My first days in Lodz

At the night of my first day in Poland and Lodz was a weekly Salsa party, for my great pleasure, i was very excited for i finally would get in touch with some latino dancing.
Not yet not yet Houssem, you're way too tired tonight you should get some deep restorative sleep for tonight and you'll have a lot of other wednesdays for salsa.
In the morning i had to be at the reception at 8 and someone would accompany me in my way for my first day at work. But once down i've been told my employer called telling he'll only be there at 1pm. So i had the morning free to walk around and take the first pictures of the area.
At 1pm, another phone call, i will start work next monday ! Cool job, i'm having 5 days off before even starting. 5 days in which a lot of things happened.
I've been to Piotrkowska street, claimed to be the longest commercial street in europe, i was amazed at how expensive the stores were in there.

Surprisingly when i got my polish phone number, they did not ask for any personal informations. Communiation fares were comparable to those in Tunisia except for international sms, that were twice as expensive. Price was also good for the monthly transportation card, including trams and buses, 44 zloty.
The cost of living in Poland is very similar to Tunisia, except for eating out and lodging where it's twice as expensive, or more.

In Lodz I got lost twice in the tram, first trying to find a supermarket, second going back home from work, it was a nice occasion watching some areas of the city, and then the tram drivers were very kind, although they did not speak enligsh we managed to understand each other and they helped me find my way. It's one of the highlights of my visit to poland, most times i ask for directions poles did not speak english but were so much willing to help that they kept talking in polish so energetically expecting me to understand them somehow, and i kept staring at them trying to decrypt their body language, happy and very enjoyable moments.
Later i discovered not all the other trainees share my point of view, some found poles rude and unhelpful. I think if you are decent, smiling, and shining enough positive waves around you, you can only get the same in return.

In Poland

First thing i did in Warsaw airport after exchanging some money was heading to the tourist information center and filling up with maps and all sorts of useful papers that i never used later. Was only useful the info about the bus to take to the train station.
The first contacts with poles was when asking about directions, it seemed not too much of them speak english, and in the bus, i was lucky to be approached by a canadian guy who happened to go to the same stop as muyself, surprisingly, he studies in Lodz, the same city i'm going to, so he gave me a first glance about what i'm going to find there, yet i kept my mind completely open about that.
The train station seemed to be huge, i turned around for a while before finding the right place to get my ticket from, and it was not in english that i spoke with the man behind the window, but in french ! The ticket was expensive compared to tunisia, twice as expensive, and my ISIC card was not accepted for the student reduction. Later on in the quay, i was for the second time lucky to meet an english speaking guy, he revealed to be from the UK, and happened to be working in Lodz, i don't remember what we talked about during the one hour and a half of the train ride, but i remember it was a pleasing discussion.
During the time spent in the bus and train, i have noticed the first major difference between Tunisia and Poland ; the latter is a lot more green and is tidy, which, added to the roughly constant presence of rain, gives an impressive intensity of contrast between the colors, felt like the eyes have a lot more to devour than back home. And yes, it's raining and i'm happy, i escaped right on time all the summer heat of Tunisia !
The train arrives to Lodz Fabryczna station, and it's time to call my iaeste contact who would take me to the dormitory, a little bit of waiting, and there he is. He, at last, speaks english, oh how glad i am ! It was with his car that we headed to the dorm, and during the ride it seemed to me Lodz has a quite complex network of roads and i thought this guy knows well his city. Now that i spent a month and a half there it's less fascinating: the distance station-dorm as the crow flies is just two kilometers, and the ride seemed long just because there are a lot of one way roads in that area. Now i have the impression i can walk all Lodz without getting lost.
My roommate was from england, i was so optimistic about him that he could in no way be able to deceive my expectations. The room was fine, i unpacked my bags and suitcase, and went out for a walk.
Surroundings were quiet and pleasant, with a park-like atmosphere, tramway station was close, also a nearby shop, and pizzeria were i had my lunch, there they talked english, and were very kind, i was enjoying my first day in Poland.

There were a lot of revelations in the dorm, and the effect was quite positive. It took me a while to know my way around effectively as each time i discover some hidden area, but all in all, the dorm where i will spend 6 weeks was fine, good for me.

Departure

Packing was a real challenge, what will i need ? what to take, what to not ? But i managed, and now that's it, along with my luggage, papers are ready, and i'm finally good for going to Poland for my IAESTE summer training.

It was a real excitment in the airport, i was impatiently looking forward to reexperience that very powerful acceleration sticking you into your seat right before the plane takes off, a feeling that i kept in memory from a long time ago. Later it did not reveal to be as powerful as i wanted it to be, but i managed to convince myself it was, and was feeling an enormous exaltation; i'm really going, it's happening ! The dizzinees i felt during the flight did at no time succeed to take my joy away, and then the flight was brief, we're landing in Rome, and i have one hour and a half to transit.

One hour and a half are enough, i thought, until i lost more than half an hour waiting in the wrong queue, i did not want to ask because it was obvious to follow where everybody was going, also the direction signs were saying "Transit". Once i arrived to the head of the queue, i decide to ask this police officer, i show him my ticket, and he surprisingly prompts me to go all the way back and take my luggage first ! Move Houssem move, sms from my dad; i can not miss my flight, else the ticket is lost and i'm stuck in Rome !

So, luggage taken, i have to go to another Terminal, and surprise, once there, not only the check in has closed, but there is also a long queue ahead. I'm not yet panicking, and i show my ticket to a kind man from the check-in personnel, and he is the one to be alarmed at how late i am, he gets me past al the waiting queue, to which i embarassedly try to apologize. Once the check in done, time to run to the boarding gate !! Feels like i'm in one of those movies...

And i arrive sweating to the departure lounge, boarding is not yet done, mission accomplished, sigh.

Rome-Warsaw was a lot longer, felt like eternity, and to my surprise, Alitalia was not that good compared to Tunisair.

I'm in Poland !