Lublin, Poland, September 2021

I should have expected it from the beginning… My holiday, both in Portugal and Poland turned out to be really busy. Busy however, does not mean to be stressful or unpleasant; on a contrary: I have had a wonderful time, full of laughter, meeting new people, emotions, and discovering new places.

First of all, I should report that I was successful in dealing with my Portuguese permanent residency. The interview with the immigration officer in Cascais was rather a pleasant experience, and resulted with granting of the document specifying that I am now entitled to live and reside in Portugal indefinitely, as long as I keep returning to the country at least once every 2 years. Soon after, I also received my first Portuguese identity card! As you can guess, I am really happy! Now, I can start preparing for applying for my Portuguese nationality as well - the process that I can begin with in February 2022.

While in Obidos, I was very lucky to receive some friends who live in Cascais, and also friends from Brussels (including my friend (and colleague), who works with me in ECHO). We were very lucky to be able to enjoy good weather, which definitely helped our good mood, wonderful conversations, and a feeling of happiness! My time in Portugal, once again, reaffirmed to me my love for that country (see pictures from my Portugal part of the holiday here).

After nearly 3 weeks in Obidos, I started my second part of the break in Poland. Soon after arriving to my native Nowy Sacz, together with Mum, we decided to travel north to the Polish Lake District called 'Mazury'. We stayed in the nice spa, in the forest, and we had a great time, having massages, swimming, enjoying jacuzzi, walking in the forest, cycling and then taking a boat trip in lakes and canals around Ostroda.

My report would not be complete without mentioning my visit to the 'Centre for Foreigners' in Bezwola in eastern part of Poland. You might be interested to know that some of my Afghan colleagues from my organisation, who has worked in the office of Kabul got evacuated to Poland (offer of the Polish Government) and got resettled in Bezwola Centre (around a week ago) for the time when their asylum applications are being considered (a process that should take another 3 - 4 months). Two families were brought to Poland (8 people altogether), and as soon as I heard about their stay in the country, I decided to go and visit them. As Bezwola is quite far away from Nowy Sacz (around 5 hours drive), I needed to plan for a night somewhere on the way, and in this way I also ended up in the City of Lublin, near to the border with Belarus and Ukraine.

The trip was amazing. Meeting my Afghan colleagues, somehow a bit scared and confused in their new situation was very emotional. I was so very pleased to have visited them! Also, I enjoyed meeting a young Afghan student of the University of Warsaw, who kindly agreed to help me translate to my colleagues and his Ukrainian friend, who decided to join us in Lublin for a splendid evening together. Absolutely delightful time with them and discovering charms of the city, which I visited for the first time.

Now, until Thursday (my time of return to Panama), I am in Nowy Sacz, where I am meeting my family and friends, and spending time with Mum, who is spoiling me with food, and caring for me! It is great to be at home and I am enjoying every moment of it (here are some pictures from my Poland's part of the trip: will be updated until 24th September, the time of my departure from the country).