I wish you a very merry Christmas, straight from                                       a very sunny Cracow!

                                          

                                     Stay tuned for a Christmas story...

Books for Christmas

It so happens that all the books that I have been lately reading were written by women.  For Christmas, I would highly recommend Alexandra Fuller and her African memories, the latest prose by Zadie Smith or short stories by last year's Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro.  I also enjoyed reading the biography of Róża Thun, a Polish European Parliament Member elected from Cracow.

This year I also read some interesting books of American women writers.

One of them was the memoir entitled Brain on Fire, written by a NY Post young journalist, Susanah Cannalah. One day in the office she began to act very eerily. The doctors could not immediately identify the reasons of her rapidly deteriorating mental state, which resembled schizophrenia. After some dramatic events she finally finds a good psychiatrist, an immigrant from Syria. He helps her diagnose and puts her life back on track. The innovative treatment in New York cost the young patient a million dollars (sic!) Fortunately, the author could count on the support of family and a good health insurance.

Maybe a long time ago you watched Little House on the Prairie? That was the series that launched the acting career of Melissa Francis. She was then only a lovely preschooler already making appearances in television commercials. Although it seemed she was growing up in perfect American middle class, her memoir is bittersweet. She writes about show business and growing up through the prism of a toxic relationship between her and her Tiger Mom in Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter. Although she learned how to be ambitious (she is now an economic journalist), some of the wounds have never healed.

Meanwhile, while driving several times to Oregon, we listened to the audiobook Lean In. It's a feminist manifesto of the American business-shark-woman Sheryl Sandberg. We listened how important it is from the very beginning to share household chores equally, but also to take a proactive approach at every stage of our life. Although sometimes mildly annoying, advice shared by the billionaire and incumbent Facebook’s COO are definitely worth paying attention to.

All three books are based on real facts. All three show stories of women who, despite the odds, believed in themselves and achieved their goals. 

Well now it is time for me to make a trip to Barnes & Noble for a new supply of interesting stories. Or maybe I will happily find some under the Polish Christmas tree?

  H.             

                                                 

Lucky Bamboo

Recently we have been spending a lot of time settling into our new nest. Not all of the boxes are unpacked yet, but we are on the right track.

Finding a place for all of Dean’s hobbies and academic collections requires some thought. Our present furniture does not fit very well on the hardwood floor, and my wardrobe always seems to be too small.

So we need to think carefully about how to utilize every inch of our Californian square meterage. To do this, of course, we went to Ikea, in an impressive sized building located just by the popular shopping center, surrounded by tall palm trees. 

In the entrance hall, we were greeted by Holiday decoration. However it was more a European Christmas one. I have not found many adornment accents of upcoming Thanksgiving.

To gain energy before crowded shopping, we entered an even more crowded cafeteria. Everything about it, was as I suspect in all of the branches of Ikea, seemed familiar.  

The popular worldwide Swedish meatballs looked tasty to the American shoppers. A cup of coffee and chocolate mousse cake instantly gave us more strength.

We began measuring available bookcases. We tried new sofas and desks. Apparently Ikea’s American success depends on attributing more attention to the kitchen accessories (larger sizes were necessary) and bedroom selection.  Indeed, I thought that the choice of the beds seemed to be greater than in Europe.

After we finished exploring the spacious halls, I picked a charming plant - Lucky Bamboo - and a shower curtain with red patterns, perfect for Christmas décor.

Since we arrived without a car, we decided to order needed furniture online.

The return journey took us a little more time. The free shuttle to the city train was late for almost an hour. Nevertheless, we thought that the trip was a successful one, and our new space already feels like more like home.

Have a look at the newest American Ikea commercial:

                                   

                            

  H.                         

                        

Welcome home !

With these kind words, the immigration officer at the airport in San Francisco greeted me. Even though I have permanent resident status, I have to go through passport control, just like everyone else, including citizens.

For over a week, Dean and I have lived together San Francisco. My first impressions have been very positive. We live in the city, but our new neighborhood is relatively quiet.  There are a construction sites around us, but it is still a lot quieter than our Bellevue apartment.

Right by near us there is a huge baseball stadium. I have no idea which famous games took place here, but I quickly recognized that this is the same stadium on which Kanye West himself proposed to his famous chosen one ... :) Dean tells me that that is where the San Francisco Giants won the 2014 World Series baseball championship.

Our high-rise is also situated by the port of San Francisco. From a close distance we see impressive cargo ships.

We also have a wonderful marina and a boulevard by the Bay - great for long weekend walks or bike trips. On the streets you can see also my favorite palm trees, and listen to seagull squawks. We also can't complain about the weather; almost all the time it is around 20 degrees Celsius.

There don't seem to be many smaller shops or kiosks here. To my surprise, there are not as many Starbucks cafes around. But there are a lot of buses and even trams, and not only ones for tourists.

I always wanted to live by the water and now I can say that my dream has come true. Dean also seems very happy with his new job, to which, surprisingly for American standards, he can walk.

And here are some pictures of our district, Mission Bay:

                                                                                      

Season for changes

The seasons have changed. In shops and cafes many pumpkin products are already available. I hear more and more talk about how to spend Thanksgiving, and even Christmas!

Privately we are also embarking on new changes. Dean has been offered a dream job in San Francisco. We decided not to pass on such an opportunity.

Quite fast moving, means we need to leave Bellevue. I should be calmer. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an average American moves about eleven times during a lifetime!

It was in Bellevue, however, where I began life American-style.

Recently I completed my first American volunteering experience. For the last two months I helped with a couple of very interesting events organized under by the Culture Diversity Program at Bellevue City Hall.

It is also in Bellevue where I began training for the Human Resources Certificate at the Bellevue Community College. It turns out that I can finish at San Francisco State University.

In Bellevue I have also met a lot of nice people. We will be still living on the West Coast, and hopefully mutual visits should not be a major hassle.

If I am to continue Poczytajki with the youngest generation of Polish emigrants in Seattle,  I should also find a new Polish House.For sure it will be hard to find Dean such a nice and effective Polish teacher.

In September I took part in the project called Changing Faces of Bellevue. A City Hall demographer wanted to get to get to know more the city's residents more personally. In the interview I mentioned that coming to Bellevue was for me a kind of soft landing.

Now it's time for new challenges. It’s time to exchange the Seattle rain for the Californian Golden State sun and the Golden Gate fog. As my teacher from Bellevue Russian School said "you never know where the road will lead you…"

Next week I'm flying to Poland. Vacation in the autumn of Krakow will put me in a relaxing mood before moving.  Please look for my next blog sometime in November.

I am also linking a video of popular hip-hop group from Seattle. Listen carefully to the lyrics in the first minute.

H.xx

                                    

Aloha! Welcome to my Hawaiian honeymoon impressions.  

In my high school book I wrote atypically that within ten years from graduation, I was going to live in Hawaii. My prophecy was fulfilled two years ago when Dean took me there for the first time. I did not however, foresee that I will go there again for my honeymoon...

There is something special about Hawaii, which makes me want to back there every month. I never get tired of walks along Waikiki Beach and the warm Pacific Ocean. Sunsets, as if cut from postcards, are always perfect scenery for a honeymoon…

I did not also foresee that in Hawaii, I would see so many tourists from Asia. They seem to enjoy making shopping sprees in many of Oahu’s exclusive boutiques. For our last dinner we went back to our favorite and intimate Japanese restaurant, Hana na Soto, owned by a hard working married couple from Japan.

In Hawaii, there are also attractions  a la Americaine. On the main Kalakaua Avenue, one can practice at the Waikiki Gun Club, and then enjoy a meal at Cheeseburger in Paradise. Tourists, also from Asia, visit the historical base of Pearl Harbor.

Yet Hawaii is not a paradise to everybody. The city’s authorities are working intensively on a plan to remove homeless people from main tourist areas. As I read in the local press, the actions are not met with consent from, often religious, residents of Oahu.

During our holiday, once again, we did not hike on the Diamond Head-  a famous volcanic mountain. However we treated ourselves with a car trip to a less exclusive region of the North Shore and a submarine cruise. Huge oceanic turtles slumbering on the wrecks of old, abandoned ships made ​​a quite impression on us.

I also did not try a popular Hawaiian snack:  spam.  This kind of cheaper meat is available in many forms. Even well-known fast food chains offer sandwiches with spam. Initially, it was served as a food of American soldiers based around the world, including Asia. Spam was an instant hit with Asians and Polynesians, which led to its popularity in Hawaii. Email spam owes its etymology to this product; I find neither appealing.

It is hard to stop writing about the unique island of Oahu. Queen Emma’s palace, the oriental pagoda hidden in the center of Honolulu, enormous hotels and the unique Hawaiian hippie atmosphere all deserve more than just a casual remark. Dean should add a few words about the fish he saw while snorkeling in the phenomenal Hanauma Bay ..

Now I should go back again to  From Here to Eternity or Paradise News books, and perhaps to the movies Pearl Harbor and The Descendants...

And finally, a little trivia - maybe you know which well-known living American was born in Honolulu? Hint: Not everyone believes it.

Look for another hint in the video below:

                            If you can't see well, please click here:)
                                             

                                       

H.

Mountain Paradise and sea lions in Oregon.

Summer in the Pacific Northwest is truly wonderful.  It is sunny almost every day, it barely rains, and the evening air reminds me of the Mediterranean climates.

No wonder why the surrounding mountain trails are so popular in the summer. One of them is the Mount Rainier National Park. We decided to make a visit.   

Mountain Rainier is a dormant volcano and is also the highest peak in the state of Washington.  With good visibility, I often see from afar its snowy peak. It is also often themed on paintings, reproductions and souvenirs from Seattle.

When my Dad visited us in March, he was curious of the Mountain’s name. With the help of Wikipedia, we learned that George Vancouver, famous British explorer and naval officer of the Royal Navy, called it at end of the XVIIIth century, in honor of his friend to Peter Rainier. The name prevailed even despite the American Revolutionary War.

We entered the park in the car and drove almost to the top. We chose a less challenging trail Paradise. It was quite busy, but very pleasant. After a walk among foggy and flourishing meadows, we could not pass on iced coffee in the nearby hotel with a beautiful view of the peaks of the Cascade Mountains.

Last weekend however we explored the coastal town of Newport in Oregon. Its stunning local beach is adorned and illuminated by mysterious lighthouse, The Yaquina Head Light.

In the attached video you may see charming and very noisy sea lions that attract the city’s tourists.  Amusingly, on the famous Bachelor Row’s decks, only male species can be seen. In August they arrive to the port leaving females with offspring for the winter in warmer California.

And today we are packing bags for our exotic honeymoon.  We should not forget to stack them with colorful lei...

                           
                                   If you can't see well, pls click here:)

H.xx                

Happy Anniversary!

August marks a year since I flew to the States. Last year was full of beautiful trips and interesting observations. Stay tuned for special summer photo gallery. 

The United States  is a country of great opportunities, but also of great contrasts. On one of the major streets in Seattle one can purchase insanely expensive handbags, but right next to the shops one can also see the lonely and sick homeless.

There are times when things go less smoothly. For example, not a long ago I forgot that the bus driver does not give change - coins and banknotes fell into a sealed container. Now, usually I ride with a transport Orca card.

On the other hand, when saying my name, people mistake Helena with Hannah far by often. Remember when I wrote about this funny linguistic mistake in January?

And what do I think is still ahead of me on the way to the American adaptation?

I should drive more- especially on the highway. The longest route I made so far was when between Oregon and Washington states. It went quite well, but in the US I still I'm afraid of driving only by myself.

A visit to the capital. Especially after watching House of Cards series, seeing the White House seems a necessity. By the way, wouldn’t it be great if the next series where directed by a women with Polish origin ...?

I also hope that in the near future I will find my place in the American labour market. Recently the Polish community was intensely scrutinized for candidates interested in working language as game testers.

The national cuisines are very popular in the States.  That is also why I am also waiting for a moment when I will be finally inviting friends for a home-made pierogi dinner party. It may, however, still take me some time.

August also marks two years since in unique Kiev, while attending a Russian language summer class, I met Dean. We often took walks at the beautiful Independence Square.  How much has changed since then…

Dear readers, thank you, that since last year you visit (even from very remote parts of the world) me here. May further entries be also interesting for you! 

H.

Kiev 2012

                                          

French Meet-Ups

We finally got to attend a Francophile meeting in Bellevue. I found this group on the Meet-up website, which introduces strangers with similar interests. In our neighborhoods there is also a Russian meet-up, as well as a Bellevue Creative Writing group; there are Bollywood dance classes,  Bellevue Active Mums and Eastside Christian Faith Singles.

The French rendezvous take place regularly at a nearby bakery. What a great opportunity to meet new people and speak in French. We learned these that the group's founder, has Polish roots. The meeting has motivated me to watch TV5 Monde États-Unis more often and  frequent the French dvd collection at local library.

When I lived as an Erasmus exchange student in Aix-en-Provence, I regretted not seeing the beautiful lavender fields. Fortunately, though on a much smaller scale, I made it ​​up in the United States. It turned out that the nearby city of Woodinville we can promenade on a Lavender Farm. I discovered this charming place, while spontaneously reviewing photos on Instagram.

The farm has two types of lavender: French and English.  We walked among violets and relaxing scent of lavender. Not surprisingly, the farm also serves as a place for wedding ceremonies. Before leaving we had a cooling grapefruit lemonade. In the parking lot the owner of the farm approached us. We were told that we can always come back and ... help with harvesting. Volunteers are apparently awarded with a bouquet of lavender and an ice cream bar.

Another nice and rather frequent French accent in my American reality are meetings with Jacqes and Claude ... Dean ne t'inquites ne pas! ... You know that these are just the names of pancakes in our French Bakery:)

Quel plaisir …

H.                                           

                                            

Woodland Park

Saturday morning began with an iced soy latte.. I know it sounds snobbish, but in the United Stated soy milk is much more common and is not reserved to yuppies. Well, maybe it is a little…:) In Poland we call this group lemmings.

About nine o'clock I was already at the Bellevue College. During the interesting Introduction to Employment Law class, we discussed the issues related to the non-exempt and exempt employees. The first employer is required to pay for overtime, while others are excluded from this obligation. After a pause, revision of the  medical leave. Did you know that in the U.S. there is no law guaranteeing a paid maternity leave?

After the class, it was finally time to relax. We decided to get to know our atypical neighbors, the inhabitants of Woodland Park Zoo. We arrived after lunchtime, which is probably why bears, lions, jaguars and kangaroos were not willing to show their charms, but rather preferred to sleep in the distant shade.

However we saw a lot of amazing animals and birds from all around the world. A beautiful, huge,  and I assume a well fed elephant strolled past on his quite spacious area. Interestingly, Woodland Zoo, as well as the administration of President Obama, supports the initiative 96 Elephants, which calls for an end to  the killing of elephants and trade on the ivory. Unfortunately, the U.S.  has one of the biggest ivory markets..

In one of the hideaways we ran into a large collection of venomous snakes. I get goose bumps just when I recall these thin, little tongues...

After two hours we reached our close relatives ... gorillas. A charming view.  They even approached the glassed division and came closer to visitors. I think they understand how important it is today to post attractive photos on social media.

This coming Wednesday we are checking off another item from our summer bucket list. We are going to witness the madness of American pop culture at the concert of the Queen Bee Beyonce and Jay-Z . #soexited!

                                         

    H.xx                        

                                      More Zoo photos!                                                                                  

Back to US and straight to the Polish Seattle Festival. 

Three weeks in Poland and a few days in London passed quickly but wonderfully. An full program with family and friends provided us with many warm moments.

We organized our splendid wedding reception, visited Cracow renovated undergrounds, St. Mary's Basilica, Oscar Schindler's Museum, the picturesque city of Lanckorona and took a short trip to Zakopane -ah, our beautiful Tatra mountains and waffles with berries ..

To prolong enjoying the Polish ambiance, I volunteered to help during the third annual Polish Festival in Seattle. I chose the booth Best of Poland Assistants.  My reward was a food coupon for a few dollars- my first salary in a long time.  

During my shift I had the opportunity to meet people of Polish origin not only from Seattle, but also from other cities of the United States. Some regretted that their grandparents did not teach them Polish; others asked whether Poland is safe to visit. There was no shortage of Americans interested in visiting. There was even talk of starting a Polish Social Hour.

The crowd was a rich mix of diverse ethnicities, ages and beliefs, yet the participants seemed satisfied with festival activities. The organizers provided them with maybe a little bit of old school, but still with a convivial and very friendly atmosphere.

The guests could explore an exhibition dedicated to the Solidarity movement and get a taste of Polish food. One could find many Polish souvenirs (Dean got a Cooking with a Polish Touch book), and when having a break could observe the diverse artistic program. There was even a Gypsy dance performance. 

The Festival was decorated with Polish colors and flags, participants wore beautiful costumes, and children were painted and dressed patriotically in white and red. At the end I filled out a student's questionnaire regarding events promoting different cultures. Seattle Polish Festival is in fact part of a year-round cycle of festivals "honoring cultural richness and diversity of the Pacific Northwest region." Still to come are Croatian, and Turkish weekends. On November 1 Mexican Dia de Muertos will be celebrated.

Now I need to unpack the books, which have flown with me to supply the Polish Library in Seattle.
                                                         

                                                               
H.                          
                                   Take a look at more photos:)

Just a few thoughts before departure.

After ten straight months spent in the U.S., we are about to fly to Poland. We are leaving just when on the streets of Seattle incidents with weapons occur - on the campus of  Christian Seattle Pacific University, a madman  shot and killed a another young man. A student, armed only with pepper spray, quickly put down the striker and has been hailed as a hero.

After the tragedy, students and residents of the city lit candles and prayed at the university, which was supposed to be a gun free zone. Just as after the mudslide in Oso, Washington, initiatives supporting victims started pouring in.  Already substantial sums of money have been donated.

Not so long ago, in neighboring California, another tragedy took place. I still do not understand how the attacker from Santa Barbara, who had evident and documented mental problems, could have legally bought a gun and ammunition? What also disturbs me is the fact that in the U.S. one can legally buy a gun at the age of 18 years, while alcohol not until 21.

The attitude toward guns in America remains a mystery to me. Rarely major changes in the law at the state level are implemented. It is almost as if the shooting took place in another place, a “virtual world.”

I've heard opinions that the changes in the law will probably take at least 12 years. It is unlikely that President Obama can pass reforms before the end of his term, and it is likely that he will be followed by two terms of firearm favoring Republicans. The Democrat who will likely follow might have a real chance of making something happen in America.

It has to be pointed out, that the Mayor of Seattle has supported once again the legislative initiative, which although supports the Second Amendment authorizing the possession of weapons, but forces mandatory background checks when purchasing guns in the state of Washington. A few days ago the authorities of nearby Tacoma unanimously endorsed these checks.

Despite the recent sad events, last months were filled with pleasant memories and interesting observations.  Dear Readers, I will post new entries in July. Now we're getting ready our suitcases, passports and supplies of melatonin.

H.xx