Łódź, Poland
I woke up with a sudden jerk. I felt my scarf pressing against my
cheek. The whole world seemed very blur. I heard some voice, someone speaking
in the microphone. I could not understand what she was saying. I took me a
couple of seconds before I realised the plane was landing. I had just felt the
wheels touch the ground. The plane had landed in Warsaw- the capital and
largest city of Poland. The time is 17:10 and the temperature outside was 12
degree Celsius. It had been a very tiring day for me. I realised that I had
fallen asleep as soon as the plane had taken off. The plane was going towards
the parking; I sat in my seat trying to catch my breath. And then, I slowly
started to get off the seat as the plane was getting empty. I wanted to get my luggage
from above me. I pulled my super heavy cabin suitcase from the compartment
(pretending to be a weight lifting champion). I dragged it behind me and walked
out of the aircraft very lazily. It was rather a crowded airport. There were
signs with a lot of consonants (polish) randomly arranged to make absolute no
sense. I looked frantically for an exit sign. For, I still had to catch a bus
and travel for 2 hours more. I also needed some Zlothy (polish money). I
quickly rushed to the nearest bankomat while I tried to connect to the wifi. I
wanted to text my mum on whatsapp that I reached. I see no reason why, but I
wanted to do it. I followed the signs, walked out of the airport. The chill in
the air started to creep up my leg through my jeans (of course this was nothing
in comparison to Sweden, however I am still not thick skinned). I continued my
walk. The confusing signs finally lead me to some space which looked like a bus
terminal. I had a ticket and still had 15mins before the bus. I waited there
finally feeling a bit relaxed. But when it was 5:50 and the bus was not there I
started to sweat a bit. I wondered if I was at the right place or missed my
bus. (I have had worst experiences before. Especially with missing buses and
airplanes) I was so used to the promptness of the Nordic countries that even 5
mins delay made me stress.
Finally the bus arrived and I loaded my luggage and got into this
mini bus (modlin bus). It was surprising full. Forget about choosing a seat, I
had to just squeeze into the last seat. I wanted to look outside the window to
see a bit of Warsawa, but thanks to my tiredness I fell asleep again. So
comfortably in the most uncomfortable seat ever. The next I woke up was 20 mins
before I reached Lodz. I got off the bus, went straight into the bus station
and bought a ticket for the public bus like I even know what I am doing.
Only when I got out
I did not
know which bus to take to the hotel I was staying. I did not know which
direction it was. I was afraid to take a bus and end up somewhere very far away
from the city. The hotel was 2.5 kms away. I decided to walk. I had my hand bag
hanging on my shoulder and a suit case coming behind me. I walked an empty
street. It had a series of lights. But there was no one on the street. It was
reality check. I was walking alone. All alone 8,205 km (1,654 hrs away by foot) away from where the people
I love are. It was dark - still there was light. I street was empty still a
feeling of safety because no was there. I had left my love and my life behind
me. I was searching for something. Something in a country I have never been in.
In a place that was unfamiliar to me, around the people who don’t speak my
language and in world where I have no one called mine. I went there looking for
something: What was it. The thirst for knowledge (I was going to graphic design
camp) or for inner peace or for answers to my unending chain of questions of
life and people. Was it a coward move to run away or a brave step to stand for
the dreams?
I could
walk no more! My phone was low on battery, my stomach was low on food, brain
was low on sleep and life was low on motivation. I somehow made it to the meeting. All of the other members dressed in elegant clothes attending the grand opening ceremony. I stood there with my messes hair, loose floral pants and a plain tshirt. Staring at the warm smiles. :)
