Goodbye 2014!

It's the last evening of 2014... To be honest, it doesn't feel special, at least not yet. In a few hours I'm going to take a train to Odessa and maybe then I'm going to feel this atmosphere of stepping into a new chapter. In fact, I don't even believe the New Year to be special and I've never really celebrated it in my life, because I'm definitely not a party animal. Yet I have to admit that changing that small digit in the date makes me thing of what I've done during the last 365 days, of what I've gained and what I've lost, of what has changed in me... (By the way, don't be surprised if you happen to receive letters from me dated "January 2014" soon - I often have problems switching to the new date) ;)

I guess I can say that 2014 has been quite a good year for me. That's how I feel about it. Of course, not everything was perect - and it will never be - but isn't it better to focus on the bright sides of life? I can see some positive changes in myself and in the way I see the world - and I hope to pursue them further in 2015. But before I take my train and tell a definite goodbye to 2014, I want to share some of this year's highlights with you. :)

I've been traveling a lot. As some of you know, each year I calculate the distance that I've traveled by trains during a year. In case you want to ask why I don't count the kms that I've traveled by buses or planes, you're just not yet aware of how crazy railway maniac I am! ;) 

Me and a Russian train in May 2014.

The current result is 62675 kms and it's an absolute record. But I will tell you the exact number later, because it will grow a bit by midnight. It's about one and a half leap around the world, but I'll be honest with you - most of that distance was traveled in Ukraine. Overall I've been to 7 countries this year.

Me in Vitebsk, Belarus. January 2014

I've been to Belarus for quite a few times this year. I started discovering this country for myself in the first days of January 2014 and by now I've seen most of it's main sights. Unfortunately, I'm not anymore in touch with the person, who was my travel companion during most of my Belarusian trips. Well, it happens that people come and go from our lives, but it doesn't make my memories of the journeys and of that person any worse.

Me in Smolensk, Russia. May 2014

I've spent a weekend in Russia while the Ukrainian-Russian war was already going on, but I tried very hard not to look like an Ukrainian spy! ;)

Me in Székesfehérvár, Hungary. August 2014

I've also traveled to Hungary twice and tried to practise my poor Hungarian. I don't think I've made a huge progress, but at least I've had a lovely time during the trips. :)

A photo I've taken in Brașov, Romania. August 2014

The trip to Transylvania, Romania with my dad was certainly one of the highlights of this year. We haven't met any vampires, but have visited some beautiful towns and amazing fortified churches in small villages. I hope to come back to Transylvania one day!

A photo I've taken in Orheiul Vechi, Moldova. October 2014

I've also spent a weekend in Moldova in October. That was a wonderful way of getting over a complicated relationship and reminding myself how great it can be to travel completely on my own.

I suppose the readers of my blog won't be surprised to hear that I've been writing letters all year long. I've received 126 letters this year (and probably sent about the same amount, but I'm too lazy to count). Sometimes I was a quick answerer, sometimes I'd get a bit overwhelmed with my pile of mail, but my penpals have always been close to my heart and have helped me to go through the hard times. Some penpals faded away, but some really amazing people have come to my life through my mailbox this year. I've been lucky enough to meet some of my dear friends this year.

Me and Essi in Nevitske, Ukraine. June 2014

In June my Finnish friend Essi came for a week to Ukraine. Actually, first she came to Poland and I was afraid I wouldn't find her in Przemyśl, but then we had a lovely time Training, visiting castles and going to Maidan in Kyiv! :) Hopefully we'll meet again in Finland.

Me and Brigi in Csókakő, Hungary. August 2014

On my way to Romania in August I've been able to spend 2 days in Hungary with my friend Brigi! :) We're going to meet again in January and I hope she's not going to kill me for publishing this photo. ;) Brigi, you've only asked me not to put it on Facebook! :D

Me and Ola in Lublin, Poland. November 2014

I've met my Belarusian friend Ola for a few times this year - first in Belarus and then in Poland. This particular photo was taken during our last trip to Poland. I hope we'll see many more places together in 2015! :)

I've also tried some completely new things this year.

With my friend Ildikó in Rativtsi, Ukraine, during a World Servants project. May 2014

I've worked as a translator for a Dutch organization named World Servants, while they were building an orphanage and a kindergarten in small villages in Transcarpathia region of Ukraine. I've really enjoyed it and have even tried to work at the construction a bit, mostly carrying bricks, because that's the only thing I wouldn't spoil. :D

It was scary and funny at the same time :)

I've also tried to ride a horse. I was very scared in the beginning, but to my own huge surprise, I managed to survive it and even to enjoy it in the end. These animals are just amazing!

Surely, I've also made some mistakes this year. I guess the biggest one was getting myself into another complicated relationship, which I knew it couldn't work out from the very beginning, and traveling to the war zone because of this relationship. It caused me some stress and perhaps a minor trauma, because I had nightmares for almost 2 months after experiencing a bit of the war. But at least I've spent some time at the seaside in the region, which used to be very dear to me in the past.

Sea of Azov in Mariupol, Ukraine. August 2014

Thanks to this complicated relationship I've also met a really good friend, who is my it's-complicated's relative. We keep in touch despite my split with that guy and she's my greatest hairdresser ever! Actually, she's got education as both hairdresser and psychologist, so she knows how to convince me to experiment with my hairstyle. Believe it or not, it has a really positive impact on my self-esteem.

My hairstyle in October, when it didn't look very extreme yet ;)

An important thing that I've realised this year is that I should value my family more. Burning most of the bridges behind me and starting a new life sounded temptating a few years ago, but now I believe that there are not so many people who truly love us no matter who we are and what we do. We should value those people and use the time that we still can spend with them. This year has been the first one since 2009, when I met all of my living grandparents!

With my grandfather. July 2014

I want to carry on this way and I'm rather sure I'll visit most of my relatives in February. It took me 5 years to accept myself as both Ukrainian and Polish at the same time and to stop feeling bad about traveling to Poland. Even if going to Poland still feels like going abroad.

I think that before leaving I should still share the last pieces of my 2014 mail. :)

From Katalin in Slovakia

I've received one letter on Monday - it was from my Slovak/Hungarian friend Katalin. She has also enclosed a Christmas card as well as some yummy tea and cappucino! :)

To Tessa in the Netherlands

I've sent my letter to Tessa on Monday. I hope it's going to arrive before we meet on 16th January. :) Isn't this winter stamps sheet lovely? I still have 6 and should be able to buy more, so in case you'd like me to use it for my next letter to you, just let me know! :)

To Martina in Slovenia

And the last letter of 2014 started traveling today to Martina - my Italian friend, who lives in Slovenia. I think I'm going to start writing one more letter this year, but I doubt I'll manage to finish it before midnight. ;)

So that was my 2014. I hope yours was good as well and I'm wishing you an even better New Year 2015! :)

My New Year's resolutions? To be happy, to make others happy and to live my life to the fullest! And all the other things should be kept spontaneous! :)