East of Eden

(This is the account of how I arrived in Brest)

Warsaw

It can be said that we live in the paradise, so after biting the apple, I entered the East. The passage was smoothly, the first stop was Warsaw.?My impression: a boiling city; skyscrapers are being built;

Varsovia Columna de Segismundo III y gr?as

a lot of young people seem to work in financial centers; crossing the streets that are being rebuilt is a nightmare; the Museum I wanted to visit was closed; and I was a little disappointed to see the river Vistula, I was waiting to see a beautiful boulevard along the river.

V?stula en Varsovia

I took a train to get the East. A woman got on the train and she was crying when she said good bye to her relatives. We couldn?t understand each other because we have different language. However, we look each other with an expression of comprehension, human being have the same feelings.

Then I bit the apple and crossed to the other side. It took almost two hours to cross the border. First of all we were asked for our passport in Trespol (Poland), then the train crossed over the river Bug ( affluent of the river V?stula) and arrived at the border control point in Brest. They asked for our passport again; koreans had to get out of the train because they didn?t have the transit visa. It was not so unpleasant as it is written in blogs I have read. Border guards can speak English and they were kind with me, even though they look at me several times to be sure I was the person on passport photograph.

In Brest, it was dark and rainy, professor Maksimuk was waiting for me. Very kindly she took me to the student?s residence. My first impression: the scent of moisture; the appearance of old and abandoned build; in low light.

But nothing was going to let me down. This is the situation and I want to take advantage of this. With this mood and attitude on the following day I went to the University. This time kindness came from Erasmus coordinator, he spent all the day to be sure I had all things arranged: currency (suddenly I became millionaire); a new Belarusian phone number; a new medical insurance (the one I was given by Erasmus office was not valid); also I had to pay in order to inform to the government where I live; the first meal chosen looking at a menu understandable to me; and internet connection that allow me to work and to keep in contact with friends and family.

The first days have been intense, but I feel happy.

Pictures will be published soon and I will write about the city.

(Please forgive my mistakes writing English, it is not my mother tongue)

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