My Movies 2013.

New Year's is just around the corner, and in the United States holidays sales are everywhere you go.  I am enjoying the beautiful weather and picturesque sunsets. As I am not far from Hollywood, I decided to review a few American films that had their premiere in 2013.

Yesterday we went to see Saving Mr. Banks with the wonderful Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks. It is set between Australia and Los Angeles, and it dramatizes the creation of the Mary Poppins film against the backstory of the writer's youth.

One of the main characters is Walt Disney. His tenacity, diligence and unique sense of art ​​still provide us, through his empire, memorable American films and television. The film is also full of subtle differences between British and American culture. The first cannot live without milk in tea; the latter, although similarly hardworking, would not hesitate to serve the tea in a plastic cup.

Another film which opened in 2013 was 12 Years A Slave, which is now a favorite to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. The amazing and tragic story of a free man sold into slavery, pictured sometimes very plainly and realistically, captured the hearts of Americans. As Poles clap their hands after airplane landing, Americans often applaud at the end of movie. In this case, there was a thorough applause. When I was leaving the cinema, I saw many emotional Afro-Americans.

Frances Ha, was one of my most liked films. It is a black-and- white production about a dancer and her friends, who like most of the younger generation, are trying to find their place in the world. Witty dialogues are used to define the younger and more mature American middle class. It left me wondering about today’s realization of the American Dream.

Finally, the Hunger Games, Catching Fire, which broke box office records, not only in the United States but also abroad, impressed me. The second part of the sci-fi trilogy about a girl named Katniss, attracted crowds of not only teenagers but also their parents. It shows the beginning of the revolt of the oppressed citizens who have had enough of authoritarian rule and the brutal Olympics. Hawaiian scenery adds magic to a concise story, which taught us that society has a chance to survive, when the individual does not act alone.

Certainly I did not manage to see every important cinematographic offering this year, and I am sure that I could also mention a few more titles that attracted my attention, but those stand out.

I wish you all a happy New Year, full of new challenges, exceptional premieres and many desired successes.

                                                    

                                           
H.xx

Dear readers,

Best Christmas wishes from California. There will probably be no snow, (the last was here half a century ago), but so far we had borsch with dumplings and poppy-seed cake. Polka Deli saved our Christmas Eve, although I did prepare the traditional Polish vegetable salad. In the pantry I still have special sausage, paté and chalva for breakfast. The American accent for today's dinner was the eggnog. The non-alcoholic version is very close to a kogel- mogel dessert. After singing couple of carols, we unwrapped presents symbolically. Traditionally, presents are opened the morning of December 25, although oftentimes a single present is exchanged Christmas Eve.  The day after Christmas, shoppers will line up to return gifts and buy new ones. 
And now we can also enjoy waiting for New Year:) 
                                                                                      

H.xx

Dental Care

I am publishing this entry late, as I recently had to cope with nagging dental issues that knocked me out for a while. My wisdom teeth wanted to come in, but there was no room; as a result, I was able to experience the American health care system first hand.

The nurse sat me down in the dentist chair and treated me to an exotic nature video while I waited. The dentist walked in, took a quick look in my mouth, and declared that I needed to see a specialist. Since I was in a lot of discomfort, and since I had an infection, the dentist personally phoned his friends, which could accept me on short notice.

I felt horrible, and at first I thought that I only needed a solid gargle. It was only when I read my patient card, when I realized that it was not enough, and learned that the teeth might need to go.

That same day I saw the surgeon. Aided by the friendly staff, I filled out the required documents, and I went straight to X-ray. Then a kind surgeon, who was ironically of Polish origin, saw me. He said that I was in good hands and prescribed me antibiotics. He added that we now often hear about the social and economic aspects of treatments and, therefore, it is best to remove all wisdom teeth in one swoop.

I also learned that I would be admitted the next day. Another patient postponed his appointment, because his health insurance did not cover such a procedure. I did not have to worry. Dean has a good employer, which means most of the costs will be covered. The cost of the surgery is not insignificant - about half of the median monthly household income in the United States.

The procedure was performed in a relaxed atmosphere and under anesthesia. Later, a nurse wheeled me to the car. After I got home, the surgeon himself gave me a call. He wanted to answer any questions and ask how I felt. A few days later, I received a letter of thanks for choosing the clinic and a request to assess the quality of service.

In the United States changes in the healthcare system are happening. The fraction of uninsured, compared to European standards, is surprisingly high. In principle, there is no distinction between the private and public health sector. American clinics remind me more the Polish private clinics. Apparently the quality of care depends on where one lives. From my experience I can say that in the state of Washington, it is of a very good quality.

Almost two weeks later I had a check-up, and I decided it was a good time to use the coupon for a free milkshake in McDonalds, which I had received at the clinic;)

I am attaching a holiday video promoting Obamacare.

Dear readers, I wish you pleasant holiday preparations. We are departing for Southern California this weekend, but I still dream of a White Christmas.

H.xx

                                                

Holiday Season

It is only the beginning of December and yet the festive season is quite present.

Every fourth Thursday of November Thanksgiving, the feast of ''thanksgiving to God for the fruits of the earth’’ is celebrated in the US. The roots of this tradition are religious and date back to the seventeenth, or maybe even to the sixteenth century. During these first celebrations white newcomers gathered together with the Indians. 

Unfortunately, later in time the settlers and the natives did not get along so well..

Most Americans spend this special Thursday preparing the family dinner. We decided to go to a local restaurant. Excellent turkey served with stuffing and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and pumpkin cheesecake, all completely fulfilled our culinary expectations. It is interesting to note that a unique dish is offered for vegetarians - tofurkey.

The holiday weekend cannot take place without the Black Friday, the day of frenzy markdowns and shopping. Fortunately, at the shopping mall, where we stopped, the atmosphere was rather calm. However on the way to Oregon, we passed parking lots filled to the brim. I must admit that the abundance of choice and discounts was a little overwhelming.  Additionally, not taking take advantage of the better deals is compared to losing a winning lottery ticket.

On Cyber Monday, those who were not shopped out could find more discounted prices of online clothes, telephones, computers, and airplane tickets.

It is common in the U.S. that Christmas celebration starts the day after Thanksgiving. So on Saturday we went to the artistic and eco-friendly Christmas Market. In the town of Corvallis we admired a local festive Parade. In the long march, I spotted, among others,  Boy Scouts , ecological groups (holding banner wishing you very green Christmas), as well as Mrs. Mayor and Senator from Oregon. I even noted a Polish flag being held by group of perhaps listeners of language school. The cold lasted, but we managed to see the illuminated track with Santa Claus himself.

It seems to me that the two holidays are as important to Americans. Let me add that, the last week – exceptionally ​​this year - the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah also took place.

Thanksgiving is perhaps more universal in its message and is not aimed at economic profit, as Christmas. There are a lot more television advertising and Christmas decoration around. However, all show a commitment to the common tradition and a desire to be together with the loved ones.

A few days ago, Dean brought from the store a miniature of a Christmas tree. From its fresh scent, I feel that the holiday season is not yet over.

H.xx  

                         

                                         

California Love

I put together the memories of recent weeks in a lucky seven California list:

 * On Nov. 10 our Big Day took place. The ceremony was secular, but to our request , charming officiant read the piece of biblical Hymn of Love. The Best man, lovely bridesmaids and an adorable flower girl all did a fantastic job. The party lasted until late evening hours. Everyone received favor boxes, filled with almonds and folk designed magnets, brought straight from Poland by my sister.  Cake cutting, surprise slideshow for guests and tossing the bouquet to Single Ladies song will remain for long in my memory.

* We really wanted to show our guests the Mission San Juan Capistrano, started by the Spanish Franciscans in the eighteenth century. It is famous for the “miracle of the swallows''. Every year they come back from Argentina exactly on St Joseph Day, which falls in mid-March. Even in California, November is a cold month for them, so we only saw their nests. Luckily, mystical chapel, extremely high and thin palm trees and beautiful gardens await visitors throughout the whole year.

* Newport Beach, where we all stayed is famous for its spacious and very clean beach (alcohol and dogs are not allowed on it). One of the brave guests took a refreshing swim in the Ocean. Cycling, extraordinary sunsets, burgers and hot dogs barbecue hosted by my father-in- law and rehearsal dinner in a buffet type Japanese restaurant– were our local attractions.

* In California, it's hard not be tempted by solid shopping. It seems to me that most of the stores in this beautiful state are bigger than elsewhere. When we were looking for clothes substitute for lost baggage, we found an enormous branch of national chain Forever 21. Abundant selection and concrete discounts immediately put everyone in a good mood.  It is no wonder that apparently tourists come to California just for shopping, to continue it later in Las Vegas.

*A little bit of culture. Although time was in value, we were able to see the Getty Villa (and some also the Hollywood Museum), founded in the last century by an oil tycoon.  After the ancient art exhibits and after walking around the impressive outdoor pool, we went for a drink on the beautiful Santa Monica Promenade. Another cultural itinerary highlight was a movie ''About Time” in an elegant theater, where the waiters deliver drinks and snacks to the screening room . .

* Happy Birthday Martha - a moving inscription read below our bowling score at the Irvine Lanes, where we went for my mother's birthday.  It was great fun, and the after party was continued with wedding cake leftovers and a tasty pizza. Dean received a higher mark than that those playing at the same time local league. #proudwifemoment

* For the final lucky seven, let me go back to wedding. As it is a tradition, my dad spoke during the round of the newlyweds families toast. He wisely referred to the Polish poet Zbignew Herbert - "be faithful and go" to the line of American poet Walt Whitman  ‘’The Song of the Open Road ''. After two weeks our Californian voyage come to an end, but I'm sure, the coming ones will be, also for you Dear readers, similarly great:)

H.xx

                                                    

Belle-vue

Before we welcome our wonderful wedding guests in California, a few words of our area.

One of the candidates running in the current election to the city council defined Bellevue as a “beautiful, diverse world- class community.'' Approximately 130, 000 people live here, of about a third of which have  Asian roots .  I also often encounter Russians. Bellevue is the fifth largest metropolitan area of the Washington state. Interestingly, when Bellevue’s status changed to a city in 1953, its community numbered of about six thousand people.  

We live in a Bellevue high rise conveniently located in an elegant, yet cozy downtown area. Our complex is populated primarily by a multinational community of students and white collar workers, which is really not surprising, given the proximity of several colleges and Microsoft’s main campus. 

One can visit hair and beauty stylists here, or stop off at a tasty French Bakery for a snack. On Halloween, we gave out candy and nut to the beautifully dressed children of our neighbors.

As for Bellevue’s history, homestead  settlers are the  pioneers of this King County city who, as across all America received raw land as a part of agreement. Our compensation for moving to Bellevue was six free public transport tickets.

Skyscrapers in the center, surrounded by both small and impressive size family houses make Bellevue today unrecognizable from the old photographs that I found in the chronicles. Ironically, skirmishes with the Indians led Seattle residents to explore unknown territories and helped its development.

Beautiful views of the Cascade mountains (in a way they remind me of the Polish famous peak Giewont), low crime rates and good level of the health and school education, still attract new settlers. All these advantages contributed to Bellevue’s high ranking  in the survey conducted by Livability.com among smaller towns in the United States.

It is difficult to compare Bellevue to any European cities I know. In a way, probably because of the cultural mix of its people, it reminds me of the suburbs of London and Copenhagen. People are very polite, helpful and are willing to listen to stories about Europe.

In our free time we go to the cinema, bowling or go shopping at Lincoln Square  mall, which to me seems like the center of Bellevue. Other attractions include the Bellevue Arts Museum , and to my delight, many sushi restaurants . Golf courses (stay tuned for a post on golf), and Japanese botanical garden are also city’s urban advantages.  In the Downtown, I have also seen a church named intriguingly Mars Hill , as well as the assembly of numerous denominations of the Christianity.

I learned that Bellevue got its name from its first post office, which was so named for its beautiful view. Bellevue has changed over the years, but it remains charming, and true to its name, reminding its present residents of, I hope, their beautiful opportunities.

                                           

H.xx

Jack O'Lantern

Autumn is here. Its presence means colorful leaves are all around. At every turn one can spot gourds and winter squashes, and pumpkins. Pumpkins appear on the covers of newspapers, food packages, and store decorations.

In "The View," hosts encourage viewers to send in pictures of Pumpkins. During "The Today Show," the recipe for Pumpkin Ricotta Cheesecake was featured. Starbucks clients can warm themselves with a Pumpkin Spice Latte, which is now being introduced to Polish cafés.  It is worth mentioning that just a month ago, American vegans protested that their seasonal coffee is not served with a soymilk.

Last weekend we went to the Bose Family Farm, which during the fall turns into a pumpkin patch. We did not pick out any pumpkins, although there were at least nineteen different kinds. Rather, we spent two hours searching for hidden punch card stations in a quite complicated Corn Maze.  The ones who found all of the stations entered their completed punch cards into a November price drawing for half a hog.

Those who carted this typically orange fruit home might prepare pumpkin bread or a soup for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. A new study, involving American restaurants, show that the Pumpkin Pie dessert is not as popular as it once was. It now accounts for only 3 percent of orders. It has been replaced by now popular curries, cheesecakes and ravioli, all prepared with pumpkin. This has met very much to the liking of Americans. During the year, sales of products containing pumpkin have already grown by 19 percent.

No one certainly can survive Halloween without pumpkins. The custom of displaying Jack O 'Lanterns took root on a new continent thanks to Irish immigrants; it was the Irish who began the tradition of scaring with lightened faces. First, they carved them in beets, turnips and even in the potatoes. But when they came in to North America, they discovered that the pumpkins would be a better fit. The name comes from a fairy tale, about a young man named Jack, who died night before All Souls' Day. The young man played games with the devil so he could not go to hell. He was also very greedy, so the way to heaven was also closed to him.  His fate was to wander between heaven and hell, with only an ember inside a hollow turnip to light his way. The Jack O'Lantern gives the effect of the brightness of the carved pumpkin faces, referring to the popular belief in wandering souls who remain on the earth before they reach the afterlife.

And finally, while nibbling on my Pumpkin donut, let me share an English rhyme:

Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
sitting on the wall.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
tip and fall.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
rolling down the street.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
good to eat!!

H.xx

                                                 

                                                  

# SYTD

Move to another country, get married, buy new furniture, cook a four course dinner and throw the best party ever - are some of the suggestions of the American blogger and author of hit - clip I Quit,  that should be accomplished before one hits thirty. A few of them I can already check off, but I still have to complete the organization of an American-styled wedding.

Almost every day I watch “The Four Weddings”, in which four wives -to-be mutually assess the effectiveness of their Big Day. The prize is a dream honeymoon. Thanks to the program, I have already taken part in a reception themed Barbecue Americana, a Greek wedding (in Orthodox ceremony the couple dressed in gold crowns do not exchange vows but only circle the altar several times) as well as Jewish-Catholic, and Russian (one of the highlights was a Siberian tiger) nuptials. Other popular reality wedding shows are “Say Yes to the Dress” (# SYTD) and “I Found My Gown.” I've never heard a Polish accent on any of these shows; maybe I should audition for the next edition? :)

I can also find planning help in bookstores. Barnes & Noble has a wide selection of all kinds of tutorials like “Wedding for Dummies” and magazines such as: “Bridal Guide” and “The Seattle Bride.”

One of the interesting American wedding traditions is the rehearsal dinner for the families of the newlyweds-to-be, which follows the ceremony practice. Almost all brides and grooms in the States create their own wedding registry, which is a list of suggestions for gifts. I was surprised that the most popular item that couples requested for the wedding was ,,Cards Against Humanity.''

Another custom, which I am sure you've seen immortalized in many films, is the extensive entourage of bridesmaids and groomsmen, called the wedding party. Bridesmaids usually wear the same dresses, and gentlemen put on very similar or matching suits. The same colors are in fact a way of attracting the bad spirits that might attempt to harm the bride...

According to a survey conducted by the Knot in 2012, an average of four to five bridesmaids attend to the bride, and a similar number of groomsmen support the groom. The Maid of Honor and Best Man have the highest ranks in the hierarchy.

They often help with the finances, and therefore the married couple offer them expensive gifts, as an expression of gratitude and appreciation for their support.

The wedding ceremonies performed by the officiants are also not conventional: ceremony candles, releasing a white pigeon or butterflies, mutual tree watering, which is often chosen by the patchwork families, a sand blending ceremony, or the simple exchange of a rose.

According to the aforementioned survey, 141 is the average number of visitors attending an American wedding, which will drive the average budget over $20,000 when the cost of the Honeymoon is included. The largest weddings occur in Iowa and Utah, with typically over 200 people, and the smallest weddings occur in the popular eloping states of Hawaii and Nevada, around about 70 people.  Popular wedding venues are public parks, golf courses, botanical gardens, beach and boats. Interestingly, only about 35% of the young couples choose a religious ceremony.

Our wedding will take place with a small circle of family and friends. We chose a British style pub and restaurant in beautiful Corona del Mar. Maybe, dear friends and readers, you have an idea for our signature drink, which will be served during the so called ''cocktail-hour''?

H.xx

Polka dance

Last Sunday we went to the XXth annual Portland Polish Festival. I must admit that after nearly two months in the U.S., I really enjoyed a kiełbasa with bigos.

Organizers prepared well for Polish and American guests.  From conversations, I learned that the Polish community in Oregon is not as vibrant as it was years ago, and some, due to better economic conditions, have already returned to Poland. However, I heard a nice "welcome to the USA" from a lady who was working at the Polish school booth.

A wide range of Polish sweets, pastries, jams and conserves, as well as various souvenirs with the eagle symbol, was offered. A likeness of Marshal Pilsudski was hanging on the wall in Grandpa's Café, an elderly woman shared her war experiences in the library, and others were watching slides of Polish monuments.

Rainy weather did not prevent the organizers from running a polka contest under a tent, calling out in English, not Polish. Little girls in folk dresses eagerly jumped to the live music.

Somehow, I am reminded of a book I recently by Polish American Actress Dagmara Dominczyk. In the semi-autobiographical "The Lullaby of Polish Girls,” the protagonist, whose father had been forced to flee Poland as a Solidarity activist, does not fully find her way in the American reality.

On paper, descriptions of Poles both in the United States and in Poland, seem in my opinion quite pessimistic. However, the essence of Polish reality and homeland sentiment remains.

I like to tell Americans how Poland has changed over the last years. Vietnamese women, working in the beauty salon, were pleased to hear that so many of their countrymen live in Warsaw. Surprisingly often I encounter people of Polish descent. Many have not visited Poland, but almost everyone would go back and see the towns and villages of their grandparents if they could. Unfortunately, not all of the places still exist. Those places that do exist, including much of Warsaw, bear little resemblance to the land of their grandparents.

It seems to me that for many Americans with Polish roots, including perhaps the majority of festival participants, being Polish is a longing for something somewhat uncertain, but still essential.

Autumn is coming, and I am planning a trip to a Russian deli, where Polish food such as Zamojski cheese is sold. Today I'm going to prepare, using the U.S. bullion cubes, a vegetable soup. I may be also using the cherry jelly kisiel.  And the Seattle Polish Film Festival begins soon :)

H.xx

                                           

                            

Cheeseburger Paradise

On September 18, America celebrates National Cheeseburger Day. The temptation of a beef sandwich interspersed with pickles, lettuce and tomato lurks here at every step.

Drive-in restaurants are very popular, and unlike in Poland they do not belong mostly to McDonald's, but to many fast food chains.

Legend has it that the cheeseburger was born in Pasadena, California in the 1920s. A homeless customer of Lionel Sternberger’s restaurant asked to add a slice of cheese to his bread with the meat. The Chef fulfilled the request and later entered the new styled sandwich to the menu permanently. By the way, the hamburger had been invented a little earlier in Texas, and not in Hamburg Germany.

I have to admit that during the last few weeks, I have tried at least 4 kinds of burgers, although I do try to order the without cheese option and to avoid the extra goodies served the dishes. At the restaurant Lunch Box Laboratory in Washington State, a pleasant waiter, and a former American football coach in Sweden, told us that in the menu, we will also find one of the ten best shakes in the USA. Similarly, in the Hawaiian restaurant Cheeseburger in Paradise, they suggest complementing every order with a solid portion of chili - cheese fries.

To me, one of the tastiest burgers did not come from a fine restaurant, but from the popular food chain Wendy's. It is known for its square beef patties, unlike the round patties of most burgers.  For foodies, Wendy's has introduced a new hit: Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger.

A few days ago I found a TV program called Burger Land, in which the field connoisseur George Motz tours America in the search of the tastiest burger. In an interview, he states that the burger is so popular because it is a truly American dish and its consumption inspires a feeling of American pride. Hamburger is a dish of freedom – it was created to be able to quickly and easily have a bite while stuck in a traffic jam.

Fast food is one of the largest sectors of the U.S. economy. Every day it serves around 50 million customers, employs 4 million people, and its annual revenues are comparable to a third of the Polish GDP. Of course, fast inexpensive food comes hand in hand with low wages. Recently there is a political movement to increase the minimum wage for fast food workers.

I hope that today you will find in your menu a place for some cheeseburger pleasure.

I am attaching a little review of my American culinary experiments.

Say happy cheeseburger day :)

                                           

Crop marks

- Do you know how hot it is today? -  a stranger asked me recently while I was crossing the street.

- I think it is about eighty – I replied, but I was a little afraid of his reaction. What a pleasant surprise to discover that, according to him, I was really close, just off by 5 degrees Fahrenheit. I can only hope that one day I will understand the American system of measurement.

Apart from learning Celsius to Fahrenheit scale conversion, inches, miles, feet and pounds are on my "need to decrypt" list. Fortunately, on food packages, in addition to ounce (oz) and pound (lb) there are also the familiar grams and kilograms.

In theory, Americans already changed to the metric system in 1866. However, in practice, the imperial units are all that are used. A saying that the measure of a foot is a measure of the foot of the king, and inch is nothing but a big royal toe is well known here.

It seems to me that Americans will not switch quickly to the metric system. A huge campaign in the 1970s with slogan: "meter and liter are neater" - failed miserably.  On the web I found a funny meme showing a kitten cramped inside a far too small glass aquarium. At the bottom the inscription read: to hell with the metric system, the order in centimeters seemed so big! (12 inches is about 30 cm).

On the other hand a few days ago, I failed to properly print wedding invitations designed by my sister in Poland.  Probably the staff (perhaps only at this store) was confused by the crop marks, located where the image is to be cut. Earlier, a research was also needed as the envelope standards here differ.

Fortunately, after the technical intervention of my fiancé, the second time the properly formatted cards with bright red and yellow pattern jumped from the printer. Today, Dean instructed me via Skype (calling from New Zealand), how the American can opener works.

As for the street signs, can anyone make sense of our address? We live at the corner of 112th Ave North East and North East 8th Street. It seems that creativity is lacking here, and no one is anything but confused by the results. 

On the highway distance in kilometers is shown rarely, which I will 

definitely have to keep in mind while learning to drive here. Automatic transmission poses another problem. Fortunately, in the U.S., people drive on the right side of the road, and they wait on the right side of the escalators. 


                                   

Ladies' night

I have been invited to a Ladies' night out. We are not going bowling. We are not going to the movies, or even for a drink. Honing our shooting skills is on the menu tonight.

I've never even had a gun in my hand. I remember, years back, my parents being very disappointed when temporarily and quite by accident I became an owner of a gun. Of course it was a fake, but its purpose was not to serve in the game of Lego blocks, nor was it a part of the dollhouse decoration.

Of course, I'm curious how the evening will unfold, but at the same time I do not fully understand such a practical approach to the use of weapons of many Americans. I found the streets of Bellevue very safe, and so far I have not seen any situation requiring calling the police.

During a recent trip to Oregon, when sipping my iced coffee at Starbucks, a young stood in front of us calmly putting sugar in his drink.

This would not be surprising if not for the fact that he had a small gun strapped to his belt. Although I quickly took a photo, I have to admit that, for the first time since in the States, I felt quite uncomfortable.

Speaking of guns, maybe you have recently heard about the Starbucks boycott, which was imposed by the organization created after this year's tragedy in Newtown. The group "Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America" demanded that this well-known national chain introduced a ban on carrying weapons into their premises. Recently a Starbuck's client was accidentally shot in the leg when a colleague accidentally discharged the gun, which was in her purse. They are especially concerned about restricting the so-called open carry states, where carrying weapons in the public places without the need of a special permit is allowed. It is disturbing to 
note that most states are open carry.

The US also has the opposite end of the spectrum - the "gun free zone". Most of these are schools or cinemas. Recently Seattle, close to where we live, introduced the weapon free zones for the businesses. On the action’s webpage, I found a list of several companies that bravely agreed to join the gun-free movement.

Although results of a survey conducted in the state of Washington 
demonstrate a high support for gun ownership restrictions, there is no shortage of critical opinions on the forums linked to the city's initiative. To cite one of them: If I see a sticker even remotely ressembling this, I will take my business elsewhere. Why would I want my family to go anywhere completely unprotected? 

H.                                

                                     

Roadtrip to Oregon

Just as about 50,000 people cross the border daily between Washington and Oregon states, we drove last week across the border for a few days

Wikipedia says that the state of Oregon is known for its frequent rain, however the sunny weather did not let us down. This made me very happy, especially since the rainy season is about to begin. Yes, that’s right, frequent rain seen in the dark series "The Killing", filmed in Seattle, is apparently not a special effect:)

Oregon is not a very populous state.  Approximately 4 million people live in an area comparable to Hungary. Oregon is also famous for its beautiful nature. In each city you will find beautiful paths for bicycle rides, and lovely parks great for having a picnic.

First stop - Springfield town, whose people are considered to be the conservative complement of Eugene, its famous liberal neighbor.

In the past Oregon was perceived as a "swing state," in which both the Republican and Democratic candidates have a good chance of winning the election. However, for some years it is now regarded as a so-called "blue state.'' in which voters vote Democratic.

In 2000 Al Gore barely beat George W. Bush. In 2004 victory went to John Kerry over George W. Bush , and both in 2008 and 2012 the political race was won by President Obama.

Let me add that, for over a century, one of Oregon’s districts has been represented in the Congress almost invariably by the Republicans. 

In Springfield I found many one-store, smaller family houses on which roofs and porches American flag often waves.

The Stars and Stripes not only frequently decorates private residences, but also, of course, public institutions, sport stadiums, and even malls and hotels.

In the afternoon we stopped at the hippy- artistic- student town of Eugene, where we went for lunch at the local network Laughing Planet. Eugene is known locally as the Berkeley of the North. The basic components of food served here are black beans, spinach, kale, porridge and tortilla. A couple quietly consuming their burrito drew my attention. Dressed in clothes resembling the Amish clothing, they were probably Mennonites who came to Oregon in the late nineteenth century.

For dinner we went to a Japanese restaurant, mysteriously called Izakaya Meiji. Our choices included: mini duck skewer, sweet carrots, beets, shrimp lasagna and a super sweet banana split.

I cannot wait to show you pictures of the upcoming Halloween, which we may spend in this unique town.

We spent the weekend in the charming Corvallis, home of Oregon State University, which competes often during games of American football with its rival in Eugene, the Unversity of Oregon. The first team’s symbol is the beaver, while the second’s are ducks.

Every Saturday you can visit the Farmers' Market, where locally harvested tomatoes of different sizes and colors, peppers, goat cheese, dyed wool, apples, berries, nuts, fruit preserves and a variety of wonders are sold. I found a belt buckle made of seasonally shed deer antlers sold by Mr. Koski, whose great grandparents were Polish. A lot of hand-decorated jewelry was displayed.

Additionally, Corvallis is also home to a Hewlett-Packard factory.

On the way back (in the morning we were able to have breakfast at a local Patisserie) we stopped and shopped at a discount mall, south of Portland. The Mall was for me yet another example of the western multi-cultural social model.

Customers were constituted mainly of totally covered women, Sikhs resting after shopping, family festively and neatly dressed as it was Sunday, and dark-skinned men, riding around to the rhythms of rap around the huge parking lot Woodburn store.

Shopping was very successful. It's nice to be for the first time an owner of a stylish shirt with the popular polo player logo on it. Designer clothes are of course much more affordable here.

Back on the highway, a little boy happily boasted about the dead buck laid at the rear of assumedly his grandfather's pickup truck.

It goes without saying that American driving culture is superior to that of Poland. Drivers try to follow the rules and do not race past slower vehicles. On the other hand, Americans lack what we take for granted. There are not many trains, they don't walk often, and they rarely go where you want to go. And go, you will, because you can’t find European-style kiosks. To get a newspaper and a cup of coffee most people drive to Starbucks or to smaller grocery stores chains. Being stuck in never ending traffic jams becomes quite annoying. Nevertheless, we will not be dissuaded; more American escapes will be planned and executed!

Let me finish with a trivia question. What is the connection between the state of Oregon and "The Simpsons?"

H.xx

                                        

                            

10 days in America

After a long 10-hour flight, I find myself in front of an American customs officer; he stamps my passport without batting an eye. Walking out of immigration I see Dean waiting for me with seven roses. He might not know that in Poland it is considered a lucky number. Later I will see Brandon from 90210 walking out of the same door.

And this is how my adventure in America began. I spent the first few days in a beautiful location - Newport Beach. I had already been to U.S. a couple of times, but in August I decided to stay here for a little longer.

Beaches here are not primarily for tourists, and unfortunately the water is not great for swimming. However plenty of surfers enjoyed the ocean waves. Sometimes I could see dolphins in the distance; sometimes I would see pelicans flying overhead.

About Los Angeles, the city that I saw a couple of times usually while traffic, I will write later.

Americans love to eat and go to restaurants. In just the past two weeks, I have already tried Mexican, American, Mediterranean and Asian foods. At home we cooked a popular local dish -properly seasoned swordfish. I noticed that portions served here are generally too large, and very often clients take leftovers to the ,,to go boxes''.

Recently at the Cheesecake Factory, a very popular chain restaurant here, I found a list of 26 kinds of a cheesecake:  fresh banana cream cheesecake, extreme dream cheesecake, dulce de leche caramel cheesecake, pineapple upside-down cheesecake … Well, living large:)

It seems to me, that Americans drink coffee all the time, so I was surprised to find out that they do not excel in international rankings of coffee consumption.  However, Starbucks' green logo has become an omnipresent part of the urban local architecture. The first Starbucks opened its doors in Pike Place Market in 1971 in Seattle.

Interestingly, a new law requiring information on the calorie content of each item, available in this well-known franchise, has been recently introduced.

Still, on the west coast it is very difficult to get a normal, instant coffee. After a few attempts, I finally settled upon instant coffee from Whole Foods.

Just as previously we waited for food parcels from the West, I may now place orders for delivery of coffee with a request to send overseas. 

Of course, like the Poles, Americans spend a lot of time in the malls. Recently, in one of which, I even found a shop of the famous Polish beauty line “Inglot’’.

Each store has a welcoming atmosphere, so when walking around the store you will nearly always hear someone asking: "did you find everything ok so far?''.  Sometimes it's overwhelming, but the attentive atmosphere around the client is authentic, and it seems to me that it’s not a strained standard.

As for the shops, a few days ago already in Bellevue (in Washington State, where we currently live), I learned that the available weight scales which show the dimensions in kilograms are the so-called "old-school" ones:)

This is my first blog entry, I will add more, I'll be very glad if you, dear friends, visit me here from time to time.

Helena

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