It's a lovely luxury to be both on holidays and at home simultaneously. For the last few nights I've been staying in Warsaw with the family who tolerated me for half a year when I was fresh out of high school - a short five years ago. I have been constantly entertained by all those things that are so familiar, and all those that have changed.
The family have not changed in their lovely, friendly and entertaining way - although the youngest, who was only 15 when I was here last has grown (It took me a while to comprehend he's actually old enough to drive...). The house is still the same, but the neighbourhood as grown. I went on Friday to visit the school that I taught at where there are still many teachers I remember, but very few students. In the city the Russian Markets have gone (only last month!!) but there's a shiny new shopping mall behind the Central Station. My favourite coffee shop is still there, but my second favourite has gone. My second favourite Milk Bar is still there but my favourite has gone.
It's been fun showing my family around the city - My parents are impressed by how much Warsaw is like any large European city, which has me a bit worried. I now get the impression that I lived for six months in a Soviet back block. I had to break it to them gently that 1989 was quite a long time ago now...
So a couple more days in Poland and then it's off to Old Blighty. So little time, so many pierogi...
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