Cześć! Nazywam się Tyndall Rounsefell. Jestem z USA, ale mieszkam w Krakowie! I have been in Poland for almost two months, and it has already been life-changing.
When I first arrived, every moment was a whirlwind of excitement and curiosity. Of course, there were moments of homesickness, but I never let that hold me back from experiencing every adventure I could. It did not take long before I began to understand city life and public transportation. Soon after my arrival, I took a trip through the edge of Germany and to Prague. It was breathtaking. I also went to Bydgoszcz for my language camp. This was the best week of my exchange so far because I got to spend time with my new best friends from all around the world! I started school and am still very confused in classes, but I have made a couple of new friends. I even started taking some gymnastics classes with my host sister. I traveled to Łódź and Toruń as well, and I loved spending time with the exchange students again. Toruń was beautiful, and they had some wonderful pierniki. I am very grateful to my host family, my new friends, and Rotary for making me feel at home even on the other side of the world.
Poland is fairly different from my home in the USA in many ways, but one of the most prominent differences is the rain! The clouds here are very determined to steal away our sunny days, and umbrellas are a must-have item. It can be depressing, but at least it is pretty to watch the droplets race down the windows of the tram. Food here generally lacks spices and relies on a simple palette, but I have fallen in love with pierogi, zapiekanka, and polish sweets. I don’t think I will ever be tired of kremówka or the deliciously thick hot chocolate. The language is also incredibly difficult. I am making progress, but it is slow and painful.
I will continue adapting, exploring, and learning new things every day. These past two months have been amazing.
Jestem bardzo podekscytowana na przyszłe miesiące.
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