Embracing Polish Culture One Step at a Time

In the two months I've been here, I have come to realize that my music taste also extends to the Polish variety. Yes, I really like Polish music! The songs are so catchy and even though I can't understand a word of what's being said, I butcher the lyrics anyway. I did attempt to read the lyrics to the second song on my list and I failed...miserably. Learning Polish is still a massive work in progress but listening to Polish music should be a step in the right direction, right? So here are the top 5 Polish songs I currently have and frequently listen to on my iPod.

1)  Skrzydlate Ręce by Enej

2) Cisza by Bednarek

3) Bałkanica by Piersi

4) Symetryczno-Liryczna by Enej

5)To Co Nam było  by Red Lips

Jarocin and Bobolice Tournament

Hello Life in Pila followers. So I owe you an update from the last two tournaments we've played in. To keep it brief, here they are in nutshell.

Week 3 Tournament

When: September 14 and 15

Where: Jarocin, Poland

Opponents: Muszynianka Fakro Muszyna, BKS Aluprof Bielsko-Biało, & KS Pałac Bydgoszcz.

Result: 1-2; 3-0, 0-3, 2-3

Cool things I experienced:

• The opening and closing ceremonies. Each member of every team was escorted by a child. They were so cute! The girl I was escorted by was tall enough that I had to stand on my toes in order to be seen in any photo, haha. 
• Watching the men’s volleyball match between Transfer Bydgoszcz and PGE Skra Bełchatów.

Week 4 Tournament

When: September 20, 21, and 22

Where: Bobolice, Poland

Opponents: KS Pałac Bydgoszcz (we just can't enough of seeing this team!),  Siódemka SK Bank Legionovia, & Beef Master Budowlani Łódź

Result: 0-3; 2-3, 0-3, 2-3...It was a rough weekend :(

Cool things I experienced:

• Staying at a "hotel" located on a farm...with chickens....and geese...and cute dogs only wanting me for the food on my plate.

• Eating the most delicious Polish food I've had since being in Poland. Seriously, it was amazing. I couldn't get enough!! I couldn't take a picture because I ate it too fast.

• Creating my first video diary on my team's nature walk. Enjoy!

• And then going a little overboard with the video taking...

• ...And here's another one:

Okay, so hopefully you enjoyed my video taking! I will be sure to post more in my later posts. Also, guess what? Our season starts this weekend! On Sunday, to be exact. Can't wait to play again with this group of girls! Pray for us!! 

Haha, until next time!!

Fai

Preseason Tournament #2

Hello Life in Piła followers!

I know I am a little late in posting this but I thought, hey, better late than never! So last weekend my team played in the President’s Cup tournament in Jastrowie, Poland. 

I have no regrets!

We played three teams: KS Murowana Goślina, KS Pałac Bydgoszcz, and Budowlani Toruń. Not only did we go 3-0, but we also never lost a set! It was great to see the things we’ve been working on in practice contribute to our success.  In addition to my team winning, I won the team MVP award and my teammate, Magda won tournament MVP award.  In my excitement, I took this gem of a picture which I, to my amusement and horror, found out is the photo of the week on my team’s website. 

On another note, as the weekend fast approaches, we are getting ready for our 3^rd and toughest preseason tournament yet. We will be playing some of the top teams in our league and I couldn't be more excited.  It’s going to be a fun and challenging weekend so wish us the best of luck!! As always, thanks for reading! 

P.S. I love how great our team picture turned out!!

A Day in the Life of Fai

Witamy (Welcome) Life in Piła followers!

I know a few people, a.k.a my parents, were interested in knowing what a typical day in Piła looked like for me. They wanted to know what I did, what I ate, who I met, where I went, etc.  Instead of spending an hour on the phone explaining my day, I thought maybe more people, other than my parents, would be interested in reading A Day in the Life of Fai by yours truly. So here it is. Enjoy!

It's Tuesday (Wtorek), 9/3 !!

7:30 AM: Wake up call  to All My People by Sasha Lopez. It's necessary for me to wake up in the best possible mood! No one likes grumpy Fai :\

8:25 AM: By this time, I've brushed my teeth, eaten breakfast (an egg sandwich with blueberries on the side), and am dressed and ready to head to practice!

(1) 8:45AM-9:00AM, (2)9:00AM-11:00AM: (1) I am in this lovely gym warming up to squat 150kg (330lbs) in my strength and conditioning session with team. (2) Just kidding, only did 100kg (220lbs) today among other exercises such as deadlifts (my hamstrings are on fire!), bench press (my nemesis from Day 1), and lunges (it's normally a hit or miss with these guys).

11:00AM-12:00 PM: I am back in the gym with the team to work on serving. Once finished at noon, it's time for a cool down stretch and food. So hungry! 

12:30PM:  I'm back at this lovely place for lunch (spinach and ricotta tortellini with chicken), a quick movie sesh (Netflix, you are a godsend), a possible nap (floral couch, here I come), and a Skype phone call to the 'rents (Helloooooo Mama!).

4:25PM: I am dressed and ready to head out for my second practice of the day. Oh and here's what the gym looks like from the outside. So cool!

5:00PM-8:00PM:  We got to work on my two favorite activities today: hitting and blocking! Nothing is more satisfying than bouncing the ball on the 3m line (1oft line) and/or blocking the ball so hard it hits the floor before I land.

8:25PM: Standing in my kitchen. Staring at the fridge. Debating what to eat. 

...

...

...

More tortellini it is!!!

Leftovers are the greatest when I'm not in the mood to cook.

So that was pretty much my Tuesday. Hoped you enjoyed reading about my day as much as I enjoyed actually doing it.  Tomorrow will be slightly different, practice wise, but everything else will pretty much remain the same unless I decide to read a book instead of catching up on the latest season of Grey's Anatomy on Netflix. 

Who am I kidding? Grey's so happening! 

Until next time, do widzenia (goodbye)!

Things I've learned since being in Poland (so far)

It's officially been a month since I've been in Piła, Poland to play professional volleyball for Pilskie Towatzystwo Piłki Siatkowej or PTPS, for short. Therefore, to celebrate, I decided to start a blog to share my experiences with any of my family and friends interested in my current endeavors overseas. So to start off my blog, I decided to come up with a list of some things I've learned since being in Poland. Enjoy and stay tuned for more posts in the near future.

THINGS I'VE LEARNED SINCE BEING IN POLAND (So far)

1. Because of the dash in the "ł", Piła is pronounced as if the "ł'' was a "w". It's Piła (or Pee-wa). If you say Pila, you sound like an idiot.

2. Roundabouts run rampant in Poland. Be prepared to hold on to your seat due to sharp curves.

3. Whenever you enter an eating establishment, it is courteous to wish its patrons "Smacznego" which is the equivalent to saying "Bon Appetit" .

4. I think I say these words at least 15 times a day:  

Cześć!: Hello!

Dzień Dobry: Good day, good afternoon  

Do Widzenia: Goodbye

5. I tend to say this phrase as well but not as often:
"Przepraszam, nie mówię po Polski" which translated means "I'm sorry, I don't speak Polish".

6. The Disney Channel is one of 10 channels that does not have a Polish voice over. And yes, I do find myself  watching Powodzenia Charlie (Good Luck Charlie) and Nadzdolni (A.N.T Farm) when bored.

Don't judge me!!

6. Polish Desserts are the bomb-dot-com.

7. Expect to see people airing their dirty laundry. Well, technically, it would be their clean laundry.  Most Polish people don't have dryers. Therefore you either have a drying rack or you hang your clothes outside. I have the former.

8. Never thought I'd like sparkling water. Now that I've been here for month, I'm officially a fan of Wildberry flavored sparkling water. So addicting!!

9. Polish radio stations overplay songs just as much as U.S. radio stations. I swear if I hear Thrift Shop one more time...

10. Last, but definitely not least, because of the crazy amount of birthdays the team has had this month, I now know how to sing Happy Birthday in Polish: