And I Wait....

Well, I said this blog would be a little slow until I actually started my trip, and it has.

Keep in mind I have been planning this trip since last October.

I have three weeks before I leave (the 8th). The family does not leave until the 27th. The kids start school this week. They will actually get in most of their first quarter before they leave.

Rockhurst U is also going to start classes Wednesday, without me. So I am officially on sabbatical until NEXT August from Rockhurst. Lisa seems to think sabbatical is Latin for "honey-do".

I suggested I leave for Poland early- however, I cannot repeat Lisa's response on this family-friendly blog. Needless-to-say, I am here until the 8th.

My main activity (other than the small house projects) has been reading. I probably read 4-5 hours a day. I am reading everything I can get my hands on regarding Poland, Polish history and Polish current events. I hope that a strong grasp of the aforementioned, somehow might make up for my lack of language skills. I am probably getting through a book every couple of days. My Polish history is getting about as good as my American History. (even though Poland has been around for about a 1000 years longer). And the first thing you learn, is that for those 1000 years, either Russia or Germany/Prussia has been annoying them. I could bore you with lots of other fascinating stuff I have learned (which really is fascinating)- but I won't (maybe in future entries).

I double checked with our real estate agent- all is in place. I will get off the plane on the 9th, and her office is located right by our new rental house. I just have to sign some papers, pay some money- then should be off to sleep in the new home that same night.

I am getting very little information from my Polish colleagues (either at the Fulbright office nor at the University). As you know- Europeans basically take the entire month of August off (just like our Congress). So, very little is getting done or sent to me.

I know we have an orientation in Warsaw on the 16th, and then another in Poznan which goes through the 25th. Then I start teaching on October 1st. I am REALLY fuzzy on the teaching part. I believe I am teaching an undergrad section of Strategy Management as well as an MBA section of it. That is about the extent of what I know. I hope that once everyone returns from holiday, I can get some more details.

Unlike the US system- where we plan the following semester months in advance (I basically already know what I am teaching when I return to Rockhurst in the Fall of 2010)- it seems the Polish System runs a bit slower when it comes to details. So, I wait.

I have been planning some research topics however. As with most of my former research- it will mostly involve Health Care or Beer.

I do look forward in these last few weeks to seeing my kids play in a few games. Ben will start Aquinas football, Natalie in soccer and Abbie dancing and Trey starting full day school. One of my first tasks in Poland will be to find them equivalent activities to participate in.

With that, back to reading, honey-dos and waiting.