… is a very hard thing to do, as not I have experienced and still experience. Just today I wanted to look up some conjugation stuff I forgot for writing a SMS in Polish and found by accident a article in the taz about it.

About two months before Poland will join the EU on May 1 the taz started a series about one of her reporters, Waltraud Schwab(!), starting to learn Polish and sharing her first steps with us – written in this typical taz-style…

It amused me reading about her pronunciation obstacles, such as by saying “I am sorry” – “przepraszam”, and I was proud being able to regonize mistakes. Somehow I must have made progress during the last year with my “intensive” learning efforts. Thus, by reading it I hope also my last two tandem partners will understand, why they sometimes had such a hard time with me ;).

Here is the series for your self-studying (with phonetic spelling :o)):
Die Stunde der Ermunterung (taz, February 21, 2004)
Die Stunde der Ehrlichkeit (taz, February 28, 2004)
Die Stunde der Ernüchterung (taz, March 6, 2004)
Die Stunde der Erkenntnis (taz, March 13, 2004)
Kolasinskis Stunde (taz, March 20, 2004) (to be continued…)

So there is only for me the question left: Mowisz juz po polsku?

Yesterday we went for the premiere of Natacha de Pontcharra’s “Dancing” in the Ingolstadt theatre. They gave away tickets for free for us students and therefore you spotted more fellow students than you would usually do. I went there together with Rob and Daniel – girls are not that many up here right now, but it should change during the night.

But first the play: It is a very modern one about the working climate in our “new economy”. Demonstrating how cruel business life can play with everybody. The inspiration for this play came from a news article telling that an employee was made to dance at work’s lavatory that long that he died of a heart attack. Kind of suprise for me was that Bettina Schmidt, who has also played in the main role in “Das Maß der Dinge“, was on stage playing Hélène. This time playing the poor innocent girl, rather than the dominant girl, who was exploited on the one hand so badly by her superiors, but who showed on the other hand her colleague Babour how to dance for the first time. She strikes me because of her somehow completely chaotic character and her flashy alternative appearance . Furthermore, she comes also from the Ruhrgebiet, which you might guess when seeing her. “Dancing” runs on stage till May 28th – check it out!

Later on we enjoyed the Berlin nights in IN, which basicially means that there is no 4am closing hour. Nevertheless it brought some Prussian flair to this Bavarian city. Four girls came from Eichstaett, studying pedagogics and geography there, to join in – not too bad. We started in Swept Away and found us in the end in Diagonal, where we danced to some 70/80s music.

This morning I returned to IN after a nearly 17hours ride on the bus from Warsaw. The first time I took the Eurolines bus connection from Nuremberg to Warsaw Zachodnia – not as bad as expected because I always got two seats for me and sat in the front women’s part (kind of “foreigner bonus” I guess ;)).

I managed to check out several new spots in town: First, we went for a new stylish, cutting-edge venue completely in creamy white colours on ul. Foksal 18: The Living Room. Perfect venue to kick-off the night or just having a coffee. They have also exhibitions there as I read recently: Till April 12th you can watch and buy ceramic eggs there – so if you prefer those rather than Faberge eggs for your Eastern search, go for it ;).

Later that sunday we went to see Bizet’s “Carmen” in Warsaw Opera Naradowa. Got there right in time to get these hot “WejÅ›ciowka” tickets for only 15zl each. Second time for me being there and all the time only foreigners seem visiting it.

Last Monday was, as you might have known, Internation Woman’s Day, which is for sure not celebrated in Germany, but the more in Eastern Europe. All the girls got a tulip in school and men ran around more often than usual with bunches of roses and tulips. I think it is some of the best day’s in year for the flower girls (and boys) in Wawa, which are more present here than I have seen anywhere else. That day I was thinking to have some French dinner. After having been twice in Absynth (ul. Wspolna 35) – really worth it – and seen the lavish, posh Artibus in basement of Zacheta gallery, I decided for an even more romantic on with typical interior: U Lautreca (ul. Sienna 39). After having some minor arguments with a dumb waitress, the more attentive waiter showing up then and the delicious food made this more than up. Not only the food is a highlight, but when you are interested in spoting famous artists this place got them all.

Finally a tipp for a hiddden tiny bar downtown, which is not covered at all: The “Drink bar” just opposite to the office building on ul. Wspolna 47/49. Do not miss the entrance because it is only only wooden door that leads you in the mysterious interior with the damaged walls, old red sofas and seats with some pillars dangling from the ceiling – it’s really as strange as it might sound, but very cosy.

Folks, I will be in Warsaw from tomorrow morning on till Tuesday next week – available under 0048-503-365845.

Now I have officially started to write my master thesis. It will be a case study about venture capital – the topic is “Venture Capital: Role of Venture Management – The Case of a High-tech Start-up”. If you have any interesting information about this topic, I will be happy to get in touch with you. It has to be submitted on June 18, 2004. So you will see me quite regulary in our library till then ;).