9/10/13
I took the bus for the first time with Agata to school. My first class was Spanish at 11:30 am. The bus ride is super long and I stay on there for 30 minutes. I even ended up being late for Spanish class by 10 minutes. The Spanish teacher speaks no English so Agata came into school to explain why I was late. The kids in my class then had to explain the activities we were learning. I could answer most of the questions on the worksheets but the teacher always called on me to give my answer for the problems I didn’t have an answer for. It was super frustrating and embarrassing.
After a 2 hour break between my classes, I attended English where I only wrote in my journal. The kids are learning very easy lessons in class and my teacher told me not to come to class anymore because it is a waste of my time. Sunny needs help translating words because the teacher doesn’t know how to explain terms in basic English words. Students also ask me for help in their assignments but I can’t attend class anymore.
I took bus 29 home at 4:59 pm for the first time, alone. When I passed Ania’s street, I knew I had to get off soon but I wasn’t sure what stop. My stop came and went with me still on the bus. The bus stopped about 20 minutes away from my stop and the driver kicked me off because I was the last one left on the bus. I called Agata because I had no idea where I was. Agata told me to stay where I was and wait for her to call back. That is when I called my dad in New Jersey. It was super upsetting to know I already got lost in Lublin and it’s my 4th day in the city. Kids also told me I live in a bad neighborhood so I was becoming nervous while standing there. Almost all exchange students get lost at least once during the exchange, but I was hoping my experience would be postponed for another few weeks. My dad told me his story about how him and my mom got lost in Italy for a few hours and completely lost their way. This made me feel better because it happens to everyone. Plus I have a great host family who will help me find my way when I am lost.
My (grandma) Babcia Maria ended up finding me after 15 minutes and she embraced me in a huge hug. She was waving from down the street and I could see her orange hair blowing in the breeze. She is such a sweet lady! We couldn’t communicate with each other because she only speaks Polish and I don’t know many polish words yet. But we didn’t need words to communicate, our heart talked to each other as well as my hand gestures. She ended up walking me back to her house where she fed me a large meal. In front of her apartment she kept repeating building 6 flat number 39. It was an invitation that I am welcome to see her whenever I want. When I sat on the couch, Babcia Maria called Agata telling her to translate Polish to me. Agata said, “Babcia Maria wants to feed you cabbage soup and won’t let you go home until you eat it.” I of course agreed because after all these new experiences today, I was starving. I ate purple cabbage soup, fried chicken, and mashed potatoes with a few pickles. I haven’t been this stuffed in weeks. It feels good to be full for once. I tried my best to communicate hoe grateful I was to her and I think I did pretty good.
My grandfather was super proud when he came into the kitchen and started saying numbers in English. He had a grin on his face reaching from ear to ear. “One, two, three, four, five!” For tomorrow my grandfather will be waiting for me at the bus stop to make sure I get off at the right one. Everyone in my family is super helpful!
Apparently my other grandfather (my mom’s father) was waiting for me at the bus stop because he was also worried I didn’t get off at the right stop. Since I never came home around 6 pm, he was waiting there for me. My family is truly wonderful for worrying so much about me. Tomorrow I really hope I get it right!
When my mom came to pick me up from the flat, she came inside with a huge smirk on her face. Communication sucks between us and we aren’t close at all. Sometimes I even think she hates me or is annoyed at the fact I am living in her house for the year. She also has this nervous laugh that makes me upset. But this time when she laughed at me, I just kept a big, innocent smile on my face to show I was sorry and you shouldn’t be made at me for losing my way.
Tonight I finally Skyped with my friends back at home. They are all doing really good with college and at home. I find it silly though when my friends say they are homesick because Rutgers is only 2 hours from home. I am a 10 hour flight from home and about 4,000 miles. I am extremely homesick especially after losing my way in Lublin. I never understand what being homesick meant until I went on exchange.
Stephanie Raquel
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