A Polish Sunday with my Family

8:00- Mom rolls over in bed and turns on the Polish community radio show
8:30- Whoever needs a shower contemplates getting up now or waiting until other goes. " My hair needs to dry, but it's so warm here, uh oh, I think Tata is going for it!!....wait, false alarm that's him going out to walk the dog. But I should get up..." etc. etc.
9:00- Anyone that is either a) really hungry b) wants to suck up to the parents, starts making breakfast which usually constitutes of just setting out all the ingredients for, wait for it......KANAPKI (sandwiches, which in Polish families constitutes 50% of meals). So the table is covered with jars of jam, tubs of *Polish* cream cheese, packages of fresh deli slices bought at the *Polish* stand at the farmer's market, and bread that my dad made himself (new obsession). Mama has been feeling unlike herself lately and the occasional plate of french toast or eggs has found its way to the table.
9:30- Everyone finally make their way to the kitchen table and gorge themselves. When everyone is stuffed Mama brings some cake out and everyone enjoys that with a cup of lemon tea.
10:15- The rush for the bathroom round II starts because:
                    a) There are 4 girls in this family
                    b) There are only 2 bathrooms
                    c) This is the one day a week my Dad shaves
                    d) Polish people at church judge, therefore you must have impeccable hair and makeup
10:15-10:50- Everyone is getting ready to look their Sunday best. If you don't, Mama will make you change. You cannot look:
                   a) frumpy
                   b) skanky
                   c) casual
                   d)  too trendy
                   e) poor
                   f) scandalous
                   g) be wearing any type of denim
10:50- The shoe issue.
10:55- Everyone piles into the mini-van where Mama quickly turns the radio to the Polish station. "What if we miss something important?!"
11:10- We are at the Polish Church way too early, but I guess it takes a while to walk from the parking lot in these heels and "a little time to prepare never hurt anyone"
11:30- Mass starts. All the Polish ladies make sure to register exactly who is and isn't there. Who trickles in late, who leaves during the Mass.
12:15- The line to Holy Communion becomes a catwalk where everyone evaluates and judges the outfit, size, hair colour and shoes of the devotee. And woe on whoever doesn't get up to go receive Communion, everyone is thinking of all the horrible things you must of done to bring your soul to such a state.
12:30- Mass end and everyone groups up to talk, gossip, and make coffee dates.
1:00- The family finally gets in the car and drives home.
3:00- Early dinner that everyone MUST be present at.
3:45- The cake is gone and the cups that were filled with coffee are empty,
4:00- "Is there a new episode of _________________( insert name of Polish show)?" "yes, I think so!" They invade the basement to watch their fill of tv on full volume so that I cannot focus on the homework I have been attempting to do.

Pros and Cons of Student Life at Home

This is my 3rd year of university and I have spent every school term at home ( and every off-term as far away as possible). My sister is applying to universities for next year and is making up every excuse to flee the family nest. Apparently I look so miserable all the time, it makes her want to shoot herself...

There are some pros and many cons to living at home when studying at uni and keep in mind that they all also depend on your family and you yourself.

Pros (include and are limited to):
-You save some SERIOUS CASH! The bill for your education will be literally halved if you live at home and do not have to pay for rent and groceries.
-You get ready made meals. This is not really true for me but it is for many of my friends that live at home. What I am glad to have though, is a fridge full of a variety of foods and I do not have to worry about how much it costs or how long I can leave it in the fridge for.
-You know where everything is in town. The best bars, the hipster restaurants, the cheapest grocery stores, the bus terminal etc. I mean who wouldn't be lucky to be friends with you when you are practically an expert on this place!
-You probably already have a bigger group of friends than your out-of-town counterparts.
-Use of family vehicle for travel
-clean bathrooms

Cons (include and are NOT limited to):
-Parents and their rules. I know you are older, but you still live under their roof...
-It is more difficult to make new lasting friendships. You meet a lot of people in your classes and if you are not shy you will have no issues sparking up a conversation. If you are shy, living in residence or with new friends you are forced to get out of your shell and be sociable.
-You are probably further away from the university which means that you will not be coming home between classes. Therefore you live at school. * tip: find a lounge with couches and a cheap coffee place.
-It is loud. I have 2 younger siblings that don't understand that I need perfect peace to understand the theory of communicative rationality.
-Group.Projects. I don't know what you want to get into, but in my program (Planning), there are A LOT of group projects. This means long and unconventional hours. Which means you missing dinner. And the last bus. And being stranded because you do not live in the student neighborhoods/on campus.
- People never come over because it is weird for them.
-You never go over anywhere because it is weird for your parents that you are never home and they are hurt and think you are ignoring them.
-Your friends think that you are ignoring them but you simply have no time because you are either 1) at home 2)going home 3)doing work 4)working a part-time job.
-You do not have a chance to clean your slate. Chances are that many of your high school friends are in the same boat as you and labels tend to stick...

If I had to chose again, would I chose differently? Better question. If I chose differently, would I be someone else?

Are you prepared for this disaster?

I am a bit of a disaster. I can't stay organized worth my life, my room is never neat for more than 2 consecutive days, and I am horrible at making decisions. A constant contradiction, I am a hopeless romantic and insanely logical, feminine yet tomboy-ish, creative but horrible with art. I go from calm and collected to a passionate fanatic in seconds. I am a whirlwind of activity, always juggling too many things, whether it be school, work, family,friends, fitness classes or volunteering. Always on the brink of insanity.

Is it weird that I want to be an emergency manager?

I love natural disasters: volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, you name it! But no, I do not want to spend the rest of my life studying rocks or watching the readings of a seismograph. I need to work with people. I see all the pictures and hear all the stories of people who have lost everything within seconds because of a natural phenomenon. They lost their families, their homes, their jobs. It isn't fair. And I'm all about justice, let me tell you. Therefore I take it upon myself to change this. No, I am not capable of holding back a tsunami or stopping a hurricane in its tracks, but there are policies, plans and efforts that can be made at different levels to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from an emergency situation.