February 17

Well, most things are improving except the weather and our relationship with Citi Bank.
The University provided us with another room that is next door to our current room. This gives as a bedroom, bathroom and small kitchen in one room, and a living area, kitchen, and bathroom is the other. Much more comfortable.

We are finding our way around the city nicely, although it would be much more enjoyable if the weather would cooperate -- It has ranged from -10 degrees to 20 degrees (F) since we arrived.
We have found several grocery stores and eating places within a few blocks of the university, and a wonderful place called "The Arena" which is similar to an indoor farmers market but the vendors sell virtually everything.

Our only problem so far is with Citi Bank. Apparently, in Poland they don't give the same consideration to "bank drafts" or "cashiers checks" that we do in the U.S. We opened a Citi Bank account here in Wroclaw on February 2nd and deposited a cashiers check in the account along with some USD's. We kept checking our account online and finally went to the bank on Friday February 9th. The bank told us to could take up to 3 months. I emailed Citi Bank in Warsaw and they told me I could expect payment by March 7th or 8th. I emailed Graystone Tower Bank in Carlisle and after some research I was told that Citi Bank NA (New York) cashed the cashiers check on February 9th and they attached a copy of the cancelled check. I email Citi Bank Warsaw back with a copy of the cancelled check and told them that they  should be receiving payment from Citi Bank NA on February 10th and I expect to have it deposited in my account by February 13th. We will see how that goes. Can't figure out why it took Citi Bank 8 days to draw the money in this age of electronic transactions. Perhaps this is another reason why are banking system is operating "on the edge."

Took our first daylight trip to the rynek (town square) in Wroclaw. The place is both beautiful and amazing. It was about 10 degrees yesterday (Saturday) morning and the were selling fresh cut flowers in covered stalls in Solny Place which is a smaller square just off the southwest corner of the main rynek. I uploaded some pictures here. I did upload them to my facebook with descriptions of the pictures.

We are headed to Warsaw (by train) next Friday morning. 6:00 AM departure and 11:36 arrival. The meeting is a noon about 1.5  kilometers from the train station (Warszawa Centralna). We are staying until Sunday so we can do some sightseeing in their Stare Miasto (Old Town). The hotel recommended by the Fulbright Commission was very inexpensive ($63 per night) and the online pictures were very nice and close to Old Town. Should be fun!