tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31627608453225574792024-02-08T03:23:18.802+01:00Dragonfly's HeartAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.comBlogger357125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-18116535245909062912017-12-14T19:44:00.000+01:002017-12-14T19:44:28.945+01:005 things I like and 5 things that puzzle me in Italy<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, my friends, and welcome to the new day of vlogmas!</div>
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Today I have a video about Italy for you. As you know, I'm living here since 2014 and in this time managed to adapt to Italian lifestyle quite well.</div>
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So here are 5 things that I absolutely love in Italy and 5 things that still puzzle me - even after all this time!</div>
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Enjoy and see you tomorrow for the new day of Vlogmas!</div>
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Ciao!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-74989020191584408752017-12-13T20:37:00.001+01:002017-12-13T20:37:18.809+01:00Law of Attraction: How I Manifest Travel - Vlogmas Day 2<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, amazing people, and welcome back to the new day of Vlogmas!</div>
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I don’t know if you believe in the Law of Attraction, but I definitely do. </div>
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And this is a small example why.</div>
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Two years ago I was on a project in Armenia and met the loveliest girl named Helena – she was Spanish, but at that point was living in Copenhagen for quite a bit. </div>
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One beautiful September day we were having coffees at a beautiful terrace café in Yerevan together because everyone else went to the Genocide Museum. So we were talking about the life and educational system in Denmark. And I clearly remember telling her that I honestly had no idea how do people live in Denmark. Not even “a single story” that I might have got from a movie or a TV-show. I could more or less imagine how people might live in France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Poland – thanks to media. But how do people actually live in Denmark?</div>
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Please, mind that it was 2015 – the year before hugge-industry started dominating the world, as well as Instagram and Pinterest. So I was trying to visualize it based on Helena’s stories, and…</div>
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What do you know? In less than 6 months I got a chance to go for a seminar in Sweden. The organizers sent me the info kit with a very clear instruction on how to get to the village where we were staying: “Fly to Copenhagen and take the train over the bridge there”. I couldn’t believe my eyes and managed to spend almost two days in Copenhagen – one on my way to Sweden and one on my way back.</div>
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Six months later I went to see opera on the screen outside of Teatro Massimo (a very normal thing to do in Palermo, as it’s usually organized on the day of a premiere, so you can watch it at the same time, but pay only one 1 euro if you want to have a seat or nothing at all if you don’t mind standing, plus it’s very close to one of the most popular gelaterias in Palermo, so you can feel even more special that people with front row seats, if you get to both listen to opera and eat ice cream).</div>
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I met a group of friends there and the newest arrival who is currently one of my very good friends – Vidjaya. So we started talking over some ice-cream and she told me that while she is from the Netherlands, she spent the last couple of years in Brussels. </div>
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And I clearly remember saying to her with no pun intended: “You know, I cannot even imagine how people live in Belgium…”.</div>
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Mid-phrase I realized what I was doing and at the same time got a very strong feeling that yeah, in less than one year I will see how people live in Belgium.</div>
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And yes, in August 2017 I moved to Brussels for 3 months.</div>
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So yes, this definitely worked for me twice. And I think it might be useful for all of you too, as long as you believe in the Law of Attraction and love to travel.<br />
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Thank you and see you tomorrow!<br />
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XOXO<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-22630638632440976662017-12-12T17:02:00.003+01:002017-12-12T17:02:59.150+01:00Why do I celebrate two Christmases - Vlogmas day 1<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, amazing people! And welcome to the first day of Vlogmas!</div>
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I already addressed this issue on my blog, but definitely never made a video about why and how do I celebrate two Christmases for the past 3 years.</div>
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Here is my last year's blog post - <a href="http://dragonflysheart.blogspot.it/2016/12/merry-christmas-1.html">click</a>.</div>
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So everything is very simple - I come from the Orthodox part of Ukraine, and we celebrate Christmas according to the old calendar, so on January 7. But since this year December 25 is also considered a national holiday all over Ukraine, not only in its Western parts (where the population is mostly Catholic).</div>
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But ever since I moved to Italy, I have a great chance to celebrate two Christmases each year and I have to say, I really enjoy it)</div>
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Want to know more? Watch my video and remember to like, share and subscribe :)</div>
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See you tomorrow for a new video!</div>
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Ciao!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-19040143260280694372017-12-11T18:13:00.000+01:002017-12-11T18:13:06.286+01:0012 DAYS OF VLOGMASI have a very cool news for you! :)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-55829375213151264492017-12-04T11:19:00.006+01:002017-12-04T11:19:54.441+01:00EVS 101: PROS AND CONS... or rather CONS AND PROS, as I present them in this order.<br />
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Hello, good morning, and a great day to you!<br />
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It's raining in Palermo for a few days now, so it's the perfect time to blog a bit and come back to one of my favourite topics - European Voluntary Service. I suggest you check out also my blog posts about <a href="http://dragonflysheart.blogspot.it/2016/07/what-is-evs.html">what is EVS</a> and about the saddest part of this experience - <a href="http://dragonflysheart.blogspot.it/2016/09/45daysofblogging-34-goodbye-parties.html">goodbye parties</a>.<br />
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<b>* And if you are in any way interested in keeping the EVS programme alive, please sign this online petition to European Parliament - https://goo.gl/42pb6m. We cannot lose this amazing opportunity that is changing lives of so many people!</b><br />
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And today's post and video are dedicated to pros and cons of doing an EVS, or rather - things that can make or break your volunteering experience.<br />
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So, if you are really interested in doing an EVS, I want to present you a few of the things you really need to consider before you even start looking for a project. That's why I'm going to start with cons:</div>
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<b>-<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Life far away from home</b></div>
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Many people are dreaming about living in a new interesting country, discovering all of its attractions and feeling like a local, even for a bit. But even they need to think very hard before saying yes to an EVS experience. Depending on the conditions of a long-term project, it can last from 6 to 12 months and this is the time that you will need to dedicate to it fully. Think hard - are you ready not to see your loved ones for this long? What will you do, if you get home-sick? Will you have some money set aside to go back for holidays, if you really want to? </div>
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I know people who left because they couldn't take it. But I also saw those ones, who, despite missing their families and friends, had the time of their lives during their EVS. So think about it.</div>
<b><br /></b> <b>-<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cultural shock</b><br />
Before you say yes, please learn more about the country, the city, your hosting organisation, local customs and history. Yes, many will think that cultural shock - it's something you experience when you go to distant exotic places, but it's not like that at all. Trust me, for me and most of my colleagues Sicily was also quite a shock. The fact that I fell in love with it and decided to move here doesn't mean that my first days in Palermo were not... let's say, surprising.<br />
You also need to consider your colleagues and co-habitants, as these are the people who will become your tribe. So you need to be very open and calm, of something will not go the way that you used to.<br />
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<b>-<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Work</b><br />
You might work a lot and gain skills, you might work very little and have a gift of free time. Both things are equally valuable, but you need to know what you are going to do in advance, how many hours a week you are going to work, on what schedule and plan accordingly. Make your time on the project matter.<br />
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-<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Money</b><br />
As you might have guessed, volunteers don't get a huge salary. So be ready to get adapted to your new conditions. You will need to figure out everything before saying yes, and either learn how to live with the amount you are going to get, safe some money before or set freelance jobs for yourself. The money I was getting as a volunteer was quite enough to buy groceries, cook very nice meals, go out and buy some clothes from time to time. I also managed to save some money to travel a bit. But I definitely couldn't eat out every day or buy designer shoes. So think, plan and think again.<br />
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And, if you still didn't lose your optimism and motivation, I'm going to give you a number of reasons why you absolutely should do an EVS!<br />
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<b>-<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Experience of living in a new country</b></div>
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For many young people in the EU living abroad for some period of time became a very normal thing - you can do numerous Erasmus projects, EVS, Civil Service, etc. For people with other passports, EVS can be the first and easiest opportunity to have this experience. So take it and enjoy it! You will have a real adventure, and you will have a safety net in the form of a nice insurance, your organisation's help and your colleagues.</div>
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<b>-<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Travel</b></div>
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Many people are dreaming about travelling the world, but you will have a chance to actually live in your new country and see its life and realities as an insider. It's not just tourism, it's the experience that will help you see everything differently and reflect upon many things.</div>
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<b>-<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New language</b></div>
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You will have a great opportunity to learn a new language fast and efficiently, as you will really dive into it. You will have to speak with your colleagues, landlords, people in shops and on markets, and in no time you will be able to put a new language on your CV.</div>
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<b>-<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Work experience</b></div>
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There are many interesting projects, and if you know what you want to learn, you can get a very rich work experience. Your volunteering tasks might even help you find a new way of life and a new path like it happened with me. So make your time there matter, and you will get so much more back.</div>
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<b>-<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New meetings</b></div>
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Once a volunteer - always a volunteer. You will meet many new people and even after 10 years you will have something to remember when you will meet. I have friends in England, Hungary, Austria, Spain, France, Jordan, Lebanon, Nepal. And they will always be my volunteer family.</div>
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So if you think that volunteering is for you - do it! Dream, plan, find projects, travel, learn languages!</div>
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Don't miss out on what can potentially be the best experience of your life!</div>
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And please, sign the petition. We need to protect EVS.</div>
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See you!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-1083061636526615042017-11-29T12:43:00.002+01:002017-11-29T12:43:52.270+01:00Travel diary: Luxembourg<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, my cool friends!</div>
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On my last weekend in Brussels I finally managed to go to Luxembourg, and now, after moving back to Palermo, I want to share some thoughts on what really impressed me about this amazing country :)</div>
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So click to watch (and please remember to like, share and subscribe, as it really helps me to move the channel forward!)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-59401684834598605092017-11-22T10:44:00.000+01:002017-11-22T10:44:53.399+01:00Thank you, Brussels!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gratitude is the key to everything, so this is a short gratitude video to say thank you to Brussels - for everything.</div>
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See you around!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-60253922317834946562017-11-22T10:27:00.000+01:002017-11-22T10:27:21.161+01:00Brussels Diaries: The Feel of A City<div style="text-align: justify;">
When you move to a new place, even for a few months, at first you feel like an overly excited tourist.</div>
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You walk around with your camera, trying our local foods (in case of Belgium - also local beers) and just look at the world through rosy shades of a city neophyte.</div>
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Then you might get into a little bit of a funk. When you already saw all the sights, learned the necessary metro stations and got into a routine, you hit that part of adaptation, when you are neither here nor there - not a tourist anymore, but still not a local.</div>
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Until THAT day comes. (Please, read also <a href="http://dragonflysheart.blogspot.it/2015/12/the-sense-of-home-back-to-sicily-again.html">The sense of HOME</a>)</div>
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The day when you suddenly feel like you belong, for the first time.</div>
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The day when everything around you feels very nice and familiar, like the city accepted you finally.</div>
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I don't remember <b>THAT day in Jaroměř</b> and don't really know if it happened at all - I was way too young. I have numerous very bright memories about those times though - golden Christmas mistletoes, old parks, bars with wooden tables, where I always received a tall glass of the best orange juice ever.</div>
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I remember <b>THAT day in Chiang Mai</b>. I was walking back from Sunday Walking Street Market, carrying a new pair of artisanal shoes. The weather was grim for the first time since I moved there, and as I arrived in Santitham (which was my area), it started to drizzle. It wasn't even a full-on real rain, but it changed everything. The city looked completely different - it felt like autumn (the one that never comes to that part of the world), like hot cinnamon lattes and warm socks, like sitting at home and writing short stories, like peaceful creative time free from mind-blowing Thai heat. I was walking along the streets and tail lights were reflecting in the wet asphalt.<br />
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In this moment I thought: "Shit, I can actually live here!". It was a very unusual thought for me - before I was quite sure that Chiang Mai is only a stop for me (a very hot, sweaty, sunny, 4-months long stop). The next day the sun came out, it became even hotter and I changed my mind about living in Chiang Mai forever. But ever since that day I knew I belonged.<br />
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<b>THAT day in Palermo</b> became a 12-months long series of THOSE days - full of fun, friendships, love, travel, food and wine. Probably this is the reason why I'm still here - it wasn't only one moment of belonging. It was reinforced every day with more amazing things happening to me.<br />
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And this brings us to THAT day in Brussels. Funny enough, it was the day when I finally committed to buying a city transportation pass. Somehow this piece of plastic with my photo made me feel like I truly belong - no more searching for a ticket machine or buying them more expensively from a bus driver, now I can move freely everywhere I want. I remember that Saturday - I went to buy candles, then worked from a cute coffee shop and enjoyed the incredibly sunny weather (a real treat for Brussels). And felt at peace, like I actually live and belong there.<br />
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So this brings us to this moment. I'm back in Palermo, where I know I'm at home. And now, drinking a wonderfully strong espresso in the kitchen of my new apartment, I know that the only reason to ever leave the place where I'm so happy is to experience the feel of a city again. To have a day of euphoria because you successfully found your place once again. Not many feelings can compare to it.<br />
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Thank you for reading until this point! I wish you a wonderful sunny day and leave you for now.<br />
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See you!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-54360924254583592852017-11-20T15:13:00.002+01:002017-11-20T15:13:59.784+01:00Brussels diaries: My minimalistic room<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, amazing people!</div>
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Today I'm moving back to Palermo. Actually, I'm writing these words in the airport, enjoying my last Leffe Blond and waiting for boarding. </div>
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Am I sad? No. </div>
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Am I ready to go back to my beautiful Sicily? Yes. </div>
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Am I going to miss Brussels? Oh, hell, yes! </div>
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It was a great time - I managed to accomplish many amazing things, travelled a lot and was very productive. And even though I'm pretty sure I will come back to Brussels many more times, I want to remember and honour this page in my life. </div>
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So by clicking on the video below you can watch my room tour. I moved to Brussels with 2 suitcases and brought things for two different seasons and a smart casual dress code. And I was very happy with how my room turned out - I didn't invest in any decorations and opted for functionality and simplicity, and it really worked for me. So without further ado - please, watch, like, share and subscribe!</div>
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My gate was just announced. What is waiting for me on the other side of the plane flight? A wonderful new chapter of life, a new flat, new projects, my loved ones and a beautiful Sicilian winter.<br />
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Stay tuned and thank you for your attention and kind thoughts! See you!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-2772182519641070572017-11-13T21:55:00.001+01:002017-11-15T17:24:30.514+01:00Travel diary: Forever tied to Amsterdam<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, amazing people!</div>
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I spent this weekend in Amsterdam and it was the second part of my this year's birthday gift - to me from me.</div>
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I've been travelling quite a lot in these past 4,5 years (raise your hand if you remember me writing that crazy post "Hey, guys! I have a big news - I kinda moved to Thailand!") and have been to many cool places, had many amazing experiences and met an impressive number of great people. </div>
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And I cannot believe that I'm saying it, but I think this trip to Amsterdam was in the top 3 of those trips. I wasn't actually expecting much - I was going by myself, only for a few days and my only plan was titled "museums, walking, going to bed early".<br />
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<b>*Sidenote </b>- I rented an AirBnb in Almere, which is 30 minutes by train from Amsterdam Centraal. I stayed in a place called <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/19360599">Home by Anita</a> - I recommend it to everyone as it was great value for the price. The owners are very friendly and welcoming, the place is very pretty and tidy, they provide a lovely breakfast and the atmosphere is really great.<br />
Also if you are about to travel with <b class="">AirBnB</b> for the first time, you can <b>get 25 euro of credit by registering with <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/c/marynam93">my link</a></b>. I will also receive a small credit when you are going to complete your first trip, so everyone wins! :) </div>
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And in the retrospect, it was the best thing to do. Because in the end, my experience with Amsterdam was not touristic, but eye-opening and almost spiritual. Sometimes you are searching for a moment to reflect upon things and sometimes a moment is searching for you. So a quiet weekend in a beautiful city is what you actually need. </div>
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So on my first afternoon there I went to the <b>Van Gogh museum</b>. </div>
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<b>* Suggestion</b> - book your ticket online or buy them during your walking tour (I will explain it a bit later). This way you can just scan your cell phone screen and be inside, enjoying warmth and art (both are very important, especially in November), and not spend your precious time in the line outside. </div>
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So, Van Gogh... In the uni I was always that weird kid that loved artists and collected random catalogues, and years didn't change be even a bit. So I think I spend more than 4.5 hours there, just walking around, enjoying the paintings, resting on benches and listening to the audio guide and Vincent and Theo's letters to each other. </div>
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On the last segment of the last floor, the guide's voice told me that just by coming to this museum on this day I already helped to fulfil one of Vincent's dreams - to share his art and work for people. And it was just a cherry on the top, honestly. If you are also one of the people that cried their eyes out over Doctor Who's episode about Van Gogh, you will understand me. If you never even heard about it, in a nutshell - in this episode they went back in time and brought Van Gogh back to our times, to his exhibition, to listen to all the amazing thing s that people are saying about him now. And this moment reminded me of it a bit. I don't think he would ever believe how much people love him and his art now. </div>
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The next day started as a little bit of a disaster - the trains were not going from my stop to Amsterdam Centraal, so I had to spend more than one hour (train - bus - train - tram) to try and get to Dam square. I knew that with only three days at my disposal I definitely want to do a walking tour again, and because of the trains I almost missed it. And it would've been a horrible personal loss for me because it was the best tour I've ever participated in. </div>
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<b>* Note </b>- like in Paris, I opted for <a href="http://www.neweuropetours.eu/amsterdam/en/home">Sandeman's New Europe free walking tour</a>. But, while in Paris it was just okay, in Amsterdam it was simply amazing. So my highest recommendations!)</div>
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I guess I really lucked out in terms of the group and of the guide. Because the vibe was just there - everyone was very interested, respectful, knowledgeble, we kind of really connected during the tour and it's a very nice feeling for a frequent female solo traveller like myself.</div>
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And our guide was just great. I know that normally you have no influence over who is going to guide your group, and I'm pretty sure that every other guide is also great, but if you will do the tour and it will be guided by Sam, I can guarantee you that you will enjoy it.<br />
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It's pretty much obvious whether someone is just doing his/her job or really loves what he is doing. And with Sam it was the second case. He told us that he has a background both in theatre and in social work, and it really shows. The tour was very entertaining and very touching at the same time. And made me reflect upon many things as well.<br />
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Anyways, there three days made me reflect a lot about Vincent Van Gogh, Anne Frank, all the injustices and karmic retribution, travelling by yourself and then randomly meeting new people based on small, but very enjoyable things, f.e. your love for art or plant-based food. </div>
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I came back to Brussels very happy and renewed, and now am ready for my last week here. Because in just one week I'm hopping on a plane with my two suitcases and a paper Christmas star and going back to Palermo, where we have a new flat, many things to celebrate and many creative plans to bring into existence.<br />
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I'm leaving you with this video from the amazing weekend I just had and asking you to stay tuned for the companion video that will go live on Wednesday 9:00 CET. In that video I will speak a bit more about my soul-warming weekend. So come back, tune in and remember to like, share and subscribe - it helps me a LOT!<br />
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Be happy and see you around! Hugs and kisses!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-72000727192486428062017-11-07T21:26:00.000+01:002017-11-07T21:26:15.443+01:00Travel diary - Autumn in Paris<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, amazing people!</div>
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This past weekend I went to Paris. This was one of the experience gifts I made for myself for my birthday this year, and I cannot be happier about it!</div>
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(stay tuned for the second part of the gift - coming to you next Monday!)</div>
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So... It was my first time in Paris. And I never had a dream about going there. And I'm not one of those people who think that it's the epitome of romance, beauty and elegance.<br />
And... I absolutely loved it, even despite the fact that I find calling Paris "the city of love" is a super cringe-worthy cliche. </div>
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I went there by myself for many reasons but had a great trip and can safely say that the first part of my present was very well received by the birthday girl (ME!).</div>
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As you can see in the video, I've taken two different walking tours, and I loved both of them for different reasons. It's actually one of the things I love to do in any new city (especially those ones, where I have only a few days), and I cannot recommend this type of tours enough - it's perfect to have a quick view of the city, meet your fellow travellers and see some of the places even locals might not know about. One and a half years ago I published a post about the <a href="http://dragonflysheart.blogspot.be/2016/06/rain-and-sun-in-copenhagen.html">similar tour I took in Copenhagen</a>, and five years ago - about <a href="http://dragonflysheart.blogspot.be/2013/01/lviv-day-1-guide-tour.html">the tour around Lviv, Ukraine</a>.</div>
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So this time, as I didn't have much time, I register for two tours with two different companies:</div>
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- <b>Discover Walks</b> that showed me around <a href="https://www.discoverwalks.com/tour/paris-walking-tours/montmartre-tour/">Montmartre</a> - the tour was very nice and friendly, our tour guide showed us Montmartre with love and care of a person that calls it his home. Also, I really liked that fact that, even though I registered for the tour online, it wasn't obligatory, any person can just come to the meeting point and join the walk (this is the way it's supposed to be).</div>
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The only criticism about this tour - I really don't like the fact that the company posts the amount they expect you to tip your tour guide. Don't get me wrong, I know that Paris is an expensive city. That's why I always opt for local tours and not for those that are organised by international conglomerates. But the fact that they published the expected tip, and that the guide also voiced it on a few occasions (and this time it was 3 euro more) - I don't really like it. I might be old-fashioned, but tips are tips. If you are not happy with the amount people are leaving you, set a price for your services. </div>
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- <b>Sandemans New Europe</b> with the <a href="http://www.neweuropetours.eu/Paris/en/sandemans-tours/tour-view/FREE-Tour-of-Paris?date=08/11/2017">Free Paris Tour</a> - this one was the "city centre" tour that took us around the most famous sights of Paris (Notre Dame, Louvre, Tuileries garden etc). I loved that the tips were not set as a fixed amount, but this time I had to register and print my ticket out to be able to take the tour. </div>
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Apart from this super touristic activities, my stay in Paris consisted of a lovely brunch with my friend, lovely walks, some shopping and, I admit, eating baguette with red wine under the Eiffel tower (yes, I am a walking cliche sometimes, no matter how much I would love to avoid it).</div>
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BTW, I also took an espresso at "Shakespeare and Co" - it was the worst espresso I had in my life, worse than any Nescafe or other instant coffee brand. But it was something I wanted to do for years, so I call it a life lesson.</div>
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For other details about my trip, including the details on where I stayed, what I wore and what I did - click on the video, and remember to subscribe to my channel, because you can expect lots of cool content coming your way.</div>
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See you around! Ciao!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-75763910148545002512017-11-07T20:36:00.000+01:002017-11-07T20:36:08.967+01:00Birthday gratitude post<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, wonderful people!</div>
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Almost two weeks ago I celebrated my birthday. This year I decided not to write a big post like I did last year (<a href="http://dragonflysheart.blogspot.be/2016/11/happy-bithday-to-me.html">read here</a>) and to save my resolutions for New Years. But let's quickly reflect upon the goals I set for myself last year on my birthday:</div>
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So for my 32nd year on Earth, I said that I want to:</div>
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- <b>proceed to the second year of my PhD with grace</b> - I believe that the first time I wrote "with a little bit of grace", and it was my mistake - it was kind of a bumpy ride, but the outcome was amazing and I am very happy with the point I am at right now,</div>
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- <b>finish NaNoWriMo with something to show for it</b> - unfortunately, I didn't write anything last year, as I was quite busy with building contacts for my research, but, spoiler alert, this year I'm making it happen and am really enjoying the process.</div>
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- <b>work more on <a href="https://www.saathitourism.com/">Saathi</a> and bring it to the place it deserves</b> - not as much as I'd love too, but some very cool news and an updated website are coming your way very soon!</div>
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- <b>renew my permit of stay as fast and easy as possible</b> - yes, this is where it got really tricky. This year I waited for my residence permit for 7 months! Yes, I agree, it is ridiculous. But that's the reality of an immigration process in Italy (and in Palermo, of course). For this year I already paid the tax and have my appointment in December, so I believe I will have it much faster this year :)</div>
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- <b>see at least 3 more countries</b> - on the day of my birthday I could say that I saw only two new countries in the past year, them being Greece and Belgium. But this past weekend I went to Paris and now I can proudly say that I've also finally visited France (not counting waiting in De Gaulle airport two years ago and 7 hours-long layover in Beauvais last year). </div>
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- <b>one of them being Tunisia, as I'm planning my trip there for two years now</b> - nope, still didn't happen, but I'm not complaining - this year was amazing.</div>
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- <b>go back home for 2 weeks</b> - I went there for 10 days, but it was amazing and totally magical.</div>
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- <b>have a great NY celebration</b> - yes, it was great and we have photos to prove it</div>
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- <b>make a big progress on my research </b>- yes, this I did, and I'm very happy with how everything is going.</div>
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- <b>write more articles because it makes me ridiculously happy</b> - I published two articles and currently still working on one more that's turning much more interesting than I thought in the beginning.</div>
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- learn to play ukulele - I didn't, and I'm kicking myself because of it. Because it's the only instrument I have available and I love how it sounds. So I guess I need to finally make an effort :)</div>
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And this year, instead of setting goals, I decided to make a video and say thank you to the universe for everything that I accomplished this year, for all the amazing opportunities and for all the new wonderful people in my life.</div>
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So click anf enjoy (and please - like, share and subscribe - it helps me A LOT!)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y3mBANxtm3U?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-59834922351300687792017-10-30T15:44:00.000+01:002017-10-30T15:44:52.742+01:00Travel diary - Ghent, BelgiumGood Monday, my friends!<br />
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As usual, I have a new video for you!<br />
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Yesterday I finally went to Ghent - one of my must-see destinations in Belgium (yes, I do have a list, and I'm basically flying through it!).<br />
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Ghent is a beautiful city quite close to Brussels (I don't think that it took me more than 40 minutes to get there from Brussels Midi station) and it always was one of my priorities for this three months in Belgium. </div>
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So... I kinda both liked and disliked it. Let me explain:</div>
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It's an absolutely beautiful city and I wish I could spend a few days (rather than a few hours) there. But it was one of those weird trips when way too many things went wrong - the weather was weird (it was sunny, gloomy, rainy, warm and ridiculously cold at the same time, I took the wrong tram from the station and had to wait for the right one in some unidentifiable place in cold wind, everything (and I mean everything - every shop, supermarket and bar, apart from those in the city centre) was closed, so I couldn't even hide from the rain until I arrived in the centre.</div>
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But... It was still worth it. Because Ghent is absolutely beautiful and charming, and I really need to visit it again, but in better weather and day of the week (I should've been used to the fact that almost everything in Belgium is closed on Sunday, but I still can't).</div>
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Anyways, check out my video and please don't mind my weathered looks - it was way too windy and cold to look nice.</div>
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Have a great Monday evening and see you around!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-23637352708046498522017-10-22T23:16:00.001+02:002017-10-22T23:16:47.478+02:00Travel Diary - Bruges, BelgiumHello, cool people!<br />
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I was just uploading my new video for tomorrow morning and realised that I've never actually shared this video with you.<br />
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So prepare to see one of the most fairy-tale'ish cities you will ever find! Let's go to Bruges!<br />
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And don't forget to tune in tomorrow for a short, but warm video about my one-week long trip back to Palermo, full of sun, street performances and talented people drawing portraits!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-81122207798965707392017-10-02T09:14:00.000+02:002017-10-02T09:14:20.144+02:00Travel diary: Antwerp, Belgium<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, amazing people! Today I want to share my recent trip with you.</div>
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A few weeks ago I was in a bit of a funny mood. You know, one of those times that make you reflect on things and also feel quite lonely, especially if you are living in a new country and don't have a whole lot of friends there.</div>
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So instead of sitting at home the whole Sunday and feeling sorry for myself, I picked myself up, went to the train station and bought a ticket to Antwerp.</div>
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And it was a great decision!</div>
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As you can see in the video, it's a very pretty and lively city, and I was very lucky to see a super cute fair on the main square, listen to street musicians and do some people watching while enjoying a great cappuccino with soy milk in one of the coffee shops.</div>
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So Antwerp gets my recommendations as a very nice weekend getaway, especially if you are new to Brussels (or Belgium) and tend to feel lonely sometimes.</div>
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Have a great day and see you around!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-11447304590268846112017-09-26T22:17:00.000+02:002017-09-26T22:18:14.715+02:00Wanderlust Tag 2017Hello, people!<br />
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Today I'm cheating a bit - instead of travel or minimalism/volunteering/mindfulness videos I have a tag. I know it's not the same, but I really wanted to film a sit-down video before I go back to Palermo for a bit, so this was the number one tag in my idea bank.<br />
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Please forgive me for the weirdest camera angle, I'm working on it.<br />
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And click on to see me rambling about some of the funny travel experiences I had in Europe and Asia over the last 4.5 years.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-48661806193304793402017-09-26T15:37:00.003+02:002017-09-26T15:37:29.570+02:00Brussels diaries - The kindness of strangers<div style="text-align: justify;">
Two days ago was exactly one month since I started my experience in Brussels. </div>
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I kinda celebrated this day by going back to Palermo for a couple of days to deal with some bureaucratic stuff and also to attend my friends' wedding in beautiful Castellammare and Segesta (the video about this trip will be up on Saturday on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRqzifpnArQB_BfSvVk35pQ">my channel</a>).</div>
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But this post is not about this. It's about kindness that doesn't cost us anything but can really change someone's day.<br />
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... It's raining in Brussels - whole day, every day. I'm going out of the tram on my stop and open my umbrella - it's too small to really protect me from the rain, but it's better than nothing. I want to cross the road and get home as soon as possible - to put on a pair of warm socks, eat some hot soup and watch The Good Place on Netflix. To do this I need to let the tram pass first, so I'm patiently waiting as it will start moving. A guy next to me all of the sudden decides to run across the road exactly in this moment. I makes me angry, so I look at the driver who as to hit the breaks. I assume he will be angry but he just smiles at me knowingly (because we both kind of judge that guy for being irresponcible and impatient) and shows me that I can also pass. I smille back and accept his offer.
This little thing brightens up this grey evening and I return home happy and full of energy. Instead of Netflix I manage to work for a few more hours very productively.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>... To catch my flight from Trapani to Brussels I need to wake up at 6-30 on a very rainy morning, drag my suitcase through the puddles and take a bus for almost two hours. The flight gets delayed - of course, thank you Ryanair. I have a sore throat, blocked nose and cannot hear with my left ear. As I wait for my flight I dream only about cozying up in my scarf and parka and sleep for the whole duration of the flight. But know that it's not going to happen, as I have the middle seat. But... When we finally get on the plane my neighbour all of the sudden offers me his seat by the window. Just like that. I thank him for five hours and sleep for the rest of my flight (probably dreaming of little cute puppies, because I wake up feeling all happy and content).<br />
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... I'm carrying a Longchamp bag with my laptop and a ton of papers, a huge bag of groceries, a 2L bottle of water and a 2,5 kilo sack of potatoes. Why? Beats me. You know that moment when you enter a supermarket to buy something for tomorrows breakfast and suddenly realise that you have no food at home at all? I guess it was one of those moments. All of this weights a ton, so I stop in the middle of the sidewalk to redistribute everything more efficiently. Suddenly a girl stops next to me and asks me something in French (my level is A0.5 at best). And then repeats it in English: "Do you want some help? You look like you need it". I cannot help but smile and accept. She takes the potatoes and we talk all the way to my home. And I'm in a great mood tfor the rest of the evening.<br />
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All these stories are not about how I'm a complete mess (even thought yes, I am sometimes, as we all are). It's about how a small thing that doesn't cost us nothing can improve someone's day (and your's too).<br />
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So I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of those wonderful strangers that were so kind to me in moments when I really needed it. And to mindfully promice to myself to do more of nice things for others every day.<br />
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As you see in the first story, sometimes even a smile is enoght.<br />
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Have a great evening and see you around!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-91433008438199558672017-09-13T11:41:00.006+02:002017-09-13T11:55:50.042+02:00Brussels diaries - the Atomium<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, people!</div>
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Since I was a very, very little girl I always dreamt about travelling. I don't remember ever wanting to marry a prince that badly, but I do remember imagining myself in various places around the world (mostly in Karnak or Acropolis) all the time, as I was reading every adventure novel I could find. Mind that in those times travelling, especially with a Ukrainian passport, wasn't all that easy. </div>
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So now, as my dreams started to come true 4 years ago, I already saw three places I was absolutely obsessed with - Angkor wat in Cambodia, Acropolis in Greece (only from afar, but I will go back there) and now the Atomium here, in Belgium. </div>
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I saw it for the first time when I was about 5 years old - my grandfather was working in Syria in the beginning of the 60s and he brought back many cool things with him, including a small device with a few boxes of slides from around the world. And I was spending hours looking at the pyramids of Giza, Greek temples, Damascus and its beautiful buildings covered in mosaics. And the Atomium, that was a very new thing at that time - it was constructed for the World Expo of 1958. </div>
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I instantly became obsessed with it - to the same extent, as some people who are mesmerized by Eiffel tower. It looked so cool and futuristic and modern, and just like something that I really wanted to see. </div>
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But as I was growing up I was adding more and more must-see destinations to my bucket list and the Atomium wasn't a number one anymore... Until July 2017, when I realised that - holy cow, I'm going to live in Brussels! </div>
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So yes, on my first weekend here I went straight ahead to the Atomium and had an amazing day dorking out at how weird, futuristic and old-school sci-fi it looks. I have a feeling I will go there a few more times till the end of November, because... just because!</div>
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For some more footage and photos check out my video and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dragonflysheart/">instagram</a>, and subscribe if you like what you see :)</div>
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Ciao!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-88213181906048498922017-09-07T11:04:00.000+02:002017-09-07T11:04:58.741+02:00A suitcase review and a Life UpdateHello, people!<br />
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Today I have a quick, but important life update for you, so here we go (remember to like and subscribe if you are as excited about the future content of my blog and channel as I am):</div>
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See you around! :)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-59565367269718606412017-08-19T21:08:00.001+02:002017-08-19T21:08:34.753+02:00One-day trips around Sicily: Castellammare del Golfo<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, amazing people!</div>
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I know, it's been a very long time, but extreme temperatures are my strongest creative kryptonites, and we've been experiencing some pretty hot days here lately. If you also add a lot of stress from organising something very cool (I will have a life update very soon) and Sicily's general tendency to play dead every August... It was very difficult to get concentrated on anything other than ice water.</div>
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Last year I had a post about Castelammare del Golfo, but as I like to go there as much as possible, this summer I decided to reinforce my recommendations also by making a short video about it. </div>
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Please, remember to like, share and subscribe, and you will never miss a new video!</div>
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Editing this video was a real struggle - I've made it, it disappeared, I started making it again, then noticed that some footage disappeared... But! In the heart of any problem lies an opportunity, so I decided to use all this situation to teach myself some lessons.</div>
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I hope you will like the video! Enjoy and see you around!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-79075923317166496812017-07-23T00:54:00.003+02:002017-07-23T00:54:47.988+02:00Palermo Pride 2017<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, people!</div>
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I've been absent for quite a bit - due to travelling, dissertation writing, intense weeks full of seminars, and then some much-needed distraction because I really wasn't in the mood to see my laptop after submitting my first chapter. </div>
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But I'm back now! And not only I have a great content for you, but also some exciting news to share in a few weeks.</div>
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Today I'm taking you to Palermo Pride 2017. </div>
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Since I moved to Palermo, Pride has become not only my tradition but also one of the things I absolutely look forward to every summer. I go into it a little bit more in my video, so definitely check it out (and subscribe if you like my content!)</div>
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I support equality for everyone, that's why for me it's a big deal. I work in the social field, I volunteer since I was 16, I'm writing my PhD in human rights so I would've been a complete fraud if I wasn't supporting Pride.<br />
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I love that here, in Palermo, everyone is celebrating together. I love that I always meet so many great people there. I love that together we are not only having fun but also making a statement. </div>
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I love that a Pride is possible here - in this form and with this level of freedom. In Kyiv we had a total of 4 Prides or Equality marches till this point:</div>
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- in 2014 there were two times more police than the participants;</div>
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- in 2015 a horrible attack from the part of far-right assholes happened, many people were beaten and one policeman almost died;</div>
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- in 2016 and 2017, when the threats from the far-right became completely unacceptable, they actually acted out as a promotion - many people who never thought about LGBTQI+ rights as rights finally saw that if you are quietly observing discrimination and oppression without even trying to do anything, you are working with oppressors. </div>
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If this doesn't prove that hatred and narrow-mindedness are atavisms, I don't know what does. </div>
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So here we are. Let me know what you think)</div>
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*All the photos are made by me. On the last two of them, you can see my wonderful friends who also came to support freedom and equality.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-3371169071189360572017-06-05T17:50:00.001+02:002017-06-05T17:50:56.873+02:00Video - Speaking 4,5 languages<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, my amazing people!</div>
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Today I have a video for you. It's a sort of a language challenge I've seen on Youtube for some time now.</div>
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I'm just speaking the languages I can speak and explain to you how and why I've learned them.</div>
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1. Ukrainian - my mother tongue</div>
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2. Russian - my second language (or one of two first, because I'm bilingual)</div>
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3. English - obligatory in Ukrainian schools and highly addictive, haha</div>
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4. Italian - because it's impossible to live in Sicily without speaking Italian (unless you want to pay 15 euro for something that costs 1.50)</div>
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So if you are interested, click through and watch. And please, like and subscribe, if you enjoy my content. This way you will not miss new videos. </div>
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Have a great day and see you around!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-83237268294485515002017-05-14T12:26:00.002+02:002017-05-14T13:02:39.609+02:00Celebrate diversity: post-Eurovision thoughts<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, wonderful people!</div>
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If you are not from Europe (or, well, Australia), you have never heard of Eurovision. But if you are from here, you know the drill - it's a widely entertaining and controversial annual guilty pleasure, three nights of junk food and drinking games, political scandals and sometimes, shockingly, even music.<br />
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Eurovision Song Contest was created in 1956 to unite Europe, that was still recovering from the war. Now, this is the longest-running annual international TV song competition and a childhood tradition for many of us. </div>
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Each year the competition is hosted by a country that won it the year before. And this year it took part in my home city for the second time since 2003 - the year when Ukraine started participating in the contest. The slogan of this year was <b>Celebrate diversity</b> and I was very pleasantly surprised to see the level of participants. And even more surprised to see the level of organisation. Kudos, Ukraine, you've done very, very well.<br />
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<b>*</b> I am not going to touch upon the gender balance of the hosts, just because I basically have nothing to say. Yes, one one hand it's weird and not really diverse to have three guys hosting a show of this level and with this slogan. But on the other hand, it's man and a woman each year, and each year it's the same - he is hitting on her, she is making fun of him. Is that diverse? I don't think so. But I'd love to see three women hosting Eurovision in the near future. </div>
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But, considering this year's topic and the general atmosphere, i<b>t's very disturbing to see the things some people are writing about the winner</b> - Salvador Sobral from Portugal. It starts from being on drugs, having mental health issues and finishes at the "great" argument about him being "just weird".<br />
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And to me, this is just outrageous! <b>Because (oh shocker!) diversity is not only about race, size and sexual orientation. It's also about being unique, or a bit weird, or completely, out-of-this-world weird, if you feel like it! </b>Over the years on Eurovision stage we have seen a dancing plush turkey, a man in drag with a mirrored star on his head (hey, Vera!), a monster band and Jedward (twice!)! But yes, what's weird is a person who sings a beautiful song and puts his soul into it.<br />
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I cannot believe in 2017 a person can still be judges based on this categories! Especially when this person is a great singer, that promotes high-quality music and who won fair-and-square. Especially when this person has an active social position, supports refugees and uses his position to bring light to the sufferings and injustice that they face on EU borders. This is the Eurovision contestant that I'm very happy to see. <b>I hope that he is the first of many to come and that the time of sterile commercial performances has passed. </b></div>
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And yes, did I say that he is an extremely talented singer? </div>
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It's so beautiful and haunting, and I agree with Salvador's winning speech about the importance of real songs in the times of disposable music. It was a well-deserved victory, and I am very happy for Portugal. </div>
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I wasn't going to make this post about the Eurovision performances, but to make it less intense, let's speak about my other favourites. In nor particular order:</div>
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<b>Blanche - City Lights (Belgium)</b></div>
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Again - a very high-quality song and performance, very visual and haunting. For some reason, I feel like it can be a wonderful soundtrack to a powerful, beautiful movie scene. Amazing, I was rooting for Blanche too. </div>
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<b>Dihaj - Skeletons (Azerbaijan) </b></div>
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Very interesting and different. I used to work for the PR team, that promoted Azerbaijani artists a few years ago, and I am so pleasantly surprised with their participant this year. It's very different from everything we've seen from Azerbaijan before. </div>
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<b>Naviband - Story Of My Life (Belarus)</b></div>
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Very sunny and happy, but that's not even the best part for me. The best part is that they are singing in Belarusian. As the matter of fact, they are the first ever Belarusian participants, that sing in Belarusian. If you know anything about what Soviet state did to its republics' national languages, you can understand, why this is so cool. </div>
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Thank you for reading this long-long Sunday morning post! Have a great weekend and see you around!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-89950357995858234662017-05-12T17:54:00.001+02:002017-05-12T17:54:39.733+02:00My trusty WEARdrobe: revisitedHello, amazing people!<br />
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Last year I wrote a blog post about 9 wardrobe staples, that survived 3 years of travelling between countries and continents, and still were in a great condition. That post you can find <a href="http://dragonflysheart.blogspot.it/2016/03/my-trusty-weardrobe-9-items-that.html">here</a>.</div>
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This year I thought that it would be fun to revisit those old "friends" of mine and see, how they are doing now. So click to read more. Also check my corresponding YouTube video and remember to thumb it up and subscribe, if you like my content.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>As you already know, in 2013 I moved to Thailand with 20 items of clothing in my suitcase<span style="text-align: justify;"> – two pairs of shorts, two t-shirts, two skirts, two dressy tops… I have a post focused on my wardrobe at that time, I believe I linked it in the previous post on this topic. It was not my decision to bring such a small capsule wardrobe with me, but in the end, everything turned out quite nice and this situation taught me to live with less and be very happy with this situation.</span><br />
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Then I came back home, to Kyiv. And then I moved to Italy. Twice. If you are following my adventures in one way or another, you already know the story. And when I moved to Palermo for the second time, I noticed, that every time I go abroad, I tend subconsciously to bring the same 9 core items with me, because they proved to be trusty and durable. </div>
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So last year they were all still with me and doing their job nicely. And what happened to them during this year? </div>
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I divide the items into <b>four categories </b>– the things that are still going strong, the things I’m planning to update, but still use, the things I’ve updated and the things I said goodbye to. </div>
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So <b>things that are still going strong:</b></div>
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1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Parka</b> – I still love this piece and very excited to wear it, as the weather became warmer. </div>
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2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Aztec scarf</b> – Still going strong and looking like new, but I’m getting a bit tired of it.</div>
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3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Tote bag with sheep</b> - I'm still loving it, still using it, still planning to go to Vilnius and buy a bunch of them for the future, as they are amazing. </div>
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4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Leather bag</b> – I bought this bag a thrift store in Kyiv at least 5 years ago and I still use it a lot. It’s not a fancy bag, but perfect as a casual piece. I can see a lot of wear on the leather, but I think it will be with me for as long as it can function as a bag. </div>
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<b>Things I’m planning to update, but still use</b>:</div>
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1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Skirt</b> – I am very excited to wear it this warm season, as it still has a lot of life left in it. But I see some signs of wear on it and already started looking into upgrading it.</div>
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2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Sunglasses</b> – this sunglasses lived through many adventures and in a few months will retire, so I’m looking for a new pair. I believe it’s going to be either the same model from Karen Walker, or Jackie Ohh’s from Rayban. </div>
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<b>The things I’ve upgraded: </b></div>
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1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Grey pashmina</b> – yes, that one from Thailand. It lost all of its shape, so it’s time for it to go. I forgot to mention what I've updated it with, but it's a nice wool scarf in a very similar colour I brough from Ukraine in January. It's a few years old, but the quality is very high and I know it will serve for a very long time. </div>
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2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Backpack</b> – it lost most of it colour because of the sun and started to rip. So I already upgraded it with a backpack from Kanken (you can see it in the video).</div>
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And the last category is <b>the things that I already said goodbye to</b>. Here we have only one item – my <b>grey t-shirt</b>. I donated it some time ago, as I noticed that I stopped wearing it and tend to chose other, lighter tees over it. </div>
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So this is how the things are. I'm actually quite happy to say goodbye to older things, as nothing can serve us forever, and also out style changes with years. So it means I will have more space for new, exciting things. But still it;s very nice to say goodbye to items, that proven to be of such a great quality.<br />
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Thank you for reading, and see you around!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162760845322557479.post-56496191801225562252017-05-05T18:40:00.004+02:002017-05-05T18:40:54.561+02:00YouTube recs - Jade Vanriel<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hey, guys! </div>
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I haven't done this type of posts since my #45daysofblogging self-imposed, totally crazy and exhausting challenge.<br />
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Why? I don't know, but it doesn't mean that I didn't get any new favourite people on YouTube. I just didn't have that much time for blogging and too much of my own content to share with you when I actually had a free minute.</div>
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Today I want to recommend you to check out a very inspiring and beautiful channel I tend to go back to when I'm feeling a bit down or unmotivated.</div>
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Jade has recently bought her first home and makes a lot of videos about different questions regarding property, saving and following your dreams, as well as fashion and lifestyle videos.</div>
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I really like her positive energy, healthy approach to expensive purchases (check out the next video), her motivation and the way she sets new goals because I can really relate to many of the points she is speaking about. I also absolutely adore her style - both personal and her approach to home decor.</div>
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So if you are looking for inspiring stories and positive twist on things, you definitely need to check out her channel. </div>
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See you around!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102542211503015568noreply@blogger.com0