Week 2

Out of 12 weeks of summer

Mariya Hirna
Jul 10, 2017 · 4 min read

This week my blog is going to be all about projects, volunteering and crazy stories that happen, when you don’t expect them.

So, even though I am not Martin Luther King, I still want to start with telling you about my dream. I have always dreamt about making an international project. From scratch. In a small team. A project that unites people and countries.

Since I was a kid I dreamt about bringing peace to people. I try not to choose easy or just reachable goals. It always has to be something almost-impossible-crazy and at the same time something you can spend your lifetime working on.

As a FLEX student, I had a mission to bring Ukrainian culture to a small town in NY. At the same time, I’ve learned a lot about American culture — their values, their traditions, their spirit, and also how to gain 13 kg in few months. And, to be honest, cultural exchange is the most interesting thing ever, it connects people and shows that we are similar, but very different at the same time, and it makes us beautiful.

So, finally — a project!

WHAT?

I am leaving Ukraine on 28th July to go travel a world, in particular, 5 countries: Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia. I want to make a colorful cultural blend, while talking about Ukrainian classical music, famous movies, language, making crash course on Ukraine.

WHY?

I want to see people lose stereotypes. I want them never to ask questions like “Do you have electricity in Ukraine?” or “Have you seen an iPhone? Let me show you”. (These are real by the way).

HOW?

I will be open to everybody. And bring cookies. Openness and food. That’s all we need.

I hope you will hear more information soon!

Talking about great projects, New Generation is an open space — coffee cafe — clothes shop all in one building. And most importantly, apart from making tastiest chickpea salad, they have something more important behind. They believe that everyone can make a difference. And if you feel like can’t change the world, you can donate your clothes to their shop, and they will raise money for projects. And you get free coffee for that :)

The rest of my week was meeting my friend, who is inspiring my musical projects, my other friend, who is inspiring me to travel, a friend, who inspired me to start doing yoga, and one more guy, who can not just stay as a part of a sentence. He deserves a full one. Or even a paragraph.

Chick Corea.

A jazz legend, who I’ve first met in New York state. I was having a dinner, started scrolling Instagram and saw a picture of Chick from Alfa Jazz fest in Lviv! My phone had 2% of battery, my friend had to go home, it was 11 pm and a chance of meeting Chick, who started playing at 9 pm was, well, not too high. But my love for adventures helped me.

So, I just jump into the traim, come to park Kultury, talk to security, so they let me in without a ticket, see Chick Corea on the stage, sit and enjoy jazz; than run to parking, talk to him before a group of journalists and fans comes. He smiles. We shake hands. He sits in the car and leaves…leaves a large group of people…who hate me. I have talked to Chick Corea.

*feeling successful*

This is Chick Corea.

At the end of the week I left to start a new adventure. At English Summer school.

14:40 —Lviv, UCU

15:50 — Brukhovychi, ESS

I hope ESS will help me learn how to start writing my blog without mistakes, make some new friends from all over the world and just have fun, because come on, guys, it’s summer!

Have a great summer and wait for my next blog.

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