Episode 14 · Powtórka — Errands around Kazimierz

Welcome back to Kazimierz. When you first arrive in a new country, every trip outside feels like a test you haven't studied for. You stumble, you point, you apologize.

But then, one day, the pieces click. Today is Tom's victory lap. He has four errands to run, four different people to talk to, and four completely different registers of Polish to use. Are you ready? Let's step out.

Errand number one: dropping off the final piece of rental paperwork at the local office. The official world. This requires total respect and distance.

Dzień dobry. Jest pan umówiony?

Dzień dobry. Jest pan umówiony? — Good morning. Do you have an appointment? (formal, Pani Kowalska) · JEN DOH-bri. yest pan oo-moo-VYOH-ni?

Dzień dobry. Jest pan umówiony? Good morning. Do you have an appointment? Remember this from our first brush with Polish bureaucracy? We use the formal pan for you.

She doesn't ask 'are you', she asks 'is sir appointed?' Jest pan umówiony. The w is a v sound. Say it with me, nice and polite: Jest pan umówiony?

Dzień dobry. Tak, jestem umówiony.

Perfect. He matches her formality. She gives him a single, approving nod, takes the paper, and dismisses him with a crisp do widzenia. One world conquered. Next stop: the market.

Out in the square, Pan Zbyszek is holding court at his vegetable stall. Tom just needs a few apples. He picks them out, but he wants to make sure he pays properly this time.

Ile to kosztuje?

Na zeszyt, młody.

Ile to kosztuje? — Na zeszyt, młody. — How much is this? — On the tab, lad. (Pan Zbyszek) · EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh? — nah ZEH-shit mwoh-dih

Ile to kosztuje? How much does it cost? And Zbyszek's classic reply: Na zeszyt, młody. On the notebook, lad. The tab. Tom is officially part of the neighbourhood trust system.

Notice the sz in kosztuje. It's that solid 'sh' sound. Try asking the price with Tom: Ile to kosztuje? One more time: Ile to kosztuje?

Let's pause and lock in the morning so far. First, the official desk: Dzień dobry. Jest pan umówiony? Good morning, do you have an appointment? Then the market stall: Ile to kosztuje? Na zeszyt, młody. How much is it? On the tab, lad. Beautiful. Let's get some coffee.

The bell above the café door chimes. The smell of roasted beans hits you. This is the heart of Kazimierz hospitality. Tom steps up to the counter, feeling like a regular.

Dzień dobry! Poproszę kawę.

To co zwykle, kochanie.

Poproszę kawę. — To co zwykle, kochanie. — A coffee, please. — The usual, love. (Pani Basia) · poh-PROH-sheh KAH-veh. — toh tsoh ZVIK-leh koh-HAH-nyeh

Poproszę kawę. I'll ask for a coffee. Remember, kawa changes to kawę because it's the target of his request. And her response? To co zwykle, kochanie. The usual, sweetheart.

This is the sound of truly belonging somewhere. Say his order with me, feeling that tail on the e: Poproszę kawę. And Basia's warm reply: To co zwykle. The usual.

Tom walks back out into the square, coffee in hand. He's hit formal, he's hit the market, he's hit the café. But he can't escape the neighbourhood's fastest talker. Kuba is jogging past with a gym bag.

Siema! Idziesz na kawę?

No! Właśnie mam.

Siema! Idziesz na kawę? — No! — Hey! Coming for a coffee? — Yeah! (casual, Kuba) · SHEH-mah! EE-jesh nah KAH-veh? — noh!

He did it! Siema! Hey! Idziesz na kawę? Are you going for a coffee? And Tom didn't fall for the trap. He answered No! Meaning 'yeah' or 'obviously'.

This is entirely informal, entirely relaxed. Throw it out there with Kuba: Siema! Idziesz na kawę? And give me that Polish 'yeah': No!

Tom sits on a bench in the square. The official, the merchant, the motherly, the casual. He navigated it all in one morning. But as he sips his coffee, he pulls out his phone. He opens a calendar app.

He skips to Saturday. The day Magda asked about. Chcę iść do parku. W sobotę? I want to go to the park. On Saturday? He's survived the neighbourhood. Now, he wants to actually live in it. And Saturday is getting closer.

Let's review Tom's entire morning round. The polite desk: Dzień dobry. Jest pan umówiony? Dzień dobry. Jest pan umówiony? The market tab: Ile to kosztuje? Na zeszyt, młody. Ile to kosztuje? Na zeszyt, młody. The warm café: Poproszę kawę. To co zwykle, kochanie. Poproszę kawę. To co zwykle, kochanie. And Kuba's casual street check: Siema! Idziesz na kawę? No! Siema! Idziesz na kawę? No!

You are doing incredibly well. The language is starting to stick, just by living here with us. We have two lessons a week, every Tuesday and Friday. Join us next time as Saturday finally arrives. Do widzenia!