her own two feet.

Change of A Dress

I hope you'll follow me over to my blog's new home: http://www.herowntwofeet.com/

See you there!

Orientation in Wrocław

My apologies to everyone who is waiting with bated breath of stories from Poland thus far. I haven't had much time for blogging, but I made it safe and sound-- first to Warsaw and then to Wrocław for our Fulbright orientation.

For those unfamiliar, Wrocław (which is not pronounced Row-claw but more like this) is a bit further from Warsaw than New York is from Boston. It's a beautiful city twined with both rivers and history and is one of my favorite places in Poland.

Yesterday our group took a day trip through Lower Silesia and visited, among other places, the Church of Peace in Świdnica. The church, which is Lutheran, is made of wood-- a stiuplation of the agreement which allowed a Lutheran chuch to be built-- and yet has stood here since the mid-17th century.

Let's Get Out of this Country

Goodbye, New York. I'll miss you terribly. And hello, Warsaw. I'm so excited to explore you.

 

Nine: Songs to Pack To

I'm not sure why I thought I would have time for blogging amid all these hectic days before I jet off. I've left lots of half-finished drafts sitting in my queue that I've somehow managed to begin but not finish, amid all the packing and goodbyes.

So just a quick post for now: I dug up some old favorite songs to listen to while I pack. Here's a few of them! I hope they put you in a groovy, globetrotting mood, too.

Five: Knitting Projects

One of the projects I've been working on while in Boston this weekend is figuring out which knitting projects to take with me to Poland. (I've got my priorities in order, you see.) It's not hard to find yarn and yarn shops in Poland, but as I've got a big enough yarn stash to keep me knitting for the next decade or so, it seemed prudent to pack some.

Here's what I'll be knitting over the next year or so...

1. Retro Rib Socks: This was (I think) the very first sock project I ever started. My gauge was off so the sock was a little small and I never got around to finishing it. Part of my master plan is to bring small-gauge projects: easy to pack, easy to carry, easy to knit on the plane. I'm also trying to choose things that I'll actually get use out of once they're finished.
2. Lace Ribbon Sock: Another project started long ago and never finished (this one on the plane to Mexico in 2008!), it seemed like the right time to revive it.
   
3. Ishbel: I noticed a few people on Ravelry knit this with a yarn I had plenty of in my stash, and it seemed like a great way to use it. I love the thought of adding a couple functional but elegant scarves to my limited Polish wardrobe.
4. Beret Gaufre: I'm packing a couple hats, but a chilly winter calls for a great beret or two. This pattern has been in my queue for ages, and I think I have just the right yarn for it.
5. Mug & French Press Jacket: Christmas presents. Sorry to ruin the surprise.

Four: Polish Blogs I Love

When I started learning Polish a couple years ago, I started reading Polish blogs as a way to work on picking up the language. Some of these bloggers post in both English and Polish, which makes following the Polish so much easier. And even without knowing the language, the photography is so inspiring!

Best of all, reading Polish fashion blogs has been super helpful while deciding what to pack. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Plenty of Hangers: I love the clean lines of Katarzyna's outfits! She puts everything together so elegantly and makes it look so effortless.
2. Leśno-Marchewkowej: A crafty girl with an adorable blog and some amazing DIY's. Need I say more?
3. Alice Point: One of the first Polish blogs I discovered, I've been smitten with both the fashion and photography ever since!
4. Natalia Kiwibird: I felt like I found a kindred spirit when I discovered Natalia's blog. It's just bursting with creativity and makes me want to pull out my sewing machine.
   

Do you follow any blogs in a second language (or even a language you don't speak)? What are some of your favorites?

Two: Finished Internships

One reason I'm a little bit sad to be leaving New York is because of the incredible experinces I've had since I moved there in January. I've been splitting my time interning at Amnesty International and at the Guggenheim-- two very different places that, for me, oddly complemented each other perfectly.

It's a bittersweet time because I love both places so much-- and because it's an odd feeling to know I'll likely never be an intern again. Especially in the musuem world, completing an internship (or several) is sort of a rite of passage. It's weird to know that I'm (hopefully) all done as an intern. Next stop-- somewhere in the future, anyway-- is a real job.

I also keep pinching myself because I can't believe how lucky I am... that not only was I invited to intern at these two amazing places, but also that I was able to afford to do so. It's definitely not something I'm taking for granted.

If you're thinking about an internship in the nonprofit world, I offer two pieces of advice:

1. Apply somewhere you're passionate about. It'll make writing your application that much easier, and once you're there, it will feel as natural as breathing to seize the opportunity, take on responsibilities, and make your mark as an intern.
2. Don't discount internships at smaller, local organizations. I interned at a much smaller museum before I was at the Guggenheim, and my role was very different. There's huge differences between how institutions function based on their size, and understanding these differences can be a huge asset to have once you embark on your career.

One: Polish Visa

I'm typing this on my phone en route to Boston. Currently, I'm in Providence. Hi, Providence!

And hello, September. I can't believe you got here so fast. This is the month of my big move. Only twelve days until I fly to Europe, with the possibility of not returning for two years.

I am nervous but excited and almost ready to take on this big adventure. Instead of counting down the days, I thought I'd be more optimistic and count up.

So here's one: one visa to Poland. I finally picked it up yesterday, meaning the last big barrier between me and my trip has been surmounted. Visa: check! Plane ticket: check! Apartment: check!

Jan Karski, sitting on his bench outside the Polish Consulate,* seemed as excited as I was.

* on this trip, I became Foursquare mayor of the Consulate. Impressive, I know.

 

Paper Haikus and My Summer with Bigfoot

I wanted to post this a few days ago-- on 8/26-- but I didn't have time to sit down and indulge in a little collage until this past weekend. When, thankfully, this idea that had been in the back of my head for a while kept me occupied all through the wait for Irene.

A few summers ago, I interned at 826 Boston, a chapter of the 826 National tutoring program and home of the Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute. It was one of the most fantastic experiences I've ever had-- a total blast as well as a wonderful learning experience.

I was part of the first cohort of summer interns at 826 Boston, which meant we had a lot of opportunities to shape the program. One thing I had the chance to do was develop an activity as part of the summer camp curriculum. What I came up with was such a great imaginative kick-starter that I've been wanting to revisit it for a while.

My challenge: create a paper haiku.

To create a paper haiku, choose seven different collage materials and cut them into squares (Mine were a few pieces of scrapbooking paper, pages from an old New Yorker, and test strips from printing photos in the darkroom.) Find something to use as your canvas-- I used pieces of cardboard cut into 6x6 squares.

For each "haiku," choose five squares from the collage materials you've prepared and create your collage with only those materials. (I cheated a bit and allowed myself to use pens and embroidery floss in addition to the paper.)

Make a few! Challenge yourself to see the same pool of materials in a new way each time.

Originally when I did this at camp, we wrote haikus about imaginary creatures (like Bigfoot) and then illustrated them in "paper haikus." This time I decided to forgo writing and instead just use the impending hurricane-- and the hurricane tracking maps that were on the news all weekend-- as my inspiration.

If you have a chapter of 826 National near you, you should look into volunteering as a tutor! It's an amazing way to devote some of your time to a great cause and to be a part of an inspiring, completely unique, organization. If you don't have time to volunteer, at least stop by the store. I'm sure you're in need of pirate gear, or time travel equipment, or superhero supplies-- because really, who isn't??

Julie & Julia's Guide to Life

Julie & Julia is a movie I'm rather fond of. I'm fond of it paritcularly because it's on TV right now, at this very moment, when the subway is not running and there's not a whole lot to do post-Irene. It also combines a few things I really love: Queens, Smith College, and blogging.

When the movie first came out I was studying Polish in Krakow, and I remember itching to be back on American soil so I could go revel in Meryl Streep-as-Julia Child.

My favorite detail about the film is still the amazing costume design. I loved how Julie and Julia were portrayed as very different personalities living in very different eras, and how this was emphasized through their wardrobe. Somehow, they managed to wear very similar navy-and-white striped outfits and yet each make them their own.

The styling reminds me of how young women today have developed a knack for reinventing vintage to fit in lives today, the way Julie does with Julia's recipes. Or maybe I'm reading into things.

Either way, I want to look this elegant while I'm cooking in my tiny New York kitchen. (Even if all I can do is fry eggs.)

(striped Dress via dirtybirdiesvintage; heels via chicorigins)

All I need is an apron and my pearls.

The last time I was in Poland-- the first time I lived abroad-- I read Julia Child's My Life in France. It was an amazing book to read as an American abroad, and it made me feel less alone. I highly recommend it as plane reading for anyone venturing to Europe from the United States for the first time!

(film stills via)