At the Halfway Point: The End of My First Month in Warsaw

Last week in Warsaw was absolutely wonderful and incredibly busy, as I've actually begun to factor in a social life. Work followed by evening socializing is hard, because it cuts into my sleeping time. I guess this is what post-grad life is really like? Balancing the three is obviously something I'm still working on...if it can even been done.

After a full day of work, mainly database entry, on Monday, we got a "behind the scenes" tour of the Polish Presidential Palace, courtesy of our friend (and Presidential Palace intern), Jenny. Other than a brief mishap when Matt and I tried to use the wrong entrance (which involved a very scary encounter with a soldier who evidently spoke no English and did not find us the least bit amusing), it was great.

The Polish Presidential Palace is really beautiful. A building has stood in that location since 1643, and it began as a private home. In 1791 it hosted the signing of the short-lived Constitution of May 1791, though it did not become a government structure until 1818 (as the seat of the Viceroy of Poland when the country was under Russian occupation). After 1918, it was taken over by the Council of Ministers, under the new Polish government, though it was then seized by Nazis during WWII. It survived the Warsaw Uprising and subsequent WWII bombings, and is again the seat of the Polish Council of Ministers and the office of the President (though he doesn't live in the Presidential Palace, he lives at Belvedere). 

It was really cool to get to do the tour with Jenny and our small group of American interns, because it felt like more of a VIP (and less of a tourist) experience. We got to see all of the public rooms, including the Column Room, where the famous Round Table Agreements took place, as well as the original Round Table. We also saw the Blue Room, where heads of state meet to discuss matters of importance, several event rooms, and the flag room. The tour ended with our security escort, who was mostly just amused with us, taking our photo in the Presidential reception room, the room that has least changed over the years, where all guests of the President are initially received. It was a quite a lesson and experience in Polish history, and a great way to start off the week. After our tour, we had dinner at Pod Samsonen, a Jewish restaurant in New Town, before calling it a night!

The Grand Staircase at the Presidential Palace--it leads up to the President's office.

The Column Room, where the Round Table Agreements, which allowed the first free elections in a Soviet Country and led to the fall of Communism, took place. 

It was too good a photo-op to pass up--Thanks and Gig 'em from the Polish Presidential Palace Column Room!

The original Round Table. It still has the name plates and mic systems used during the discussions in February 1989.

The Blue Room, where heads of state meet with the Polish President and his Council. 

The group of interns (American, Canadian, Vietnamese, and Iranian) in front of the Polish Presidential Flag.

Tuesday we decided to have a fun night out (which turned out to mostly be a fun night in), as both Jenny and Lara, who got here a few weeks before the rest of us, were celebrating their last full week of their internships/in Warsaw. It's sad to see them go! We had dinner at an Irish pub (though it mainly served Polish food. Restaurants themed after other countries that actually only serve Polish options are quite common in Warsaw), before going to hang out at Matt's apartment for the rest of the evening. It was nice, chill evening, and a great opportunity to catch up before the group slowly begins dwindling. It's an all too common theme of my study/intern abroad opportunities--you make really good friends just in time to say goodbye. 

Jenny, Matt, Eric, and I during our Tuesday night in

Wednesday I went out to a movie with several people from my office. We saw Man of Steel, which I would by no means suggest (unless you enjoy movies with absolutely no character development), but it was a fun evening out, and a great opportunity to socialize with my colleagues. After a busy weekend in Gdansk, followed by a busy start to the week, Thursday I took the opportunity to pack and catch up on sleep, before another weekend adventure. 

I cannot believe last week marked my halfway point for this experience. In some ways it feels like I just got here, though, at the same time, I've become so integrated into my office, I feel like I've been here much longer. I'm excited to see what this next month in Warsaw brings, though I can only hope it doesn't fly by quite so quickly!