Mariana Franco
What do I do professionally?
I am a Classical Philologist. I study ancient Greek texts from Fifth and Fourth-century Athens. Although I got my major in Classics, I’ve always tried to apply Modern Linguistics tools to the study of Ancient Greek. At the moment, I am working on a project on the concept of punishment in Classical Greek texts from a cognitive perspective, that is, how ancient Greeks thought about this issue.
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I’d say the grounds and the people. I work at the Wydział Humanistyczny. I have a comfortable desk with a beautiful view of the city. It is very quiet, and this helps you concentrate. I love having my own place to work. On the other hand, people here have been great to me. Moving to a place where you barely know the language is difficult, and they have made me feel most welcome.
My first day at work
I remember asking for the office key, but the security guards couldn’t find my permit. They called the administration, and I was at the office working in five minutes. I took out my stuff from my backpack and organized my desk. We had some lunch with my office roommate and afterwards some Turkish coffee while we got to know each other. It turned out we were much alike, and it’s been great.
What suprised me?
I love animals, and I come from a country where, although we have rescuers, many animals suffer from abuse. Not many people do anything about it, and they usually prefer purebred dogs. One of the things that surprised me the most is that there are no stray dogs and cats. Moreover, most dogs in the city are mixed breeds and are usually very cheerful when you say hello to them.
What I like about Katowice?
There are many things that I like. It is very “walkable”. Although it is a modern city, there are many green places, and it is very quiet, even if you live near the highway! Some higher grounds allow you to watch the beautiful sunsets, like the Muzeum Śląskie. For someone who enjoys taking photographs, it is a very photogenic city, especially during sunset. (N.B. I’ve sent you some pictures attached to the e-mail).