My przybywał w całości do Polski!

We have arrived safely in Poland!
The flight was short and nearly painless. Amazingly enough, they let us board with all of our many carry-ons that never would have passed the carry-on baggage size restrictions. We eased through security with a prayer on our lips and when no one rushed to stop us from boarding we started to breathe easier. Arthur on the other hand had a hard time understanding the process. Each time we had to hand over our belongings, at check in and then going through security he looked more and more worried. The final straw came when the security guard had to take his brand new stuffed animal away from him to send it through the scanner with our bags, Arthur lost it! No amount of explaining could calm him down. Then, to add insult to injury, of course we had to strip off his beloved shoes, coat, mittens, and hat and hand them over as well. He was incredibly distraught! Even when all of our stuff came out the other end and we loaded everything back on him, I still don't think he ever fully forgave that security guard.
Oh well, only two and a half hours and several new story books later our plane touched down and we had arrived!
Here in Warsaw, Poland it is snowing and biting cold. The view from our new apartment windows looks down onto the streets of the city at people wrapped tightly in full winter gear hurrying on their way.
My impressions so far:
#1 Life becomes much more difficult when you speak a different language! I'm not sure what the actual percentage is, but it does seem as though most of the younger generation of Polish people (college age) speak at least some English. Luckily for us the couple that owns the apartment we are renting are both excellent English speakers so everything has gone smoothly there. Not so lucky for me, I have already had to utilize my best clueless expression with a little bit of a puzzled brow and an "I don't get it" jaw droop several times when people have spoken to me in Polish. As soon as I begin to stammer, "Ummm...English?" they either continue on in Polish but with exaggerated hand motions that are only 50% effective, switch to English with a heavy Polish accent, or just give up entirely and walk away. I think I'll just start wearing a T-shirt that says 'English, please!'... either that or 'I love charades!'.
#2 People are people no matter the language. We have been so impressed with the kindness and openness of the people we have meet so far here. With the help of these giving individuals and a great amount of help from the Lord we have felt wonderfully comfortable here! We are renting a furnished apartment in the heart of Warsaw just minutes walking distance from the University where Chris will be studying for the next 4 months. Literally everything we could want is within a block or so of the apartment. We love our new little temporary home!
#3 "Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." (Miriam Beard)
There is such a feeling of history here. It is an incredible thing to be able to glance at other parts of the world that are so different from our own. It reminds me that there is still so much to learn and experience!