Today 17 May I visited ERASMUS Day in University of Silesia.

ERASMUS - EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. It's student exchange programme, financed by EU.

Event was organized for promotion of Programme and introduction of exchange students from European countries, who are studing in University of Silesia, and their integration to student society.

Here were official speeches, dances, concert, tents with information - perfect occasion not to attent classes.

Cake for free. Icecream for free. Pizza for free. Snacks for free. You know, I definitely like this event.

 University tries to create international spirit

 My mate Rusa from Georgia

Occasionally I found the Open Day on the Library, common to University of Silesia and Economic University in Katowice.

Joanna and I entered the fresh constructed building of library and we were invited to excursion. 

Empty shelves - library starts working since September.

We were as in public places, as in places open only for staff. 

Workers of library, tired of Joanna's questions.

    Building of library looks quite weird.

When I just arrived to Katowice and there was my first day in office, the director of my organization Grzegorz was conducting the meeting with bike lovers of Katowice.

On 10 May there was the meeting at the walls of City Hall for the development of bicycle infractructure in the city.

It was first public event of this group of active people. And Grzegorz spent 2 years for creation of this group.

So changes are going very slowly. And this is just the beginning. Till now local authorities promise nothing. Anyway it's already a success.

Vice President of Katowice has to smile, but we know, everybody in City Hall hates "Bona Fides" :)

On 9 May here was a press conference in the City Hall of Katowice conducted by Grzegorz Wójkowski - the director of my NGO "Bona Fides" and Arkadiusz Godlewki - the head of City Council. City of Katowice is establishing new form of work - public listenings.

System works like this: there is some problem in Katowice, which is needed to solve. Administration arranges the date of public meeting and invite people for discussion. Any person could register and come to the meeting, and during 5 min introduce her/his opinion about the subject. After such listening city councillors vote for/against decision.

Such idea is new for Poland.

As for me, it have to be useful - civil consultations could bring people closer to officials.

I just hope, that this listenings will not be turned into one more formal procedure.

 So the first listening will be on 30 May. We will see.

This idea is Grzegorz's idea. He worked a lot to bring an idea to reality.

Grzegorz was a star of the event.

My organization uses me as a photografer. Despite there were journalists I was the only person with camera.

You won't believe me - I like public transport. I really like public transport. 

Reason 1. Buses are very punctual! To the minute!

Reason 2. Network. Katowice and many towns and villages around create one system. And I have ticket to go to everywhere in here. 

Reason 3. You can check all system of public transport on web-site:

http://www.kzkgop.com.pl/

Here are plenty of information: all buses and trams, all timetables, the route of each one, the map of the way, list of all stops. You also could create your own route: how to go somewhere changing different buses.

Reason 4. Care of wheelchair people. Bus turns to right side to be closer to pavement. Special track opens to make path to get on. There is special place inside for wheeelchair with safety bell. Till now I didn't understand how it works. Wheelchair people and drivers should know.

Reason 5. Care of people with baby carriages. Mothers with carriages behave very confident, say loudly "Przepraszam" to move people.

To compare in Ukraine public transport looks like this:

And like this:

And if you are so lucky, that you have baby, and you find big bus, and you take carriage to the bus - please, buy one more ticket. Carriage takes space! 

Such a life :(

What I don't understand in Katowice with public transport is: why first door has sign "Only to get on", second and third doors have sign "Only to get off", but people get on and off wherever they want.

I guess to find answer to this question I have to make many monitorings, to conduct plenty of interviews, to study the history of Poland. And maybe then I could discover tender and mystery Polish soul to find the answer. You see, it's so complicated.

Tatyana and me went two times to the tourist information centre first week to look for information about cultural events, touristic places and all that you need for our monitoring.

The tourist information centre is close from Bona Fides office, in the market place. The first time we went, on Friday, there were only one man. We felt a little bit uncomfortable because he had to deal not only with us but with all the people who came in. Anyway, he was very helpful and attentive and spend almost an hour and a half explained us all the tourist places to visit not only in the city but in the Voivodeship on Silesia. From the monitoring point of view he was really nice, but he couldn't give us too much information because most of the brochures were only in Polish, even some maps. Anyway we collected several flyers in English and Russian (for Tatyana), but there is no single one in Spanish. The man complained about it because there is a lot of Spanish students in the city. Although he was very kind one more time he couldn't help us with the information about the cultural events for May, so he advised us to come back next week, at the beginning of May.

Next time, five days later we hope to find enough information to fill our events calendar for our monitoring, but we failed again. On Wednesday there were two young ladies on the desk. We pretended as it was our first time in the information center and wanted information about the city. But this time they weren't helpful at all. We asked them several times about the cultural events, but they just gave us a brochure for the months of April. We asked about flyers in another language but they said they haven't got anything, and we know this is not true because actually we already have it! One lady search for us in internet some information about the art gallery and wrote in a sheet of paper some information about the expositions, but we couldn't understand her writing! At the end, after twenty minutes, she remembered that this month there is a festival named Juwenalia, but she said that the schedule is not yet online .

Ultimately, we are not happy about this two young ladies, but we think some of the workers in the information center are competent. They have several information, but most in polish and from my point of view they should have more touristic maps in English at least.

I can’t not write a post about my colleague – volunteer from Spain Maria. 

With this nice girl I was living in one flat and doing EVS project.

 She left to Spain for her private reasons. Pity, that I was the person, who get to know her the best – nobody spends with her as much time as me. That is why nobody here gets to know, that she is amazing person. She got loved Polish smietana and Ukrainian borszcz :) 

 

 

WARNING: Please, do not read this article if you still believe, that simplification of visa procedures between Poland and Ukraine is good thing.

I don't want to hurt your illusions.

Prolog

I'm so happy! I was selected for volunteering in Poland. Mum, dad, friends, everybody, I go to Poland!! My dears, please, don’t miss me. It must be cool! Poland, wait for me – I’m coming!!!

Chapter 1. Prostitute

I'm in airport of Katowice staying in queue. One queue for EU citizens, all others – for us. It is my first flight ever. I was lucky to seat near window and watching landscapes. From height I realized, where was the border between Ukraine and Poland – Poland has much more cultivating fields – small squares. I was watching small clouds below – it’s so lovely.

In queue I see, how people with passports go to the next room, where in circle our bags are going round. I hand my passport to the window to officer of Passport Control. Just a formal procedure. “Come with me to that room”. Mmm What? OK. “You can take your baggage”. OK.

Officer opens door to room. “Czekac”.

Four girls are inside. Young girls. Pretty girls. All from Ukraine. First thought: they suspect us in human trafficking. We are going to work in sex industry. They think we are prostitutes. My God…

Ukraine has very bad image and statistics according human trafficking. Everybody knows this, especially border controllers.

I ask girls, if officials also took their passports as mine. And girls surprise and just now realize, that they don't have passports. I learnt that the worst thing could happen with foreigner is to lose passport.

OK. I sit down and wait. Why are we here? Why am I here? What is going on?

This room is small: table, chairs, closed lockers. Windows are closed by blinds. Cell.

Chapter 2. Prisoner

Door opens, and man with woman and young boy enters. Fresh meat. Idea with human trafficking doesn’t work. Man closes the door, and door gets locked. No, no! It was his mistake. So, now inside there are 8 people. And we are locked.

In next room officer is talking with somebody. Maybe, even in Russian, I hear not well through the door.

New man tells that his family has plane in two hours from Krakow. They can not just sit here and wait for something. Phone call: “Your Poles don’t let me in Poland”.

After, I don't know how long time, time in this room is going slowly, the door to inner room opens, officer with woman of middle age come out. Here is my moment: "Could you, please open the door. I want in toilet". Is it not a humiliation... to person to ask like this? Officer opens door for me and puts some thing on floor, which should keep the door open. I go through airport hall. Our officer tells to another in Polish something like “she is just going to toilet”. An indulgent service, thank you.

Chapter 3. Smuggler

I come back and find no family with tickets from Krakow. Officers have soul.

From window I see, how airport hall is filling with people. New plane arrives. While staying in queue I had taken leaflet of schedule of planes of Katowice airport. It must be from London. Nobody new comes to our room. European Union, of course.

I realized, that I’m alone here, who has luggage. Here is a reason. I have herbals for treatment inside. Maybe, Luggage Control opened my bag and found it, and decided that it could be marihuana. Or some other drug.

My bag is weird for airport. Perhaps not so weird e.g. for suburban train “Zhmerinka - Koziatyn”, Ukraine. People have elegant black suitcases on wheels. But I have green with flowers color pack. What do you imagine about the word “pack”? That is it. It’s the cheapest one. If I’m poor, why I go to EU? I must be smuggler.

Chapter 4. Illegal migrant

Woman, who had long meeting with officer, told her story. She is business woman. Her husband has construction business in Ukraine. And she is going from country to country for meetings with partners. She had booked hotels and planes throughout Europe. Her visa was made by tourist firm, which her workers found in Internet. And Polish Passport Control officials found this tourist firm in the black list of firms, which make visas for money.

Waiting... Officer has gone. Conversation begins, the main idea of which was, why the Consulate of Poland gave us visas, if we have some problems with documents? All of us read at Consulate "Availability of visa is not the guarantee to enter in Republic of Poland. Each time decision about permission to access is made by Border Guard Services". But still?!

I start to scare. If such happens, that I will be departed to Ukraine?

No, no, no.

It's difficult to stay calm, when around you everybody is on phone: "you have to prove, that I’m working for you", "I go for competition", "find the director of this tourist firm. Now. I say now”.

I have to call to “Bona Fides”. Maybe, somebody, even director, should come to airport and talk to officer in person. I have to inform “Bona Fides”. They have to know, that I have problems. It’s fair. Because after some hours it could be too late… to change something. While having a meeting with officer, I’ll anyway ask him to call to “Bona Fides” to prove, that they invite me. I should call to “Bona Fides” first to prepare them for a call.

Tttshshsh… Calm down. I have plenty of documents. With logo of EU. Though not everything. Thank you, myself, that I am so smart person, that I took some documents with me, because at home I had an idea not to take originals with me at all. For what?! I have visa!

In difficult situations closeness and belief of people to each others are growing. One of girls tries to make friendship with authoritative one – business woman. “How could they do this?! They don’t have right to keep us here, not explaining the reason! I travel a lot, and nowhere faced such attitude”.  Business woman: “Stay calm. Don’t argue with them.  It’ll be better for you.”

Officer deigns to come back. Nice. Girls become brave to show their dissatisfaction, ask him, how long should they wait. “Poczekac. Poczekac”.

“Palish?” Officer allowed business woman to go to smoke outside.

Chapter 5. Border officer

Finally one girl was invited for interview.

Two minutes, and she with her luggage goes out from airport. Short!! How short.

Next! Next girl was invited. Officer starts to work.

This room is cold. I wear one more pair of socks. One girl tells that she wants to eat, she didn’t eat in morning.

“Tetiana”. Me!! I take my trolley with baggage and enter room. I’m sitting down to the table and having nice conversation in Russian with officer:

-          What is your purpose to come to Poland?

-     I will work as volunteer in “Bona Fides” for 8 months. This is European Voluntary Service, financed by European Commission.

-          Do you have an invitation? Some other documents?

-          Of course

-          Can I see?

-          Please

-          Where will you live?

-          Organization rents apartment

-          Everything is all right with your documents. You can go.

-          Is it all?? Why I was waiting here for more than 2 hours?

-     You understand… You have such type of visa, cultural one. You have to prove with documents.

-          My documents are all right

-          But you had have to show this papers to Passport Control officer

-          I had in one hand passport, in another hand – these papers. They didn’t ask – I didn’t show

-          Mmm I’ll be talking with them.

Epilog

I go through the empty hall with officer. Officer opens door by his card. Doors move apart. I see shop, cafe, kantor, people with luggage. I’m in Poland. Thank God. Fucking Schengen.

 Hello,

I’m EVS volunteer in “Bona Fides”, Katowice, Poland. I’ll be working here from April till December 2012.

I’m Tetiana Grytsaieva, 22 years. I live in Ukraine.  My home city is in Krym, Yevpatoria - sea resort with bright summer life and calm winter with gulls and swans :)

To study Management in university I moved to Kyiv, where I spent adventuourus years of live in student dormitory

.... and nights, long nights till dawning playing "Mafia"

I was kayking along rivers

... was hitchhiking

... traveling

And now I am in Poland, enjoying this time of my life

So welcome to my blog. This must be interesting :))

Yes yes yes i manage it...   I can’t believe it that I was under 320 meter  no no no its unbeliveble for me but its  happened :) :) :) so lets start that storyyyyyyyyyy...........

In Bona Fides Association we had some guest from America,Hungary,Slovakia,German, wonderful group... 

so after so interesting and a little bit tiresome training we decided to go to …………. 

The Museum of Coal Mine „Guido” in Zabrze 

It is the only coal mine in Poland where you may go 170 or even 320 meters underground. There, during the 1,5 hour walk, you may admire the effects of miner’s work. But we were so lucky because we used lift and we needed only 3-4 minutes, oh my god I still can feel that moments so dark narrow lift which is going down dawn dawn and I was thinking no I don’t wanna die here no pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ... but don’t worry don’t scared u will servive of course how our guide  told us everything was under control... :) after that beautiful lift You can walk down and climb along original mine’s corridors, admire the exhibition illustrating the history of mining. you can watch the work of enormously big mine machines. The guides are former miners and you are going to enjoy their stories even if u are interested such kind of stories cause that guide was so interested with his joy and now I have one gifts from him ... this is a coal from that walls  and how he told me it’s a black diamond :) :) :)

 sooo now u can imagine my reader how great he was ...

so let's continue...

The mine was established in 1855 by the Count Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck. However, the layers of coal were exceptionally poor in that area, and that is why the main lost on importance in the early 30-ties. In 1967 an experimental coal mine was opened there, and it worked till 1982. Since then, works aiming at opening the mine for tourists started. They were successful and in 2007, first tourist could step on the hoist and take a narrated ride to the bottom of a mine shaft. In 2009, the deepest level of the mine was opened for visitors. It allows not only walking in extraordinary surrounding, there is also a Vauxhall where concerts and theatre plays are being organized.

So how u understand it was so interesting place, oh I forget In Mine were also so handsome guys  ( Plastic of course:))  and our great guide also told us- ''LADIES   every guys is single''  can u imagine still single:) ...so one more reason for ladies  why u have to see that place but don’t worry guys u can don’t mantion thay and jusy enjoy your time there and be sure everybodys will like that place.

P.S. I would like to tell thanks for Christian (from German) who was holding my hand during the travel by that lovely lift :):):) thank u for support in difficult minutes for me :)