Serdenko

Here I am in the train. Going home after a semester that promissed to be endlessly long, but time actually flew with the speed of sound..
17 hours to go... Tired dead, but thoughts keep coming one after another, like ocean’s waves. The only way out to get rid is to start putting them down.

I was almost the last one to leave. Ivane and Yrlene only remained on campus after me, and I must confess, guys: the campus is a totally different thing without you all! It was so weird to be there alone, walk in empty corridors, only the decorated Christmas trees were winking with their lights.
I had a chanse to experience a totally different campus: sadly silent, without anyone hanging around, singing, talking, drinking... Surprisingly, I turned out to love it even more. To love it the way it WAS. With all of you around. For you don't appreciate what you had unless you lose it.

This campus was mysteriously beautiful, quiet and snow-white. In the absence of students, it seemed to be sad and cold. To preserve all of its warmth for us, it covered itself with a downy blanket. Even the twinkling lights of the decorated Christmas trees seemed to be sad for our departure, wishing us bon voyage, and asking to come back asap.

Silence around grants the opportunity to look inside of you. To think, to understand, to feel much more than one usually does in the rush of everyday. I suddenly realized how much I miss everybody who managed to become my family during these months..
“In the good and in the evil, in richness and powerty...” Isn’t it what they say to join their lifes in a marriage?.. Well, without saying it, these people turned out to become the ones I can count on in the situations mentioned above: in moments of end-of-exam joy or preparation despairs... and in many more.
Sometimes you don’t even have to say anything, somebody just passes by and sees you need his/her help or support. They share with you the results of their work to facilitae your exam preparation, they give you their last chocolate in case of acute chocolate shortage, they are there whenever you have fun or need their help and support.
The word combination “esprit de Natolin” sounded meaningless and pathetic to me when I heard it for the first time. Now that I am coming back home, I realize how much it means to me now, and how much I will miss it. For the two weeks only, this is true. Then I will have another 5 months to enjoy it to the full, and this separation will only make my wish to enjoy it more acute..

Well, I guess, now I am tired enough to go to sleep, waves of thoughts have calmed down, sea surface is calm, ready for a fortnight’s peaceful rest...

Seems like this semester's mission is completed, people are leaving, one by one. I have already pulled out my suitcase to start packing.

But the whole thing feels unrealistic: this is SO much my life now that I still can’t quite imagine how it will be outside this campus, without all these people around, 23 emails a day, without obligations, deadlines and hurry-ups. Without sleepless nights, either surrounded by notes and papers to study or by cheerful people in the bar celebrating whatever.

It will be so strange to be out of Natolin...

A week ago there we received a letter from Andrea saying there is already a College brochure for the next year, mentioning that they already think of the next promotion. This fact suddenly stroke me. Perfectly logic for them, to me it sounded like a betrayal :(

In this respect this is true that this period out of the College, this departures, goodbyes, hugds and kisses are a rehearsal of the June “goodbye”.
Conclusion: the second semester is gonna be to enjoy. Coz everybody would feel what they will lose in June.

Seems like yesterday's law exam was sooooo long ago! Hilarious, during these 3 hours of remembering the difference between FACTORTAME and FRANCOVICH, I was plusieurs fois catching myself on thinking about the Christmas show (!) This was its direct effect on my exam paper. Hopefully, Biondi will not get to know about Blondie's yesterday performance before estimating the papers ;)

Guys (Rikard, Piotr and Dominik) did a really great job, planning the whole thing and perfectly organizing everything, beginning with the rehearsals, ending with PR campaign heating the interest to this mysterious and much-talked-about event. Thank you,  three Not-So-Stupid-Men :))

Done! ... 3 hours... 10 pages... 2 questions...

FDI... ENP... CIS... PECO... Damn abbreviations in French (as Panos correctly mentioned in his Skype name ;)

Whatever! There is only one more exam to go for.

And this is gonna be EU law :)) The only action I've done to approach the subject is putting my beautiful & stylish, green & glossy Craig & De Burca in fron t of me at my desk ...

Yup, the day has come when I could not delay the pleasure of starting to STUDY seriously Transiton and Integration...

Mmmm, some day I will write a book "How to Decieve Your Mind and Make it Study for the 5th Exam in One Month".

Among the methods used to keep myself awake after sleeping for 6 hours max for the last ....mmm.... 1,5 months:

- coffee (obviously, but stops working at certain moment);

- 15 min. of intensive gymnastics (especially effective at 01.00-02.00 ;)

- skype takls/chats;

- Cola (God save the Pepsi machine in Retinger hall!! ;)

- Music (latin, preferably);

- A shot of belly dancing (with thw belt making rumor, preferably);

- Redbull (hard artillery of tonight - the exam is TOMORROW!!!!)

Oh my!... How increadibly hard it is to make myself start studying again!!

The first thing that came up to my mind when I woke up next morning after having done "Civilization europeenne" exam was: "Ooooh, nom I can't believe I have to make myself start studying again!". It all has to start all over again... Books, print-outs, underline, notes, summaries, learn-it-by-heart....

I allowed myself an adjustment (trasition:) period and included an ever working therapy - shopping!! This time I bought lots of small trifles, almost all of them were planned as presents... but half of them are not anymore ;) - I liked them too much myself ;))) Sorry, Lena!!!!!!!!!! :)))))))

Isn't it cute?? :

Never been more exhausted in my whole life... But never been happier to get rid of the exam. This one was particularly preoccupying because it is oral and in French. Taking into account my enourmous knowledge and practice of the language, it was hilarious. Olga who listened to me from outside said I was using English words with French pronounciation and without any hesitation went on speaking. Pooooooor Prof. who has to endure this torture of hearing me perverting the language of Voltaire :)

Done!

Not being able of joining the others who went to dine out at the Indian restaurant, we organized our own therapy: 'Sex and the City' in "Marcel-Kino".... Hilarious!!! 9 series in te row, we could not stop, no way! This is really addictive!!!

The idea was to draw a lot with the name of somebody whom you secretly have to make a present and bring it to the general meeting to Pawel's room, where the self-appointed elphs (me & Elena) distributed the presents. The coolest part was to guess WHO gave you the present...

Some presents were just 100% appropriate for the person. Like mine:

Massimo, GRAZIE! Sei grande!! :)

A perfect movie before the Helloween - 'Flight Plan', then cutting pumpkins with Prof. Dinan. Sociability of this professor is fabulous! u can tell at once - this guy is from America! At least one good contribution of America to the education ;)

Whatever.

This was the 1st tme in my life when I carved pumpkin!! Unfortunately, we don't have this tradition :( Was cool, I carved even two of them :)

At the actual Helloween the bar was crowded with all sorts of weird creatures: witches, vikings, cabaret dancers, vampire victims, Russian militaries, .... even a PRIEST!!

I was at the last moment assigned the role of a ... black cat (at the hot roof ;) though now when I am looking at the picture I find it difficult to recognize the cat there...

Whatever.

A wonderful initiative: some of the guys organized a trip to Mazury Lake. They picked up 2 boats and spend 2 marvellous days sailing, drinking, singing, dancing... U name it!

For some those are still the BEST moments during the whole stay in Natolin.