Conference DAY 4 and more!

I started the day with a HISTORY RUN! Since I had not been in the Old town when it wasn't raining or dark, I ran with my camera and took still pictures and videos as I went. In a little over an hour, I took 50 pictures and 10 videos. But with only a half day left in Gdansk, it was the only way! It's kinda like running in DC or Williamsburg - it gets you in the mood of the place where you are! A la Mr. Smith!

Back at the hotel, the order of the day was to review the transcription process of their interviews, orient them to their new FLIP cameras, show them how to upload their video onto the FLIP software, and answer any questions. We managed all of that before 11:30. It was funny teaching them how to set the date and time on their cameras since the instructions are only in English and French. They all got it and were eager to receive this new piece of technology. We announced which two would be coming to America in February/March for the opening conference with all the partner countries. Very exciting. Others may come later. I also uploaded all the rest of the interviews onto my laptop. In case we can't make DVDs in Poland, I can make one in the states and mail it.

I packed all my bags and moved them to another room as we had to check out of the hotel my noon. Larry, Wanda, Arkady, and I walked again down to the Old Town Square for lunch. We didn't realize that Monika had lunch prepared for us at our usual restaurant. But we had a lovely luncheon at a fancy place on the square. On our walk back, Wanda, Arkady, and I stopped at the "Road to Freedom" museum underneath the Solidarity office building. It is a great little museum dedicated to the Solidarity movement. I took even more pictures!

When we returned to the hotel we waited for taxis to pick us up. Larry and Wanda were flying out today and I am flying out tomorrow. Monika's car died and so I had to find an alternate form of transportation back to her house for the evening. Arkady took me to the train station and we paid for two tickets to Gdynia. We found out that we took the wrong train. This train broke down and we had to wait longer for a replacement train. But we finally arrived in Gdynia and Arkady helped me hail a taxi. The taxi driver missed the house just like I missed the house when I was running here several days ago. It's a little confusing as Monika's house looks like it is in the subdivision, but it has a different entrance than the rest.

This evening, Monika served up some Greek appetizers - flaky biscuits with Feta cheese inside. Tea, juice, more homemade vodka and later Pizza - no sauce here in Poland - just crust and toppings which are covered by the cheese. She ordered ham and mushrooms. The Polish pizza ranks right up there with the best. I enjoyed it. Monika showed me a movie of Polish comedy. It's like we talk about British humor - if you get it, you get it. If not, oh well! We spent the rest of the evening trying to figure out how to take the interviews on my computer that does not create DVDs and put them onto her computer that DOES make DVDs. I was successful in moving the videos onto a flash drive and then walking them to her computer. She was unable to make a DVD from those files. Even with the FLIP software on her computer, it would not create a DVD. We must be doing something wrong. I will figure it out at home and make sure we know how this process works. It WAS nice to know that you could load a video onto a flash drive. Students would be able to make a copy at school and take it home to transcribe!

The taxi is coming at 6:00 am tomorrow morning. It takes me back to Gdansk airport for my flight that leaves at 8:15. I fly to Frankfurt, layover to switch planes for a couple hours and then fly to Dulles by 3:17 in the afternoon. It has been a grand success here in Poland. But I am looking forward to iced tea, driving, understanding the language, my own home, my own bed, American food. I try not to be too whiny. I never want to come off as the ugly American. I will come back to Poland if I ever have the opportunity. A great country with great people!