Dzien dobry!

I am Louise ‘busy bee’ McCallum as I am told my nickname now is by my colleagues, along with being likened to the characters in Thelma and Louise…a good thing or not I don’t know? I think they are getting at the travelling and going off on adventures side of things…

I am doing Economic History at the University of Edinburgh and am interning out here in the Corporate Affairs Department of Tesco Polska. Luckily I arrived the week my department along with the Legal team and Property PR (one of the few remaining departments from Warsaw) were bound for the Hotel Stok in Wisla to the SW of Krakow for an ‘integrational’ trip. This is near one of the highest peaks in the region, the name of which means means male goat (but don’t quote me on that), which we were to climb. After a few beverages on the bus (as one of the legal girls had just passed her exams) we spent the evening bowling. I came 2^nd out of the girls though I did have an unfair advantage as some had never been before…our aiming went slightly off the more cocktails were provided by my bosses’ boss to celebrate his ‘name day’. I asked what traditional things you do on your name day but it seems so be simply an excuse for a party! I must find out when my name day may be…

We were also to be ‘integrated’ through shooting, archery, an egg catapulting competition and yes I did get yoked, along with other tasks some involving lifting each other up through obstacle course rope arrangements (see picture below!), others where you were blindfolded, and trust building tasks requiring you to jump backwards of a ladder and hope your team catches you (no one has ever fallen aside from one past occasion when a team ‘accidentally’ let a team member fall…he was their boss - oh dear!). My bosses here are great people, they are very kind and welcoming and for the record we did of course all catch each other! We have definitely built our trust in one another and communication skills after these past few days. Sadly my team I think were too preoccupied with having fun than gaining points, so we were not destined to taste victory on this occasion or the lovely prize of a bottle of Scotch Whiskey. On the subject of Scotch I found out at our BBQ they have a sausage very much like Haggis here, which made me feel right at home!

After singing duets together at the ‘discotheque’ I can safely say I will be working with a great group of people, who live by the work hard play hard motto, shown by the fact they are a very successful team having recently won an Oscar of the Business World for the Tesco for Schools Programme. I hope the work I do here which has so far been mainly in the internal communications area (I have made it into the office!) will live up to my out of the office achievement of winning our Karaoke competition.

A large stage was erected on Friday night between the Cloth Hall and the City Hall Tower (thank you to the Saltire team for arranging an apartment so close to the main square!). This turned out to be for a World War One commemoration concert in the main square. It drew a large crowd and I could tell the songs were very meaningful to everyone there as they swayed and jumped around to the music. I have noticed here that the population is very homogeneous, due to their iron curtain and the economic situation here though things are improving. I am told older generations may feel that previously it was more of a habit for people to look out for each other and share, as products were not so easily accessible. Though now with capitalism they appreciate the shelves are full, and Tesco has arrived!

I have taken a peek into the Church of St. Mary a short walk away, which was beautiful. I will definitely be taking another look inside before the end of my stay. I have also been to Wawel Hill and visited the treasury pm the Castle there; it was interesting to see the impressive armour and swords encrusted with precious stones, which belonged to members of the Royalty I have learned about in my European History course!

As I was saying before, there is always a lot going on in the centre…as I am writing a bike race just went by following the route the parade had taken yesterday!

Hope you all have had a good weekend!

Do Widzenia,

Louise

Xxx