Photo 1a and b: Galaxie Mall
This is ground floor at the Galaxie Mall. I am going with some neighbors to see “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the Multikino theater on the top floor landing. The atrium has a … (what for it) … planetary theme. On the top floor, I am waving in the direction of my second favorite object in our system (Pluton).
Photo 2: Polish coinage.
A Polish Złoty (the ł has a w-sound) is worth about 26 cents US. The currency is decimal, much like ours, with .01 (penny), .02, .05, .10, .20 and .50 coins. Their “50-cent” piece is about the size of our nickel, though not as thick, and much more used than our Kennedy half-dollar. But the small coins fill your pocket, particularly since the cashiers are much happier to get rid of their small coins than take in yours.
There is also a 1 złoty coin (a little smaller than our quarter), and 2 and 5 zł coins of bimetal constructions similar to our local Canadian “two-nies.” The smallest paper denomination is 10 złoty, with also 20, 50, 100 and higher denominations that you would seldom see. Actually, the cashiers hate to see a 100-note. My wife Kate’s single most lasting memory of Poland is of being yelled at by a Polish cashier after being given a 100-note.
Photo 3a and b: Antique shop
There is an antique shop nearby that has a fairly large number of antique irons, mostly fairly standard European slug (Poles call the metal insert the “soul”) and coal irons. I like to look but don’t buy as getting these home is a lot of trouble, and am holding out for some nice single piece to add the collection.
Photo 4: Flower shop
The Polish love flowers (kwiaty) and there are flower shops (kwiaciarnie) everywhere. Sort of like being in Seattle, where you are never out of the line-of-sight of a Starbucks. Some of these shops are open 24 hours a day. This shop is near where I buy my Polish pottery.
Photo 5: Kewin at work
This is me at work. My first batch of samples and slides are prepared and I am now working to count silicoflagellates at four slides a day, which adds up to maybe six hours of scopework. I did five slides each on Thursday and Friday, but take it easier on the weekends. Presently working in the Oligocene of ODP Hole 748B, for those who keep track of that kind of thing. Silicos are such pretty things; I never get tired of them. A lot of bird calls (seagulls but other birds as well) reach me from the window.
Photo 6: Primary school
This is a school that I visited from a small village near Szczecin. The central area of the village has many old German buildings – beautiful, but badly in need of renovation. This is apparently something of a factory town, but the factories are now closed.
Photo 7: School visit
What brings me to the school is a Planet Head Day program. They have done wonders with this idea. Visits to the school includes a program being as much about “filantropi” than about planets or cancer. The old Communism was not about community involvement, and so these strange ideas about making the community a better place through personal involvement need to be developed in the young.
I practice the language of handshakes (or high-fives). The kids seem fairly incredulous about a dr. Professor who goes by his first name and asks for questions. Note that the seats are very simple, do not match and have no desks; this is a fairly poor school. But there is an obvious interest in learning, science in particular. Among my three classes there were two students – just by chance – who were wearing NASA t-shirts, with another I saw in the hallway. Also a student wearing a Planet Head Day t-shirt.
On one of the posters is a “Gallery Bohaterów” (Pictures of Heros) that show planetheads from last year. I have only been here six weeks and have already been stopped on sidewalks, because someone has recognized me from a video and wants to shake hands with a “hero.” You might also notice prominent placement of Rotary and UMPI logos on the posters.
Photo 8: Soccer fan
While having dinner that night at the Cutty Sark Pub, the guys at a nearby table see my NASA hat and we fall into conversation. They set up scaffolding at construction sites, and have just returned from a soccer game. The Szczecin team won 3-1; they were happy. One of the guys at the table knew me – by name – as he had apparently seen the video of the soccer team getting their heads shaved last year for PHD. The guy in the picture has a scarf that says (my translation) Go Szczecin!
Photo 9: Polish pottery
One thing I have been working on for the past several years – an extended anniversary present for Kate – is a good set of Polish pottery. The Bratasławiec pottery is beautiful, and in many traditional and modern designs. We have picked a traditional pattern, called “mosquito,” and over several visits to a local pottery shop I pick up a lot of 25-35 pieces to pack and mail home. This is the first lot for this sabbatical: mainly square and mid-sized plates, some bowls and tea cups-and-saucers to go with teapots that I gifted during the Fulbright fellowship.
Photo 10: more pottery
Here are the first two pieces for the second batch (the coffee cup is there for scale). I went for a couple of larger pieces. The shops gets a new shipment in next week and I have on order some more square plates and small bowls.