Getting Settled in ZG and Checking Out Wrocław - Blog #32 (Aug. 18-24)

Basketball Update:

Not a whole lot to report on basketball-wise. We had a scrimmage against a third league team during the week that went well for us. They were a solid squad and played very hard. We were only up by about four at the end of the first quarter. We ended up winning by 50 or so, and coach was happy to get some game film from the game. I played well in the scrimmage as well. We have a good team, and I think we are still planning on adding another American at some point. We have a couple of guys coming off injuries. We are still doing two-a-days most days which have been challenging but good. We are putting in plays, working on defensive concepts, and getting back in shape. It has been a good preseason so far!

Leadership Lesson:

I was listening to a leadership podcast with a guest, Sam Lessin, and he was talking about the concept of Type 2 fun. I thought it perfectly described what people and leaders should value in terms of doing something fun. Type 1 fun is the traditional fun you might think of. Going to a party, playing a game, or going to a concert are all examples of Type 1 fun. Do not get me wrong, I love doing those things and think they are important. Type 2 fun, on the other hand, is the kind of fun when you work hard, maybe have some struggles, and come out on the other side having achieved something, and you can say to yourself, "Hey, that was a lot of fun". A perfect example of this is doing a very difficult hike. I do not know if you could say that the actual act of hiking is that fun. It's hard, you are sweaty, you might be breathing heavy and uncomfortable, etc. However, once you reach the top and see the amazing view, and you feel a sense of accomplishment for what you achieved, you can say that you had a blast and would love to hike again. The act itself may not be all too great, but coming down the mountain is a great feeling, having accomplished something hard and coming out on the other side having dealt with the adversity. There is a special sense of fulfillment and meaning that you get from doing hard things. You prove to yourself that you are strong and capable. Type 2 fun activities are often the first things I think of when I look back at things I have most enjoyed in my life.

Top 5 of the Week:

Pet Peeves

1. People Leaving Grocery Cart in Parking Lot - This is not a traditional pet peeve, but it really grinds my gears. It is such a lazy thing and a good indicator for someone's character in my opinion.

2. Chewing with Mouth Open - I get this one from my momma. I hate it when people chew with their mouths open and this also includes gum. Really annoying.

3. Line Skippers - This is super hypocritical considering the story I told last week, but I hate people who do this, especially when they are just doing it to be a jerk.

4. Backseat Drivers - I did not think that this was a pet peeve of mine until last year when I was driving Nikki around a decent amount. "They're breaking!!"

5. Phone Calls or Loud Phone Volume in Public - There are few things worse than that guy on the train or in the airport who is having an obnoxiously loud conversation for everyone to hear. People with loud volume are annoying too. Get some headphones dude.

What Else Did I Do This Week?

I have not been able to do a whole lot during the week because of our practice schedule and my need for rest when time allows. I did get my car this week. Holy smokes, it is the nicest car I have ever driven by far. It is a Cupra which is a European brand. Unreal features with sick rims. I am already getting too used to it.

After having practice Saturday afternoon, we had a team dinner at a great dinner place, Ohy-Ahy, in the center of ZG (cool people refer to Zielona Gora as ZG). It was great food and a great way to kick off our season with some team bonding. We tried going to another place after dinner, but it was too packed, so we went home. We had some great convos and lots of laughs. I am liking our squad both on and off the court so far. After getting home Saturday night, I planned out my trip to Wrocław the next day.

I woke up, got ready, and started my two-hour drive to the city. It was a very cool city. I grabbed these Polish donuts which are basically regular donuts with different kinds of filling. It is called a pączek. They are unreal and a contender to Olliebollen for the best Euro dessert I have had. I walked around the university that is in the city, and I also stumbled upon this church that has bullet holes from WW2 which was interesting to see. Then, I made my way to Cathedral Island. The Oder River runs through the city, and I was tempted to do a boat tour but didn't. Cathedral Island was unreal. A couple of stunning churches and just a beautiful area of the city. I grabbed a glass of vino and read my book while overlooking the river and churches. It was amazing vibes.

Then, I headed on over to the main square area with colorful buildings and lots of shops and restaurants. I had made a reservation at the oldest restaurant in Poland. It was founded in 1273 which is pretty hard to imagine. I had some soup and pierogi. It was really good food. Finally, I headed back to the car, but not before a popular candy store caught my eye. They give you a bag and you put as much or as little candy as you want. Then, you weigh it, and they charge you based on the weight. I got way too much candy and am not sure how I'm going to finish it all. I drove back and made some chicken pad thai and called it a night. Fun solo travel day!

Top Meal of the Week:

The best meal I had was at Ohy-Ahy with the team. Almost everyone got steaks, but I got a stir-fry dish that was unreal. The bread we all got for an appetizer was insanely delicious and fluffy too with a side of tzatziki. I think I have to take Nikki there when she visits.

One Cultural Difference About Poland:

I was first alerted of this cultural difference by the driver who picked me up from the airport to take me back to ZG. He told me that people in Poland do not do small talk. It is not meant to be rude, but Polish people, for the most part, just do not talk unless they need to. I have noticed that this has extended to seeing people in my apartment building or on the sidewalk. I will smile and say hi, and people do not even make eye contact with me. It is pretty crazy because I am used to the Midwest nice, but it is just how the people here are. Thanks for reading!