And I am Here

Dzień dobry,

Well I am sitting in my new house in Gdansk.

I took 18 hours worth of flights in seats which were designed for racehorse jockeys and chimney sweeps. But I made it without issue. I arrived about 5:30 and took a cab directly to our new house. My agent and the owners were there. Both live on the same block as I do. 

Both the agent and landlord are middle-"plus" age and they brought their adult children to translate.

As you can see from the picture, the house is a small, cute European style home. The landlords completely re-did the house last year. Everything is new.

That said, I feel as I have stepped into the Seven Dwarfs house. Everything is small (relative to what we are use to). Rooms are small, refrigerator is small, so is the sink, stove, beds, washing machine etc. In fact, I had a larger refrigerator in college just for beer. Will take some time getting use to.

There are three bedrooms upstairs and one bath (that is where the kids will live). Downstairs is the living room, kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom. All rooms have cable TV (5 of them) and wireless internet, they put in desks in all the upstairs bedrooms for the kids. All this crammed in 1200 sq feet.

Ironically the master bedroom is the smallest of the four. It has a standard double bed. Lisa and I have not slept in one of those since the first month we were married. I am not sure where she thinks she is going to sleep, as I fit just perfectly on it last night. 

The neighborhood is eclectic.  A row of small houses like ours. Then just 20 steps across the street is a small bodega, which sells soda, beers, and all kinds of quick items, next to other small commercial businesses. Down the street are several large Soviet era concrete-block apartment complexes. On the other side of the street is a cemetery.  The tram stop is about .5 miles away and so is a large grocery store, bank and pharmacy. I am sure there is more, but that is all I found during my "morning walk".

You can definitely feel and see the remnants of the old soviet era mixed within the rebuilding of 20 years of capitalism. 

I went into the grocery store by our house. It was similar to an Aldi.  I am sure we will have many tales to tell on grocery shopping. I recognized few brands. All milk was in 1/2 gallon size (which is good, as our refrigerator is not deep enough to hold a full gallon), pickled fish, and all kinds of cheeses. Just to give you a flavor of Poland- there were 2 kinds of milks and at least 12 kinds of vodka in the store (and some of those came in gallon jugs).

On the Downhill Side

This could be my last blog from the U.S. Assuming all goes well, I will be on a plane Saturday and arrive Sunday. I travel from KC to Chicago to Warsaw to Gdansk. About 16-18 hours door to door.

The Chicago Tribune did a nice little story on traveling to Gdansk in their travel section- check it out: http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/family/sns-200909041053tmstravelrsctnri-a20090908sep08,0,4855264.story

Our boxes of personal items were shipped today. All told about 200 lbs. Our boxes are being sent to a shipper in Massachusetts who specializes in parcels to and from Eastern Europe. They will put them on a shipping container and send them via cargo ship. It will take about 4-6 weeks to arrive- but it was only .60 cents a pound. Also, you are allowed to check two 50 pound suitcases with you on the plane- so we will also transport a lot that way.

I will admit, I am a very seasoned international traveler. I have traveled overseas more times than I can count. But I am learning an entirely new set of rules, regulations and issues for those who travel and then stay and work overseas more than 90 days. Very frustrating and enlightening. I have never had to deal with 90% of these issues in all my other international trips. Every day is a new little glitch.

Lisa's car will hopefully be sold tomorrow- then she will use mine until she leaves. Once that is done, the only other major item remaining is to turn the house over to the new tenants. Lisa has been working very, very hard to get the house in order. She has stripped and cleaned it stem to stern. We (she) had no idea how much work it is to leave for 10 months. I will owe her a big pair of Polish Amber earrings or something.

Fall has already started in Gdansk. When I arrive, the highs will be in the upper 50s or low 60s and the nights in the 40s. That said, global warming is really adjusting city's temperatures (as evidenced by how cool KC was all summer)- so not really sure what to expect this winter.

As we are right on the sea, we get the effect of little snow and not being AS cold as other parts of Poland (it tends to hover in the 20s and 30s in the winter). Our biggest adjustment from KC will be that winter lasts longer and the hours of daylight are less. To give you an idea of how far North Gdansk is- it is at the same latitude as Edmonton Canada and Dublin Ireland (It would be north of Washington State but south of Anchorage Alaska).

I land in Gdansk on Sunday, then take a cab to our new house. My agent will meet me and I will spend Sunday night there. Then I start Monday with getting to know my surroundings and visit my University. I will write more upon my arrival. Lots of new stuff ahead.

Hiccups

Well, we knew we would have to be flexible on this trip and we are already being tested.

If you read my wife's blog- http://anamericanhouseholdinpoland.blogspot.com/ you already basically have heard this story.

I had always knew I need a special type of Visa to work in Poland. However, it was my understanding that this was being done for us in Warsaw. Well, I was wrong.

I emailed the Warsaw office at 5pm on Wednesday to ask what to do, of course they are seven hours ahead of us. I woke up every hour during the night to check my email. At 5 a.m., the answer came in- you're screwed!

I was told that not only did I have to get this myself- but it can ONLY be done at the Polish Consulate that governs your state of residence in your home country. For Kansas, that is in Chicago. So, I was on a 9 a.m. flight that morning to Chicago to personally appear at the Consulate with my paperwork (keep in mind I am leaving on the 8th).

As you know, lots of Poles live in Chicago- and every damn one of them was at the Consulate that morning.  You could barely get in the front door. I waited in line 4 hours to get the chance to tell my story. No sleep the night before, no food as I went right from the airport to the Consulate, and deeply panicked.

When my number was called about 4pm- I went to the window. I told her my story and she they COULD expedite the paperwork.

She then asked when I was leaving- I said the 8th. She just started to say "impossible". She then brought over her supervisor, who also started to say "impossible". They even elevated my case to the General Consulate of Chicago- after 20 minutes of deliberation- he said "impossible".  I was starting to get the message.

Basically he said I could get my work VISA quickly, but there was no way I was getting on a plane on the 8th (they have to take your passport to issue a work Visa).

After much deliberation, he felt he could get me a work Visa and passport back on the 10th or 11th and it was safe to fly out Saturday or Sunday. I flew back to KC that night tired, hungry and frustrated.

So, now I am booked to leave on the 12th. In the grand scheme of things, I only lost 4-5 days (and several hundred dollars in expenses). But I had lots planned in Gdansk to include meetings at my University, getting my apartment, phones, etc. I will now only be in Gdansk about 24 hours before I have to leave again for Warsaw. So, everything is tightened immensely.

What could have occurred had I not discovered this missing document, and went on the 8th?

This is what I learned:

1) I could have been denied entry into Poland by customs, and sent right back home.

2) If I was let in- I would only be allowed to stay for 90 days (a tourist Visa). Then I would have to leave the country- return to Chicago, apply for a work Visa, get it, then return back to Poland.

First of many hiccups to come, I'm sure.

A World War by our House

The world's eyes are 2.5 miles from our Gdansk house today.

It is the 70th anniversary of the beginning of WWII. The very first shots of the war were fired within walking distance of our new home (a segment of land called Westerplatte).

Pretty cool that a world war started in our backyard; September 1, 1939; 4:45am. (Our house is "A" on the map and the WWII began at "B"-Click on the map to enlarge it.).

Nothing like this ever happens in Olathe....

Many of the world's leaders are in Gdansk today to commemorate the event: Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel as well as 20 other heads of state and foreign minsters.

See the video and news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8230678.stm

It's Coming Together...

Well, there remains just about a week before I leave the US, returning in June. I am very ready and excited.

Clothes and items are packed or stored, and the honey-do list is about done. As an academic, I must admit I am taking more books than I am shirts and pants. Occupational hazard.

The Gdansk University (GUoT) administration is back from their August holidays, so details on my job are trickling in.

It appears that I will be teaching an undergraduate and a graduate section of Strategy Management as well as a section of Statistics. Classes begin on Oct 1st.

This is basically what I would be teaching at Rockhurst, had I been there this term. That said, Rockhurst has started classes without me for the first time in nine years. I can't believe they pulled it off. So much for my ego.

As soon as I get my official class schedule- we can start to think about scheduling some long-weekend trips. Although most people think about traveling through Europe on a train- several deep-discounted airlines have entered Europe. They are offering incredible deals. We can fly to Frankfurt Germany for $30 a person (round trip) and to Glascow Scotland for $70 a person. One of the new airlines is called Wizz- I can't wait to fly on Wizz!

Our plan is to travel outside of Poland about once a month- then within Poland a couple of times a month. We will also enroll the entire family in Polish language class. I know the words for beer (piwo), coffee (kawa) and toilet (toaleta), so I am set; but will go anyway. Hopefully that pesky job and Fulbright scholar work won't get in the way of my fun and travel!

The travel is just not a luxury, but a must. If all 6 of us spent 10 months in our 1200 sq foot apartment, we could create a nasty crime scene.

Sadly, I will miss our little family events for a few weeks (as they do not leave until the end of Sept). Last weekend I saw Natalie's soccer game, and today I watched Ben's high school football scrimmage. These will be the last time I see of them in sports for the season.

Back to the final preps and more reading....

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.

Living One of My Lectures

When I teach International Business, I always spend a few lectures on the trials and tribulations of foreign exchange rates. Granted, not the most exciting topic and students' eyes glaze over; as it seems to be a very "academic" discussion.

Well, I am in the middle of living this lecture- and it has not been fun.

Poland's currency is called the Zloty (they are not allowed to adopt the Euro until at least 2012). Well, the Zloty has been getting strong and the US Dollar has been getting weak. As I get paid in US Dollars (a fixed salary), but all of our expenses (rent, food, transportation, etc) are all paid in Zlotys- this is a dangerous mixture these days.

Since I was awarded my Fulbright in April- the Zloty has increased 21% on the Dollar (and is still on the rise). This means that everything I will purchase in Poland on my US salary- just got 21% more expensive. An example- since the time I found my apartment to today- the monthly rent I will have to pay has gone up by $146 (just due to the exchange rate).

I have one of two choices- ride it out and hope it falls again (but easily I could lose more ground and money) OR go out and buy a fist full of Zlotys now (we would call that hedging).

Great case study for my students when I return- but it really sucks to experience it.

MPG