Culture Change

Today brought many new things my way. First off backsteppin, Sunday was just a day to relax and recoup after a week of intense business and services (all good of course).

Then it was packing up and getting up at 4 a.m. to catch the shuttle to the airport for our 7:25 a.m. flight to Instanbul. Security is big here as we had to go through 3 security checks to our flight. Turkish Airlines does things right, very hospitable and lots of food on the flights. We arrived in Instanbul made our transfer to the International flight to Warsaw, Poland. We were greeted by our hosts Don and Betty Orr and our host country Poland. It reminds me a lot of Saskatchewan but more Spring like here. Huge culture and tradition here. Lots of history, totally amazing . . . hard to take in.

We took a bus from the airport in Warsaw to the train terminal where we grabbed some authentic Chinese food at Wook Restaurant and met some other local workers and the remaining of our group (16). We caught the 4:15 p.m train from Warsaw to Krakow (2.5 hr train-ride) in the truly European trains (stuff you see on t.v. and movies). An enjoyable ride with some new found friends on our trip.

We arrived in Krakow at 7:15 p.m. and walked from the station to our hotel - Hotel Polenia (again lots of history and class), kind of reminds me of my grandmothers place (in a sense). We quickly checked into our room and then gathered for a group briefing and then off for supper in the square. Wow, what amazing buildings!!! We walked the square, looking very touristy and we're handed our money for supper and told to walk around till we found what we wanted to eat. We are couples, except one other guy and myself and we became a couple, in a sense as we're also rooming together. Very nice guy, Jesse from Kelowna. Anyway, we found a Mexican restaurant (I know, Chinese for lunch and Mexican for supper in Poland - what can I say) and enjoyed some Mexican fajitas. After supper, around 9:30 we walked back to our hotel and on the way we were propositioned by a couple of young ladies (totally freaked me out). We were looking at jewelry and then they asked for a street. We replied we don't know, we're not from here. They then asked where we're from, where we're going, what we're doing here? Too many questions and then said they were looking for this street and a bar and would like us to join them. Yikes!!! Talk about culture shock. We quickly said no, we're not interested and got out of there. We jokingly said next time if that happens, we're going to hold hands!!! Ya right!!

Learning lots here already and it's only day 1. Tomorrow we have a trip planned to Auschwitch. That in itself will be totally amazing and interesting in so many ways and feelings.

God is good and faithful. Looking forward to what He has planned for us this week in this needy culture of Europe.