"Only an Erasmus student can understand other Erasmus student."

I just returned from a presentation about the pop culture in my country. The feeling is strange. Strange because I almost was at home for two hours but with the flow of different times, perspectives and spheres. The feeling is intoxicating. Intoxicating because I feel like I am telling a hard for believing exotic fairytale that everybody want to hear. 

I found this fairytale here in Brno with Bojan. His Erasmus ended a year ago but he didn't return immediately in Croatia and stayed a little bit more. Life is unpredictable and the personal life even more. I had the chance to hear for what Erasmus should be - the way I had imagined it and the way it overcomes this imagination. Bojan's stories took me home. Mine Erasmus got into another direction, but I felt all the crazy, illogical, emotional and sarcastic Balkans with him. 

We miss you, Bojan :) 

If your Erasmus time was a chocolate, what kind of chocolate it would be? Why?

It would be that one with M&M’s inside. Erasmus would be chocolate and all the people I have met would be M&M’s, all in different colors, every single person special in their own way and everything together tastes so good!

How long is the Erasmus night?

Erasmus night? Hmmm, depends on how long have I slept during the day. And which day of the week it was.

What was the cliché that appeared to be true about Erasmus?

Nobody studies, Spaniards are loud and post-Erasmus depression. Had lots of trouble with that last one :)

The most important thing(s) you’ve learned is/are...

There is couple of things, but some precious things would be more accepting the difference between cultures and people. Also, I discovered so much about myself, it is not everything about Erasmus experience, you learn about yourself, your potential and personality, some parts that you wouldn’t discover in other circumstances.

What was the biggest surprise in your Erasmus?

Surprise would be learning that lots stereotypes are true, and that everybody can have fun with people from Balkan!

Do you want to change something in your Erasmus experience? Why?

No actually, I think everything went well. Ok, maybe I would study a bit more, seriously, it is not a joke! :)

What is the speed of the Erasmus roads?

Warp speed of fun baby!

Where are leading the Erasmus roads?

I think for everybody is different so I can’t give any precise answer. But more happiness and nice experience and memories in your life that could be really useful in your life.

Say something to the future Erasmus travelers.

Go for it, don’t regret anything, just be yourself because this is once in a lifetime, cherish all the moments you spend with those people and you can make a friend for a life, and hey, be nice to people, and you’ll have a home in every part of the world!

Have you ever regret for the decision to undertake this adventure?

To make this one short – NEVER!

What do you want to ask other Erasmus students?

Actually nothing, I am an Erasmus student so I know all the answers. :) Only an Erasmus student can understand other Erasmus student.

The Only Thing About Me Is The Way I Walk

"I can't dance!" exclaimed Fill Collins to find one line later that the only thing about him is the way he walks. This is what some Brno people discovered yesterday - the way they walk.

Before coming here the very basic information I was provided about Brno was this - Brno has the best public transport. What a simple tough of most favorite kind. Is there anything better than a facilitating tool in the cruel everyday life?

No.

Calculating and organizing the very single minute of the day become so essential for the modern normal responsible man that his mind is absolutely blow out when something unpredictable broke into the perfect matrix. You might think that the snow was surprising, but come on… Such a things as vagaries of weather can not disturb everyday human activities, let alone the mind. (I mean on some places there are earthquakes and hurricanes.) The topic of the day, and of today, probably also of tomorrow and of the next week, till it becomes a myth, is the breakdown of the trams. Brno people on the stops were waiting and waiting, some could see a few trams, stuck in a line, not moving… Stories for awful delays of 45 minutes and more are whispering around the city… And never mind the new pope (Habemus Papam) is not black, obviously The Apocalypse was just about to happen in this late afternoon hours in South Moravia, in Brno. 

Photo by Pavel Beran

What I find really interesting is that The Apocalypse could be at least somehow by someone avoided with walking the endless 150 meters between two tram stops. Probably there are people who did it and I am very sad I did not hear for them. Because I really want to know for some usual walk from point A (hypothetical – home) to point B (hypothetical – university) then for some unusual tram blockage on Česká. For those who did not have the chance to notice trough the tram window – yesterday was a lovely winter day! It was not so cold, it was smoothly snowing and the snow was perfect for satisfying people with imagination! I heard something for fight between A1 and A2 in the dorms – the only time I regret a little bit that I moved out. 

Photo by Pavel Beran

The surprise had a few clear messages for me: be surprised but not inarticulate; touch the snow; keep not using the public transport. Shortly -  the only thing about me is the way I walk.

Dear Balkans, I love you

If I should write a letter to the Balkans right now at this moment it would be the shortest, the simplest and the most sincere letter that one is able to write.

Dear Balkans,

I love you.  

This is the most controversial and illogical love I will ever feel. So I give myself to her completely. I do not expect understanding and compassion. I just want to show you one of the countless reasons for this ruinous love of mine. This link will lead you to the photo contest “Balkans in your eyes” (“Балканите през твоя поглед“, mine translation). The organizers of the contest are Club Balcanica and their on line magazine VIA BALCANICA. Club Balcanica is an independent student interests club in Sofia, Bulgaria, involved in Balkan history, culture and politics.

The photos with the biggest number of "Likes" in the competition will be published in the magazine. I invite you to take a look. A look could be more important variable.

Some of the photos are made by people during their trips others are a single glance at home. But all of the moments are captured by the eyes of the lover to the beloved.

Sincerely yours,
Balkan mad man

Young and old Balkans, by Yordanka Georgieva

Osogovo Monastery in Macedonia, by Vladislava Ninova-Evtimova

Istanbul, by Vladislava Ninova-Evtimova

"Orchestra for Weddings and Funerals" in Bitola, Macedonia, by Ivan Tabakov

"Erasmus roads can lead You everywhere, even to the places You didn't expected."

Justyna is the first person with whom I managed to lost myself in Brno. She trusted unconditionally in me and as a result, we arrived 40 minutes later for the introductory presentation. I can only wish you such a short and pleasant accident. Mysterious are the ways of fate - few months later Justyna's words for her Erasmus time inspired me for this interviews. She is already at her home in Poland after one semester in Masaryk University in Brno. Here is how she sees the things form the distance of geography and time.

In Prague. 

If your Erasmus time was a chocolate, what kind of chocolate it would be? Why? 

Milka chocolate dessert - it's definitely taste of my erasmus! I didn't try this chocolate before but now it's absolutely my favourite one :) Actually I think erasmus time was like a kind of dessert for me - I had to go through some difficulties during the months before erasmus, I didn't even know if I'll finally go to Brno or not. So I think this time was a kind of a prize or as I said, kind of dessert for me - just like this delicoius chocolate ;) 

How long is the Erasmus night? 

Erasmus night is a special kind of night. Only You decide how long it'll be. You have so many options to choose and You never know what could happen, when Your night'll end. My the best erasmus nights ended early in the morning - sometimes I almost saw sunrise ;) I was tired because of lack of sleep but happy.

What was the cliché that appeared to be true about Erasmus? 

For example stories about easy-way of studying during the erasmus program. For me (and in my opinion, for the majority of erasmus students) it was one of the easiest semesters and examination sessions ever. But of course not every student has life like that during the erasmus, it depends on what do You study. I study law-in my home university I really have to study a lot to pass all exams, during the erasmus it was a piece of cake. 

The most important thing(s) you’ve learned is/are... 

It's very hard to choose the most important thing I've learned - I really think it was a very beneficial time in my life. But in my opinion the most important things I've learned are things about myself - it's just priceless. I really think that after erasmus I know myself better than before and because of that I'm more self confident. Now I also know it's not worth to be worried about changes, it's worth to take a risk, make brave decissions - because we can gain inavluable experience - and it create ourselves, our personality, finally - our future.

What was the biggest surprise in your Erasmus?

Actually every day was like a surprise! Almost every day I woke up without any plan - but during the day I always found something really interesting to do. I did so many things for the first time, I met people from (almost) every part of the world. Almost every day gave me unexpected, unforgettable experiences and memories. Almost every day was like a challenge. Of course I heard that erasmus time will change my life but I didn't think that it can change my life completly! It's not the same me after erasmus. I think in different way. I look at the world in different way. I have other plans for my life that I had before. It's cool but also so surprising for me. In one of the posts in Sara's blog I found a quotation "The biggest surprise for me was me" - it's just perfect to desrcibe my feeling as well.

Do you want to change something in your Erasmus experience? Why?

No, it was even better than I expected.

What is the speed of the Erasmus roads?

The speed is high during the evenings and nights, but a little bit slower during the days, especially during the mornings after high-speed nights ;)

Where are leading the Erasmus roads?

Erasmus roads can lead You everywhere, even to the places You didn't expected. So live every moment, try to use this time the best You can, take a risk - and check what erasmus has for You, where erasmus roads can lead You.

Say something to the future Erasmus travelers.

Be open minded :) Live every moment, smile to the others, travel, do things You've never done - it's so unique time in Your life, don't waste the time :) Because nothing can ever happen twice!!!

Have you ever regret for the decision to undertake this adventure?

Definitelly not. Of course, sometimes I had some difficult, sad moments - but I think that it's normal when people who are important for You are far away. But no, I've never regret. I think if I stayed at home and didn't try erasmus adventure I would regret it for the rest of my life. 

What do you want to ask other Erasmus students?
Maybe some of You regret that You took part in erasmus program?if yes-why?