Social Butterfly

When we lived in Gdansk last year- we made some terrific friends. Some neighbors, some colleagues, some school mates of the kids.

As with any trip when you go back to a place you once lived- a bright spot is getting to see your friends.

Although I have taught many nights on this trip, I still managed to get in some social activities.

First was a special evening with the Draniewicz’s (evening #1)- they were our landlords and good friends. Their son Karol plays in a band at a college bar each Wednesday night. Although I am way to old to be hanging out at a college bar (particularly on a Wednesday)- I spent the evening watching his three hour set. They played mostly American rock tunes (in English of course) from the 80s and 90s. My kind of music. I really enjoyed their band.

Karol is in the in the back with the mic. I am sitting behind him

It was a celebration that night as it was the birthday week of Karolina and also of the name day of Karol’s father Mariusz. In Poland, many people do not celebrate the dates of their birth, but rather the day of what Saint they are named after. So, if you are named Patrick (my Saint’s name), I would celebrate each year on March 17th instead of September 24th. The whole Draniewicz family was there including mother and daughter Basia and Anita. We had a great time.

Mariusz, Basia and Myles

Karol, Basia, Myles and Karolina

Anita, Mariusz and Basia

On that Friday, the Economists at Politechnika took me out for drinks in Sopot. Now you know how wild economists can get- so I can’t really go into too many details about the evening. Needless to say we had a really nice time. The only other man in the picture is Piotr, the Dean of the School of Management and Economics (and a Economist himself).

Some of the Economists from Politechnika

On that Saturday, I found myself back at the Draniewicz (Draniewicz evening #2) house for dinner. Basia knows I love her Bigos (Polish Hunter Stew) so she made a large pot. I think I had three servings.

I told the Draniewicz’s that I had read in one of the Polish travel books that proper edict when visiting a Polish house was to 1) bring the mother flowers 2) bring the father a bottle of booze and 3) pet the family dog. So, being a trying to be a good guest..... I brought the flowers and the booze and made good friends again with the dog. I think for the booze however they usually mean bring a bottle of vodka- this is where I broke with tradition. I found a bottle of good American black label Jim Beam bourbon. Needless to say the bottle did not make it to the end of the night. Karol, Mariusz, Woitech and I made sure of it.

This is our basement of our house we lived in. They converted it to a Remax office

On Sunday, I was invited over to our Vice Dean (and of course my friend) Magda’s house. Magda was not only my boss and friend, but she was our shepherd last year that helped us through so many of the bureaucratic hurdles. We ate with her husband Gregory and 6th grade son Filip . Notice Filip’s shirt. I am turning him into an American football and Chiefs fan.

Magda, Filip and Gregory

The first Polish born NFL Quarterback

Finally, I had a great opportunity to spend an evening with a couple of grad students (who are also a couple). They were both in my class. Marcin and Kasia took me to a brew pub with 180 different kinds of beer. I got to try several Polish brands that I have not had before. We spent almost four hours talking about life, travel and everything under the sun.

Still on my list is to visit is my kid’s school from last year and the American embassy office called American Corners.