old, all the trees are really tall and beautiful. The famous Chopin monument
is also located there.
Picture taken from: http://www.federacja-polonia.dk/images/chopin.jpg

When walking around, I realised that every city I really do like has a really large park:

Berlin - Tiergarten
Munich - Englischer Garten
Sevilla - Parque Maria Louisa
Lyon - Parque de la tete d'Or

And now:

Warsaw - Park Lazienkowski

That's interesting....

Elias

So called experts...

No comment!

This is soooo crazy!

Be sure to wath this 'til the end!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwC544Z37qo

Curiosities of a dorm

Hey Friends,

yesterday, we had this great meeting about rules and regulations at Sabinki, the dorm we are staying at. Most of it was pretty straighforward - do not set the building on fire and such stuff ... doh ...

But some of it deserves a closer look:

1. Toilet Paper: Sabinki does provide us with free toilet paper. One roll per person per month. So we suggested using it on both sides, so it'll last through the month ;-) Yummy!
2. TV: Sabinki seems to be very concerned that too much TV is bad for us. So no more than two hours per day! You actually do have to sign for this at the reception where you get the remote.
3. Heating: This place is a sauna. Literally! The temperature in the rooms is at comfortable 25 degrees celsius. Maybe a little more. Unfortunately, we can't regulate the heater. It can't even be done for the entire building. So the - not very ecological advice: Open the window!
4. Washing: There are more than 300 students at Sabinki. There are four washing machines, two tumble driers and two close horses. If we assume, that every student washes once every week... you do the math!
   
5. Smoking: It is not allowed to smoke at Sabinki. I find this is a very sensible and good rule. But it seems kind of hypocritical when you are standing in front of the door, because the receptionist does not immediately push the buzzer, because he/she needs both hands to light his/her cigarette...
6. No ALCOHOL! Well... at least nothing stronger than 4%. This rule probably breached even more often than the smoking rule ;-)
   

I admit, that some of these rules do sound silly but are justified... but we had a good laugh once in a while at the meeting.

And obviously: "Whatever any stripper tells you - there is no sex in the Champaign Room!" (Which song?)

Cheers,

Elias

Tour through Warsaw

Today I also embarqued on a tour through Warsaw. I went here and there and just let my feet guide me. It was so cool! But since I did not go with a proper plan, I first have to figure out where I have been, and what I've actually seen... when I've found out, there will be one really touristy post about this building, and that sculpture and those parks, and such...

I promise!

But one thing is certain: Warsaw is so cool. I love the atmosphere - it's bustling and breathing and just so energizing. I love it.

I absolutely positively have to do some more exploring.

Cheers,

Elias

Party(alarm)

Hey,

today I am really in a writing mood. Last night I had my first real Erasmus party. Before that I went out with Tobi on a beer or two. Then with Diana and some friends (Kasia and Kasia) and later two others whose names I've forgotten (you know I'm soooo bad with names!) on another beer or two.

The place (again, I do not only forget peoples names...) we were at was... well, in German the proper word would be "PORNÖS"... When you entered you did not immediately notice, but a closer look at the place revealed some ... interesting details. The lamps were made out of transparent "erotic" photos. (The term "erotic" is just to categorize - I didn't find them a major turn-on ;-) The toilet door handles where mad out of vibrators - also a nice way of recycling.

By the time I arrived at the club (HYBRYDY) I was in great mood, so I got into the crowd, met quite a few people and just had a lot of fun!

On my way home I believe I got ripped off by the cab driver who charged my 20 zl, which is not so much, but I believe a little too much for the relatively short trip...

Anyway: At home I fell into my bed. I actually managed to NOT wake up Tobias! Whether that was due to my being quiet or him using OROPAX, will never be determined. I suspect the latter. This morning Tobias told me that there was a fire alarm during the night, with sirens and P.A.-announcements and basically great commotion.

I slept like a baby through it...

By the way: The announcement were in Polish. Which does not help, if there's 180 foreigners in the building...

Ohohoh, I'm on fire... (which song?)

Elias

Great class!

Hey Guys (and Gals),

today I had a great class. International Finance. The professor is way cool - he works at the Polish central bank and really knows his stuff. Little geeky, wears braces (the ones you usually hate on your teeth when your 12...), but so funny!

I think I'll love this class!

Cheerio,

Elias

Announcement!

Hey Guys,

I have decided to write my blog in English. This way my new Polish friends and my fellow Erasmuses can read it, too.

So from now on: I wreit Inglisch werri well, doch ich kanns nicht so schnell.

Greetz,
Elias

Endlich UNI

Hallo Leute,

wie ihr seht, nutze ich die Gelegenheit, das "andere" Internet zu haben, um gleich noch einen Eintrag hinterher zu schicken.

Heute waren nämlich meine ersten richtigen Vorlesungen! Angehört habe ich mir:

• EU Economic Policy: Recht interessant, aber zu früh am Morgen. Höre ich mir nächstes Semester vermutlich an.
• Theory of Economic Growth: Krasser Theoriekurs! Für diejenigen die Advanced Makro gemacht haben: Solow und Ramsey-Cass-Koopmans in den ersten zwei Vorlesungen abgehakt. Aber der Dozent ist super, darum mach ich weiter!
• Globalisation, Regionalisation and Competitiveness: Interessanter Schein. Dozent eher in der Vanberg-Richtung (also mehr reden als rechnen), spricht aber in vollständigen Sätzen und mit offenen Augen. Lebhafte Diskussionen. Mache ich ebenfalls weiter.

Soviel zu den Vorlesungen. Erste Eindrücke: Die Dozenten sprechen alle hervorragend Englisch, und die Vorlesungen sind mit 20-30 Leuten wirklich angenehm klein.

Morgen hoffentlich mehr von den anderen Fächern,

Grüße,

Elias

Bürokratie

Hallo liebe Leute,

nach etlichen Problemen mit dem Internet kann ich mal wieder was posten. Gestern habe ich mit meinem Buddy Diana den ganzen administrativen Kram erledigt. Dazu gehört:

1. Ins Büro im Wohnheim gehen. Dort erfahren, dass man (anders als in früheren Jahren) erst in die Uni ins International Office muss.
2. Ins International Office gehen. Dort erfahren, dass man (anders als in früheren Jahren) erst an der Unikasse bezahlen muss.
3. Zur Unikasse gehen. Dort endlich bezahlen. 300 zl Kaution, 17 zl für den Studentenausweis, 5 zl für den Wohnheimausweis.
4. Auf dem Weg zurück zum Wohnheim Studentenausweis aufladen (83 zl), für drei Monate Metro fahren.
5. Im Wohnheim Ausweis und Inventarliste übernehmen, verschiedene Unterschriften leisten. Mitgeteilt bekommen, dass man für die vergangene Nacht 9,70 zl an der Unikasse zu zahlen hat, da man für diese Nacht als Gast eingestuft war.
6. Wieder zur Unikasse. 9,70 zl zahlen.
7. Dann ins International Office, Fragen klären und Formulare mitnehmen. (Antrag auf Hinzufügen und Löschen von Kursen. Einfach reinsetzen is nich!
8. Dann wieder ins Wohnheim, Gästebettwäsche gegen Bewohnerbettwäsche tauschen.
9. Inventarliste prüfen.
10. Fertig!

Es lebe die Bürokratie.

Vorschlag zur Güte: von 5 Zahlungen waren 3 fürs Wohnheim. Vielleicht wäre eine eigene Kasse hilfreich.

Beste Grüße,

Elias

Die erste Nacht in Warschau

Hey Folks,

die erste Nacht in Warschau liegt hinter mir. Vollkommen platt bin ich gestern irgendwann um 1 Uhr ins Bett gefallen. Ich war so müde, dass ich mich von Tobi, der schon um 8 in der Uni sein musste überhaupt nicht habe stören lassen.

Mehr erfolg hatten da die Sirenen, die einige Minuten später in meinem Zimmer (zumindest gefühlt war es in meinem Zimmer) heulten. Hätte Tobi mich nicht gestern abend noch aufgeklärt, dass das die Gefangenentransporte zum nahegelegenen Hochsicherheitsgefängnis sind, hätte ich vermutlich an den Ausbruch des dritten Weltkriegs oder ähnliche Katastrophen gedacht.

Mein erster Eindruck von Warschau: Groß! Laut! (was auch daran liegen könnte, dass das Sabinki an einer der Hauptausfallstraßen liegt) Man sieht, dass sich hier wahnsinnig viel wandelt, man sieht Moderne neben Verfall. Und man sieht wahnsinnig viel riesige Werbung.

Gleich kommt mein Buddy Diana, und dann werden wir mal den bürokratischen Kram erledigen!

Viele Grüße,

Elias