From: "Zachary Foreman"

Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 17:40:50 GMT+2

Subject: Krakow Heat Wave

First, let me say that I sent off all of the post cards. However, I sent them surface mail. That means, if all is well, they are on a boat sailing towards the Atlantic. I hope they get to you by Christmas. Anyway, it is hot here! It got all the way to 70 in the shade. We have been having wonderful weather here for most of the time I've been here: cool, overcast, not too windy. rarely rainy.[authors note: the day after this was written, the weather came back with a vengeance, for the past two days it has been near freezing and raining on and off]

I guess I should tell the story of my clothes. It's more interesting than most stories about clothes or textiles, I think. As you know, I "lost" all of my belongings, including clothing except what I was wearing: one pair black slacks, one plaid flannel shirt, one white t-shirt, Stanford hat, socks, underwear and that's all. So, priority one was buying some new stuff. If you have never visited another country and lost all of your clothes and had to buy them even though you had no money then it would be difficult for you to imagine the peculiarities of finding and purchasing clothes. I didn't even know the word for underwear and I didn't know how to act it out (I thought that I could be arrested if I started showing my underwear to pedestrians and asking "where?!". Some things are even beneath my dignity. Actually, it wasn't that hard. I just went to the biggest store in the city and quickly found the men's wear section. Problem. I have no idea what size I wear metrically. I couldn't exactly try them on, and I didn't trust multiplying my size by 2.54. Plus I had the choice between those European bikini briefs and these huge boxer brief- type things made of something like burlap, only off-white, and a little more elastic. Anyway, I just chose the biggest pair they had and estimated that they wouldn't be too large. Socks were easier. I bought a pair of socks on the street on my way to the shop. Buying socks on the street is a uniquely Eastern European experience. Sorta like standing in line for toilet paper, also resembling a member of the burlap family. Anyway, I bought a few t-shirts (real quality) and a shirt (unfortunately, I didn't notice till too late that it was also plaid) and a pair of pants. I also picked up all those bathroom things that are so important. I was even able to pay with my credit card, which only takes about 20 minutes, since they must call some office which calls Visa which verifies that you have enough money in your account to cover the transaction. And I had just enough money to buy a towel. So, I was set. I had two full sets of clothing which would yield about 216 different combinations (although fewer permutations and about 190 of the combinations were only superficially different (like a different but similar pair of socks or an outfit with and without hat). So, in reality, I had 2.5 outfits and washed one every day. Then my dad emailed me that one of his students would be in Krakow the next week and agreed to bring a suitcase full of stuff from home. Then I found out that they would be in Prague first. Then they stayed in Prague an extra day. Then I missed them at the train station (there are two baggage claim areas, I was at one, I guess they were at the other). Finally, they came by but I was in class so they left a note, telling me where to pick up the suitcase and what the claim number was. Oh yeah, One of them was a Stanford Grad (from Lag) and was lecturing in immunology in Prague, Krakow and Warsaw. Anyway, I went to pick up my bag and tried to explain to him but he said that I needed a ticket. After much waiting and explaining, I finally got my bag and got it home. Much cool stuff. It was better than Christmas. I would like to take this time to say that my parents have bailed me out of more than one sticky situation in Europe and for that, as well as making sure I was properly potty trained, I am eternally grateful. (even if they do make me do yard work whenever I go back home).Anyway, I suddenly had much more clothing. Some, admittedly, that I forgot existed. Rugby shirts from sophomore year in high school, Latin club tshirts (two), kangaroo high-tops, a pair of blue jeans with a broken zipper (it always falls down). But, all in all, it was a life saver. I had not been idle on the Poland side though. I had slowly been making purchases from thrift shops that really were for the thrifty. The clothes were priced at about 35 cents a pound. However 80% is women's or children's and most of the remainder is too small for me. So, my wardrobe here is unstylish and not excessively warm but neither of those matter here, so far. Compared to those three weeks where I was alternating between two plaid shirts and washing my clothes in a tiny sink, I have the clothing inventory of Calvin Klein. This week was fairly dull. I missed my train to Zamosc. I dropped my old alarm clock (mickey mouse) and had to buy a new one. I decided for a wind up one. It is loud. I also always forget to open the catch that stops the clapper from hitting the bells on top. so I woke up at 8 instead of 4. Oh well. I'm taking the Foreign service exam this weekend and have been studying my World Almanac, the maps, American history, country profiles, amusing facts, etc. I was struck by the fact that since squirrels live for an average of five years, a squirrel who was born the day I arrived on campus at Stanford will be a senior citizen squirrel by the time I graduate in 1998 (unless it gets run over by a bicycle or eats some bad Lag dessert...) I really want to tell you about everyone here but it's so hard to describe people to other people who have never met those people (you know?). Basically, I am having some of the most interesting conversations of my life, conversations that I always wanted to have ever since I got to Stanford. I think that we shy away from a lot of important topics in the dorm because we don't want to offend anyone that we are living with. Or maybe the people here are just really, really interesting. Also the small class size has something to do with it. It also is an incentive to go to class and be there on time. I am much better than I was last year. So I guess my political views are consolidating as well as my own personal goals. I guess I'll send this now, since someone has stolen all of the chairs in the computer room. I actually understand economics now. That last sentence was due in part to the fact that I am taking the U,S. Foreign Service Exam and have been studying Economics far more than i did when I was in Econ 1. I also have time to study or rather review International Relations theory, so if anyone needs any help in PS35, you know where to find me. It's really neat that I only have to go to classes that I enjoy and that I am actually going to class because I *want* to. And since I only have 1 unit left in order to graduate, next year at Stanford should be pretty fun. Even though the weather here is now bad, I still enjoy hanging around Krakow. I am so glad that I came. But, I am babbling. So I will stop and will not write until I have something coherent to say. ****Coherent***** I need to contact the IR office so that I can continue my leland account (I am not registered). I would much appreciate it if one of you could send me the email address. (Diana, Kristin, any other IR type)

Thanks

Zachary J Foreman