Sweet dreams

Be it day or night dreaming. 

 All men dream: but not equally. 

Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity:

but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. 

T.E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)

Warsaw loving

Do you like your hometown?

I for sure never used to.

The first time it started changing a bit was when I lived in Brussels. I'd be coming back to Warsaw every month and every time I'd notice a little thing here or there that I missed or discover something new I liked. There were also bigger advantages of the city I started appreciating, f.e. how awsome and efficient public transportation in here is. I always used to be surprised when I heard a foreigner tell me they really liked my city but after a couple of months of not living there, I wasn't any more.

The fact that I grew up in Bemowo, a hood quite some way from the city center, a pretty poor one when it comes to entertainment and local architecture, never helped Warsaw's cause. However, having moved to the Old Town in October, I started enjoying the capital in a new and more relaxed way.

And recently I've been falling in love with Warsaw, more and more all the time.

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Today was a most perfect day, which was to be expected after yesterday. I think I used up all my bad luck reserves for a while!

Together with a bunch of people from WITC, the club I've started running with (oh, by the way - did I mention I did 15km on Tuesday? ), and some other friends we met up at one of the city beaches <yes, we have natural beaches by the river in the city center, how cool is that??> for a 'beach bbq brunch'. I didn't expect many people, as the event was created only yesterday and there was a picnic event organised by an expat network at the very same time, but we were quite a group in the end. Everyone brought something to share with others, we had a couple of types of salads, a lot of different meats, chips, fruit, and loads of beer. We stuffed our faces with food, played football and the guitars, had many a laugh. The weather was simply amazing and it trully felt like being on holiday! The ones who stayed behind till around 7pm moved to a beach bar where we chilled some more on comfy sofas and chairs, while sipping on our drinks of choice. Looking for a delicious refreshing drink? I totally recommend a sorbet drink at the Big Buddha Beach bar!

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Before heading off to the brunch thingy, I met up with Weronika and Fernando, as the graphic designer was kind enough to offer his help designing my new Zumba poster. I can't say how grateful I am for his time and talent, and how much I love what he did!

So, if you happen to be in Warsaw and want some Zumba - hit me up! I'll also be posting updates on the new Zumba blog (still to be worked on), such as special offers, 'bring a friend day' etc. Hope to see some of you somewhere along the way!

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Today Warsaw was even cooler than on your regular Thursday. 

3rd of May is our national holiday, the so-called 'Constitution Day'. This year we were celebrating the 221st anniversary of our first constitution's adoption, which happens to be the world's second oldest document of such type. You can read more about it here. 

Seeing how:

1. the 1st of May is a day off as well, many people took Mon, Wed and Fri off, which made for the longest 'weekend' possible - a 9day one;

2. the weather has been beautiful during the whole week,

the city center was literally flooded with people. Especially the Old Town, already busy in the spring/summer season anyways, now even more so as the main celebrations were held here. 

I managed to get myself stuck in the crowds carrying a big bag, a guitar and a 6l bottle of water while on my way to the riverside and as much as I enjoy crowds, it got pretty annoying. However, it was a completely different story when I was coming back home at around 8m - I got off the taxi in the middle of the Royal Route, because it felt like a waste to deprive myself of a walk on such an evening. Lots of flags, a light show on the Presidential Palace, hordes of smiling people, music coming in all forms from every corner, fire dancing to live drums - dreamy!

I haven't actually almost ever posted any pictures from Poland, so here's to start making up for it:

   the Presidential Palace 

(actually home to the authors of the 1793 constitution)

 the White Eagle, Poland's coat of arms

 flags all around

 the moon overlooking the Royal Route

 the first sneak peak at the Castle Square

 the new National Stadium, built for the 2012 Euro Championship

and we're back at the Castle Square, saying 'hi' to King Sigismund III Vasa, who moved the capital city from Cracow to Warsaw back in the 16th century (the column he stands on is one of the three most popular meeting places of Warsaw)

some impressive fire dance

(I overheard that guy telling one of the onlookers that it took a year of practice to even think about setting those on fire)

 on the way to the Old Town Square

To see what follows after the Cathedral, check out the video I posted on fb.

Just be over already, will ya?

Wow, this was one unlucky day.

You know how people always go about talking how Friday 13th means bad luck? Well, from now on May 2nd sure does!

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Couldn't sleep well because I was worried I wasn't well prepared for my first Zumba class. I was waking up regularly from 2:30am (went to sleep at 1am) till 6:40am (overslept an alarm clock set at 5:30am to repeat the routines). I quickly got ready and set off to the far far away land called Ursus (a pretty outskirtish hood in Warsaw) and arrived there only to find out, from the very-much-surprised-to-see-me receptionist, that my class was cancelled.

Got back home and took a quick nap to compensate for the Zumba lack of sleep, got up and went through the routines again - was a sub in one of the fitness clubs in Mokotów (another hood) in the early evening. On my way there I broke one of my fav shoes (pretty green flower-shaped sandals I bought in India). I arrived at the club to find out I wouldn't be able to play my music, as they didn't have a cable I could connect to my computer with, nor a usb port. So I was left with 8 songs from the official Zumba CD and one routine (I was planning on using only the first song from the CD). But then nobody showed up, so I guess the problem was solved.

I later met with Olga for some chit chat and groceries (it's a national holiday tomorrow, so no stores open) but needed to take out cash, as the discount market I was going to doesn't take cards. We were talking vividly while I was putting in my pin code and making the transaction, so I didn't really read what the ATM was telling me. I started paying attention once there was no money coming out, even though I had already finished the operation and had my card back. At frist I thought the ATM decided to con me but then after actually reading what it said, I realised I was just introducing the wrong pin code. Or the wrong card, whichever you prefer. Doesn't change the fact that I did't remember this card's pin (I specifically changed cards before leaving home, so I would have the one I rememebered the pin to. yay me).

After finally getting back home for the night, I decided to cook rice for tomorrow's salad (I'm meeting some friends at one of Warsaw's beaches [yes, we have beaches in the city center - I know!], so if you're around and wanna join - shoot me an email! ), as to save time tomorrow - I wanted to add long grain rice, which usually takes ages to get ready. I have a meeting early in the morning and no idea when I'll be back. The BBQ brunch starts at 1pm, so I didn't want to have to waste an hour waiting for the rice. So, I put it on and came online to pay for another Zumba training and somehow got so distracted by the Internets, the rice managed to turn black and smelly. I don't think anyone'd appreciate it in that salad any more.

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Ok, it's 0:10am, May 3rd.

I'm not unlucky any more! 

Well then, time to get some sleep.

Zumbalicious

I've just finished my first regular dance class and am sitting in the heart of Warsaw's Old Town enjoying the piano music, the stars (you can actually see them!) and the free Hot Spot. Not having wi-fi at home can be fun! Plus, it's such a warm and nice evening that it'd be a huge waste to be spending it indoors.

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Going back to the topic at hand, though - I'm officially a Zumba Instructor, have my profile at zumba.com and such ;) I've decided to take it seriously, as it seems that I've finally found what I was looking for - 

a flexible job, 

a dance teaching job,

if played right - a well-paid job,

a job with international potential, 

a job that can take me travelling, 

a job with people, 

a job full of energy. 

So I guess you see why I'm determined to make it work! That's also why I'm starring my own company. It's been on my mind for a long time, just never got the momentum needed to proceed with it. 

Now I've the capital, the tools and the ideas. Time to see how much of a businesswoman I am!

Craziness of a week

So the last time I was writing something about being bored, right?

Well, no place for that the past week, I've barely had time to sleep:

managed to decide on a new carrer, 

went to events, 

met with people, 

got a paid dance gig, 

partied,

randomly started cooperation with a Belgium based company, 

got certified as a Zumba® Instructor, 

ate a ton of cakes,

ran 10km without breaking much sweat, 

got offered scheduled Zumba® classes. 

managed to find two joints where I'll be organizing those on my own

Need I go on?

A week. A week is all it took. 

Magu Bee trivia & updates

It's been on my mind for quite a while and finally had the chance to do it over the Easter weekend - started a fb fanpage for the Bee. Am planning to do a lot of updating there, as I've a bunch of bee photos that haven't seen the dayligth yet, so if anyone's interested - you know what to Like!

Also, as I am basically doing nothing but eating, catching up with people online and being sore from a new work out program, I decided to google MaguBee (yes, you can see I'm getting a bit bored over at my summer house...!) and found what follows:

* an Icelandic Bee shot taken by Antoine, my travel partner from "Summer in Iceland"

* I've been recently qouted (sic!) on a website about Bali (go here to read the original blog)

* Maguliciousworld is ranked 11236435 in the United States (so almost at the top!) and is worth over 800$ - who would have thought? :)

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Oh, by the way - two more of my interviews have been published (only for those Polish speaking though, unless you're friends with Google Translate :)): with XinXia and XinXin, both charming Chinese girls.

 

Radosnych Świąt Wielkanocnych!

For my non-Polish speaking readers - no, I did not offend you just now:)

All the best dears!

Not fun any more

Ok, so I have to come clean.

It's been growing in me for some time now but finally it is crystal clear  - travelling for the sake of travelling isn't fun any more. Once I thought I'd want to take off for two or three years and live on the road, make travelling my way of life.

However, I now know it's not what I want and that it wouldn't make me happy. I've come to a point where I need something more - need to be learning , working/interning or adding value in one way or another, over a longer period of time in one place.

It's become very evident to me that at this point of time my driving needs are growth, personal development and contribution. The need of uncertainty is slowly being pushed aside by its counterpart, at least in some areas of life. And so I've decided to stay flexible, keep an open mind and see the opportunities as they come, but no longer hold back from making Warsaw my home. 

I guess I need to learn how to make plans...

Time to go east (aka home)

The last leg of the trip's about to begin, let's hope hitch hiking gods are as generous as they've been this past week.

Arrived in Frankfurt (Oder) last night and spent the night at Paula's parents place. I feel so stupid and ungrateful for not being able to even properly hold a conversation with them. I guess another piece of motivation to go back to German. But wait, where was I? Frankfurt, yeah. My allmighty friend Google Maps shows me I've 500 km to go. 

Easy peasy.

Three quarters to go

One forth of the year's behind us, have you realized?

It's been so many things for me: intense, unnerving, exciting, annoying, magical, painful, disheartening, full of reflexion.

It's been a rollercoaster and now it's time for changes to come.

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It feels as if I've cracked somewhere deep inside.

At first I mistook it for the kind of a crack that divides the surface after a sudden and destructive earthquake, leaving nothing but heartache behind.

But then I followed it and now I see it's more of a crack that divides the surface once a seed, planted way beforehand, pops out of the ground and is ready to grow in the rays of the shining sun.

Let's see where it manages to reach in the following 9 months.