Did I ever leave?

Happy 2011! Yes, I am back in Poland again. Lisa has been bugging me to open my Poland blog again for this trip. I had not planned to- as I figured everyone had enough last year. After a several days she convinced me the world would be a better place with my adventures put to writing.

Now that I a committed blogger- I will backtrack a little.

I returned Gdansk Poland last Sunday, to same University that I left six months ago.

For those that knew I was going- I was usually asked the same questions. Here is my FAQ.

So, the first question- why am I back?

Well a few reasons. First, (other than the weather) I really liked it here. I liked the people, my friends, the students (well, most of them), and the program.

Secondly, I have a really long break for Christmas at Rockhurst- six weeks off (not to be confused with the week I get off in October, week off in March and then the entire summer). College faculty are said to work 24/7- that is 24 hours a week, 7 months a year. Now, while that sounds like a gift from God- I look for other challenges during my down time. To me- teaching overseas is the best of everything you can get. Someone pays you to travel all over the world. Lastly, the University in Poland has a need for someone to teach in my discipline in English.

So, before I left last June- we began discussing possibilities of returning for this academic year. Now my barrier was this full time (sort of) job I have at Rockhurst. Rockhurst is very flexible, but they do expect me to show up now and then. There are only two times during the year where 1) I am NOT teaching at Rockhurst AND 2) The the University in Gdansk IS teaching- that is January and May.

As mentioned, Rockhurst is quite flexible with international work. There are about three or four of us business professors who like to do University experiences overseas. Both our Dean and Chair believes this also adds to our credibility at Rockhurst (we really sold them on that one!).

Anyway- it seems to work out with timing.

For the next question- Did Lisa and the kids come with me? Short answer- Hell No! (that is not my hell no either). Lisa loved her trip and experience last year- and it is a gift we truly gave to our children. That said, I have strict rules not to ask her to leave the country again for 15 years. For some reason the trip was a lot of work for her.... I don’t get women! You pack a bag in the morning, and you leave for several weeks or months. What’s the big deal?

Then- How long am I staying this time? Well, about a month. I will be back the first week of February.

Next question- I am staying at the same place? No. We had lived in a rather large house (for Polish standards) and although I loved the house, I did not need the big space (although some days it was really small with the six of us living in it). But more importantly, our landlords (and friends) would not take our suggestion and turn the house into a Gartland museum once we left. Instead they rented it to someone else. So, I now have a flat (I love that word) near the University that is owned by our MBA Director (more on the flat in another post- just so I can use the word again).

What is it like to be back in Poland? Well- in many ways it feels as I did not leave. My friend Charles picked me up at the airport (he also took me to the airport when Ieft last June). I still had my European cell phone (that worked), my Gdansk tram/bus pass (that worked), my ATM card for my local Gdansk bank (that worked), even my minimal Polish language came back (although still minimal).

I arrived at the University on the first day, just expecting to work out of some corner or in the library (since I was only going to be here for a few weeks). But no, they had my office from last year set back up. My name was on the door. Even my same coffee cup from last year had been cleaned and placed back on my desk. The secretary had hung a new 2011 calendar for me and placed a marker on the correct date of my arrival.

I saw my University friends and exchanged hugs.

Then I went down to the University cafe and saw the same worker who always waited on me. She said, “you’re back”, “I guess you want an Americano” (the drink I ordered every day last year).

I guess word had spread I was back. Within 1 hour, two students were at my office door wanting to complain about the grade I had given them last year.

Finally, the thing that made me feel most welcome. About 2 months ago, I got several Rockhurst shirts that we give to either students, faculty or as promotional items. I sent my University friends in Gdansk a box of them. On my first day- everyone wore their Rockhurst shirt (even the Dean and Vice Deans).

Here are pictures of a few friends.

So that is the story of my arrival and first day. I have a few more posts to create to catch up.

If you received this by email- that is because you subscribed to my blog last year. If you want to unsubscribe- that is not advisable..... lord knows what you will miss.