Kaleidoscope

by Alyona Solokha (Ukraine)

A leap into the unknown Ukraine

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I’m sitting on my bed in Kyiv, looking on the big world map on the red wall opposite me, counting pinned national flags on the countries, which I have visited, and thinking which travel was the most unforgettable and exciting for me. My eyes stop on every flag on the map and bright, short and often ridiculous memories from every visited country appear in my mind. And my best ever travel begins. Russia, Moscow, Red Square. I’m 3 years old, with my Mom, and I really-really want to pee. And there is no any toilet around. Or we just don’t know. And we don’t have time. My mother takes me to the corner of Mausoleum… Forgive me, Lenin, I’m too small. Latvia, Riga. We are the group of 6-years pupils from Chernobyl zone. It’s really weird, but we are so happy about nuclear accident in Chernobyl in 1986, because now we have free health camp far from home, from parents and near the sea – the first sea in my life. We are still fool children. Belarus, Mozyr. We buy food here, because here it’s cheaper than in my native Ukraine and there is only 30 kilometers between my native village and Belarus. We eat cheap foreign food, I try famous Belarusian condensed milk first in my life, I enjoy and smile… Czech Republic, Prague. I make a wish on the Charles Bridge. After 14 years I still remember that wish, which still have not come true. Italy, Rome. I’m on the bathroom and want to wash my hands. For 15 minutes I have been trying to find faucet for water and I can’t. Because there is no faucet in the old-fashion Italian bathrooms, there is a pedal on the floor. But who tells you about it? India, Goa. I see children near the ocean, who try to find rice’s grain in the water. This is the rice from fishmen. And now this is food for those children. I feel tears in my eyes, but I see smiles on those children’s faces... Happiness is very simple. China, Hainan. I let to take a picture with me for 100th Chinese citizen. And it’s just because I’m tall, with blond and curly hair, and with light eyes. I feel myself superstar. Vatican. Today is Sunday and my Birthday. I stay in the crowded St. Peter's Square and listen to Pope Francis speech. I understand nothing, because I don’t speak Italian, but deeply in my heart I believe that he says: “Happy Birthday, girl from Kyiv. Be happy and blessed, Alyona”. I’m 34 and I’m still child. Turkey, Istanbul. I feed seagulls with bread and feed myself with a lot of delicious street Turkish food every day. After week I feel myself like big and fat seagull. Croatia, Dubrovnik. It’s my first night theater in the old castle near the sea under the stars. Shakespeare, Midsummer night's dream. Magic night. Monaco. It’s my Birthday. I’m alone. I’m walking around the city and dreaming to meet the Prince :) Suddenly I hear my native Ukrainian language from 2 girls. They are from Ukraine. We go to the restaurant. The waiter sings Happy Birthday in Russian. I’m not alone and I’m happy. There is a Switzerland with my broken nose after frisbee, Montenegro with crazy smell of pines, Greece with tears on the yacht, big rats in France, Easter in Israel, bunkers in Albania, big lovely dog and small crying girl in Austria, lighthouse in Portugal, my stolen bag with all money and mobile phone in Spain, “I love you” in Denmark, cold wind in Sweden, crazy train without doors in Sri Lanka, Holland on bicycle, Belgium with the best beer Kriek, snorkeling in Egypt, my first botel in Slovenia, snow in Emirates, gay wedding proposal in Germany, nights clubs in Hungary, pubs in Poland, church in Lithuania and my world map on the red wall with 33 pinned flags in Ukraine. My best travel is all of this small flags on the map. It’s my travel kaleidoscope, which has helped me to discover real life, real values and real me. To be continued… :)