So, tell us a bit about where you're from, please!
Well, I'm from the very center of the United States. My state is called Iowa, and my city is Des Moines. We're fairly near to Chicago, but the idea of distance in America is a little different. I can drive to Chicago in 6 hours, but that is still very near compared to California, which would take 2 days of driving. Des Moines is the capital of Iowa, so it's quite big...about 300,000 people. The rest of Iowa has a few big cities, but is mostly farmland and small towns. My state is famous for sweet corn and pigs, although insurance is actually our biggest industry! If you want to eat the best corn of your entire life, then you must come to Iowa at the end of summer. In fact, all produce is excellent in late summer in Iowa because we have some of the richest farmland in all of America. If you love corn, tomatoes, and watermelon, come for a visit in August...you won't be disappointed!
Wow! Sounds like a food-lover's paradise. Is there anything to do there besides eat?
Of course! Des Moines has changed a lot since I was a child. The title of this post is taken from the first line of a book ("The Lost Continent") written by a famous author from Des Moines, named Bill Bryson. He left Des Moines when it was still very boring and kind of backwards. Nowadays, we have many excellent cultural activities (symphony, museums, opera, jazz/blues clubs), sporting events (we have our own baseball and hockey teams), and--of course--excellent modern restaurants. I love Des Moines, and I do miss living there.
If you love Des Moines so much, why did you decide to come to Poland?
To be honest, I love America, but I prefer a European lifestyle. I taught at a university in France last year, and I wanted to stay somewhere in Europe after I finished. I had heard nice things about Poland, and Polish schools are happy to hire Americans (not the case in every country!), so I decided to come here. I'm really glad I did!
What's your favorite part about living in Poland?
I would have to say that the friendliness of our students and the camraderie among the Speed staff are my two favorite things about living here. Kraków is also so lovely. Oh, and I can't forget Żubrówka and apple juice! That stuff is fantastic. I also love żurek...and barszcz, with the little mushroom dumplings. Yum.
So, you obviously love food, do you also love to cook?
Oh, definitely! I've been cooking for years, and baking as well. I can't decide which I like more, though. There is something just magical about cooking for people you love and watching them enjoy your food. All of the hard work is really worth it! I especially love making cakes and French desserts. My favorite foods to cook are: Italian, American, and Mexican. Some Thai and Vietnamese soups, as well. My family is Italian, so most of my recipes are Mediterranean in nature. This past Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday), I hosted a big dinner party for all of the Speed teachers. It was so much fun!
What else do you do in your free time?
I really enjoy reading, as well as writing. I have a travel blog that I write so my friends and family can keep up with my adventures. I also enjoy doing crafty things like knitting and crochet, even though they're mostly associated with grandmas here in Poland. In America, knitting is very cool, I promise! I love going out to the pub with my friends and having great conversations. Movies and music are high on my entertainment list, as well!
Thank you, Shannon!
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