“All my bags are packed; I’m ready to go…”

Okay, so my bags aren’t really packed yet but, I am already beginning to gather up things that I know I will need in Poland like, toothbrush, credit cards, underwear, shoes, etc… I always, anytime I go somewhere forget something, usually it is my toothbrush. I have so many toothbrushes from all over because I always have to buy a new one anytime I am traveling. LOL. Last week I even began a list with the things that I am going to be placing in my suitcase and the things I am going to carry aboard with me.In less than 24 hours from tonight I along with 19 other WT freshman and other WT students and staff will be leaving on a jet plane to Poland! Well maybe not a jet plane, but in a small plane to Dallas and then an enormous real plane to Germany and then to Poland.

So last week in class Dr. Clark came to class and basically left me feeling really clueless and very upset about not being able to communicate with the Poles during our trip to Poland. Well except the lucky Poles that are able to speak English. I really wish that we had been taught more of the language throughout the semester instead of trying to cram into our heads in 30 minutes. I really don’t think that anyone really got anything from it, if anybody did; I am sticking to them like glue. JK. I am however glad that Dr. Clark is going to be with us most of the time, still I don’t think that anybody is going to enjoy the trip as much as we would enjoy it if we knew the language. 

 Russell told us that our research papers were going to be due Monday. I couldn’t wait to start my essay, I think it was a really good thing that we got the chance to research these places and write an essay before we arrive in Poland so that we know a bit about the places we are going to beforehand. Lindsey and I got together and did some research last week on the Wieliczka Salt Mines. We found some really cool facts and pictures about it.

Caitlin and Diana presented their PowerPoint on Safety, it was all very valuable information that we all should know before going to Europe.

The last time I was in Europe me and my friend were going to enter this museum when a few older women approached us and grabbed our hands and wouldn’t let go. They squeezed and read our future from our palms. It was all a bunch of nonsense though. Well, they wouldn’t let go until we paid them money. I gave the lady money and she said in Spanish, “Now give me your other hand,” I was like “yeah right.” Me and my friend then ran and the ladies chased us and cursed us and our families because my friends mom wouldn’t pay the lady for the job she did without being asked. They were gypsies. I really found them interesting after I found out who they were and how they survived. I really hope that we don’t encounter any of these people in Poland, if we do everyone guard your wallets and especially your hands!

This week in class it was all kinds of confusion! We talked mainly about the trip and the itinerary. Almost everyone had questions, they were answered, but I am pretty sure that we still have questions.

Tomorrow the amazing University of West Texas A&M is giving us an official send off! It is going to be a party/mixer. That sounds like fun, hopefully it is.

Tomorrow night, well Wednesday morning like at 3:45 we are going to meet in the AC parking lot and head towards the AMA Airport and from there to Dallas and then to Poland!!!!! I am so not looking forward to all the hours of flying, I like to fly just not that many consecutive hours. Oh well, I am sure it is going to be fun, I’ve already had tons of people that have requested to sit by me. HAHAHA.

Well that is all I have to report. I will write again hopefully from Poland!!!!!

-DAVID MERAZ

THINGS TO DO

Take my Biology Test

Finish and turn in my Biology Lab

Edit my speech

Class

Send-off reception

PACK

sleep??

It doesn’t seem like a whole lot - but at the same time it seems extremely daunting. I’m getting more excited as the minutes pass, but at the same time I know that if I can get all this done, I will enjoy myself stress-free on the trip. Other than my To-Do list, I think I’m not totally realizing what’s about to happen. When I went to Europe over the winter break, I was getting all ready for it for days before. But it seems like that because I have so much to do I am distracted from getting excited. So I’m trying to psych myself into the mind zone of Poland. Its just so weird that last semester it was so far away and now its less than 20 hours before we go… GAH

tis all.. Love!

Katie

My fear is not planes, trains, or automobiles but YOU!

Since we’re discussing “fears” I might as well write one of the things I’m worried about during the trip. Is it being kidnapped and sold off for the sex trade? No. (Well, now it is! Haha.) Is it becoming the real life version of “Lost”? No. Is it dying before I can get married? No. I’m going to be completely straightforward about this-I’m worried that I’m going to get annoyed with someone. I have been on trips before where you are in close confines with a certain group for an extended period of time. It’s so easy to become irritated with others and want to snap at them (or snap THEM). So I’m worried someone is going to get on my nerves and vica versa. Do you know how hard it is to be nice and considerate to someone that you can’t stand? I mean, it’s a lesson worth learning because we’ll have to use it the rest of our lives but it’s extremely difficult when you can’t go home and get away from them…

I know, I’m a horrible person. Haha! But I figure someone else is worried about the same thing. Or if they weren’t they now are.

By the way-you’re welcome for adding on an additional worry to your list!

the Experience leading to poland in one go

Hello I’m Marisela Rodriguez and although I have had the opportunity to write about what being a WTReadership Ambassador to Poland is to me this opportunity hasn’t seemed solid to me. As I write this it is 1:33 AM of March 12, 2008 I will meet with the others at the airport in about three hours and I still say that this change seems surreal, however, I want to write this now because it is a great step in this life of mine. I am the first of at least my family’s last three generations to go overseas, and it seams like a great step to take, maybe too great… Anyways I don’t wish to be disjointed on my telling so I will no move to start at the beginning and continue to this point.

In the Fall 07 semester I started my university career with a high note after finding out that there was a trip that could be obtained trough writing and though this trips had been offered before my parents are of a type who will not let their daughters out of their site, so never before had I entered. Now, however, I could.

I had previously read the book by Elie Wiesel in my first year in high school (what a chance starting too educational steps with this book at my side). With all the good intentions in the world the writing of my essay was all but forgotten even as I read and reread Night, thus it came to be that the deadline was fast approaching when I finally made a point to start the process. I’m a little ashamed to say that I turned in my essay literally three minutes before the cut off point.

Later that semester, I received an email notifying me of being a semifinalist and being considered for the trip, how awesome could that be?! So at the news I tired for elation and went around the house noting the news, however my family and I aren’t the kind of people who get so exited they jump up and down or any such like. The response from my sisters were attempts at higher emotions than just pleased for me though they failed a little, my parents were saying that it was wonderful and then asking questions of how would they decide who went to Poland which reminded my that I had to finish reading the email and getting the details. Thus, I signed for a time to interview and filled out the preliminary paper work.

At the interview I found that two of my classmates from last year would also be interviewing and instantly hoped that we would all be chosen to go because who could would that be. The questions that were asked of us during this inter view came and went so fast that I don’t believe I retained much of what I responded I didn’t take much time to think on what the correct answer would be but decided to be honest on what I thought to be my actual response to the situation. After words me and my friend Diana Hernandez sat down and when over what transpired and I found that the same thing had happen with Diana she couldn’t recall exact answers any more than I could.

(side note: as I write this it is now 2:30 AM)

 A week later another email arrived, telling of another preliminary interview where formal dress would be required, and pleased that I was still in the running I called Diana and asked whether she had also received such an email and when she said she hadn’t I was instantly ashamed for my happiness even when I had no reason to feel so. I waited for the day to come around and prepared to do another interview. Once it finally arrived I waited with the others for the events to come, soon we were escorted to the interviewer’s room and sat down. That is when Russell Lowery-Hart gets up and says something to the effect of “you all have been selected to go.” The room was so silent you could hear a pen drop and none of us moved, we all calmly waited to see how it would play out till we started getting up and then the “interviewers” started to congratulate us, they all turned out to be our current IDS professors who already had the news. Somehow I went through the motions of greetings and comment till we all walked out to take the required pictures for the group and individuals. As we were about to go our separate ways we were told that two members of out group were unable to attend while one had not responded at all. As it turned out Diana was also one of the finalists but her email was having problems and that had been the reason for the misunderstanding. I couldn’t believe it! Both my classmates and I were headed to Poland!!! The rest of the semester was spent in the motions of classes and exams while I made sure to turn in the paperwork required of me to be able to get a passport and travel. In the end I don’t believe I ever got the change to work out the news and that is why I still find myself unable to feel its reality even as I write this. Now, in this Spring 08 semester we were required to sign up for and IDS class and we all have learned so much not only about Poland and what we might encounter there but also about ourselves and those around us. By now I know who is frightened of flight and who plans to sleep the whole flight through along with who are the liveliest personalities. This has gone so fast that I half think that lightning lasts longer in the sky than the wait for our trip to Poland has lasted. I know I am not the only one to think this surreal but i wonder when it is that it will sink in. Well it is 3:14 AM and I will end my blog for now, and see what still needs doing before I walk out the door.