Winter lingers as classes begin...

We are now in the 5th week of the semester. How did that happen? Time is going by so quickly. I am teaching two courses: one on end-of-life and palliative care and one on international social work. Some of my students are in the ERASMUS program, named after a 15th century Dutch scholar. This encourages students from all of the 27 member nations of the European Union to go to different countries for undergraduate and graduate education. It is a challenge and an honor to have so many different languages and cultures and backgrounds together in the classroom, although we all speak English. I find that the students are well-informed and curious overall and are quick to point out that there are many ways to view the topics at hand. I am absolutely on my toes!!!!

I had the opportunity to participate in a conference about violence against the elderly and was coordinated by the Austrian Red Cross with partners in Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Portugal. This project is sponsored by the Daphne program and funded by the European Commission. I sat on a panel for this conference and had an interpreter.

Updates from Poland

Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 1:30 AM>

Greetings all: I hope this message finds you all well. I have attached four pictures. Two are from my host club here in Krakow. The President is exchanging flags with a guest from Florence, Italy behind the beautiful candles. I have also included a picture of my host club point person, Czeslaw Mesjasz. My host club meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 in the Old Town square at a restaurant.

I also attended a meeting in Warsaw on Thursday, February 19 and have included a picture of me and the President of Rotary Club Warszawa Jozefow, Malgorzata Kwiatkowska. You can see the Metro Club's banner, that I presented to her, just off to the side in the picture. The Club was very welcoming to both of us (Russ was with me) and we enjoyed the speaker who was there to talk about South Africa. The day we attended this meeting was also Fat Thursday here in Poland. On this day, it is expected that many donuts (poczki) are consumed as Lent approaches. Russ and I did our civic duty. There were so many donuts left after the meeting that we took some home. This is a good picture of Russ and I with the flag from the club we visited (and our donuts) :) Winter hangs on here. It was very cold while inWarsaw...sometimes just above zero.

I start classes this week.

Hello to all!

I hope this message finds you all well. I have sent three pictures for you...one is from the orphanage that I visited with my host club. It is in Krakow and this club sponsors the children to go to the Baltic seacoast every summer. This gathering was to thank the Club and so the kids sang, we were served dinner, and one of the club members gave a talk on physics for the children. It was a fun and interesting evening. Of note, this Club is involved with the local hospice as well as working with some community people to consider a hospice for children here. So, we have already mutual interests!

I have also sent two pictures from my first formal meeting of my host club...one is a picture of the President and the other is of me giving out small gifts to each member. I brought different Stash teas and tied them together with ribbon. The young woman sitting just in front of me was a guest on this evening...the daughter of the man sitting behind me at a table by himself. He is a club member that spoke on his work in China. I am not sure but I don't think there are any women members in the Club.

My host, Czeslaw, is wonderful. His English is impressive and he is very kind and he has a good sense of humor. He is on the faculty at the Academy of Economics. This is the end of the semester here so faculty are quite busy although I have had many contacts, meals, and a meeting with my colleagues at the University. Russ and I may be able to go to Warsaw in mid-February. Can anyone suggest a club we could visit there?Our apartment is great and we are comfortable and exploring as much as we can. I start an intensive Polish language course on Feb. 2.That's enough for now. Know we are well and looking forward to our adventures.

Take care and thank you all so very much. You are the reason I am here.

Sincerely, Pam Miller