tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64848610009527562352024-03-13T21:16:11.626+06:00A Black Man in PolandJoel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-60576997604656837312013-10-02T02:50:00.000+07:002013-10-02T02:50:03.984+07:00US Government ShutdownI am an American living in Poland. From here, the shutdown of the US Government magnifies the stupidity, selfishness and greed of the Republican Party. What a bunch of twisted people.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-87743218442903143182013-08-28T01:50:00.000+07:002013-08-28T01:50:22.434+07:00Mall HellAnyone who visits Warsaw is bound to make a trip to one of the malls. There is a choice ... Zlote Tarasy, Kliff, Arkadia, Galeria Mokotow ... these places are all within 30 minutes of each other (provided traffic is cooperative).<br />
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The problem for me is that I absolutely hate malls. They are a rabid disease on the landscape. I cannot find the proper word to define how disgusting I find them.<br />
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Yet, I find myself in one of these monstrosities at least one per week. It was a very clever decision to put supermarkets in malls. A simple trip to a market turns into entering hell. The parking lots require a very high IQ to navigate. If you go to one of these malls, park your car, don't pay exact attention to where you are parked, then try to find your car sixty minutes later. Additionally, I challenge anyone to exit the parking lot without using obscenities. It is not possible. There are strange turns into strange lanes that go down in order for you to go up and out. No kidding. The parking lots are an afterthought of design.<br />
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The king of weirdness has to be the mall named Blue City. Without a doubt, this mall wins the prize for most inefficient design (not to mention most unattractive). There is one obvious elevator that is a workhorse. This elevator stops on every floor whether it goes up or down. It is always filled with people with shopping baskets or baby carriages or both. Also, it is notoriously slow. I cannot possibly explain the lunacy of the escalators. There is no way of figuring out which ones go up or which ones go down until to walk to it. And, they are in a circle. I can't explain. You have to see to believe. And finally, there are entire sections of the mall that are pretty much hidden. There are rows of shops that one cannot see unless one wanders down a strange hallway. You have to make the trek down these halls to see what stores are there.<br />
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A word about Blue City's parking lot ... simple stay out of it if you can ... and this is very possible since it requires know-how to even find the entrance. Once you are in the lot (which goes from underground to several stories above ground), good luck with which direction you are facing. There is a system that gives animal names to the different sections of the lot, but I think this is so you can tell security the section your car is in when you cannot find it.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-56128428865155704322013-07-07T18:48:00.001+07:002013-07-07T18:48:10.397+07:00A Long BreakI have been on a break with my blog for awhile. I guess I just ran out of inspiration. Being here in Warsaw has become almost routine. Also, I have found that the feeling of being different and standing out in a crowd has somewhat diminished. This is not to say it is gone completely. There are still times when the stares become too much. But, I think I have begun to just not pay attention.<br />
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All that said, I will write when I feel compelled to do so. In the interim, I welcome any and all comments. If you are a person of color living in Poland, please let me know. I would love to hear your experience here.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-31696033874436261102013-04-12T15:56:00.001+07:002013-04-12T15:56:28.483+07:00Racist ads?There is an ad running on TV in Warsaw that shows a Polish guy in some remote part of Africa that I am sure the writers/client of this commercial has never been. The crux of the ad seems to be that one can use his/her bankcard anywhere. In the commercial, there are Africans in what is meant to be traditional tribal clothing and they are looking at the cash machine as if it is some sort of object from out of space. Then there is a tribesman talking on an iPhone. The whole thing is ridiculous.<br />
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I write about this because the commercial is so insensitive I had to wonder how the hell it got on TV. Then I remembered that I live in a very homogeneous place. There is no pressure from other types of people here on the powers that be. So, this type of garbage makes it to TV. Adding fuel to the fire for me was something that happened regarding a commercial not too long ago.<br />
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You may have seen the Old Spice ad with the African American guy on the horse. This commercial was banned at first here in Poland by the "ad censors". The people at this government office decided that this commercial was saying that Polish men are inferior. How they got to that brilliant conclusion clearly has a root in ignorance ... one could also call it unintentional racism. Eventually, someone made a more sane decision and allowed the ad to go on the air.<br />
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As I think about the bank commercial with the Africans, I begin to see just how ignorant the creators of this ad are. To not see how this is offensive means you are stupid or unknowing. In either case, the client could have asked someone. Someone thought this was funny. Humor is always good, except when it is offensive to others. What would the "ad censors" have done if this commercial was set in a Polish village and the town folk were too stupid to use the cash machine? Would that be funny to them? I hope not. It's not funny to me and it probably isn't funny to a Pole. It is offensive to me because prejudice in any guise is repulsive.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-73316059174053869652013-04-04T16:00:00.000+07:002013-04-04T16:00:46.768+07:00Weird Work SituationsI am not sure how to explain this, but here is a try: my experience with Polish businesses has been that once something concerns money, they become "creepingly" quiet. I really don't know how else to say it. I have had dialogue via email, text and phone with perspective individual and group clients in the planning stage of a project. Things go well and there is often honest dialogue regarding expectations and goals. Then we discuss money. I literally do not hear from these clients again. I presently do some work for a company and I will get emails all day if there is a new project. I mention payment and the emails stop. Literally stop. No response to inquiries. No email explaining that the project is on hold or they are working with someone else. Whereas I used to get really angry, I can now laugh at this behavior. It is the behavior of a child. A frightened child that runs and hides.<br />
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I have figured out that I must discuss money or pay at the very beginning. That way, there isn't a barage of emails and calls that are fruitless. So, if you find yourself stuck wondering "what happened?", chances are it has to do with money. Money is very different here. Just pay attention to the news. The normal "cry" of politicians and many, many people is that Poland is a poor country. "There is no none!" Bullshit! There is money here. Look at the construction and renovation going on around the city. But as long as the masses are convinced there isn't, the people making the money can continue to line their pockets.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-36184008524121923492013-03-22T19:02:00.002+07:002013-03-22T19:28:38.670+07:00IdeasAhhhhh ... Warsaw in the Springtime! If it would only get above -2C, I think my outlook would get a little better. As it stands now, there is enough snow outside that it literally looks like winter. It also feels like winter. Something is definitley wrong.<br />
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There are some of you that read this blog on a regular basis. There are some that visit once or maybe twice. In either case, I need some help.<br />
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Does anyone out there have a question they might like answered? Many friends asked me many questions after I moved here. The most common one was "why!?" As I have been unable to think of really interesting things to write about recently, please let me know if you have an idea. I am kinda stuck and need some fresh thinking!Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-60438902879317945472013-03-04T01:16:00.000+07:002013-03-04T01:16:09.933+07:00Death of a ChildI saw a news program that reported the death of a child here in Poland. The child died because the emergency service operator (or someone at the emergency center) decided that there was "no emergency" when the parent of this child called the emergency hot line. The ambulance did not come. The parents took the kid to the hospital where he died. If this isn't painful enough, the spokesperson for this ambulance service had the nerve to say at an interview that we should not jump to conclusions about this situation. Tragic. There is no other word. I hope the outrage of the parents sends them into action. The idiot that made this decision is culpable for the death of this kid. Period. It can be spun with many "what ifs", but the fact remains that this person at the ambulance service made a horribly bad call. And a bad call causes suffering and death when your job is to decide a course of action to save peoples lives. What was this person thinking? Why would ambulance service be denied? Did the operator think the caller was playing a joke? Did he/she think the parent was lying? There is no logical reason for denying emergency service.<br />
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To the person who denied this kid help ... I hope you are taking a good look at what you have done. If you have a conscious at all, you are probably in a lot of pain and I wish you strength and peace of mind. But I also hope and pray that you find another job. Something that does not require you to decide the welfare of others.<br />
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My heart goes out to the parents.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-51270892831115671052013-02-21T18:34:00.001+07:002013-02-21T18:34:18.040+07:00Driving Hell (a.k.a. Warsaw)In the past three weeks, I have received a ticket for having no International Driving Permit, a speeding ticket thanks to the absurd road cameras that make people speed up even more once they drive past it, and a parking ticket based upon a no parking sign that clearly all 20 cars on the block did not see. I am in car hell here. It is at a point where I think I will go to Germany, get a license and a license plate and then return to Warsaw. This is actually seeming more and more logical. The police and other road cops here are simply ... how can I put it ... stupid. I don't know how else to explain it. They seem to have no mind of their own. They cannot use what intellect they may have to fully understand a situation. Maybe they are doing their jobs, but they are over zealous. They kinda remind me of California cops. And it doesn't take much research to find out that California cops have many, many issues.<br />
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To make matters even more crazy, I cannot renew my US Drivers' License from here because the state of Wisconsin has decided that I do not have any mail with a Wisconsin address on it. When I explained that I am here temporarily and have had all of my mail forwarded here, they got even more confused. Does Wisconsin and Poland have similar people working in the government? Maybe they are the same people. They certainly have the same intellect. There is no reasoning with these people. They see a single rule as being iron-clad and fully functional. No use pointing out the fallacy or absurdity of the law. Although many people besides me have tried, the worker in these offices are brain dead. They are powerless and are not allowed to think.<br />
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As you may have noticed, I am pretty disgusted with a lot of things right now. Maybe all of my bad luck is happening at the beginning of the year. Maybe 2013 will get better later. I hope so. Otherwise, it is time to get the hell out of here. Living in Warsaw is extremely difficult sometimes. The worse part is that it doesn't have to be this way. So many people I know living in Warsaw say the same thing: "Why is it so hard to live here?!" I am feeling this to the core. It is just too hard. The worse part is that people here accept it. I think they may not realize there is a better way.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-53656672043517593922013-02-11T20:13:00.001+07:002013-02-11T20:13:43.973+07:00Cable/Satellite TV These companies seem to be the same greedy, unreliable, "highway robbing" type of companies everywhere. I know for sure they are similar in Poland and the US. The service provided is so below any level of expectations that it is absurd. It would be almost laughable to spend money on this service if it wasn't for the fact that one does not really have a choice if they want to have a variety of programming. These companies lack real competition. Until this changes, we can expect to be treated in the same manner that they have always behaved. I know a change is somewhat happening in the US as these companies are now being held a little more responsible for their "lack" of action. Not so in Warsaw.<br />
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Our dealings with Cyfra Plus has be absolutely a nightmare. They are, without a doubt, the worse I have ever seen. If you move to Warsaw, do yourself a favor and choose any other company. This company is worthless. When one calls their "help" line, one should be prepared to be transferred, given another number to call or worse, given the wrong solution to your problem. We have had to call this company well over ten times in the past month. It wasn't until we yelled and threatened them that they fixed the problem. When asked what the problem was, they did not know! Our signal would not work and all of a sudden it worked after threatened to cancel the contract. Hmmm.<br />
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Also a note of caution. The so-called CI card that should descramble the signal from Cyfra Plus does not work on all channels. Why? Because then one has to rent their box descrambler for a monthly fee. My next move? Universal descambler ... fuck Cyfra Plus.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-46009944421335325542013-02-05T20:02:00.001+07:002013-02-05T20:27:24.973+07:00How to Drive in Warsaw1. Get in your car, take a deep breath, and call upon your inner aggression.<br />
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2. Talk yourself into anger. It is important that you be pissed off at everyone and everything.<br />
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3. Remember, you are the only car on the road that matters.<br />
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4. Pull off as fast and recklessly as you possibly can. If there are children, animals or old people near, become more reckless and aggressive.<br />
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5. Under no circumstances do you allow anyone to get in front of you. If a driver's blinker is on so that he/she can move into your lane, speed up to make sure this doesn't happen.<br />
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6. If another driver's choice is either to get into your lane or run into something, remember that the world is overpopulated and you are contributing to population control by allowing the other driver to crash and die.<br />
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7. If a driver cuts in front of you, speed up, go around him/her and create a situation that should almost certainly lead to a car accident and, with any luck, a fatal crash. That driver had no right to get into your lane and he did it because he knows you are a pussy and you won't do anything about it.<br />
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8. Get particularly pissed off and aggressive at any driver over 40 years old.<br />
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9. Speed up at crosswalks so that you have to stop suddenly.<br />
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10. And finally... if you are driving crazily or towing another car using a small child's jump rope, and you see a cop giving some other driver a citation, don't worry nor fret. The cops are <i>only</i> concerned with writing the ticket and you can get away with whatever you are doing. Also, make sure to pick up your mobile and text someone as you pass the cops.<br />
<br />Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-11194792977769710262013-01-31T22:17:00.001+07:002013-01-31T22:17:34.724+07:00Car MechanicsThere is most definitely a similarity between car mechanics in Poland and car mechanics in the US: I don't trust any of them. Can they be trusted in any country for that matter?<br />
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We have a mechanic here in Warsaw that has had our car for the past week and when we asked yesterday what work had been done, he told us that he had not begun work on it and was waiting for a certain part. Later that day, the part came, but it was the wrong part so the car was still not ready. All I could do was scream ... and go to his shop and get my car and be ready to argue. There is no way on earth I will pay this man anything. The situation is not new. I have had to deal with crazy mechanics in the US. What is it about this type of business that seems to breed corruption and insanity?<br />
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Clearly, the only mechanic I will partly trust are the ones that work at a dealership ... and I am not too sure about them either.<br />
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I know I am generalizing, but if I have dealt with 10 mechanics in my lifetime, 9 of them tried to cheat me in some way. It is disgusting. I have a lower stress level going to a dentist than a mechanic. That puts it all into perspective for me.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-60755846317473530892013-01-21T15:59:00.000+07:002013-01-21T15:59:16.845+07:00The Polish Police and The International Driving LicenseIt finally happened ... I got a 500zl (yes, 500zl!) ticket from a cop for driving without an International Driving License (IDL). Can you imagine how pissed off I am? I think you can. The IDL is probably the biggest scam since cigarette companies tried to convince us that smoking was actually OK and healthy.<br />
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From all I can tell, possession of the IDL proves only that you have paid the money to get one. It has no other value. It does not prove I have insurance. It does not prove that I know the laws of driving in Poland. It proves absolutely nothing. For the life of me, I cannot figure out its purpose other than someone, somewhere is making some money off of people. It also gives the Polish government more revenue because of the insane cost of the citation. I can understand ticketing a person for some sort of endangering behavior. Speeding or jaywalking are good examples. But to ticket someone for not having a document? It is absurd. Even the cop who gave me the ticket could not explain why I needed and IDL. Either he was stupid or didn't care or realized he had no appropriate answer because he could see the absurdity as well.<br />
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Here is my theory: If and when the US allows Polish citizens to travel to the US without a visa, then Poland will suspend this silly and expensive practice of requiring an IDL.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-76789770635177090682013-01-16T15:57:00.000+07:002013-01-16T15:57:07.206+07:00Living Here<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As stated
in the title of my blog, I am an African American living in Poland. I live in
Warsaw. For whatever reason, I have been obsessed with the thought of
"What does this mean?" I am not sure. I realize that I look different
than most of the people I come in contact with on a daily basis (sometimes, I
look different than ALL the people I contact during a day). It can be very
strange. But, in all honesty, does it make a difference in the way I live? I
think so ... I just cannot put it into words. I feel different here sometimes
and to stop from "freaking out", I have to dismiss those feelings. In
theory, I know we are the same. There are people here I relate to because we
share common likes or dislikes or hobbies or whatever./ But, when sitting on
the tram or going into a mall and absolutely no one is of African origin ... I
can often get a little uneasy. Perhaps this is a carry-over from living in the
US where race is still a distinguishing factor (despite talk of it being
otherwise). I cannot imagine going anywhere in the US and not seeing another
Black person. Of course, there are exceptions. I have been to small towns in
America that have no people of color. Somehow, this was not as unnerving. Here
in Warsaw, it can become so very unnerving for me. I really cannot give a
reason to this except that I may be the culprit. Maybe it is me that is seeing
and feeling all of this and others are simply seeing an American. I don’t know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All that
said, living here is an experience that is unique. I know two other Black people
from the states that live here. I do not get to talk to them much because of
many reasons. Nonetheless, we are a pretty rare breed, I think. The question
still is what do I do with this situation that it may be helpful to another
person in some way? </span></div>
Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-77592875853822804682013-01-02T22:02:00.004+07:002013-01-02T22:02:57.014+07:00A New Year with a Daily ResolutionThis year, I have made the decision to create a new year's resolution not to have any new year's resolution. I always fall into that nonsense of setting some goal that seems improbable and then falling short. It never worked.<br />
<br />
So, this year I have made the decision to just live each day in a resolution. The idea is to say to myself each day, "today, I will ______________", and then do it. I can't fail with this one. I can make the decision to do something difficult or not so difficult. For example, "today, I will not eat sugar." I can pull this off for one day, but after that, it is simply too much for my sweet tooth to handle. I can do or not do just about anything for a day. No problem! Somehow, my mind goes on the defensive if I tell it to behave a certain way for more than one day. I never really understood why. However, my experience has been just that.<br />
<br />
So what am I willing to give up or give into for a full day? A partial list will include: chocolate, afternoon naps, conflict of any sort, go work out (period! no excuses!), stand up on the tram no matter what, drink more water and call someone I haven't talked to in a long time.<br />
<br />
The list can go on and on. It is really an experiment in the making. I can free up time each morning to think about it and then have a resolution each day!Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-26948467087207692192012-12-21T22:56:00.002+07:002012-12-21T22:56:41.946+07:00A FightSaw a rather old guy fighting a rather young man at a tram stop today. Actually, the older guy was around 50 and the young guy was around 20. The sad and sick part to me was that the 40 year old seemed to have started the conflict. For whatever reason, he decided to take a swing at a 20 year old. What I found really odd is how the young guy decided that he should just walk away. He actually got hit in the face at one point, but his friend came over and they walked away. This was odd to me because I have seen this type of thing in Atlanta or New Orleans and the outcome is generally different. I do not know the background of what may have been going on between these two people, so for all I know, it could have been a father and son. However, my past observations in the US with a fight is that it does not stop until someone gets very hurt or the police arrive. As I watched this event happen, I kept thinking that I would have just taken the older guy and threw him into the wall or some other type of over-reaction. I learned a lot from watching this altercation today. I think I too will practice more self-restraint in all my affairs ... whether it be restraint of pen, tongue or fists.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-40814643520140140682012-12-11T19:34:00.001+07:002012-12-11T19:34:33.126+07:00Needing a Christmas SpiritI miss the decorations for Christmas in the US. I don't miss the crazy sopping and evil buyers in the states, but the way shops decorate in the US did give a good feelings. In Warsaw, there are a few lights here and there. The Old Town has done a very good job in decorating the area and a few of the larger buildings in the City Center also have some decoration. But, there is not a full sense of making things light up. Even if one is completely against the idea of making everything sparkle at this time of year, the lights could relieve some of the low feelings that seem to come along each day as it gets dark at 4pm. Of course, many of the business owners here will say there is no money. There is money for designer bags and designer shoes and lots and lots of alcohol, but there is no money for Christmas lights.<br />
<br />
So, I will put up my own lights. Either my neighbors will mock me or join me. Either way, I need a taste of the season right now and I am willing to take the risk.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-75198687732840051132012-12-02T17:52:00.001+07:002012-12-02T17:52:13.754+07:00Burn OutFeeling a little burnt out here. I have work ... I have a job teaching. It is an OK job. I basically teach students how to speak in English. Most, if not all of my students, already can communicate in English. So I simply help them to hone their skills and become more fluent. The problem for me is that I am now feeling exhausted by it. Honestly, it is pretty boring. I know it is all my problem and I have to find a way to put excitement into this type of work. I was afraid of when this day would come ... when the work would become a complete chore and the hardest part would be just showing up for class. Well, that day has come. Now what do I do?<br />
<br />
Writing this blog actually helps. I can sit and formulate thoughts and write about it and empty some space in my mind. Essentially, the work can be stress free. All stress associated with it comes from my own doing. But I am finding that there seems to be stress in every type of work here. The friends I have made all talk about the stress of their job. This is without exception. Whether the work is in government, advertising, medicine, law, etc ..., the person talks about the stress of their job.<br />
<br />
I make the decision right now to not let this continue for me. I do not have to buy into it. When teaching conversational English become stressful, there is something wrong. It is on me to make one or some adjustments.<br />
<br />
I can start by not giving too much weight to students who believe they know how to teach. This is sometimes a problem in a conversation class. The student or students decide that the class is not "teaching" them. In other words, they feel as if the class should be "this" or should be "that". It is sometimes difficult to understand what they want because there is the difficulty of being clear in translation. I find that students here want the teacher to do everything. That is, they want the teacher to be entertaining, knowledgeable and hold their attention no matter what. Since I am not a product of Polish education, I can only speculate that their schooling has been one of lectures and tests. When I challenge the student here to tell me how they learn or what they expect from a class, I often get silence or at best, a very vague and general goal. "I want to speak better English" is a common expectation. Well, with all respect, I reply "no shit?! Why else would you take a class in English?"<br />
<br />
Now and then I get a student who is willing to let go of their preconceived notions of learning and with an open mind, the student begins to truly learn. But this is the exception. I am not experiencing much of this in my classrooms recently and I am wondering why am I doing this type of work?<br />
<br />
It is time to take a long and good look at what I want. It is time to take a look at why I am feeling affected by all of this. Perhaps my boredom with this type of work is coming through to the student. If this is the case, I must get out of it. A bored teacher is a dangerous thing.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-2822226816069121282012-11-23T02:46:00.002+07:002012-11-23T02:46:35.910+07:00Happy ThanksgivingThanksgiving is truly my favorite holiday. Although I am not living in the States right now, I still celebrate the holiday with food and a day of gratitude. This is really what Thanksgiving is all about. There is also the food! I will attend two parties this week in celebration of Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
Truth be told, I miss the Thanksgiving of my youth. I remember lots of food, people and noise. I remember it was great ... for about 3 hours. Then it became a matter of going home in time to watch American Football. This is another tradition on Thanksgiving. Watching football on Thanksgiving day is a purely American thing.<br />
<br />
It is kinda funny that while I am here, the intensity of the holiday and all the preparation required is not within me. I remember the sheer amount of work required to prepare a meal. I remember very large turkeys.<br />
<br />
I made a turkey here in Poland on my first thanksgiving outside of the US. Although my friends and gusts found the celebration to be good, I was a little disappointed in my turkey. The reason was that the turkey was very fresh. How the hell do I handle a fresh turkey? I went through the supermarket several times looking for a frozen bird, but here in Poland, things are fresh. I was completely lost.<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving all ... may you become completely aware of all that is precious in your life. I have.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-46083800080532429542012-11-07T20:21:00.000+07:002012-11-07T20:21:28.985+07:00Obama Again Dismantles the Politics of Selfishness, Fear and HateFirst, I want to say a hearty congratulations to President Obama on a second term. Job well done.<br />
<br />
I have gotten into a heated discussion with a friend in the US who is a Romney supporter. He feels America is on the wrong track and we are doomed.<br />
<br />
I feel sorry for this man because he has bought into the politics of fear. Fear that something will be taken from him or fear that he will not get what he wants. In either case, it is flawed thinking. He fails to see America for what it is and can be ... that is, a country of inclusion. There is enough wealth to spread around.<br />
<br />
Many Americans have some strange belief that the poor want to be poor. even worse, they imply that the poor are "less than"in some way. There is the thought that those who are not wealthy must be doing something wrong. "If you are rich, you must be intelligent". It is very twisted. A short survey of wealthy plus stupid people easily includes Donald Trump, Sarah Palin, Dick Cheney, etc. Money does not necessarily beget intelligence.<br />
<br />
The politics of fear and hatred in the states did not win this election as they did with several presidents before. The masses saw through this pathetic lie. I, for one, am relieved that more and more people seem to be enlightened. The people rejected the political weapon of deceit and non-truth that was perpetuated during this election by a candidate whose agenda had nothing to do with helping people or mankind. Mitt Romney is a selfish and greedy man. This may work wonderfully in business, but in governing. He was a failure in Massachusetts and now he wanted to practice his same nonsense on the national level? No ... he will not.<br />
<br />
Thank God!<br />
<br />
Again, the Republicans must re-group and figure out their next plan. I hope it involves truth, concern for others and a sense of inclusion. Maybe then they will have something to offer. As of now, there is enough hate in the world. We do not need theirs.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-21018850944788573922012-11-01T17:58:00.001+07:002012-11-01T17:58:58.447+07:00ObamaA student told me that Barack Obama is actually a Muslim and after he loses the election, he is already prepared to become king of Kenya. No kidding ... this guy actually said this to me with a straight face.<br />
<br />
He went on to say that all the problems in the world (including any future wars between nations) are the fault of banks and since banks are controlled by Israel, all problems in the world are caused by Jews.<br />
<br />
After a brief pause to figure out the best response, I just shook my head. I was at a stand still because I knew anger would not accomplish the changing of his mind. Anger was my first response.<br />
<br />
As I continued to think of an appropriate response, my attention was drawn to the fact that this student is an educated person. He is a well read and well travelled human being with a varied background in life. I kept thinking how could he be so ridiculously misinformed and ignorant? Where is he getting his information? Did he read this nonsense somewhere?<br />
<br />
Since my class with him was close to ending, I realized that whatever challenge I make to his belief on this matter will result in an even longer discussion. I normally don't mind and even sometime enjoy the talks in our class. But this time, I really did not want any part of it.<br />
<br />
So, my question became just how do I handle this? Do I just let it go? I couldn't and I can't.<br />
<br />
As a Black man (and especially as a Black man living here), I feel an obligation to negate and correct to to the best of my ability any and all misinformed individuals. And I use the term "misinformed" very gracefully ... I can think of many other less pleasant words. I know I cannot change people, but bigotry is bigotry in all its disguises. What also sits in my head is that this man has seen first hand the damage and carnage bigotry can do. He is well aware of the history of his country as well as the history of Europe. Hate and fear destroyed this place not too long ago.<br />
<br />
My decision? I ended that class and scheduled the next one. In the upcoming class, we will have a guided discussion based upon all the "myths" he believes. I am prepared to gently but assertively guide his mind to a place that is open ... and then, plant some seeds of knowledge and truth. He needs it. My hope is that he will pass it on to any of his friends who share his sick thoughts.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-74749359554657176682012-10-10T19:27:00.001+07:002012-10-10T19:27:08.858+07:00No Customer ServiceAgain, I have experienced the lack of any understanding of customer service here in Warsaw. Perhaps I need to take a look at the ugly fact that race may be playing a part. The lack of desire to help on the part of a salesperson in a store in central Warsaw hit me again today. My response was normal. I simply walked out. However, what makes me unwilling to fully accept that this may be racial is that the salesperson has a genuine surprise when I walk out. She seemed genuinely shocked that I would not wait patiently as she did something with stock in a another part of the store. Here is my belief: I am paying you my money ... that means I have the choice to spend it or not. Maybe it is a throwback in attitude from the communist days when I understand there wasn't much of a choice of anything. Well, times have changed (thank God).<br />
<br />
I had a similar experience with a very large chain here in Warsaw that sells electronics. Again, the salespeople behave as if they are doing you a favor by helping you.<br />
<br />
I never thought I would say this, but ... Warsaw needs Walmart. With all the issues I have with Walmart in the US, there presence here would fix the attitudes of some merchants very quickly. Say whatever about Walmart, but they are about making the customer return. They get it. They understand ... that's why they are so very successful.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-29267058367725127132012-10-04T00:33:00.000+07:002012-10-04T00:33:01.234+07:00Angry Shop WorkerThere is a unique life in the underground area of Central Station. I have seen the change in the area over the past two years. There has truly been a revolution of sorts. When I arrived two years ago, it was pretty awful. It smelled and there were some very seedy and crazy characters down there.<br />
<br />
As the transformation began, I wondered how it would really change. To be specific, there were some changes for the better ... but, some things stayed exactly the same.<br />
<br />
First the changes: more upscale shops and businesses. Starbucks' presence may be disgusting to some, but a Starbucks speaks volumes of the direction in which the area is moving. There are cheesecake stores and cosmetic stores and Coffee Heaven and convenience stores for tourists and people who travel through this place on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
There is a reason these stores seem to be doing well: Customer Service.<br />
<br />
And this brings me to the things "unchanged": old shops with their old attitude ... in other words, they could care less about the customer.<br />
<br />
I am amazed and somewhat shocked when I attempt to buy something from one of these old shops and the angry shop person behaves as if you are interrupting her time. Just today, one owner just let me stand there before she decided to close her shop.She literally closed the window as I stood there about to ask for a purchase. On more than one occasion, I have left items on the counter in certain shops under Central Station and took my business to another shop. I am amazed that they just don't get it. Maybe they do not need much revenue to survive. Maybe the owner doesn't know that his/her worker is losing business.I have no idea. I am told it is a "holdover" attitude of a past era.<br />
<br />
As for the lady who shut her store in my face ... I am the person who put the sign on your window that says "God loves you".Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-2577970681966527382012-09-25T19:32:00.000+07:002012-09-25T19:32:19.819+07:00Jay Z and the TramI was coming home from work by tram as usual and as I was standing on the crowded and less-than-usual smelly tram, I heard Jay Z coming from the conductors area. As I got closer, I had to laugh. Here was a middle aged Polish guy, dark sunglasses (although it was dark and raining outside), headsets on and the volume so loud I could hear it from several feet away and through a door. He was smiling and and nodding his head! Unlike many of the tram drivers, he seemed to be in no real rush. He was just moving along.<br />
<br />
Tram drivers here can be a nasty lot. They often stop and start the trams to see how many people will fall over ... or so it seems. They approach intersections with a vengeance and if you are a car waiting at the light, be ready for the irritating tram horn to blow until you are able to move. I believe the driver thinks that the horn will make every car move faster. It is very strange to me.<br />
<br />
There are the good drivers too. These are the ones who wait for you if they see you running for the tram. These are the ones who start and stop with a little grace.<br />
<br />
The Jay Z tram conductor belongs to the latter.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-64985326129903509592012-09-08T00:01:00.001+07:002012-09-08T00:01:59.976+07:00I just had to post this one ..<br />
“Everyone has the right to physical<br />
exercise and to take part in games. One<br />
can only rejoice in the fact that the<br />
disabled also organise competitions.<br />
However, with sports it is not the same.<br />
You might as well organise a chess<br />
tournament for morons, or a bridge<br />
tournament for people with Down’s<br />
syndrome,” states Korwin-Mikke.<br />
He then points to a lack of African teams<br />
taking part in the Paralympics, claiming<br />
that the “epidemic” hadn’t reached there<br />
yet and because of this, “the blacks will<br />
soon conquer the world and slaughter us.<br />
Starting with those who are disabled”.<br />
<br />
Actual words of<br />
Janusz Korwin-Mikke, Polish Politician and former Mental Ward patient in<br />
stating his belief about the paralympics.<br />
<br />
Poland has many churches and I sincerely hope this guy visits one really soon.<br />
<br />
Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484861000952756235.post-58505876479170724672012-09-07T16:11:00.001+07:002012-09-07T16:11:17.811+07:00Amber GoldWTF? This one really sets me off. This guy decided it was OK to steal money from the elderly? What's worse is that I have talked to some people here that blame the people who got robbed: "perhaps they should have paid more attention to the contract they were signing". Pretty sick stuff ...<br />
<br />
God knows America has its share of corporate thieves. And many have been put behind bars. I hope the same for this guy from Amber Gold. The talk seems to be that he could not act alone. Proving it may be another story though. Putting him in jail in the meantime is a pretty good idea. Perhaps he can do less harm from there.<br />
<br />
I fail to believe that someone somewhere with some authority did not know what this man was doing. Somebody knew. Whoever he/she is deserves the same harsh punishment that should come the way of the culprit. The bystander is every bit as guilty.<br />
<br />
There seems to be little talk of the sheer madness of this situation. I almost feel as if people are afraid to talk about it. There seems to be an accepted protocol that one must be careful talking about it. I don't accept this. I think there needs to be more and more talk about it so that this never happens again.Joel Blaisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14109606431524964778noreply@blogger.com0