Missouri in Mazury

I was so happy yesterday because Phantom of the Opera was on tv. It was an English version with Polish subtitles. But of course I wouldn't be listed in very rural Poland if the electricity stayed on the whole show.

Three things learned today: 1. Poland only accepts Polish documents. Married in the US, I need a Polish marriage license in order to get a visa of any sort. That means going to a government office in K and talking it out with the random government employee who does not understand my American birth certificate or marriage license at all . "This looks like a copy to me. I need the original."  [certified copy of the marriage license] "Anyone can perform the marriage? At any location? This just sounds silly!" [sorry?] "Where was the marriage performed? I just see this paragraph here!" [please, just read further...] "Where is the city of birth? I see county of birth, but no city. I need a city - the form is asking me for a city!" [she eventually just put down the county] Additionally, A. can't use his international birth certificate (issued by Poland); he can only use the Polish one (also issued by Poland). No, he cannot use the free...

The Polish gems have also welcomed me to Poland by infecting me.

We are flying in El Paso. Can't figure out why anyone would live in the desert.

Flying to Poland TOMORROW!

Eight days left in Irvine; 12 left in the US. I'm excited to leave, because I think I will have a better sense of time when not in California. Here, the weather is the same year-round (although only now are people talking about how warm and summery it is - temperatures in the 70s are still warm and summery!). My sense of time is terrible - did that happen in March? December? I can't tell because I can usually connect events to weather, and here, the weather is always warm. In Missouri and in Poland, I can tell that it's December (some exceptions) or that it's July. Also - I'm ready for real rain... not this fake stuff.