living on inspiration and nutella

got back from poland this morning around 10:00. the trip was over 12 hours to get to and from, but there were two stops on the way that shook things up and got our hearts a little bit stirred. there's nothing like the stress of knowing you have to be somewhere, but not knowing where. but that's what the adventure does. it just keeps getting better, then worse, then better, and then you learn something.

my poland experience was one that i really needed. it was a true vacation from...well...the tiredness, homesickness, frustration (well, the normal frustration of school and the relationships within it), dullness, and stagnation. my body and mind are exhausted. but i feel like a small green plant deep inside just opened up to the sun that coincidentally is shining outside. feelings are weird and i wish there was an easier distinction between feelings and for the obvious lack of word, gut senses. my soul or spirit just feels like it's warm with a glow and happy like a child.

i saw amazing beauty, some mediocre beauty, and some ugly, but there was a great balance. the old town exuded a very nice feeling and while i took brisk walks in the cold temperatures with Pai Ja i mentally noted the distinct pleasure of being there, and not anderson, indiana, to see those old buildings and new shops. i really enjoyed the shortness of the trip, but the laizze faire (sp?) attitude we both took to touring the city. i was so comfortable that i wanted to go take a nap the second day we were there because i wanted to feel how it would be to live normally there. the hostel did feel surprisingly like home. thanks brian, who ever you are, for being a nice guy. for those few who read this, brian was a guy from the states that worked and lived in the really small, cozy hostel. i think interacting with someone else from relative home made my sadness of missing out on people at home, move over so a little bit of contentment could take over for a while.

i didn't go to auschwitz or the salt mines. i felt guilty. but then, when you say you didn't go to the death camps, it does sound a little better than referring to them as Auschwitz. it's not that i didn't want to go honor those who suffered the unthinkable and those who died unjustly. it was more of a knowing that i wouldn't have had a good experience if i was tired and hurried because of the time limits of our stay. so i stayed and slept in a little bit. Pai Ja did wake up early and we had an easy morning of walking about, shopping and of course, eating after every other major stop.

the art museum was exactly what i needed. thank goodness for interesting art. the philharmonic was superb and thankgoodness for real music and real musicians.

now off to sleep after a lunch of soup, eggs, and a bit of nutella on ritz crackers. i finished my tea while writing of the weekend and that is the cue to lay my head down to rest. thank you poland, traveler's inn hostel, brian, jessica, lindsay, heather, and pai ja for the weekend that brought me up instead of down.