This week’s edition by: David

Well guys, it looks like we’re finally back to normal after the May Weekend (or week for some!)


This week sees a range of exciting events, including a bumper edition of Music Club, an upcoming lecture and more Callan lessons. Read on for more information.

Aren’t you all excited?



NEWS AND REVIEWS

Well, absolutely nothing happened last week. Everyone was suffering from the effects of their time off, and there were no clubs or lectures. So that’s enough of the reviews, on to the good stuff!

First up is Marcin’s Music Club. He has decided to hold two, both at rather large music festivals. The first is Gliwice’s very own Igry Festival, held at the Airfield. Two headlining acts are Polish bands I’ve never heard of, Lady Pank and Pidzama Porno. Sounds interesting. I’ll still be there. It’s on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th, all evening.

Second is the Maj Music Festival in Chorzow. I know nothing about this festival, or who will be playing, but it’s held on May 25th. If you want more info, ask Marcin.

Next up is Caroline’s lecture, on Chocolate. This is on the 18th, at 7.30pm. Sign up with the secretaries if you want to attend.

Then we have Kids’ Club. This will be on Saturday 19th, at 1pm, with Tanya. Again, sign up with the secretaries.

Then it’s Advanced Conversation Club, with Sean and Brian. This is on Wednesday 23rd, at 7.30pm. Yet again, sign up with the secretaries.

Also that day we have Film Club. This time it’s a film called The Fountain, and it is showing at the Amok. Sign up with the secretaries and then meet at the school at 7.45pm. Cost for a ticket is 15zl.



EXTREME WEATHER

The last year or so has been a strange one for weather in Poland. For example, winter 2005-2006 was very cold, yet the winter we have just had I’m told was very warm! Here we will look at some extreme weather in Poland…

· The highest rainfall ever recorded in Poland was a huge 30cm at one time. This is roughly the size of a piece of A4 paper, or a 1-litre bottle of Coca-Cola! This happened in June 1973, in the Tatra's Hala Gasienicowa.

· In 1901, winds from the Sahara Desert in Africa turned the rain a black brown colour. In 1972, the same winds turned the snow orange in Zakopane. It can be explained by the winds carrying dust all that way. Strange, eh?

· In the mountains, there are typically over 200 days of freezing temperature every year. That’s almost seven months! The lowest ever recorded was -41ºC, in Siedlce in 1940. The highest temperature was 40.2ºC, recorded in Pruszkow near Opole in 1921. That’s a difference of 81.2ºC!!!

· Poland is not a normal country. In a single year it can have as many as six distinct seasons. These are the four typical seasons you learn about in Callan, and two others. One is called przedzimie (early winter) and the other is called przedwiosnie, and means (early spring).

· Once, in January 1982, the temperature in Wloclawek dropped overnight from 8ºC to -20ºC, the largest drop since official records began. Also, on 8th January 1994 the temperature in Krakow stood at 17.3ºC. Cieplo!

· In a very strange way, the driest part of Poland is one that contains many lakes and rivers – Kujawy. Another strange fact is that in winter, in the Tatra Mountains, it is colder in the valleys than higher up the mountains. This is known as temperature inversion. At this time, you can see for hundreds of kilometers from the peaks.

THANKS TO THE POLISH TOURISM OFFICE FOR THIS INFORMATION – CHECK OUT http://www.poland.gov.pl/ FOR MORE INFORMATION!

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AND FINALLY….

Gosia is currently searching for a soulmate, so I’m placing an advert in the newsletter. If there are any students interested in dating Gosia, you must first meet the requirements. Any applicants must be “tall, tanned and hot”. If you fit the profile, or look like this guy, come see me.