Polish is the native language in only one place in the whole world. And my first experience speaking with native Polish speakers in an everyday environment was indeed frustrating. Coming home from the experience [...]]]> Why bother learning a new language? After all, people all over the world are clamoring to learn English, which I already speak.

Polish is the native language in only one place in the whole world. And my first experience speaking with native Polish speakers in an everyday environment was indeed frustrating. Coming home from the experience I asked myself that question more than once.

Then I remember:

• In the children’s songs I am learning, I am also learning about the culture of my ancestors.
• In the t.v. shows I am watching, I am learning a little bit about what life is like in Poland today.
• In the movies I am watching, which are mostly historical, I am learning about what life used to be like.
• In the radio shows I am listening to, when I understand more I will learn about what topics are top of mind in modern day Poland.
• In the books I will read, I will learn about Polish history and thought as written by the folks who lived it.
• In the documents I will soon be able to read, I will learn directly about the lives of my family.

I’m not sure that makes the actual learning process easier. But it sure helps with the motivation!

Photo courtesy of januszek, stock.xchng

One of the keys to his approach is that you speak the language from day one. For the last few weeks, in addition to learning vocabulary words, listening to a Polish radio station, and watching Polish [...]]]> My quest to learn Polish is based on the approach of Benny the Irish Polyglot of Fluent in 3 Months.

One of the keys to his approach is that you speak the language from day one. For the last few weeks, in addition to learning vocabulary words, listening to a Polish radio station, and watching Polish t.v. shows online, I have been working to find people to converse with–online and here in town.

Yesterday, at last I was with a group of native Polish speakers. Showing up to talk to a group of people I’ve never met is an interesting challenge for me in English, let alone a language I know very little of. It was a fun, if exhausting, afternoon.

I learned that I need to do this much more often to improve my skills. It would be much easier if I were in Poland right now, since I’d have an easier time finding Polish speakers. But I won’t let that stop me!

Photo courtesy of channah, stock.xchng

What other ways do you [...]]]> How do you plan your next adventure?

• Do you get the idea from a travel magazine or book?
• Or non-travel magazines or books or movies?
• Do you have a bucket list of places you are busily checking off?
• Do you prefer to find out which place someone else enjoyed and travel there?
• All of the above?

What other ways do you find trip or destination ideas?

I am always touting the value of reading guidebooks–cover to cover if you can. It’s so much fun to see what other opportunities there are in the city or country you are visiting, even if you [...]]]> If your are in the mood to learn, even just a little bit, travel is a fabulous classroom and teacher.

I am always touting the value of reading guidebooks–cover to cover if you can. It’s so much fun to see what other opportunities there are in the city or country you are visiting, even if you can’t get to them. There is a lot to learn by discovering what tourists come to this place to see or what it is the location thinks tourists want to see.

Photo courtesy of lusi, stock.xchng

Except when I don’t.

Like the recent reservation I made only looking at the numbers in the departure and arrival times, somehow entirely missing the flight number and the abbreviation [...]]]> So…I have a couple of regular flights that I take. I know what time they leave, what time they arrive. I’ve got the whole routine down pat.

Except when I don’t.

Like the recent reservation I made only looking at the numbers in the departure and arrival times, somehow entirely missing the flight number and the abbreviation for the time of day. That’s how I ended up flying out in the evening instead of the morning. Not the worst thing, but I think I got a little cocky when I was making my reservation online.

There must be a happy medium between not paying any attention and obsessively checking to make sure every i is dotted and t crossed. I just don’t know that I’ve ever visited that place.

Happy trails…

It is designed to open me up to a new culture and new people. To get me traveling and exploring in a new way. But the first several steps of the adventure are right here at home–at my desk, listening to [...]]]> My current quest is intriguing to me. (Or I suppose I wouldn’t bother with it.)

It is designed to open me up to a new culture and new people. To get me traveling and exploring in a new way. But the first several steps of the adventure are right here at home–at my desk, listening to my iPod, reading books, and talking to locals.

My quest: to become fluent in Polish by April.

Thanks to Benny the Irish Polyglot of Fluent in 3 Months, I know what steps to take. Now it’s just a matter of taking them, even while I’m in my normal environment. I am up to the challenge.

If you know a Polish speaker who might want to correspond or converse with me, let me know.

Wish me luck!   życzcie mi szczęścia!

The particular hotel I am recalling from a trip to Mexico was one of them. In the evenings I was restricted to watching the t.v. channel my next door neighbors were watching, since I could hear theirs [...]]]> One can find rock hard beds and paper thin walls in hotels around the corner and around the world.

The particular hotel I am recalling from a trip to Mexico was one of them. In the evenings I was restricted to watching the t.v. channel my next door neighbors were watching, since I could hear theirs like it was in my lap (they hadn’t cranked the sound). Luckily they watched an English language channel and weren’t channel changers. I won’t even start about what my evening was like once the Shakira concert started in the square outside my hotel!

The bed might as well have been a sheet of plywood (it wasn’t, I checked), for all the cushiness it offered.

Despite these downsides and the echo chamber effect of tile floors in the hallways of the three-floor atrium outside my interior window, I actually liked this hotel. That’s not saying I wouldn’t have stayed at the Ritz if I could have afforded it. But this hotel gave me a different experience of a city than I usually have, so I love it for that.

Now maybe I don’t need to worry that my phone service isn’t [...]]]> At last, I finally figured out how to use Skype on my cell phone and possibly even integrate it with my phone number. Not that it’s the hard, it just took me awhile to a) get an iPhone and b) set up the service.

Now maybe I don’t need to worry that my phone service isn’t international. There are just too many options about how to make oneself available via phone overseas.

Fingers crossed this works. My plan is to test it soon…and leave Alley424 world headquarters to work from an undisclosed location abroad!