Traveling in Europe

Paris

Stockholm

Barcelona - Gaudi Park 

Budapest

Traveling is one of my hobby, so I’ll do everything to go everywhere! I watched some pictures from my Erasmus and what I think is that there are so many places in Europe I just need to see! I remember Barcelona, Paris, Milano, Stockholm but I would love to go to Ljubljana, Skopje or Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, Kishinev, Kotor Bay in Montenegro, Lake Baikal in Siberia and some northern places – fjords, small cities in Norway or Sweden, which are adorable (as I’ve heard). 

So far I can tell that cities (places) which are not beloved by tourists are the best! Unfortunately it calls “extreme traveling” and it’s either expensive, dangerous or time consuming.

Traveling is great!

Welcome to Taiwan!!!

3 days ago I came to Taipei – it will be my home for next half of year! How did I get here? I applied through my University in Katowice to National Taiwan University in Taipei. And here I am – having a really bad jet lag, but so happy and amazed with Taipei! Since now I'm officially an exchange student (again). I’s one of my first days in here so everything is new and totally different. Tomorrow I'll explore Taipei! So far I can tell that Air China has really tasty meals!

Once upon a time I was stateless

Yeap – no citizenship, no rights, no nothing… One day before my trip to Norway (already booked flight, hostel) I got a letter – letter from Ukrainian Consulate. It was short, and explicit “we have taken your citizenship, it’s deprived, you are reported to give back your passport”. I felt like I would die. Letter was deleted for almost 3 weeks, so luckily or not I got it before any trip – I still haven’t visited Norway! L And I was stateless for 3 months – until I got Polish one. I had some troubles and funny situations – calls from banks, inability to derive money (Facebook was my only and real identification). When municipal police stopped me to check for my documents, I told them – I’m stateless, have no document. I think it sounded like “I’m monkey, I’m blond, let me go” and they did! And in November I had flown to Ukraine with special Passport (it was kind of a passport for people in strange situation) – on the airport customs officers were asking me “who am I, why do I speak Russian, am I here for a football game – what, me? Yeah, right! And so on, and so on… J If someone wants to give up citizenship, he/she should be prepared for a long, arduous process. Anyway those 3 months were more funny than stressful – or it was just my ability to deal with unusual stuff.

I wanted to give up my Ukrainian citizenship when I came to Poland (I think I was 13 when I claimed for the first resident permission). So after 10 years I got it! It requires patience, collection of many documents, but eventually you get it. I don’t regret, of course now I can’t go to Russia without visa… it sucks, cause my family and friends live there. I can’t tell if it’s better to have Polish citizenship, or stay with Ukrainian, I just know that it’s always hard to get through all that bureaucracy. No meter where you are or what you have to pass through, just stay positive!

At least I have some unusual stories for my friends! 

Sorry, we are ERASMUS!

I just saw this post on Facebook (one of my friend) and all memories from my Erasmus came to me. It such a great thing, meeting so many wonderful people! Traveling, exploring city you live, leaving on your own, crazy parties every day! It’s one of the best things in students life – I will never regret going to Vienna – it was my exchange. What can I say is that it’s great city, so beautiful, so nice. I could stay there forever. Everyone probably has his/her place to stay – well mine is definitely Vienna. When it was a nice weather I used to go to Schönbrunns garden, lie down under the oak, reading or studying. My university (WU) was demanding, so all knowledge I absorbed is still useful. I started to study German and for the first time in my life it seemed to be a beautiful language (no kidding). And common kitchen in our dorm was the best place ever – parties, parties and more parties. Even when you go there only to do scrambled eggs, you stay for a party, end up with the beer in your hand. Every student should go to Erasmus! It’s time of our life!

Prater - if someone likes extreme, go to "black mamba" attraction 

View from my dorm - Donaukanal - great for jogging along 

One of those crazy things - Water fight

My favourite place in the world - Schönbrunn

Common kitchen - international dinner (one of the best idea ever)

Every Monday was the same... > < (and every Wednesday, and  Thursday...)

Poland – Mongolia Economic Forum

Today I had a chance to participate in Poland-Mongolia Economic Forum in Warsaw. About 80 businessman from Mongolia came to visit Polish capital city and find investors, start cooperation, do business. The meeting was really interesting, I heard things that frankly I could not find on the internet or newspapers. One of the best thing was appearance of Polish president – Bronisław Komorowski, and Mongolian president – Tsakhigiin Elbegdorj, which highlights the importance of the Forum. Mongolia is one of the fast growing economies, with business-friendly incentives. As I remembered, in Mongolia: VAT – 10%, equal treatment of all international and domestic companies, many natural resources (copper, coal, gold, silver, gas etc.), Ulan Bator – over one million citizens (couple of years ago it was about 300 000), many constrictions project (related to population growth), serious changes in law – many acts which can facilitate international businesses.

As student of International Business – I was really upset. The only young people were me and my friend. It means that people my age, student, entrepreneurs, who are the future engine of Polish economy, did not know about such an event. Moreover as I know, none of my classmates knew. For students - it is not only about doing business, but see how it looks in reality to start cooperation with international partner. We can’t take all that knowledge out of our books, we have to practice. And if we are suppose to be “international entrepreneurs” I think such forums are crucial. It is kind of a warm-up. What’s more – it is for free, and the only cost is the train (with our student discount is 50% cheaper).

And one more thing: in 1980s Tsakhigiin Elbegdorj – president of Mongolia was studying in Ukraine in Львів (Lviv)!!! 

exams - halfway!

I just love this feeling - when you passed half of all tests, exams and you know that it's the end soon! I need to mention that now, when I'm on my senior year, it's easier. Teachers treat you as adults, they rather not do weird tests (which you can't pass at the first approach), and they are nice, helpful - it encourage you to study.  I even started to think that in half a year, when I graduate, I will actually miss this school. Besides all those sessions, exams, thesises, papers - it's really best time of ones life. Luckily our school has all those post-diplomas which are actually pretty interesting. As I know myself, I'll apply for one of those. :)

Exams

So it is January – examination session begins. Of course it’s the worst period of a whole year! Anyway – this semester is not that demanding as a previous one. I have only two tests and 2 exams later on. What I wanted to mention is that somehow you always manage to succeed during the session. Even if I fail exams in the first exam period, I have lots of time to pass it in the second one – or (hope not) third one. Last semester we had 7 exams and everyone passed – so it is more than possible. I hope that this time it’s going to be ok as well, and of course I wish every student a big, fat luck!