I’m writing this on my way home, but where my home is right now is in doubt. My eyes are full of memories, moments, adventures, friends I left behind in Bremen and others around the world. I feel like a year has gone by in the blink of an eye, and it has been so fulfilling and intense.
We are wrought with decisions and I boldly say that this is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Living abroad was a dream, a dream come true for me and now that I have done it, I know that dreams always come true in one way or another. I am inspired, ready for the next chapter, loved and most of all grateful! I am grateful for all the people I met, lived with, and dreamed with. I am grateful to Deutsches Tanzfilminstitut Bremen, where I met people so important to me, where I learned patience, discipline and attention to detail. I am grateful to Natur Kultur for the opportunity to be a part of the volunteer heart of Bremen!
Bremen is a lovely and romantic city, ready to offer entertainment, although who was next to me knows how often I went out, but when I did I was really there and soaked up every conversation, gaze and ambience. My favorite moments are by the river or with a book in the park or exploring the city by bike. At some point you start seeing familiar faces and you say, am I at home?
I don’t want to give so much attention to the difficulties or setbacks of this one year. But as advice I would say, never have high expectations for one thing or another because things have their own rhythm, pace, and expression. We are free to decide how we will react to what happens, but not to change people or places.
For work, I would say it requires consistency, competence, and discipline. There are strict hours for attendance and the demands are heightened. I had moments of resistance, it wasn’t always good. But it could always be worse. I believe I would not be who I am today without these difficulties. It all passes when you see the smiles on the faces of the people you love, people who become family in minutes and remain family for a lifetime.
We were shooting, creating, and experiencing together. During that one year, we traveled several times for work, we made a film in Portugal about an art residency that is located there, we filmed Tanzpreises in Essen, I was involved in editing and filming several dance performances. The work is dynamic, sometimes you are terribly busy, and sometimes you have time for yourself and personal projects.
This is how my story ends. Awaiting for new horizons, people, encounters, countries, cities, lessons.
Yanitsa was hosted by Deutsches Tanzfilminstitut (TAFI) on our project co-funded by the European Union.
