More than almost anything about our trip to Poland, the prospect of seeing friends thrills us most. (“Family?” you ask. I did say “almost anything.”) If we were to take the time to see all our friends, where they live, we’d do nothing else during those two weeks — and we certainly wouldn’t get to see everyone.

But the nature of twenty-first century Poland makes it impossible to see everyone, because many — most, when it comes to K’s university friends — have left the country. It’s part of the impressive drop in unemployment.

Many of our friends we’re planning on meeting in Krakow, making those final two days all the more special.