Golden Fall

 I feel very fortunate to be in Poland right now. Everything has been going great. I have good students and am continuing to enjoy Lebork. I believe that I have been enjoying myself so much because of the great weather that we have been having. In English, we don't have a specific word or phrase for when Autumn or Fall is so nice but the Polish term 'Golden Fall' perfectly describes the current weather. The trees are just starting to turn color and the weather has been amazing. No rain, No clouds, nothing but sunshine and warm temperatures. I was worried that it would already be cold and snowy here, but this has not been the case at all.

I have been bragging to my family about the weather here because where I am from in America they have already had snow three times. My cousin has been very upset because he has to get up early and drive to work and when it snows he has to spend time cleaning it off of his car. He has sent me a few photos of him doing this and I have sent a few of me sitting on a park enjoying the sun in return, just to rub it in. I hope the weather continues, but I know it has to get cold sometime.

Besides enjoying the weather I have also been seeing the many billboards, banners, and advertisements that have been hung up throughout the city for the upcoming elections. This has been quite the phenomenon to witness. I like the banners for many reasons. Firstly, it is a good exposure for seeing many different Polish names other than Jan Kowalski, and I have enjoyed practicing the pronunciation of the more interesting ones. Secondly, it has been good to see the different political parties that are being represented in the elections. I know of some of the parties from following Polish news but there are some that I had not heard of before. Lastly, I have been getting a kick out of some of the photos that have been used for the billboards. Most of the photos are very nice and the candidates look very professional in them. However, there are a few that I can't help but laugh at because the photos just aren't that good. On some of the billboards, the photos look rather funny. Whether it be the candidates' facial expression or the general theme of the advertisement. Either way, I know it is not nice to poke fun at the hard-working local candidates, but I can't help but see some humor in the billboards. I have also been impressed by the lack of vandalism and defacing of the billboards. I know that in America if there were as many billboards and advertisements for elections that most would have fake mustaches, colored-in teeth, or some sort of other abuse put on them. Here in Lebork, it seems that the general population seems to be more refined or else the young people are more mature, I am not sure on either account, but either way the general respect given to the political advertisements is impressive. Best of luck to all the candidates running and may the billboards and advertisements stay up as long as they need be.