CSC Poland 1: A Night in Warsaw

After being awake for almost 24 hours, minus about 1 hour of sleep on the plane, I arrived at the hotel in Warsaw around 1pm Friday. The plan was to meet the rest of the team for dinner later in the day, which allowed me to check in to my room and get a quick nap. I didn't get my coat off before I fell asleep.

IBMer Anna Jawor (Poland) arranged a fabulous team dinner to kickoff the experience in Poland!

Calixto, Rafael, Jakub (IBM Poland), Alex,
Crystal (IBM Poland), Patricio, and Monica (IBM Poland)


Latika, Samuel, Thierry, Anna (IBM Poland),Calixto (again), Amit, Laura (Pyxera Global, Angela, Daria (IBM Poland), Urmi

After dinner, Jakub and Daria guided some of the team on a walking tour to take in some of the sites in Warsaw. Below is a picture of the team in front of the Palace of Culture and Science. This building was a gift from USSR to the people of Warsaw "to the spirit of invention and social progress" after World War II. Today it still the tallest building (30 stories) in Warsaw despite the construction of many new skyscrapers in the city.


				From left: Rafael, Alex, Amit, Jakub (IBM Poland), Daria (IBM Poland), Calixto, Patricio, me, Crystal (IBM Poland)

Another interesting site was a single palm tree that grew right in the middle of a main road in Warsaw. It remains unknown how the tree is able to survive the harsh climate of Poland winters.

This night also happened to be Jakub's birthday (one of our local hosts). Contrary to the tradition I am used to in the US where the team would treat Jakub to a birthday shot, in this case, reportedly by Jakub to be Polish tradition, Jakub treated the team to birthday shots at one of Warsaw's 24x7 "shot bars". I was unable to confirm with other locals if this was in fact is the Polish tradition.