At around 2pm on New Year's Eve, eight of us were all sitting around our little bedroom and out comes the vodka once again, this time on my initiation. I was ready! Slamming vodka down is painful, but I hardened up.
We were eventually heading out to the local for festivities..
But first, we had to get more liquored up!
Mikolaj's friends were absolutely lovely, which was a relief. I was a little nervous heading out into the unknown over New Year's and suspending my control over the situation, but my fears were put to bed after they welcomed 'Australiska'. They had an obsession with all things Australian. Telling them many elaborate tales (Some true, some fake!) of the creatures abroad and all that stuff was a complete novelty that I know I'll get sick of by the end of my trip!
We got to the pub, three flasks of vodka discreetly hidden, and were given these garish yellow scarves to wear, which we all did initially. I've kept mine as a memento, but they couldn't have picked a more hideous colour really..
At around 8pm, some of us went back to the attic to pick up more stuff. On the way, we found a scrawny guy sitting on the kerb and mumbling to himself. He was completely wasted, reeking of whisky. It was -25 degrees by that point and I could see in his weathered, blue-ish face that he was close to freezing to death. We tried slapping him around a little but when he didn't get up, it took four of us to lift him and take him to a safer place with plenty of heating. The next morning, I saw him right where we left him, drinking yet again!
Closer to midnight, I decided to whip out my bottle of duty-free Moet from my bag. They tried to confiscate it, but I blatantly refused to give it up!
Then at 12am, the AWESOME fireworks display set the night alight and the rest of the night was a haze.
The next day, in an attempt to get rid of our aching hangovers, we distracted ourselves with an activity called 'Koolik': Strapping a few sleds to the back of the car and riding them at around 30 km/h. When I got thrown face first into the snow, it was a completely refreshing experience, hangover obliterated!
On leaving Polska, I've learnt some valuable (and not so important) lessons:
1) DON'T get into conversations with your grand parents about their health ailments. It goes on for way too long and is simply a depressing forecast into the future. Diabetes. Check. Heart disease. Check. High Blood Pressure. Check. Cataracts. Check. Cancer. Check. Ugh..
2) ALWAYS wear something on your head when the temperature drops below zero.
3) That 'Super' is the same word and meaning in English, Polish AND German. Super!!!
4) The phrase 'Robi Loda' literally means 'Doing Icy pole' but actually means 'Giving head' (I learned this in the mountains when the girls were going on and on about this Polish song with lyrics "Because she's giving head, and she likes it!" I don't know how valuable this is, but I thought it was a funny phrase.)
5) That my name isn't so unique after all. 'Anya' (Usually spelt Ania or Anja) is the most common name in Poland!
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