Moved with the family to Poland in November for a 2 year work assignment. I thought a blog would be a good way to document what happens as we go. But we need a little catch up now that I have started this thing.
2012 November 15 - After 4 days of packers and loading the house (and a weekend in their, too), we stayed at a hotel near the SeaTac Airport and had dinner at the Rain Forrest Cafe.
2012 November 16 - Arrived at the airport midday to get on our flight... lots of luggage because we can take 2 pieces per person and we will not receive any of our household shipments for a month or two. Nice flight since we were in Lufthansa business class (the kids really enjoyed it, though they should have slept more).
2012 November 17 - Landed in Frankfurt this morning and we had a 7 hour layover... business class lounge is very nice :). Landed in Kraków in the evening and our taxi driver, Grzegorz, was waiting for us. We loaded up the taxi-van with people and luggage, then drove the few miles to our house (not too far from airport). The kids explored the house and began feeling at home. We had temporary furniture so the house would be usable: beds, dressers, night stands, couch/chairs, coffee table, TV, dining table and chairs, and kitchen equipment.
Thus began our life in Kraków.
The following week, the kids started school at International School of Krakow (ISK). They have met many new friends, but as an international school, the class sizes are pretty small (10-15 students).
Our air shipment of our household goods arrived a few days before Christmas, which included mostly clothes and kitchen equipment.
Robert celebrated his birthday in Kraków. We had his favorite dinner, Melanie's Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese (with a Polish twist because we had a hard time finding the cheeses we normally use).
We had our first Christmas and New Years in Kraków, though many people asked if we were heading back to the States for Christmas (we just got here, no reason to endure that much air time yet).
We bought an artificial tree and some lights and decorations (our Christmas Tree skirt made by my mother was also in our air shipment, so it decorated the tree, too). We had some presents under the tree (the kids were able to buy presents for everyone else in the family at school, we brought some presents with us, and a few presents bought here. The boys got most of their Christmas and Birthday presents in an early gift they have been using for a few months).
Just before New Years, we went to Zakopane and took the train to the summit. Zakopane has been described as the Aspen of Poland (touristy, not the same expense of living, I presume). It was nice, but not too much snow. The view from the mountain was also nice.
New Years Eve was at home with the family, watching movies I had on a hard disk (been watching a lot of those movies). Then there were many houses with their own fireworks displays around the house, so we went on the balconies (in freezing temps) and watched them light up the sky. It went for about 20-30 minutes and in every direction.
School began after the holiday break (a week ago) and the boys (middle schoolers) are having their first exams this week.
We have found alma24.pl, which has online shopping and delivery, so we have avoided starving in Poland. We have a washing machine and a dryer (electric dryer's are not common in Poland). Food and clean clothers were Melanie's biggest concerns, so those are taken care of.
I have been buying monthly bus passes for everyone, so we have mobility around Kraków (without having to figure out how to pay for the per-trip bus passes). This was quite liberating because it was taxis for everything before we had the bus/tram lines figured out.
I am sure I could go on for much more, but this is my first post to a blog.
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