Welcome to Italy!

Ciao a tutti!!

Come state? Bene?

I spent the last few days in Italy and I must admit that it was a really amazing time. I went there to visit my friend who is currently in Erasmus in Perugia. Although the November weather in central Italy is very similar to ours or even rainier, it does not take away the magic and charm of this country.

Driving there I was very happy because I love Italian cuisine and Italian language. The very thought of spending the next few days eating pizza and walking the charming streets evoked a smile on my face. I haven't seen my friend in three months, so it was also a great experience, because before her departure we were practically inseparable.

During these few days we were able to visit Rome, Florence and of course Perugia. I have never been to these cities before and despite the almost continuous rain they delighted me completely. Our visiting probably differs slightly from the standard one, because instead of waiting in long queues to museums and paying really big money for admission tickets we choose long walks, taking lots of photos and enjoying tasty food. That's why I certainly won't serve as a good guide and I won't be able to name all the monuments or important locations, but I can easily advise you how to buy a train ticket yourself or where they serve delicious coffee that you can remember for a long time.

When it comes to my private observations and impressions, I can say that this image of Italian towns, filled with laughter and joyful conversations of residents and the smell of coffee or delicious dishes, sold to us in films, is definitely true. You really would like to undermine something and disagree with something, but it's hard to do it when you feel like in the scenery from the movie at every step. And I repeat again, my trip did not take place at sunny and pleasant July, but soaked November and I was delighted even with the view of puddles on the pavement. So it must mean something, Italy can charm you.

Fall in love with the mountains

Hello! It’s me again.

In my last entry I thought back to the time I lived in Spain. As the autumn weather does not give up, and the gloomy evenings are getting longer and even more depressing, I thought that it might be worth developing the theme of travel.

For me synonym with travel are mountains, this is the first thing that comes to my mind when i hear vacation or rest. Since I can remember, my dad took me on long hiking trips along the mountain trails. When I remember it, I admire him very much but also I feel sorry for him because I haven’t always loved to walk for long kilometers. I definitely was not a born hiker, but rather this type of child who constantly asks “Are we there yet?”. But over time my attitude changed and the wandering ceased to be a torment and became for me the only way to find some peace and freedom, to escape from everyday life, to forget about problems.

From about five years, me and my best friend have been visiting the Polish Tatra Mountains every year. It's our tradition that probably never gets bored and will never disappear. I love to go to new places but the Polish mountains are unique and magical. It may seems to you that you know them by heart and know everything about them, but they will always surprise you with something new and unusual.

Apart from beautiful and breathtaking views, it is wonderful to feel satisfied and win after achieving the intended goal. Although in reality it's not about climbing peaks or even climbing higher and higher. In my opinion the most important is the journey itself, step by step, which gives you the opportunity to be alone with your thoughts and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Furthermore, I know from my own experience that people in such places can also surprise and I guarantee that every person passed on the trail in the mountains will greet you with a broad smile. And this is another thing that I love in the mountains, they change people and release all the best qualities in them.

If you have never been to the mountains before, but in the real green ones, not on the popular and crowded Krupówki or Gubałówka, then I think that this is something that you cannot miss in your life. You really don't have to travel to the other end of the world to see something delightful. We have so many beautiful places to discover in Poland, it's worth getting to know them. 

Few words about the life of an Erasmus student

Hello again!     

Yesterday I was looking through photos on my computer and came across the ones from my Erasmus trip. I decided it would be a great topic for another blog entry. So let’s get started a short story about my impressions and memories from student exchange.

I chose Spain as the destination country because I have always been interested in the local culture. I studied Spanish for two years, so to become a fully competent philologist, all I needed was to become part of the Spanish community and surround myself with their habits from all sides. I finally chose  Málaga to become my new city not only for studying but also for living.

Already during the first month all previous fears disappeared because there was so many things to see and to get to know that there was no time to think about returning home or even missing him. I quickly found out that this is an amazing opportunity to meet people from all over the world and create relationships that I wouldn't even think of before. Thanks to this opportunity I got to know not only the culture and mentality of the Spanish people but also learned more about the inhabitants of other countries. I believe that that kind of experience affects our character, because by having to talk in a foreign language and the need to contact other people, we naturally become more open, spontaneous and smiling.

What's more, if someone loves traveling, it's the perfect time to see new places and enjoy the views reminiscent of those from postcards. Visiting Spanish cities, that I previously knew only by name and which are so different from what we know and see every day here in Poland, I understood how important it is to discover the world on my own. We can read about this places or listen to stories about them, however, what we experience ourselves stays with us forever and allows us to create our own opinions and our own memories.

I could talk forever  about how much I gained thanks to this trip but I think it isn’t necessary. In my opinion everyone should dare to take such a step and try a completely different life far away from home. I spent a wonderful six months in Spain that taught me a lot and I will gladly repeat this experience.

Autumn weather

Hello again!

The autumn began some time ago. For most people this means the beginning of gloomy weather outside and a depressed mood. It's hard to disagree with that but there is one thing that can cheer up a little this time. For me october means long evenings spent in warm socks, with hot tea in one hand and a good book in the other. This magical way to forget about the problems and delve into a completely different world has its charm only at the time of falling leaves and that’s why i like this season.

This year, autumn began for me with the stories of Andrzej Stasiuk contained in the book titled “Nie ma ekspresów przy żółtych drogach”.  This is one of my favorite Polish, and his nostalgic and beautiful descriptions of the surrounding world perfectly match the rainy weather outside the window. The book is a collection of short stories, which I think could be clippings from the private diary. I can't describe what the story is about in a few words, because it is a mixture of various memories and thoughts, but I can assure you that the way the writer selects words and combines them into a unique whole is sure to impress any lover of literature. I am delighted with the accuracy of his observations and their transmission in such a beautiful form.

As you can see autumn doesn’t  have to be a reason to be depressed and sad. Maybe life goes on a little slower pace, and the day is getting shorter, but even at this time of year we can find something positive. I definitely appreciate that we have more time for small pleasures like reading books or watching movies and I am looking forward to another evening with the cozy blanket and one more amazing story.

Let me introduce myself

Hello everyone!

This is my first blog post so i think that is necessary to share with you some facts about me. My name is Karolina. I’m twenty years old. I’m student of Spanish philology. I live in the central part of Poland, in a village which is called Raciborów. I’m pretty sure that this name literally says nothing to anyone and to be honest, that is one of the reasons why i love this place.

If i had to choose one of my passions which is the most important to me it would be traveling. I love meeting new places and new people and discovering their reality and everyday life. I love being in a different place, admiring the diversity of the world and cultures, collecting new memories and ideas and then coming back home full of motivation and a smile for the next days. There is nothing better than trying new things and broadening your horizons. That’s why i study foreign languages. I believe that it gives a unique opportunity to truly get to know and understand the world around us.

I’m interested in literature. I love reading books and poems, i also try to write my own texts. Until now all my thoughts were safe in the old diary at the bottom of the drawer, but now i’ve decided to share with you some observations, curiosities or useless trivia that are in my head. I thought it might be great experience and also  motivation to deepen knowledge and keep curiosity about the world.

Dear readers, i hope that this experiment will be something interesting for you too and that you will accompany me on this adventure. See you next time!