Argentinian flag, Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 2021

My working trip to Argentina has just been approved and I am starting my preparations to travel to Buenos Aires, and to Salta Province to monitor projects that we are supporting in the country.

You may remember that Argentina is one of my favourite ones in the continent, so I am really excited to be going, especially so as I will take an additional week in the country, so that I can do some sightseeing after my work related visits. I have not quite decided yet what I am going to see during my break, but starting my investigations. The country is so big and so interesting… Now, just hard decisions to be made

Maciej Orłoś Podcast, Warsaw, Poland, August 2022

Today, we celebrate World Humanitarian Day. To mark the occasion, Maciej Orłoś (a famous journalist in Poland) in cooperation with the European Commission are airing a programme on EU's work in Ukraine. In today's episode, I am talking about our work in Ukraine and the humanitarian work in general.

The conversation is in Polish, and as such many of you will not be able to understand it. In short, the messages I am trying to convey are simple:

- We are experiencing a humanitarian tragedy in Ukraine, with consequences on people in Ukraine, but also globally.

- Humanitarian interventions work and make huge difference to affected people, as long as we try reaching all victims regardless of who they are, what they believe in, or where they come from.

- The humanitarian operations in Ukraine are the best example of human solidarity, especially as millions of people join in selflessly to extent their support to people who need it!

- The operations would not be possible without thousands of people involved in logistics and administration of aid, so it can reach people where it is needed.

Last, but not least, the message I am trying to convey is that the overwhelmingly positive humanitarian support in Ukraine should be an inspiration for all of us to extend the same level of support elsewhere in the world, as indeed the tragedies we are experiencing in Ukraine are equally visible in many other parts of the world.

Should you wish to watch the interview, you are welcome to click on this link.

Streets of Casco Viejo at night, Panama City, Panama, August 2022

It is confirmed now. I am leaving my Casco Viejo home, and moving to a new apartment, some 3 km away. While I am excited to be going to a new place, I am also sad. I like the Old Town of Panama City, and despite being tiring at times, it also has lots of charm.

As you can imagine, the two weeks to come will be really busy, as I will be trying to arrange all the practicalities related to moving my stuff from one place to the other. I will shoot some pictures, so that you can appreciate my new place too. Stay tuned!

In other news, tomorrow we will be celebrating the International Day of Humanitarian Worker. To mark the occasion, there will be a podcast interview published with me (conducted by M. Orłoś, the journalist in Poland) on our humanitarian work in Ukraine. Once the material is online, I will surely share a link with all of you.

Embassy of Poland to Panama, Panama City, August 2022

Yesterday, I needed to visit the Polish Consulate in Panama to file the application for my new passport. The one that I am having now is running out of pages. It was a nice experience. A super friendly Consul dealt with me professionally, efficiently and with a smile! Really appreciated it.

I am very uneasy about the politics in Poland for last few days. After some weeks of ease, and hope that finally our politicians came to senses (at least to some extent), last few days remind me brutally that there is so little I agree with when it comes to European policies of my own government, and linked to that to the government's perception of what justice, or rule of law is. Listening to some of my home politicians is not only revolting, but also scary and leaves so many of us, Poles uncertain about which direction the country will go. I absolutely hate it, as the present regime seems to be questioning the very basic arrangements that the country has been trying to fit into for last 30 years or so. Perhaps, I have too little tolerance to this kind of politics making, but here we go, I feel unhappy and disappointed, yet again. Can't wait for the next general elections. Perhaps, things will not change for the better, but perhaps they will. One more year to go!

In order to ease my frustrations related to politics, I am arranging my next trip to Argentina. If all goes according to plan, I would be going there in September. The trip is to visit the projects that we participate in. As usual, I would visit Buenos Aires, and the northern provinces of the country, south of the border with Paraguay. This time around, I am also looking at the option of taking a week extra and arrange for a holiday too. If this works, I would like to travel southwards and perhaps to Uruguay, which I do not know yet. Will keep you updated on how the preparations go.

Views from a balcony of the flat that I hope to be renting soon, Panama City, Panama, July 2022

It seems I will be moving soon. It is a bit of a sweet-bitter feeling. I love my present flat here in the Old Town of the city, but my flat has defeated me. Constant problems with leakages during storms and thus never ending reparation teams coming and going (and never fixing the problem properly) forced me to take a decision to go.

I will be leaving at the end of August and moving into the part of the city that is filled with modern looking sky-scrapers. No, it is not that pretty as the old town, and it is far less charming, but it has its perks too. For a start, despite all the skyscrapers, it is a quieter part of city and it is quite green. The flat is just a walking distance to super markets, and great restaurants. I will also balcony literally facing the Pacific Ocean, with some amazing views. Finally, I will have a bathtub and a shower, and yes, I am very excited to be able to have hot baths from time to time! All in all, despite a bit sad to be leaving my little haven in the Colonial City, I am now ready to move, and will concentrate on things that are nice there!

In any case, come and visit, when you have a chance!