#especially poor Irena

[hoederers]

AGENT HOEDERER / IRENA ZELLMAN

constance zimmer. fifty. cis woman. she/her. ┊┊ irena zellman, better known as agent hoederer has been with cerberus corp as an eo since 2023 and is LEVEL III. A HIT AND RUN has gifted them seismokinesis, though POOR CONTROL/REACTIONARY, FAINTING AND BLEEDING has also been noted. when they aren’t protecting the tri-state area, they are fond of attending the opera and are never seen without HER 24-CARAT GOLD RING ON HER RIGHT INDEX FINGER. civilians think they are humorous & determined, but some of the other agents see them as ABRASIVE & DECEITFUL. cerberus corp should consider the fact that their last mission status was complete but with her unconcious when giving out the next one. ┊┊

001.  GENERAL

name  irena heidi zellman (ee-ray-na) nicknames  none, nickname at your own risk. age  fifty date of birth  may 04, 1973 zodiac  taurus place of birth  seattle, washington current residence  manhattan, nyc gender  cis woman pronouns  she/her sexuality  bisexual occupation  conductor (former) & composer

faceclaim  constance zimmer height  5'1 tattoos  none piercings  ears distinguishing features  scar on her top lip positive traits  humorous, perceptive, quick-witted, creative, resourceful negative traits  judgemental, narcissistic, abrasive, snobbish, reserved labels / tropes  entj likes  wine, classical music, rock/heavy metal music, moxing gold and silver jewelry, coffee, high waisted pants, tailored blazers dislikes  nosy people, time wasters, plants that aren't plastic, wearing shorts/short skirts or dresses fears  death, people in masks, heatwaves, the smell of vanilla hobbies  reading french literature and plays, going to the opera, attending concerts habits  picking at the skin beside her nails, pressing her top lip into her nose, smiling when delivering a lie, running her fingers through her hair, wearing her sunglasses on her head and even at night.

002.  EXTRA ORDINARY

near death experience… 

it was after an orchestra rehearsal. irena can't remember if it was her fault for not looking before crossing the road - she can't remember if she looked or not. a car was speeding, going way too fast. she was always afraid of dying, especially before she'd successfully become an egot. the car that hit her quickly drove off afterwards - they left her to die. she just couldn't go that way. it felt like she failed at everything: relationships, upkeeping a family - it felt like her teenage daughter hated her, not hitting her career goals... there was a lot of impact, something had knocked into her and the revving from the engine as they drove away would have been able to be felt if she wasn't in such a state of both mental and physical shock. her power projects outwards but also comes from within, reflecting her experience. she was briefly 'visited' by a member of ceberus corp but there was no reason to believe she was an extra ordinary - perhaps just a very lucky person. still, they would continue to monitor her in the months following.

power… 

it all happened at the beginning of this year. irena's power didn't manifest straight away, mostly because she felt so numb to it all. it started to show when she was experiencing flashbacks of the incident. it started off minute, her hearing warping somehow before she'd pass out she was dampening sound, that was the first sign everyone seemed to miss. it all spiralled from there. the 'shaking' of liquids around her when upset. she was always good at masking emotions but the change within her made it somehow noticeable. breathing eased it. without even realising it, irena was controlling her newly found ability without realising it until she wasn't. there is a potential to be able to bring down buildings but that is dangerous considering she's so new to her ability but also because agents are meant to protect the city, not destroy it. her power is naturally destructive. a child stepped out into traffic and it caused her to stand out into the road, shielding the child and then putting her hand out - it was a risky test and the highly pressured situation made her lose complete control. vibrations not only acted as a shield but quickly crushed the approaching car and driver, the road cracking in the direction the car had been, as an earthquake transpired. the child was unscathed, irena was unconscious - the corp located her before anyone else could. there was now a fatality on her hands. stress lessens her control over it and as conducting is very physical she was advised not to try it until gaining better control - she agreed to this almost immediately and resigned that post.

drawbacks / vulnerabilities… 

her awareness certainly hasn't helped her ability to control it, if anything the stress of it being known to her has made it worse. irena herself is vulnerable if it's triggered, not so much on a small vibration scale but anything more than accidentally breaking a drinking glass makes her bleed from her nose, bruises also appearing on her body as she's not immune to the vibrations herself. in cases of severe stress and/or when a lot of strength has been put into using her ability, it renders irena unconscious.

cerberus corp… 

irena was recruited but initially wanted to hide from cerberus corp. she didn't believe she had an ability and was more than happy keeping it that way. deep down, she doesn't really want to be a 'hero' for anything or anyone but will feign it because she wants to be able to control it. the fact of the matter is that she can't go back to her normal life without mastering that and considering she has no one to teach her, she accepted the offer to join. irena is very much still a rookie and that frustrates her. she's older, she's used to success- the woman has an academy award from composing... she wants to be able to climb up to ranks but that's not something that can be faked seen as her own ability has a very visible physical toll on her. there is a lot of frustration, she does not want to be a level iii. she's powerful on missions but then needs another to pull her out, if required. that doesn't make her much of a team player as she very much keeps to herself and would not currently do the same for anyone else unless it benefited her - the woman's treating it like a game and that's dangerous. although powerful, she's currently too much of a liability. her tactics and planning, however, is excellent, it's just her execution where she struggles. emotions and physicality trigger things from her and while her 'accident' is still fresh in her mind, it's not a good idea for her to be conducting. irena is still working on scores but had to replace her equipment after she damaged it losing control.

codename… 

irena chose the name. it's a character name from the french playwrite, jean-paul sartre's les mains sales (dirty hands), a pragmatic political leader. she's quite pretentious like that and has a very high regard for herself so it doesn't match her power at all. perhaps it gives her away that she doesn't have any intention of becoming a hero that protects the city.

003.  EXTRA

tba!

#cc.intro

[chicago-geniza]

Tl;dr Did you know that all Gustawa Jarecka's novels are available for free on polona dot pl, that she was from the same assimilated Lodz generation as Jelonka but working class, & she writes the most unforced, organic dialogue I've read of poor people discussing politics

I think...Hm. There is this tendency, which I am trying to articulate or describe accurately, in a lot of Holocaust scholarship I encounter? Where Polish Jews, forced into ghettos or camps, who had little or no connection to Jewishness before the war, are written about like The Man Without a Past. Some of it comes from surviving memoirs, especially those in Yiddish, which is understandable! But then it's up to the scholar compiling those primary sources to investigate further. I didn't take Polish-language sources at their word when they tossed off a dismissive one-line description of Irena Krzywicka's stepfather as a rank-and-file "Bund activist," when he was Yekusiel "Noyakh" Portnoy, you know, leader of the Bund in Poland, whose activities would have influenced Irena's life. Taking everyone in good faith and assuming the issue is, well. People aren't "culturally fluent" across multiple milieux, and wouldn't necessarily be aware of the person they're recording for posterity, or their role in a milieu to which they--that is, the writer--don't belong.

#nisht reblgn or i will Eat you #gustawa tag #assimilation and its discontents

[creative-news-alert]

Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Market Poised to Grow on Back of High Demand from Solar Panel Manufacturing Industry

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate which finds extensive usage as an encapsulant in photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing. As an encapsulant, EVA protects PV cells from moisture and helps in improving their performance. It provides excellent adhesion to both front glass as well as back sheet. The global solar panel market has been growing rapidly over the past few years owing to supportive government policies and initiatives encouraging the adoption of renewable energy. With increasing deployment of solar panels worldwide, demand for EVA from this application segment is projected to surge substantially. The global ethylene vinyl acetate market is estimated to be valued at US$ 1710.66 Mn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.4% over the forecast period 2024 to 2031, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Market Dynamics: The high demand from solar panel manufacturing is one of the major drivers propelling the growth of ethylene vinyl acetate market. Solar panel encapsulants account for over 40% of the overall EVA consumption. The government targets to increase usage of renewable sources of energy along with falling prices of solar panels have boosted the solar energy market size significantly. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), globally over 100 GW of solar PV was added in 2021 alone. This rising deployment of solar panels directly translates to increased consumption of EVA. Apart from this, EVA finds wide applications in hot melt adhesives, packaging, and cables. The growth in end-use industries is further augmenting demand. SWOT Analysis Strength: Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is used as an effective polymer in several end use industries such as solar panels, medical devices, and footwear. EVA provides excellent flexibility, transparency, and reliability in production processes. EVA products show consistent performance even in extreme temperatures due to their durable nature. Weakness: Fluctuating raw material prices impact the cost of EVA production. Rising crude oil prices increase the commodity prices of ethylene and vinyl acetate, making EVA slightly expensive. EVA has poor mechanical properties and low melting point in comparison to other polymers. Opportunity: Surging demand for renewable energy sources is driving the solar PV industry. EVA encapsulants protect photovoltaic cells from moisture and UV damage, thereby enhancing module efficiency. Growing medical devices market especially for implants and prosthetics boosts EVA usage. Threats: Strict regulations regarding toxic emissions can adversely impact manufacturing units. Intense competition from substitute polymers may reduce EVA consumption gradually. Key Takeaways The global ethylene vinyl acetate market size is expected to witness high growth backed by increasing solar installations and growing medical device industry. The global ethylene vinyl acetate market is estimated to be valued at US$ 1710.66 million in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.4% over the forecast period 2024 to 2031.

Asia Pacific dominates the global market due to large solar PV sector and rapidly expanding construction industry in China and India. Key regional players are expanding their production capacities to meet local demand. Key players operating in the ethylene vinyl acetate market are DuPont, ExxonMobil, FPC, Hanwha Group, LyondellBasell, Sipchem, and Formosa Plastics. They are focusing on developing novel EVA grades with enhanced properties to strengthen their market position. Technological innovation and partnerships remain crucial for gaining competitive edge. New product launches with optimized performance characteristics could boost revenues. Collaboration with end users aids in developing customized polymer solutions.Get more insights on this topic:https://www.newswirestats.com/ethylene-vinyl-acetate-market-size-and-outlook/

#Ethylene Vinyl Acetate #Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Market #Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Market size #Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Market share #Coherent Market Insights

[embassy-m]

‘Peace Education’, Megjashi’s successfully implemented priority Peace is the peak social human value which enables people to live a high-quality life without fears, agonies, uncertainties, risks and to achieve long age. Although men have realized this long time ago, unfortunately, they hinder the creation of a peaceful atmosphere themselves through various wars, conflicts, collisions, misunderstandings, from minor to large-scale formats. The necessity of peace education in our society is vital, and that is something The First Children’s Embassy MEGJASHI has started 11 years ago via the Peace Education Program, organizing trainings, workshops, webinars, peace building activities in and outside schools, which has proven to be quite fruitful. Within its mission The First Children’s Embassy in the world ‘Megjashi’ is slowly, but surely, step by step, implementing its program along with teachers, institutions etc., aiming at influencing young generations through the education process and to make peace become their axiom. Hence, several days ago the Second Peace Meeting was held (27-29 June 2022), where 60 teachers from high schools in Debar, Vinica, Gostivar, Makedonski Brod, Veles and Skopje took part, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science. During this meeting, teacher Dјevit Miftarovski from the high school in Debar, has emphasized their significance. ‘I had found out about MEGJASHI as a child, and when I started working, I had the privilege to become part of them in this manner. At the beginning, in 2012, I didn’t know what will happen, but their interesting approach was appealing to me because this is a whole new direction. The first meeting was in Kichevo, but the topics covered were attractive, which made me feel confident to become part of it. I now understand the term ‘Peace Education’ much differently than I used to back then. Even today when I mention the term ‘peace education’ to my wife, who is also a high school teacher, she thinks it is something related to war. But Peace Education is way more than that. If we consider all the different topics we have covered and analyzed here, and we have later successfully transferred them to students, we can say that adults need them more than children do, especially in our country. Peace Education would be a long definition. Personally, I understand it as conflict prevention of the problems we have and the conflicts we would not want to happen in future.’ The teacher adds that if Peace Education had existed back in 2001, our country would have done much better, especially in terms of conflicts among students. ‘I work in a high school where Macedonian, Albanian, Roma and Turkish students learn in Albanian and Macedonian language. Since I teach Macedonian Language and Literature, when I have book analysis classes I try to raise this question. Let’s think of the Macedonian literature between the two world wars, existential and social issues – I mention those social problems so that children would start discussing them among themselves, to look for alternative solutions to the character’s actions, wondering why the character would not allow his daughter to marry a poor guy, etc. I implement techniques which smoothen the students, trying to walk in other people’s shoes so that they could think and understand the other person… Teacher Irena Fejsko from the same school views students as pieces from a mosaic which need to be put together correctly for everything to work out fine, and that depends on us. **** This Peace Meeting, which is, in fact, a continuance of the topics the Peace Education Program covers continuously, raised many questions which are important to our society. Among the broad spectrum of topics, the emphasis this time was put on: ‘Peace Education And Gender Justice’, ‘Peace Future’, ‘Antigypsyism as a barrier for inclusion of Roma children in education’, ‘Selfcare’, ‘Forum Theater’, and creativity and initiatives were also reflected in the discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Deputy Minister od Education and Science, Lulzim Aliu. During his one-day visit, the Deputy Minister had numerous group and individual meetings with the teachers, and emphasized that upbringing and education are important preconditions for building healthy personalities which find the solution to problems peacefully, accentuating their role exactly, along with families, on the students maturation path and raising them into people who should solve every conflict in future with verbal, not physical communication, adding that there is a solution to every problem, if we are only looking for it. ‘Prevention is required, taking action at the very beginning before we start facing unpleasant scenes in schools’, he said in his speech. **** Happy is he who can build a piece of himself in peace. Every such opportunity is to be respected and used the best we can for ourselves and others. Although it is seemingly an easy thing to do, this can be very deceptive – the opportunities peace has to offer, on one hand, are quite big, while on the other hand the obligation to preserve and upgrade it even bigger. The Peace Meeting work groups in which teachers discussed and exchanged personal experiences were very useful in that direction. Enver Ajdini, teacher at ‘Arseni Jovkov’ high school in Skopje, believes Peace Education helps contribute to the entire education process in the Republic of Macedonia, especially in terms of alleviating political tensions among students, which they gain through their families or media. ‘We take care of students, via Peace Education we fight every form of violence and that is the main motivation for me to be part of Peace Education, and I shall continue to be. We are a team of six teachers in our school and a team of twelve students who are always with us on our workshops’, he briefly introduced us to their Peace story. Teacher Valentina Shterjovska from Gostivar says that she has personally gained a lot as a person with ‘Megjashi’ and Peace Education. ‘Their aim is to include motivated teachers in the program. At first, we have started as a young group of enthusiasts, we have had a broad vision in front of us of what we wanted to achieve, but truth to be told, I did not quite believe that we were going to achieve what we have today, I did not believe this movement would become so large. The first trainings were with fewer teachers, in more isolated surroundings, and we would literally put ourselves behind closed doors and work, work, dream, dream of what and how things would happen, and that is the beginning of one story which is today literally a part of me, my heart, my character.’ Valentina considers this to be the highest value in the educational system, a missing component in the upbringing process of children. However, the teacher should be directed towards it, to be trained, which is mostly contributed by these professional, specialized and rare trainings MEGJASHI puts together. From the viewpoint of a teacher with peace education experience, she insists on more courses of action. ‘One of the action courses we practice is the marking of some dates which are significant to us, such as the International Day of Peace, the International Day of Social Justice, Anti-Bullying Day, which we mark in different ways, by marching, performances such as dance or theater or forum theater with students. Those ways of acting are very powerful because we perform them in front of a broad massive audience, in front of municipal buildings, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. Once, using a performance, we requested for the Mayor of Gostivar, Arben Taravari, to place air pollution measuring instruments, which he did afterwards and heard our voices. We have many issues rising in schools, too, we solve them in a quiet, painless fashion, we act through workshops to raise the awareness’, the teacher explains. When we speak of peace, it is primarily the kind of peace everyone can achieve, to feel good at school, to have the feeling that the school cares of them and, most importantly, to recognize the problem, to say it out loud and solve it, those are the main benefits. **** At this Peace Meeting in Berovo the teachers have presented the problem with mobbing, partisanship and party privileges, social exclusion, abuse of office and the violence in schools through a Forum theater performance, called ‘EDUCATION IS FORCE(D), EDUCATION IS POWER(LESS)’. They have performed on stage in front of all participants of the Peace Meeting, as well as in front of the Mayor of the Municipality of Berovo, and other representatives from institutions from Berovo and Pehchevo. The audience expressed a huge interest of the teachers’ forum theater performance, inspiring the Mayor to request a second performance of it at the beginning of the next school year in front of all teachers in the Municipality of Berovo. These performances, especially the Forum theater, also known as ‘theater of the oppressed’, is an excellent creative form of a participative theater, aimed at raising awareness and creating an atmosphere of unity, which enables discussion and interaction with the audience, as well as active participation by creating various solutions. The stage becomes a mirror in which everyone can see their reflection and social role. In her experience, Marija Manasieva, an English Language teacher from ‘Vanco Prke’ high school in Vinica, also views these performances as a tool which contributes to unity. ‘As someone who has returned home after living abroad for a few years in Germany and the Czech Republic, while also travelling a lot, the peace I have seen, as well as the conflicts, have pushed me to take part in this program when I first learned about it. Both peace and conflicts in the surrounding were a motivation to be part of the action taken. Peace Education basis are being constantly transferred to the younger, every minute of the class, every second, all the trainings we have been through are being reflected. In both instinctive and intentional situations our knowledge is being integrated in the classes, activities and performances we organize. The children are always surprised by some of the activities we introduce in the education process, I always see a desire for awareness raising related to peace education in the eyes of every single student… *** Many positive things were told at this Meeting in the peaceful atmosphere of Aurora Resort, surrounded by the harmony of nature and animals which seem to remind us that men are also part of that harmony and perfection which we need to preserve and nurture further even more. This 3-day meeting, which is first of its kind with physical presence of a bigger number of teachers after the pandemic, during which time the trainings were being held via webinars, has ended successfully, with mutual conclusions, agreements on further actions, organization and initiation of activities and events, with coordination between government representatives and representatives of relevant institutions for including Peace Education in the framework of the official education, and at the end MEGJASHI has granted certificates to the participants. Valentina Gjorgievska freelance journalist Founder of INFE Mаcedonia, Editor in chief of www.infedream.wordpress.com

[megjashi]

‘Peace Education’, Megjashi’s successfully implemented priority Peace is the peak social human value which enables people to live a high-quality life without fears, agonies, uncertainties, risks and to achieve long age. Although men have realized this long time ago, unfortunately, they hinder the creation of a peaceful atmosphere themselves through various wars, conflicts, collisions, misunderstandings, from minor to large-scale formats. The necessity of peace education in our society is vital, and that is something The First Children’s Embassy MEGJASHI has started 11 years ago via the Peace Education Program, organizing trainings, workshops, webinars, peace building activities in and outside schools, which has proven to be quite fruitful. Within its mission The First Children’s Embassy in the world ‘Megjashi’ is slowly, but surely, step by step, implementing its program along with teachers, institutions etc., aiming at influencing young generations through the education process and to make peace become their axiom. Hence, several days ago the Second Peace Meeting was held (27-29 June 2022), where 60 teachers from high schools in Debar, Vinica, Gostivar, Makedonski Brod, Veles and Skopje took part, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science. During this meeting, teacher Dјevit Miftarovski from the high school in Debar, has emphasized their significance. ‘I had found out about MEGJASHI as a child, and when I started working, I had the privilege to become part of them in this manner. At the beginning, in 2012, I didn’t know what will happen, but their interesting approach was appealing to me because this is a whole new direction. The first meeting was in Kichevo, but the topics covered were attractive, which made me feel confident to become part of it. I now understand the term ‘Peace Education’ much differently than I used to back then. Even today when I mention the term ‘peace education’ to my wife, who is also a high school teacher, she thinks it is something related to war. But Peace Education is way more than that. If we consider all the different topics we have covered and analyzed here, and we have later successfully transferred them to students, we can say that adults need them more than children do, especially in our country. Peace Education would be a long definition. Personally, I understand it as conflict prevention of the problems we have and the conflicts we would not want to happen in future.’ The teacher adds that if Peace Education had existed back in 2001, our country would have done much better, especially in terms of conflicts among students. ‘I work in a high school where Macedonian, Albanian, Roma and Turkish students learn in Albanian and Macedonian language. Since I teach Macedonian Language and Literature, when I have book analysis classes I try to raise this question. Let’s think of the Macedonian literature between the two world wars, existential and social issues – I mention those social problems so that children would start discussing them among themselves, to look for alternative solutions to the character’s actions, wondering why the character would not allow his daughter to marry a poor guy, etc. I implement techniques which smoothen the students, trying to walk in other people’s shoes so that they could think and understand the other person… Teacher Irena Fejsko from the same school views students as pieces from a mosaic which need to be put together correctly for everything to work out fine, and that depends on us. **** This Peace Meeting, which is, in fact, a continuance of the topics the Peace Education Program covers continuously, raised many questions which are important to our society. Among the broad spectrum of topics, the emphasis this time was put on: ‘Peace Education And Gender Justice’, ‘Peace Future’, ‘Antigypsyism as a barrier for inclusion of Roma children in education’, ‘Selfcare’, ‘Forum Theater’, and creativity and initiatives were also reflected in the discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Deputy Minister od Education and Science, Lulzim Aliu. During his one-day visit, the Deputy Minister had numerous group and individual meetings with the teachers, and emphasized that upbringing and education are important preconditions for building healthy personalities which find the solution to problems peacefully, accentuating their role exactly, along with families, on the students maturation path and raising them into people who should solve every conflict in future with verbal, not physical communication, adding that there is a solution to every problem, if we are only looking for it. ‘Prevention is required, taking action at the very beginning before we start facing unpleasant scenes in schools’, he said in his speech. **** Happy is he who can build a piece of himself in peace. Every such opportunity is to be respected and used the best we can for ourselves and others. Although it is seemingly an easy thing to do, this can be very deceptive – the opportunities peace has to offer, on one hand, are quite big, while on the other hand the obligation to preserve and upgrade it even bigger. The Peace Meeting work groups in which teachers discussed and exchanged personal experiences were very useful in that direction. Enver Ajdini, teacher at ‘Arseni Jovkov’ high school in Skopje, believes Peace Education helps contribute to the entire education process in the Republic of Macedonia, especially in terms of alleviating political tensions among students, which they gain through their families or media. ‘We take care of students, via Peace Education we fight every form of violence and that is the main motivation for me to be part of Peace Education, and I shall continue to be. We are a team of six teachers in our school and a team of twelve students who are always with us on our workshops’, he briefly introduced us to their Peace story. Teacher Valentina Shterjovska from Gostivar says that she has personally gained a lot as a person with ‘Megjashi’ and Peace Education. ‘Their aim is to include motivated teachers in the program. At first, we have started as a young group of enthusiasts, we have had a broad vision in front of us of what we wanted to achieve, but truth to be told, I did not quite believe that we were going to achieve what we have today, I did not believe this movement would become so large. The first trainings were with fewer teachers, in more isolated surroundings, and we would literally put ourselves behind closed doors and work, work, dream, dream of what and how things would happen, and that is the beginning of one story which is today literally a part of me, my heart, my character.’ Valentina considers this to be the highest value in the educational system, a missing component in the upbringing process of children. However, the teacher should be directed towards it, to be trained, which is mostly contributed by these professional, specialized and rare trainings MEGJASHI puts together. From the viewpoint of a teacher with peace education experience, she insists on more courses of action. ‘One of the action courses we practice is the marking of some dates which are significant to us, such as the International Day of Peace, the International Day of Social Justice, Anti-Bullying Day, which we mark in different ways, by marching, performances such as dance or theater or forum theater with students. Those ways of acting are very powerful because we perform them in front of a broad massive audience, in front of municipal buildings, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. Once, using a performance, we requested for the Mayor of Gostivar, Arben Taravari, to place air pollution measuring instruments, which he did afterwards and heard our voices. We have many issues rising in schools, too, we solve them in a quiet, painless fashion, we act through workshops to raise the awareness’, the teacher explains. When we speak of peace, it is primarily the kind of peace everyone can achieve, to feel good at school, to have the feeling that the school cares of them and, most importantly, to recognize the problem, to say it out loud and solve it, those are the main benefits. **** At this Peace Meeting in Berovo the teachers have presented the problem with mobbing, partisanship and party privileges, social exclusion, abuse of office and the violence in schools through a Forum theater performance, called ‘EDUCATION IS FORCE(D), EDUCATION IS POWER(LESS)’. They have performed on stage in front of all participants of the Peace Meeting, as well as in front of the Mayor of the Municipality of Berovo, and other representatives from institutions from Berovo and Pehchevo. The audience expressed a huge interest of the teachers’ forum theater performance, inspiring the Mayor to request a second performance of it at the beginning of the next school year in front of all teachers in the Municipality of Berovo. These performances, especially the Forum theater, also known as ‘theater of the oppressed’, is an excellent creative form of a participative theater, aimed at raising awareness and creating an atmosphere of unity, which enables discussion and interaction with the audience, as well as active participation by creating various solutions. The stage becomes a mirror in which everyone can see their reflection and social role. In her experience, Marija Manasieva, an English Language teacher from ‘Vanco Prke’ high school in Vinica, also views these performances as a tool which contributes to unity. ‘As someone who has returned home after living abroad for a few years in Germany and the Czech Republic, while also travelling a lot, the peace I have seen, as well as the conflicts, have pushed me to take part in this program when I first learned about it. Both peace and conflicts in the surrounding were a motivation to be part of the action taken. Peace Education basis are being constantly transferred to the younger, every minute of the class, every second, all the trainings we have been through are being reflected. In both instinctive and intentional situations our knowledge is being integrated in the classes, activities and performances we organize. The children are always surprised by some of the activities we introduce in the education process, I always see a desire for awareness raising related to peace education in the eyes of every single student… *** Many positive things were told at this Meeting in the peaceful atmosphere of Aurora Resort, surrounded by the harmony of nature and animals which seem to remind us that men are also part of that harmony and perfection which we need to preserve and nurture further even more. This 3-day meeting, which is first of its kind with physical presence of a bigger number of teachers after the pandemic, during which time the trainings were being held via webinars, has ended successfully, with mutual conclusions, agreements on further actions, organization and initiation of activities and events, with coordination between government representatives and representatives of relevant institutions for including Peace Education in the framework of the official education, and at the end MEGJASHI has granted certificates to the participants. Valentina Gjorgievska freelance journalist Founder of INFE Mаcedonia, Editor in chief of www.infedream.wordpress.com

[promiseland29]

So...I’m not sure how long this is going to take me, but I’m going to do it. I had an idea to make an animatic for my character Choca. It’s gonna happen. I’ve outline the entire thing.

This is a sketch for one of the opening panels of the chapel in Strahd’s castle. I’d like to think that you could tell it was once beautiful, but it’s become very run down over time. It’s a wedding scene....that’s about to take a very dark turn.

This was done entirely with a number 2 mechanical pencil. I have to start using my actually good art pencils again 😂

#dungeons and dragons #sketch #original drawing #drawing #chapel #wedding scene #curse of strahd #Strahd’s wedding #it doesn’t end well #really #it doesn’t #for anyone involved #especially poor Irena #dungeons and dragons art #curse of Strahd art #curse of strahd spoilers #I guess?

[toasterwords]

Irena was chosen by lot to be the lindwurm's wife, after it devoured the third and last of the princesses. Prince Viktoras came himself to inform her.

Convenient, she thought, that the lottery had drawn Irena, from the lower city, poor and almost kinless. An only child, her mother dead, her father old and feeble.

And the bride-price that the crown prince brought with him was enough to support her father in comfort for the rest of his days. Irena could take it and be free of this house, of the burden of his care, of watching him slip away as he forgot her face more and more often. Or she could be carried away by the guards the prince had brought, and leave nothing behind to help him.

She had no power here, and she was wise enough to know it.

Her father, sitting at the kitchen table, stared mutely as the prince set the money on the table in front of him. Irena had to pick the box of coin up herself.

"I need time to make arrangements for my father," she said to the prince.

"Of course," he said. "You have half an hour to prepare yourself before we depart for the palace. Be sure you do not go more than a house or two away."

"I won't make trouble for you," Irena said. "It would only upset him more."

She looked Prince Viktoras in the eye until he looked away, and it satisfied her, just a little, to know that he was ashamed. Then she took the fine enameled box that held her bride-price, her blood-price, and walked next door with it. Widow Simoniene made the evil eye in the guards' direction, but took the money and the key to the little house and agreed to look after Irena's father.

Irena went back home with a heavy step to say goodbye.

"She thinks she'll move in, and rent out the big house," Irena told her father. "She doesn't need all that space, now that her sons have moved away. You won't be alone without me."

Her father wasn't speaking today, and Irena wasn't sure how much he understood. But he held Irena's hand tightly, looking over Irena's shoulder at the guards in the doorway. Irena clutched it back for a moment, then pried her father's fingers off and turned away.

She didn't look back as she left him. Her father had taught her pride, and she hoped that he still recognized it.

***

The walls of the castle loomed around her like the bars of a cage. She was received in state, like she was yet another princess. The king and queen and courtiers seemed embarrassed by her dress, work-worn, and her braid, falling down her back for lack of pins. But if they had wanted her to be more presentable, she thought, they should have given her more than half an hour to put her affairs in order.

After a hasty formal greeting, she was ushered away from the royal family and put into the hands of a half-dozen maidservants. They spread out the three dresses and two petticoats that she'd brought from home, and began discussing how to refine them by the morrow. Irena was deposited into a steaming bath, with one junior maidservant to help her.

A knock came on the door while Irena was still bathing. The maidservant rose to answer it, and returned with a bundle of fabric in her arms.

"The Lady Astrauskaite has sent you some of her dresses," she said. "And says that you may have them altered if they suit you, or do what you like with them if they don't."

Irena knew the name. Duke Astrauskis' daughter. Betrothed to the prince who had come to collect Irena. The betrothal that had sparked all of the princess-eating in the first place.

Was it sympathy, that had prompted the gift, or pity, or condescension? No doubt she had been at the blighted reception. But without knowing who in the crowd the lady had been, Irena did not know if the fuss had led her to flinch or to sneer.

She did not know, either, if Lady Astrauskaite had wanted to be betrothed to Prince Viktoras. If it pained her to see other women eaten because the king wanted his heir wedded to her, and the lindwurm demanded to be given its bride first.

"Is there a way for me to speak to the lady?" she asked the maidservant. "To thank her?"

The maidservant hesitated. "A note would be most appropriate."

"I cannot write," Irena said. "Is there no way to speak to her in person?"

She wanted to know if this was meant as a kindness. It might be easier to have someone write a note for her, and go to her death pretending that it was. But she would wonder, and it would niggle at her, and she did not want to go to her wedding and her funeral wearing a dress given to her out of condescension. She might be poor, and she might be trapped, but she had too much pride for that.

"Not that is proper, just to give thanks. But-" The maidservant's eyes were sad. "You are not scheduled to dine with the royal family tonight, and Lady Astrauskaite is not either. There would be nothing wrong with one woman extending an invitation to another, especially if they were soon to be sisters-in-law."

"Then I would like to do so," Irena said.

***

Lady Astrauskaite was taller than Irena, and much plumper, which meant that the borrowed dress Irena chose to dine in had to be discreetly brought in with pins. The lady's hair was bleached yellow, and her complexion hidden with white powder. She looked as uncomfortable as Irena felt.

"Thank you for joining me, my lady," Irena said, with a very cautious curtsey. The pins in the dress pricked her if she did not move rigidly and with care.

"Please, don't," Lady Astrauskaite said, which made the face of the steward following behind her pinch unpleasantly. "We are future sisters. After tomorrow. And after my wedding, of course. So you can call me Rugile, as a sister would."

"Yes, my lady," Irena said, unable not to look at the steward's sour face. "Thank you. You may call me Irena."

The table was small, for intimate conversation, which only made the dinner more awkward. The food was splendid, soft white bread and creamy cheese and rich meat-packed soup. It sank to the bottom of Irena's stomach like stones.

Within two courses, Irena felt sure the dresses had been a kindness, because everything that Lady Astrauskaite said was kind, and without sneer. She asked after Irena's health, and after that of her family, and she seemed genuinely distressed to hear about Irena's father. She diverted them after that to light anecdotes, tales of tutors and horses and amusing court mishaps, and winced anew with guilt whenever Irena lacked the grounding to laugh at a tale.

After two whole courses, Irena cleared her throat. "My lady, what can you tell me of the lindwurm?"

Lady Astrauskaite went still, then set her spoon down, looking Irena in the eye. "What do you already know?"

"That the queen was barren for ten years, and she went to a witch to open her womb. And that because the conceiving was unnatural, so was the birth, and while one child came out healthy and whole, the other came out as a lindwurm. And that it is confined to the palace, and horrible to look upon. That's all that we in the lower city know."

"It's not so terrible, once you get to know it."

"Except for the eating its brides."

"Yes." Lady Astrauskaite picked up her napkin, and began to twist it in her fingers. "It wasn't the witch's fault, you know. She told the queen to eat one of two flowers, and only one. Red for a boy, or white for a girl. And she ate the white first, but then she thought of her husband, and how he needed a son, and ate the red as well."

"And the queen told you this, my lady?"

"Yes. In confidence. The king would be furious if he knew."

There was a silent question in her gaze, asking if Irena would keep that confidence, and Irena nodded back. She knew of angry husbands and angry fathers, though her father had blessedly never been one. You never told them what you knew.

"She went back to the witch, she told me. After the lindwurm was born, and again, in desperation, after the second princess was wed and eaten."

"And what did the witch tell her?"

"The first time, that the lindwurm could only be made human if someone was found to trade their one skin for the ten it wore. And that of course was impossible, because who wished to be a lindwurm? The second time, she gave up another way, but it would require great courage from the bride."

She looked Irena in the eye. Another silent question, and again, Irena nodded.

"Tell it to me."

"As the queen told me that the witch told her, when you retire for the wedding night, you must have ready a tub of lye, and a tub of milk, and a stack of ten birch rods. And you must be dressed in ten layers of dresses. Then, when the time comes to undress, you must take off one layer at a time, and tell the lindwurm to shed a skin in exchange for each one. By the time you are both finished, the innermost part of the lindwurm will be exposed. Then dip the birch rods in lye, to beat it into the right shape, and bath it in milk, to give it a new skin. And last and most importantly, you must lie and embrace it the whole night through, as a woman embraces a lover."

"But there was the third princess before me," Irena said. "Did she not try this?"

"No," Lady Astrauskaite said, her gaze downcast. "I told her what the queen told me, and I had the tubs and the birch rods ready. But she had told me twice that she was not sure that she could embrace the lindwurm, that the last piece seemed the hardest. And at the wedding she tried to flee. The lindwurm gave chase, and she- she was caught and devoured."

Where had she thought to run, in this crumbling old castle? Maybe it had seemed less of a cage to a princess. But she'd been caught in it nonetheless.

"I will not run," Irena said. Clearly she could not. "And if the other choice is to be eaten, of course I will try the witch's spell."

Lady Astrauskaite smiled, worn and relieved. "The dresses I sent to your rooms should be enough to bring you to ten layers. I will bid the servants have the tubs ready in the marriage chamber, and the birch rods with them. They gave me no argument before, and will not now, though they might have looked askance at you."

Of course they would obey her. They hovered nearby even now; surely they'd heard everything. And surely they would snatch just as eagerly at a chance to be rid of the lindwurm.

***

Despite the hope that Lady Astrauskaite had offered, Irena could not sleep the whole night through. It was difficult to think about herself being eaten. But it was easy to think about her father waking without her, confused and distressed by her absence. Any explanation the Widow Simoniene made would confuse him more, or upset him if he could understand it.

Irena dressed herself in her ten layers, her own well-fitting dresses on the bottom, Lady Astraukaite's larger, more splendid dresses on the top. By the time she had put the tenth and last one on, the ones below padded it thoroughly, so that she seemed to fill it out the same way that a rich woman would.

The wedding was a thoroughly dismal affair. First there was a feast, tediously long, interrupted by faltering speeches between every course. Every speaker proposed a toast to the happy couple, and Irena, who had never had more than a single glass of watered wine in a night, had to struggle to keep her head from spinning.

She wasn't even seated close to her intended spouse, for the lindwurm had a table of its own, away from the grand one where Irena sat amid the royal cousins. Food enough for ten men went down the great creature's gullet. It was scaled like a snake in mold-colored grey, with stiff ridges along its spine. There were legs near the front end, powerful and clawed, and above that the head of a dragon.

Though the servants kept its table laden with steaming roasts and sweetmeats, it kept its eye on her, staring with unabashed hunger. Only when Irena met its gaze directly did it look away. No one else at the table seemed to acknowledge its presence. Nor hers, for that matter. Only Lady Astrauskaite tried to speak to her, and quickly was diverted.

If the feast was dismal, the wedding ceremony was more so. Prince Viktoras escorted Irena to the dais from one side of the hall, and the queen, pale-faced and stiff-backed, walked with the lindwurm from the other. The priest's hands trembled as he turned the pages of the holy book.

"Irena Kazlauskaite, do you take this-" He had to pause there, take a deep breath, and then continue. "-This lindwurm, to be your wedded spouse, your protector, to love and to obey?"

"I do," she said, and was proud that her voice sounded clearer and stronger than his.

"Lindwurm, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife, your helpmeet, to love and to protect?"

"I do," said the lindwurm. Its voice grated like stones rubbing across each other, and it still stared at Irena with nakedly hungry eyes.

She stared back, watching the restless twitching of its mighty coils, which could each trap a man within them, and the flex of its forelimbs, which had dragged its length effortlessly down the narrow aisle. It could tear the castle walls to pieces if it wanted to.

And why hadn't it? Trapped within these hallways, confined in rooms that must be entirely too small for it? For a creature so strong, the castle was no cage at all. Irena would have torn her way free and fled to the countryside long ago. She looked at the hunger in its eyes and felt an echo of it in her own heart, imagining how easily it, unlike her, could break loose from its prison.

Yet it stayed, pretending to princedom, dragging her into its farce of a royal wedding. She wished she could know why.

The priest finished giving his blessing. The young prince and the queen retreated, along with the trembling priest, from the dais. A forced, ragged cheer rang out from the assembled witnesses. She tore her eyes away from the lindworm's body, and saw it tear its eyes away from hers.

There was no glad chivaree for the newly-wedded couple, only a solemn procession to the top of an elegantly-appointed tower. It was well-furnished, Irena saw as they wound their way upwards, but the furnishings were all damaged, fabrics torn by claw and tooth, wood cracked and splintered by the lindwurm's terrible tail. The enormous bed was new-made, with fresh sheets, but she could see where it, too, had scuffs and scars on the bedposts.

By the fire, two tubs sat waiting. One was filled with yellowish lye, the other with fresh white milk. Ten birch rods lay in a neat stack between them. Irena glanced back at her grim escort, and caught sight of Lady Astrauskaite, who nodded to her from the rear.

Then they all left, and the door slammed shut, and Irena was alone with her new spouse.

"My wife," the lindwurm said, in its stone-on-stone voice, coiling up very near to her.

"My name is Irena," she said, looking up to meet the lindwurm's eyes. "As we are married, you may call me by it. And what am I to call you by?"

The lindwurm reeled back from her. "I have been given no name. I should have the mirror to my twin's, but they will not grant it to me, for the priests say a monster cannot be baptized."

Irena was trying too hard not to show her trembling to spare time for pity. But at that phrasing, she looked at the lindwurm anew.

"The white flower was to be for a girl," she said, remembering the tale Lady Astrauskaite had shared with her. "And the queen ate that one before the other. Your name should be Viktorija."

"Yes," the lindwurm said, drawing closer. "You know the tale. The misborn child of greed and folly, trapped in a shape that no soul desires."

Irena looked up to meet those hungry eyes, now closer to starving. "If you feel so trapped inside that skin, why do you not exercise what freedom you do have? If you do not want to seem so monstrous, you should not eat the women you marry."

The lindwurm turned her head away. "It is this form. In it, there are urges that I cannot resist. When I desire something badly enough, I am driven to devour it. I desired flowers, as a child, and I devoured the garden my mother planted for me. I desired books, when I learned they held knowledge, and I devoured the library when Viktoras took me to it. And I desire humanity, and the love that humans feel for each other, and so-"

"And so," Irena echoed. "I will tell you now, I may know a way to free you from that skin. But you must do as I ask, and it may hurt, very badly."

The way Lady Astrauskaite had spoken of it, Irena had thought that the key would be trickery. But she had not thought then of speaking civilly with the lindwurm. It was one thing to lie to a monstrous creature, one who would be a man and a prince at the end of it. It was a very different thing to deceive another woman.

"You do?" The lindwurm turned towards her with amazing speed, eyes wide, claws gripping the floor so hard they left grooves in the wood. "No matter how it may hurt, I will do everything that you ask."

"Then first, you must shed a skin."

The lindwurm sagged a gainst the floor, the joy going out of her. "It is not time for me to shed, and I cannot force it to begin. Even my own claws cannot tear this terrible hide."

Irena thought back to Lady Astrauskaite's phrasing. She would have to act as closely to the witch's words as possible, if she was not going to fall into the same trap as the queen.

"I will show you," she said, turning her back to the lindwurm and reaching for the buttons of the topmost dress. "I will remove this dress, and you will remove a skin in exchange for it."

The air prickled around her like there were invisible eyes in every corner. As she stepped out of the dress and turned back around, she saw the lindwurm shaking herself out of her skin. Only the uppermost of its layers, for it must have grown many to be so impenetrable; but the skin beneath it was less scuffed, and the ridges softer-looking.

"This changes nothing," the lindwurm said, and then she fixed her hungry eyes on Irena again. "But you wear another dress beneath it."

"And I will take that one off, too."

She watched, this time, as the lindwurm reached behind her head and fumbled with the ridge down the back of her neck, the same way Irena's fingers fumbled on her buttons. The skin fell away in one layer, head and forelegs and tail peeling off together. Irena could feel the magic, watching and listening all around.

And so it went, dress and skin, over and over another eight times, until at last Irena was standing naked in the center of the room. The lindwurm's skins, softer and more tender with each layer, were piled behind her. And she stood in front of that pile, a raw, skinless thing, pitiful and helpless. She was only vaguely human in shape, yet, with her face as long as a horse's and her lower limbs bound together by ropes of muscle and sinew.

She trembled and whimpered with pain at the wood of the floor and the heat of the fire, agony against bare and oozing flesh. But her eyes were still hungry, fixed fast to Irena. Hungry and full of hope.

Irena swallowed her disgust and picked up the birch rods, to dip in the lye. It seemed cruel, when just the air and the floor pained the lindwurm so terribly, but there was no other choice, unless-

Unless one was found to trade their one skin for the ten it carried.

She had not dwelled upon the witch's first answer, any more than the Lady Astrauskaite had, or the queen. For those who had power in their own right, only one of the ways the witch had offered seemed worth the dwelling. The way that let the lindwurm's shape, even now, be chosen and defined by another.

She could feel the magic even more strongly now. It prickled against her skin, nearly burning between her shoulderblades. If was as if there were buttons there, too, waiting to be opened.

Irena's own obligations were discharged. Her father was in safe hands, his dotage well-funded. All that held her in place now was the threat of force, the cage of the castle looming over her.

Behind the lindwurm, her skins lay on the floor in a thick and fetid pile. If Irena could step out of her own skin, and don those, no bond or obligation would ever tie her down again. For what walls, what force of arms, could hold the lindwurm?

Her heart full of hunger, Irena dropped the rods pressed her fingers against the back of her neck, to the place where the magic burned. But no seam or button came clear. The magic seemed to lean in closer, listening intently. It had waited, she remembered, for them to voice the exchange, each of the ten times before.

"Viktorija," she said, "will you make a trade with me? My one skin, for the ten of yours?"

"Yes," Viktorija answered, and her voice was small, and cracking, but full of joy. "I will make that trade with you."

Irena reached to the back of her neck again. Her skin came apart cleanly at her touch, without pain. She stepped out of it, as she had stepped out of the dresses, and cried out immediately at the feel of splintered wood on her skinless feet, and the draft from the fire against her skinless flesh. Viktorija was much stronger than she was, to endure them with only whimpers.

Walking towards her, Irena held her skin out, open all down the back. Viktorija reached out and took it, and it wrapped itself around her, splitting her lower limbs into two legs, remolding her face and her arms, imposing a woman's shape upon her formless flesh.

She stood, still trembling, and lifted up the first of her own scaled skins for Irena to step into. Irena felt her legs fuse together as they entered the tail, her flesh painlessly elongating to fill the space as the much-larger skin closed over her. Then the next skin, and the next, each layer of scales less tender, until the last one went on, and she was so encased in the lindwurm's armor that nothing in the king's whole armory could have broken through.

The skin closed, but the magic was still there, hanging in the air like a persistent damp. Irena felt her forelegs shaking, and her head was heavy; she looked at Viktorija, who was shaking too.

Stretching out her heavy coils, she fought exhaustion to wrap them around Viktorija. Then she crawled up onto the bed, pulling Viktorija up with her. Curled around her, on the soft, claw-shredded mattress, Irena fell swiftly and soundly asleep, embracing Viktorija like a lover.

***

They were roused in the morning by the creak of the door. The king and queen entered, fearful, and Prince Viktoras and Lady Astrauskaite walked in after, both downcast with concern. But they all looked in amazement at the bed, and who was in it.

Irena looked down at herself and Viktorija. Her own scales gleamed black, sleek and shining, instead of the mold-colored mottling that Viktorija had sported. And while Irena's own hair had been straight and dusty-colored, her skin weathered and her face thin, Viktorija was plump and noble-pale between Irena's coils, with a snub nose and a round face and chestnut hair falling in long curls.

"But," Lady Astrauskaite said, her eyes filling with tears. "The birch rods, and the lye, and the milk-"

"The witch's words were true. Here is your sister, my lady, Your Highness, and here is your daughter, your majesties. Last night she traded me her ten skins for my one, and we are both more comfortable in our new attire."

The king's hands worked at his sides, tightening into fists, then loosening when he looked again at Irena's coiling black bulk. "I would rather a daughter and her wife than a daughter and another lindwurm. I had been told you meant to save my child, but you have only traded for her troubles."

Viktorija was stirring now in Irena's coils, her eyes blinking open. She smiled at her family, and three of the four smiled back. Even the king's hard face softened.

"My father-to-be, be glad," Lady Astrauskaite said, sweet and coaxing. "You have a daughter, to please your wife with, and your son has a sister for the two of you to spoil. Irena has done this for us, as a loyal servant of the crown."

"Yes," the king said, drawing back his ire. He raised his gaze to meet Irena's eyes. "What do you want from me for this service?"

Irena unwound herself, gently, from Viktorija, then slithered off the bed. She dug her claws into the much-abused wood of the floor and gloried at her strength when it splintered and broke.

Her bride-price would keep her father fed for life, and she trusted the Widow Simoniene. There was not a feather's worth of weight upon her. "I want nothing but my freedom, Sire. And for you to treat your daughter well."

"I will make sure she is cared for," said Lady Astrauskaite, looking at Irena fondly, without fear. "For she will be my sister, just as I will still consider you."

Irena looked at her closely, trying to tell if there was any longing in her eyes. But there was only only relief and gladness in her, no appetite for claws and scales. And her hand was so firmly wrapped around the prince's that he was very clearly where her paltry human hunger lay.

"Yes," Irena said, to her and her alone. "Care well for her. She would have endured terrible pain to take this shape, and it would be wrong to let her suffer more now that she has it. As for myself, I will go into the countryside, and I will be free."

The king and queen stepped one way, the prince and his lady another, and Irena surged past them and through the open door. Winding her way down the staircase, she felt her tail bash against the walls, and delighted in the way they cracked with each blow. Half-walking, half-crawling, she emerged into the ruined garden at the foot of the tower and made for a gate in the wall.

It wasn't big enough for her full bulk, but that didn't matter. She pushed her head through, and thrust with her shoulders, and the masonry broke around her without even a strain of effort. Heart pounding more and more joyously, Irena slithered out through the hole she'd made.

The sky was blue above her, bright with morning sunlight, filled with the scents of earth and beasts and flowers. Irena paused for a moment to take it in, raising her head and twisting up and up on her own coils until she could see the rippling fields stretching away from the walls. As she lowered herself again, she saw a flock of birds in flight, winging their way over those fields towards a forest beyond.

Irena started after them. She would see what freedom tasted like, and savor it.

#writing #original #fairytales #lindworm #lindwurm #fantasy

[girlactionfigure]

“I give my child in your care, raise my child as if it were yours.”

These words were written by the mother of a six year old Jewish girl Rami, who was smuggled out of the Jewish ghetto in Nazi occupied Warsaw, Poland, during the Second World War. Little Rami was placed into foster care with her mother’s Polish friends on the Aryan side of the city and, unlike her mother, ultimately survived the war. The person who was instrumental in making Rami’s survival possible was a woman named Irena Sendler, a social worker and Polish resistance operative who helped save 2,500 Jewish children like Rami during the Holocaust.

Beginnings

Irena was born in 1910 in Warsaw into a Roman Catholic family. Her father, Stanislaw Krzyzanowski was a physician and a researcher in infectious diseases. He was a humanitarian and an idealist, who helped found the Polish Socialist Party. He believed in democracy, equal rights, universal health care, and an end to child labor, and was even expelled from university in Poland for leading strikes and protests advocating for those goals.

When Irena was two, the family moved outside of Warsaw, to the village of Otwock, where Stanislaw set up his practice for the treatment of tuberculosis. The village was fifty percent Jewish, and that percentage included the poorest of residents. Unlike other doctors in the area, Stanislaw treated everyone, the rich and poor alike, despite the poor not being able to pay. “If someone else is drowning, you have to give a hand,” he would often say.

Irena grew up in close contact with the Jewish villagers. She played with their children, and by age six even spoke fluent Yiddish. At home Irena’s family life was warm and nurturing. Stanislaw loved his little girl very much and hugged and kissed her so often that Irena’s aunts would warn him not to spoil her. “We don’t know what her life will be like,” he’d reply. “Maybe my hugs will be her best memory.”

In 1916 an epidemic of typhoid fever swept through the village and Stanislaw chose to be on the front lines. Typhoid, a bacterial disease spread through food, water, and close contact with infected persons, was especially prevalent in poor communities with bad sanitation. Unlike other well off villagers who isolated themselves to avoid contact with the sick, Stanislaw continued caring for patients and later that year succumbed to the disease himself. He died shortly after.

But Stanislaw’s spirit lived on in his daughter, and as Irena matured she resembled her father more and more in her beliefs and actions. She majored in social welfare at the University of Warsaw, and interned in charitable welfare clinics where the poor could get a free education and legal assistance. She also started becoming more politically involved, joining the Polish Socialist Party that her father helped start and beginning to engage in protests and activism herself.

In 1935 anti-Semitic sentiment was on the rise in Poland, and at Polish universities an informal rule nicknamed the “bench ghetto” was introduced. “A rule was established at the University segregating the Catholics from the Jewish students,” Irena recalled. “The Catholics were to sit on the chairs to the right and Jews on the chairs to the left. I always sat with Jews and, therefore, I was beaten by anti-Semites together with Jewish students.”

Later, like her father, Irena was suspended from university for boycotting the labeling of campus identity cards with the word “Aryan” to differentiate non-Jewish students from Jewish ones. “I was taught since my earliest years that people are either good or bad. Their race, nationality, and religion do not matter — what matters is the person.”

The War

On September 1, 1939, after the signing of a non-aggression pact between themselves, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invaded Poland. The country was split in half, with the eastern side going to Soviet Union and the western to the Nazis. Warsaw fell to the Nazis.

Overnight Jews became second class citizens in Warsaw. They couldn’t hold state or government positions, couldn’t own businesses, they had to register ownership of property, and lost access to their bank accounts.

Barred from offering social services to the Jewish population officially, Irena with a few friends began to circumvent the rules by faking paperwork in order to do so. This was the beginning of Irena’s resistance operations. Soon Irena and her resistance cell were providing money, food, and clothing to thousands of Jews in Warsaw.

A year after the invasion, moving forward with their ultimate goal of Jewish genocide, the Nazis established a ghetto for Warsaw’s Jews. 350,000 Jews, nearly 30% of the city’s entire population, were imprisoned in a 1.3 square mile ghetto. The ghetto was surrounded by a ten foot tall brick wall crowned with ribbons of barbed wire.

Irena sprang into action looking for blank documents that could give Aryan identities to Jewish friends destined for the ghetto. And once the ghettoization of Jews was complete, she continued helping in any way she could.

Life in the ghetto was miserable. The Nazis rationed roughly 200 calories of food per person per day. Death by starvation was common. Sanitation was terrible with refuse and human corpses littering the streets. There was a shortage of soap, clothing, and the means to heat living spaces. Many people froze to death. Disease was everywhere, including tuberculosis, dysentery, spotted fever, and typhoid fever, the same disease that claimed Irena’s father’s life.

But Irena was undaunted. Because of her work with Warsaw’s Department of Health and Social Services, she received a pass from the Epidemic Control Department that allowed her official passage in and out of the ghetto. She immediately began making daily visits, sometimes multiple per day, to smuggle food, money, and doses of typhus vaccine into the ghetto. She would hide items in the false bottom of her bag, or in small pockets sewn into a padded bra. Many women had their bras altered with padding and pockets. “It was a joke in wartime Warsaw that women’s breasts had grown dramatically everywhere in the city since the arrival of the Germans.”

Children

Sometimes Irena would smuggle candy or dolls for the ghetto’s children. Children were particularly vulnerable in the ghetto, succumbing faster to malnutrition, freezing, and to more varied diseases than adults. Some families facing starvation relied on their children to obtain food by smuggling it from the Aryan side of the city. Other families sent children across the wall hoping they would fare better as orphans on the Aryan side than inside the ghetto. In the beginning of 1942, about 4,000 children lived on the streets of the Aryan side. 2,000 of them were Jewish.

That year, fearing Nazi soldiers’ contamination with typhus and other diseases from children living on the street, the chief of the Nazi police ordered for Warsaw’s social services to get all homeless children on the Aryan side of the city off the streets and into orphanages and other local institutions. The roundups yielded a number of Jewish children, many of whom Irena and her network helped disappear into private homes and orphanages under false Polish identities. But there were thirty two Jewish kids that could not be placed, and so, in order to save them from execution, Irena had to smuggle them back into the ghetto. Knowing what was awaiting them there, Irena was devastated at not having an alternative solution. She vowed to never again return a single child to the ghetto, and started, along with her associates, an operation to smuggle Jewish children out of the ghetto and to provide them with false Polish identities and caring homes on the Aryan side of the city.

The price for helping a Jewish child in wartime Warsaw was execution, and Irena and her core group of twenty to twenty five mostly women operatives, risked their lives daily to save each and every child. Children were smuggled out of the ghetto in a variety of ways. There were secret routes to the Aryan side of the city via sewers and underground corridors. Children were able to get across by sneaking through an old courthouse and a Catholic church that stood on the border of the ghetto. Irena’s epidemic control pass allowed her to officially bring a child out of the ghetto for treatment if they were ill with tuberculosis. Children with or without the disease were brought out this way. Some kids were hidden in ambulances, under floorboards or dirty rags, or in coffins along with dead bodies. The Nazis were terrified of disease and performed only cursory checks before waving ambulances through. The youngest, including babies, had to be sedated with tranquilizers and hidden in trucks in toolboxes, in sacks masquerading as laundry or potatoes, or under vegetable boxes. Some were left in briefcases on early morning streetcars that ran in and out of the ghetto and later picked up by a friend.

Once out of the ghetto, children had to take on new identities in order to integrate into Polish society. Sometimes documents were faked, other times legitimate blanks could be found. If children looked too Jewish, they had makeovers to make them look more Polish. Sometimes it was as easy as dying a child’s hair, other times Jewish boys had to become girls in order to prevent the Nazi authorities from checking for circumcisions.

Escaped children went on to live in homes of friends, in convents, in group homes, orphanages, or religious institutions, and Irena kept a list of each and every child placed with the hope of reuniting them with families after the war. She encoded and recorded only the most essential information such as names, addresses, and an account of any money that parents gave to help with caretaking on cigarette paper that nightly she prepared to throw out of her kitchen window in case the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police, ever came looking for her. Eventually, when it became too dangerous to keep the list at home, she buried it in glass bottles under an apple tree in a friend’s garden.

By this time Irena was already having nightmares on a regular basis. Not only did she worry about the children who would certainly be killed if they were ever discovered, she also worried about the families that were risking their lives to hide them. On top of everything, Irena was the sole person who knew the detailed histories of all the smuggled children. If anything were to happen to her, that information would be irretrievable.

Capture

In the fall of 1943, the Gestapo found and arrested a woman who ran a laundrette that the resistance used as a drop-off point for messages and packages. Charged with conspiring with the resistance, the woman was tortured and ultimately broke, giving up names of resistance operatives. One of those names was Irena Sendler’s. Days after, the Gestapo pounded on Irena’s door in the middle of the night. She was arrested, beaten, interrogated, and sent to Pawiak, a secret prison for intelligentsia and those politically involved. Most prisoners interned at Pawiak never left alive.

The Gestapo repeatedly tortured Irena for information, breaking her legs and feet, and permanently scarring her body. Despite the agony, Irena never said a word. She knew what divulging information would mean, a death sentence for thousands of children, friends and families. As luck would have it, the Gestapo thought they had captured only a fringe resistance operative, not the head of children’s division of the resistance movement, which meant Irena received no special treatment. Certainly if they realized who they were dealing with, they would have taken extra measures.

Irena lived at the prison for four months until her execution date was set for January 20, 1944. During the days, when she was not being tortured for information, Irena worked as a washerwoman cleaning soiled Nazi underwear. One day, when the Nazis found the laundry work not to their satisfaction, they lined up all the washerwomen against a wall and shot in the head every other one. Irena was one of the ones who survived.

On the morning of January 20th, a Nazi officer came to take Irena to the courtyard where she was to be shot. She was led down a corridor, but instead of being taken into the waiting room where she was to await her execution, the officer led her out of the prison and into the street. He released her and told her to run. As Irena later found out her friends in the resistance had bribed the Nazi with what today amounts to $100,000 to secure her escape.

End of the war and legacy

Once free, Irena went into hiding, and soon resumed her operations with the resistance. She continued rising in ranks until she was running meetings and setting agendas. In the summer of 1944, with the Soviets advancing, and the Nazis retreating, the Polish resistance army attempted to liberate Warsaw. They fought for two months, but were ultimately defeated by the Nazis. In response to the uprising, Heinrich Himmler, a most high ranking SS officer and the person responsible for forming and operating Nazi death camps, gave the order to kill all Polish residents of Warsaw and to level the entire city. “The city must completely disappear from the surface of the earth…,” he ordered. “No stone can remain standing. Every building must be razed to its foundation.” Ultimately more than 400,000 people were killed and eighty percent of Warsaw was destroyed by the retreating Nazi army. Irena miraculously survived the destruction.

After the Nazis were driven out of Warsaw, Irena and a friend went to dig up the list of children they had hidden in bottles. They searched and searched for the tree under which the list was buried, but found only rubble. Irena then set out, along with her friends, to recreate the list from memory. She continued working for decades helping reunite children with their families, and even adopted two orphaned Jewish girls herself.

Irena lived until 98, and passed away in Warsaw in 2008. Until the very end of her life she felt that she did not do enough to help children during the war.

Five years before her death Irena received Poland’s highest honour, the Order of the White Eagle, but she never enjoyed being called a hero.

“Let me stress most emphatically that we who were rescuing children are not some kind of heroes… Indeed, that term irritates me greatly.” 

“Heroes do extraordinary things. What I did was not an extraordinary thing. It was normal.”

The children Irena saved during the war continued to call and visit her until the end of her life.

Historical Snapshots

[whumping-newbie]

🖊? Please! I'd love to hear more about your ocs!

I’ve got sooo much to say about them honestly, but I put poor Matylda through a lot and after many many talks with @justplainwhump​ about much of my story, especially my poor girl, I have come up with a wholesome little story for her with much happiness. She’s got 7 year old twin siblings, loving parents and a childhood friend who she has an attraction to, but he’s currently in Germany for university, but they keep in touch.

Irena’s father is a shady businessman, and all I’ll say about him is that Irena’s decision to trust him put her and Matylda back in serious danger.

I’m working on a plot where Zofia, a previously sort of ignored MOH joins the resistance and actively works with rebels, hiding important documents or weapons in her prosthetic leg (it’s a beautiful image I have in my head).

Michal is just doing his best, he’s loyal all the way to the end.

I think that should do it, thanks for the ask!!

[silvertonguedslavicwitch]

Πειρασμός | Peirasmós

Chapter 14 : Home Sweet Home?

A/N : So sorry for the late update, my laptop went psycho on me for the past two days. But here you go, another update x)

Like a mouse following the cheese into a trap. That’s exactly the definition she would use, seeing the soldiers pouring inside the town’s walls. Unbeknownst to them, they were actually baiting them. But after seeing Aethelred and Alfred, her whole mind went dark and had only one thing certain in it. Protect the two princes. The cubs to the lion that led the powerful army charging through the small town. Even if she had to spill blood to do it, then so be it. There was nothing she would not do; to protect the ones she love and care about.

Keeping her eyes fixated on the two young males, she rushed to her checkpoint as fast as her legs could take her and perched on top of the highest floor from one of the buildings; waiting for the soldiers to come pouring into the west wing of the town. There were about 7 people stationed there, all 7 of them being her own soldiers, Ivar knowing fully well she has not yet trusted his kinsmen. That was highly considerate of him but the cripple told his brothers that it was to make sure the plan will be carried out instead of having a melodramatic season of delay due to trust issues.

Erika took out the bow she left in the room, and loaded one arrow, placing it gently as she makes her aim. Her breathing slowed down until she could only hear her heartbeat pumping from inside, and the bowstring was pulled slowly. The footsteps coming from the Saxon soldiers made the tension rise up gradually and it was only time telling her when to give the first strike; the sign to attack. Across her, two more soldiers were ready with a barrel of oil, just waiting for her command. But just when she was about to let the arrow fly its way into either one of the Saxons, she caught a glimpse of Alfred walking into the west wing; the wing they were targeting. She loosened her grip on the bowstring and cursed. “Damnit Alfred, get out of there.” Deciding it wasn’t worth risking it, she got up from her leaning position and aimed the arrow somewhere near the youngest prince instead.

The sound of the bowstring being loosened made itself known to the princess as the arrow made its mark at the poor unlucky soldier’s chest, who just so happened to stand beside Alfred. The boy dropped dead and it was a warning shot from the foreign princess, for Alfred to notice the impending danger and flee from there. When the first shot came down, it was sign for the others to carry out the other sets of plans. The wooden planks were let down from every corner and exit of the town, successfully barricading the soldiers with nowhere to go. A single hand gesture from the raven haired woman was all it took for her soldiers to pour the oil down.

The heavy crude lubricating oil greeted the Saxons face first and the grossed out groans were heard alongside a string of complaints. Of course, the complaints would not last long because they’re going to be running wild with flames. Literally. With the barricades sealing their sides, rendering them useless trying to escape, Erika notched yet another arrow and let Irena, who stood next to her, light it up with fire before pulling it. Making her aim by also slightly applying a stronger pressure to it and let the string go swiftly, the arrow hits the pavement that was also coated with oil; letting the fire erupt ardently. Soon, most of the soldiers in the west section had already burned themselves.

The first part of the plan was carried out prominently, so she made her way downstairs quickly to join the fight. Not so she could slaughter the Saxons, more to actually keeping a close eye on Aethelwulf’s cubs. She passed through a checkpoint at the south west corner of the alley, and the barricades were slowly being lifted as the archers took their aim and plucked them off one by one. It almost frustrated her to the point’s end when she could not manage to pinpoint their exact location. She had lost track of where Alfred fled to. Successfully dodging the other soldiers who were fighting against the Northmen with all their might despite being cornered, she wasn’t keeping an eye in front of her when she evidently crashed into a figure and both of them rolled down the pavement. The wet blood that coloured the road made her gag briefly before struggling to get back up and face whomever it was that she bumped into.

It was Alfred.

Secretly thanking God, she pulled him with her to a much more closeted and secluded alley. The reaction displayed across his face was enough to tell her than he did not expect to see her. “I thought you were captured and held against your will--” Sparing the younger prince a nonchalant look, she scrunched up her nose at the manner of melodramatic self he was trying to say she exuded.

“Excuse me, what? Captured and held against my own will? Who told you that,” she scoffed, still dragging him with her through the alley with all the dark walls surrounding them. There were a few soldiers fighting but they had more pressing matters to attend to; like surviving the end of the axe. So they didn’t exactly notice the new bride of one of the Viking princes were dragging their Saxon prince. “Don’t answer that, of course Aethelwulf would try to dramatize things over. He’s always been a drama queen.” She then rolled her eyes at the thought of the petulant King’s behavior. “No Alfred, I wasn’t tied or gagged up like some prisoner princess. This isn’t exactly a fairytale land, love. If you are captured, they’ll either kill you or maybe sacrifice you which isn’t any better than the first really, or they would offer you for ransom. You see, the second option is not really viable seeing as my brother was the one who offered me into the part of an alliance agreement. Brother of the year, I know.” Poor cub was struggling to keep in the same pace as she does, while also dodging the other people raining on them from all sides. To which Erika had surprisingly fend off very easily as she either hit their heads with the stick she took randomly at the corner, or kicked them off.

“Then, how are you here now? Are you alright? Did they hurt you?” Oh Alfred, always the sweet compassionate exuberant caring pup. She grinned widely at his question which made the prince to positively wonder whether his remark was a questionable one.

“Physically, they wish. Mentally, possibly every second I spent,” she shrugged and halted on her steps, letting the two vikings crash into each other within the narrow space, before jumping over them to resume her ‘fleeing’. “I married them, not bought them, Alfred. Pretty sure they actually have an amount of decent respect towards their women, seeing as they have shieldmaidens everywhere. Killing me off would be such a stupid move for them to do, especially when I’m basically the token of the ‘good will’ between the Russians and Northmen-” Right before she could finish her whole sentence, a random viking just so happened to strike at her, which she almost did not succeed in ducking.

Pushing Alfred away as he met the walls of the alley, she spinned around and slashed the viking’s left ankle, leaving him to grunt in pain as he fell down to his knees. Taking out her sword, she hits him with her hilt and kneed him to the face before making a clean swipe over his chest. She then beckoned for the prince to follow her as he was still struck by the nonchalant manner she had exuded earlier as she killed a fellow viking who tried to take on her. When Alfred didn’t move from his position, she took his hand and dragged him away with her. “-doesn’t mean they could not try and say my death was resulted in an ‘unlucky’ battle. That was the first attempt. Huh, I’m surprised they took this long to try and carry that idea out. Guess they’re not so bright after all.” It was almost shocking to see the infamous Erikaterina to chortle in such situation, but knowing her well, he shouldn’t be surprised.

When they finally made it out from the horrendous alley, she lets out a relieved sigh before offering the latter a soft smile. “Amiable people are affable. They are kind, warm, and friendly. There are not a lot of those people these days; making them to be such a short supply. But you know who’s amiable? You, Alfred. You’re the most amiable person I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet in all my life.” Her hazel hues softened as she embraced the younger prince, who returned the gesture. He has been growing very well and she knew this might be their last time meeting each other that is not under the grounds of hostility, so she was sure to bask in every single moment of it. “I missed you terribly. You and your brother, Aethelred. I wish we didn’t have to meet like this, this is definitely not the manner I want you to see me in.” A chuckle followed shortly after.

“Armor, or dress, crown or not, you’re still Erikaterina of Novgorod, Rika. You will still be her despite everything.” His statement had made the princess bit her bottom lip before trying very hard not to smile.

“That made me feel like I actually do have an identity.”

“And you do. You are your own person, not even marrying a Pagan would change that. One day, you’ll see that.” While the two converse, she told him to find someone trustworthy to guide him back to his father perhaps. Bidding the prince off, she hoisted herself on top of the rooftops as she climbed up. Her eyes caught the sight of Aethelred fending the vikings off. His fighting manner was much like his father, but still, he is new to it making him to be an easy target. She needed to get him out of there soon, forcing Aethelwulf to get out and she knew exactly where to hit.

Just one hit that is too close to home.

Grabbing her bow from her quiver, she notched an arrow before aiming it at Aethelred. She needed to be very precise and careful while doing it or she might end up hating herself even more for failing. Aethelwulf was ignorant when it comes to wars and battles, given that he is a great warrior. But he loves his sons more than anything, making him to be a good father. It was an idea she could trust. Her nimble fingers found itself tugging on the bowstring, pulling it slowly to her cheek level, as she lets out a ragged breath.

“I’m sorry, Aethelred.”

With that, the grip on the string were loosened and the arrow flew straight towards the eldest son, piercing his shoulder, just below his left shoulder. The prince staggered and Aethelwulf saw his son being vulnerable and went out his way to get his cub to safety, forcing the Saxon King to intervene. “Fall back! Retreat!” Hoisting his son’s arm around him, he dragged him away. Watching the scene unfold before her eyes, she sighed.

Mission accomplished.

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The Vikings emerged victoriously once again. While they were busy shoving the celebratory event to themselves, Erika took the other option; perching herself on the rooftop, staring into the distance while rethinking of Alfred’s words. She could hear the cheers coming from the people below, their loud mannerisms being colloquial to the raven haired princess. No doubt that Ivar boasted over his victory and condescending his two older brothers. Not wanting to be a part of a conversation that was likely to go south, she opted to spend the day to herself, relishing in the solace and comfort it gives.

But, little did she know, the very plan that Ivar had devised in order to win over his brothers, had gone south in the end. It was giving the older ones more doubt on the youngest brother. It was starting to break their strings. While she was too occupied with her thoughts, Hvitserk poked his head up and climbed to join her, taking a seat next to her. “Are you waiting for prince charming, ravnprinsesse?” Recognizing the timbre in his tone and the nickname, a small smile crept up, as she still did not avert her gaze.

“I got a prince. I guess you could say he’s charming in his own way.”

“Any possibility that he could be beaten by anyone? Maybe a formidable opponent?” His random question made her chuckle, which was a boost to his ego. Making the Russian princess laugh was not a normal occurrence and it’s something they actually take in consideration. An achievement to the flaxen haired prince. She hummed and shrugged casually, dismissing the light joke.

“Did you two fight with Ivar again?”

That had automatically strike Hvitserk to go into a full on defense mode, following the accusatory tone lacing his wife. “What is that supposed to mean. If anything, it’s Ivar who’s relentlessly picking fights with his older brothers,” he scoffed, crossing his arms as he huffed in the cold air.

“I wasn’t trying to insinuate anything, Hvitserk. I was just asking. Ubbe and him are tense these days. Ever since the first attack on York. I’m guessing it’s because of Sigurd’s death. It doesn’t help the manner of death placated on him too. Axed by his own brother.” Her tone was all too calming, it was one of the things Ivar was actually worried over. No one really knew what goes into her head. “He’s being impartial.”

“Ivar flaunts over his victory and I’ll be frank, it’s not really something we like seeing. Ubbe suggested that we should go ahead the road of peace. He wanted to make a deal with the Saxons.” Erika, who was highly intrigued by what he was saying, turned her face around to meet him.

“What do you mean?”

“Ubbe wants us to stop fighting and go claim the lands that were given to us by King Ecbert.” The Russian only nodded in response and stared at the space again. Silence ensued over them and she tilted her head to the side, questioning the prince what he was going to ask her. “Do you think that’s wise?”

“I’m probably biased, as Ivar would say.”

“That’s Ivar. I don’t care, you’re my wife. I want to hear your opinion, and so does Ubbe. You’re experienced, Erika. You know things in some ways others don’t. That’s why the Saxons treasured you.”

Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she scowled at the prince. “They like me because I’m actually a decent likable person to be around. They treat me like a person, instead of a thing.” Briefly apologizing for her sudden outburst, she resumed her talk. “But, if it was up to me, I do think Ubbe is wise to want all the fightings to stop and propose peace. That’s a high road into the new world you have to be willing to take. Co-existing is a thing every people needed to learn. Even the Saxons. However, it’s also likely that Ubbe will be rebuked by Aethelwulf. He’s a prideful person. Especially given their defeat today. It probably scratched his ego. But it is still possible if Ubbe is willing to risk it.”

“Things are so difficult,” he mumbled and she snickered lightly before taking his hand into hers.

“Nothing is meant to be easy, love. Surely, someone’s taught you that.” Within seconds, she was engulfed with a back hug from Hvitserk, who placed his chin above her head. It was comfortable. He only hummed and tightened his embrace around her, to which she gladly returned by caressing his hands as she leaned against him.

The two stared at the sky, both filled with questions differing from each other. But they don’t know that, neither do they need to. One thing was sure, the married couple was investing everything into making the said relationship work and it has been progressing splendidly over the period. She would never admit it, but Erika grew to like and hold a mutual attraction towards Hvitserk. Hvitserk, the same. Given, the two divulged in each other’s presence every night ever since, but they were married, so it wasn’t really an abnormal thing. What’s important, was that the gesture was sincere.

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Following Ubbe and Ivar's untimely fallout, she sided with Ubbe when it comes to peace and solidarity. She wanted the bloodshed to stop, more than anyone. Especially, since it was against her now former friend. It's also a hit close to home. She was sleeping just across Hvitserk, on the floor, when she could feel her body being shook awake by someone. Groaning slightly, she almost cut Hvitserk. Taking the dagger from her hold, he placed it down aside and told her to get up. With no other explanation given, the flaxen haired prince took his vest and sword with him as he followed Ubbe out. Mumbling a few incoherent words to herself, she got up and dragged her sword and outerwear with her as she trailed behind her husband.

Once she got outside, she saw Ubbe with horses ready. Still not understanding the situation, she wondered what the elder Ragnarsson was planning but went along with it. It wasn't her place to question, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to anyways. Hvitserk helped her mount her horse as he got up his. The gates were opened and a small party was led by Ubbe.

Halfway into their journey, she glanced over to Hvitserk, who was riding next to her. “Where are we going? Where is your brother taking us to,” she mumbled groggily. Her conspicuous self has not yet resurface due to her sleepiness. She was actually quite tired today. If it wasn't due to the tight grip she had on the reins, she probably would've fell after the first two minutes mounting her horse.

“He wanted to propose peace, remember.” And suddenly all that sleepiness was washed off and replaced with uncertainty.

“Are you sure? Is that where we're going then? The Saxons’ camp?” Gone was the sleepy princess. What's left is the uncertain and nervous princess. Given her current predicament on things, it was probably not the best reunion she would hope for.

Soon, they arrived just outside the perimeter of the camp. They left the rest of the party in the woods while only the three of them advanced. At first, Erika wasn't sure if she wanted to meet them but she figured she was their best chance and shot at securing any deals made between the two parties. That is, considering Ecbert was right, and that Aethelwulf would forgive her any day, no matter how high and deep her betrayal and treachery went. She got off her horse and made her way to the tent, trailing behind the two brothers.

There, Aethelwulf, Bishop Heahmund and Alfred was present to oversee their ‘deal’. Taking a reluctant seat next to Ubbe, she tried her best not to look Aethelwulf in the face. She couldn't bear it. She didn't have the courage to do so. “Why are you here.” The King's booming voice made itself known to their companion.

The entire time, they spoke of possibilities and chances to reach an accord where both parties can be at peace finally. With her facing the table and fiddling with her fingers. “And why should we accept such offer from you? You attacked us.” The room was tense and the raven haired princess could take it no more.

“He has every reason to do so. It was his right. Your father handed Ragnar over to Aelle to be executed. Therefore, he aided and abetted in his death, despite it being indirect. If your father was murdered with brutality, would you not wish revenge over the perpetrators?” The sudden question from the princess made the Saxon King silent. “With that being said, it is said and done. It has happened. The sons of Ragnar have exacted their revenge as planned and both Kings are dead. But let us not dwell in the past. Their actions had resulted their ends. Let us not be another example of that. We are better than this. We are a new generation birthed to shape the world into a better place than before. We should not stretch our standards like our predecessors. Prince Ubbe came with a sincere heart, hoping for peace. Should you not be the better person and take it? They have nothing to lose. But you, you have everything to lose. You've lived in exile after your defeat the first time, Aethelwulf. Do not burden your people with another. Do this for your sons, by the very least,” she exclaimed. The desperation for solidarity was evident in her voice.

Alfred was smiling at her. Hvitserk had a proud look on his face, to see how well-spoken his wife truly is, living up to her status and reputation. Bishop Heahmund had a certain air to him that offered her respect. Then, there's Aethelwulf, who was in the mix of being proud of how far she's become, and the tense tides on actually accepting the said offer. “I think we should be the better one and accept their offer.” Alfred spoke up.

“They have no legality. My father had no rights to give the lands of East Anglia. He was no longer King-”

“Yes, but you are now King aren't you? Show them how generous you are, father.”

The start of Alfred's statesmanship flickered and Erika couldn't help but to notice the dimming light that was slowly kindling in him. Proud was an understatement. “Alright then..one condition.” Looking up to finally meet his eyes, she saw her friend looking back to her. “She stays here.” That was enough for Hvitserk to start retaliating. Seeing how it could render their deal useless if this kept going, she stood up.

“I will stay, per your bidding.” Hvitserk came to her side and told her she didn't have to, for they cannot make her since she is her own person with her own degree of status. Smiling softly at her caring spouse, she took a hold of his hand and kissed his knuckles. “I am doing it out of my free will, Hvitserk. It's better this way. Don't worry, I'll find you again somehow,” she reassured and he sighed in defeat, knowing he cannot truly convince her otherwise. When Erika has made her mind up, it was almost impossible to change it. He kissed her forehead and hugged her.

The scene before him made the Saxon King felt like there was a bile on the way up to his throat. He was glad Erika was back now, but he never thought she was starting to even like her ‘husband'. Either that, or she was one hell of an actress. He hoped the latter. “Alfred, take her with you..” With that, she left the two princes to deal with the King and Bishop Heahmund, as she followed the younger prince out of the tent.

Alfred led her to a tent, to which when she entered, was his own. He shared the tent with Aethelred, who was laid on his bed place. He tried to get up but she told him it was no need. Making her way to him, she took a seat at the side before examining his injury. “My aim has improved by a mile, so much your father would be proud. Though I can't say he'll be much of that proud when he finds out I tested the aiming theory on his own firstborn son.” Her fingers ghosted over Aethelred's shoulder.

“You were the one who shot me?” The disbelief colouring him was truly hilarious, it made the princess bit her lip and gave him an impish grin.

“So sorry about that. It was the only way I know your father would intervene and pull you out. You needed to retreat. Better a defeat than a death.” She shrugged and brushed over his hair.

While she spent her time talking to the two princes, they were interrupted by a presence gracing the tent. It was their father, Aethelwulf. Standing from her spot, she tilted her head to the side slightly as a questionable reaction was derived from her. “How did it go?” When Aethelwulf did not answer her, she squinted her eyes in response. Something was wrong. “Aethelwulf.. What did you do.” Once again, she received no answer from the Saxon King. She went out her way to go outside and search for the two brothers when Aethelwulf tried to stop her. “You let go of me this instance!”

The last thing she saw was the sight of soldiers laughing towards one direction, where Hvitserk and Ubbe were running off in distance. “Where are they going? Why are they leaving me?” Her long time friend came from behind, standing next to her.

“They didn't leave you.. I forced them to do it. There is no deal. And Heahmund humiliated them per say.” That had caused the princess to fume in anger as she flailed her arms around in distress, a sight to which Alfred, Aethelred, Judith, Heahmund and the other soldiers bear witness to.

“This is why I should have never left you to deal with them alone. You cannot keep me here forever, Aethelwulf! I am Hvitserk's wife. Legally and lawfully right. Even you cannot undo that,” she stressed her words and Aethelwulf who looked down said nothing, leaving her to vent her frustrations elsewhere as she left him.

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#hvitserk #hvitserk x oc #vikings #Bjorn Ironside #ivar the boneless #ivar #ubbe #peirasmós

[yesimthepanda]

Something to Worry About

“Shit!” Jake muttered. Irena stared at the emergency alert on her phone, she was sure Jake was looking at the same thing. “Shit indeed”

It was only about 5 o’clock but the sun was already almost gone. Outside the siren was blaring. Jake and Irena had stayed after school to work on a project. They weren't technically supposed to be there, but since they didn't really know each other, neither of them had felt comfortable inviting the other home.

Irena got up, “We gotta get outta here” she said.

“You crazy? We can't go outside, for all we know it's a gas leak, going outside could kill us”

Knowing Jake was right she sat down again, nervously drumming her fingers on the back of her phone.

“Well what the hell do we do then? I can't stay here my parents are gonna freak”

“Call ‘em”

Irena sighed annoyed. It was pissing her off that Jake was so calm while she was sitting there thinking that her heart might jump out of her chest from sheer panic. Still she did as he said and called her mom. Then her dad. Then her mom again.

“They're not answering”

“They're probably dead” Jake said jokingly.

“That's not funny” answered Irena coldly.

He lowered his head trying to hide the fact his face was turning slightly red. “Sorry” he mumbled. Irena didn't bother answering.

They sat there in silence for a minute, listening to the siren. The school’s lights had gone out and their eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness. After a while Jake got up, signaling for Irena to follow.

“Where are you going?”

“Well I don’t know ‘bout you, but it’s our last day on earth, I’m gonna have some fun”

“Don’t be stupid, we’re not gonna die”

“And you can tell me with 100 percent certainty, that that’s a fact?”

“This isn’t some movie”

“And that ain’t an answer”. He turned around and started walking away. Not wanting to be alone Irena got up and followed him.

They strolled down the halls in silence. Jake was walking with his hands in his pockets, he seemed relaxed. Like he didn’t have a care in the world. Irena had never really paid much attention to him before. He was this quiet kid in the back of the class who never really spoke, but he didn’t seem shy. His hair was blond and wavy, usually unkempt and his eyes were a dark amber color. If Irena had to be honest she would say that he was actually a pretty attractive guy.

“How are you so calm? You just said you think we might die and yet you seem like you don’t give a shit” Irena asked as Jake pushed open the door to Mr. Langwell’s room.

“I don’t know... I mean whatever happens is outta my hands, ain’t no reason to worry ‘bout it”

Irena snorted, “That is so… I don’t even know… what about your family?”

Apparently that was a touchy subject. His muscles tensed and he remained quiet for moment. “Only family I’ve got left’s my dad and honestly the day he dies I’m throwing a party… found ‘em”. Jake pulled a set of keys out of Mr. Langwell’s desk drawer and jangled them in front of his face. Then he strode out the room “Come on”

As they turned down another hallway, the question was nagging at Irena’s mind. She didn’t wanna press him about it, but she really needed to talk about something. Anything to distract her from what was currently happening outside.

“Can I ask… what happened with you and your dad?”

He chuckled bitterly, like he’d known she was going to ask. “Bastard killed my mom, never served any time, no one could prove a thing… apparently a 5 year old witness doesn’t count for much”

“I’m sorry”

“Yeah… me too… now come on, you’re gonna like this”

With the keys he’d taken from Langwell’s room, Jake unlocked the door to the swimming pool. The familiar smell of chlorine hit Irena. The urge to dive in filled her immediately. She had used to swim all the time, but between school and friends, she hadn’t had time for the swim team this year.

He stripped down to his underwear and made a very poor attempt at a swan dive, that made Irena burst out laughing. “I’m sorry I don’t mean to laugh it’s just… goddamnit that was horrible”

“What?... no, that was by far the best dive you ever seen”

“Mhmm, let me show you how it’s done”, Irena shed her clothes and jumped into the pool. A perfect dive. The cool water surrounded her. It was almost completely silent, the loud sound of the siren getting muffled by the water. When she resurfaced, Jake was staring at her, amazed. “What?” she asked.

“Nothing, I just…”

“What?”

“You’re beautiful”

Irena raised her eyebrows and scoffed. “And I had to be in my underwear for you to think that?”

Jake’s face went bright red as he struggled to get his words out. “No I… tha… that ain’t what I meant. I mean you are... you know... beautiful but I’ve always thought that, I mean you’re probably the prettiest girl I know… I just… you… I wasn’t prepared for that”

“You mean you thought I was gonna jump in with all my clothes on?”. It really amused Irena to see him like this. She took step closer and cocked her head to the side.

“Yes, No… I don’t know I didn’t think about that”

Their eyes met. Irena could feel his breath on her face. He really was good looking, especially with drops of water dripping from his hair.

“We agreed this was the end of the world right?” said Jake, his voice low.

“Yeah”

“Then fuck it”

Jake closed the gap between them. His warm hands gently placed below her ears. His lips against hers. The world around them melted away.

They pulled apart what felt like way too quickly to catch their breaths. Huge smiles spread across their faces. Irena felt butterflies and the outside “apocalypse world” had no place in her mind.

“You cold? You’re shivering”

Irena nodded “Just a little”

“Let’s get out then”

They climbed out of the pool, pulled their clothes back on and went and sat on the bleachers. They sat there in a comfortable silence, Irena’s head resting on Jake’s shoulder. She noticed he was bouncing his leg.

“You okay?

Jake nodded, “Yeah I’m just a little worried I think”

“I thought you said you didn’t worry”

“Well…” Jake took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers, “You gave me something to worry about”

#spilled writing #writers #writing #writeblr #creative writing #original fiction #short fiction #fiction #short story #short stories #spilled words #spilled ink #romance #romantic fiction

[rickyriddle]

AnR crossover idea: Akuma no Riddle x One Piece

Hi! Here’s a new AnR crossover idea: AnR X OP! Here’s how I think the characters would fit in the one piece universe (Akuma Piece or One Riddle):

Haru: One of her ancestors has eaten the Queen Bee Fruit, and one of the power is to be hereditary. So Haru possesses a demon fruit’s power, but without being technically a demon fruit user, so she can still swim. Her power is the same as in AnR. Haru is just a girl who wanted to travel the world, but since lots of people think she wants to be the Pirate Queen, they keep mistook her for a pirate. In fact, she’s just an adventurer travelling in a ship. Lots of people try to kill her because of her power and the fact they view her as competition (the pirates). Haru has no interest in the One Piece and just want to travel. Haoshoku Haki user.

Tokaku: She’s from an assassin clan, and was sent to kill Haru. But she eventually falls in love with her intended target and decided to become her bodyguard and travel the world with her. Tokaku does identify as a pirate, which technically doesn’t help Haru’s cause. Each time they are interrogated by someone, Tokaku told them they are pirates, which Haru replied that they are just adventurers. Busoshoku Haki user.

Isuke: A greedy pirate who’s always looking for treasure and money to steal. Her reason to want to get rich is to help her parents. Her mother is also a pirate who had trained her to fight, while her father is a normal civilian. She’s often working in a duo with the pirate Haruki. Busoshoku Haki user.

Kouko: She’s in the marine, but she grew up in a pirate crew. She managed to escape and hide her past and enrolled in the marine. She ate the Bomb Fruit, which caused her to often cause explosions, which she controls badly. She almost never uses it, because it’s the reason why a fellow crew member she admired, Irena, died.

Hitsugi: Member of a pirate crew specialized in assassination, the Datura Crew. Since she had eaten a poison type demon fruit, Hitsugi is their ace, known as Angel Trumpet. Other than the crew, no one no her true identity. She can secrete poison from her mouth, which she used to make poisonous weapons, for her or her crew.

Shiena: Part of the revolutionary army. She’s fighting both pirates and the marine. She ate the Hacker Fruit, which allowed her to hack any form of technology. It’s useful to spy by listening to den den mushi conversations. She’s trying to catch a certain murderous pirate.

Haruki: A solo pirate who’s searching for treasures to help her poor family. Sometimes she works with the pirate Isuke to find treasures, and both of them are in a romantic relationship. Unlike Isuke, Haruki only steals from other pirates, or sometimes rich people. But she prefers to avoid. Busoshoku Haki user.

Suzu: A retired pirate who’s living on an island, where there’s a Marine HQ. She had ate the Highlander Fruit, which made her immortal. Suzu hates it, since she can’t grow old, or swim. She still goes in the water, but with water wings. She likes to spend time with a young marine officer, Kouko, to whom she’s hiding her past as a pirate. Kenbunshoku Haki user.

Otoya: A murderous pirate who isn’t there for treasures, but to kill innocent people. She works alone and likes to play with the marine, taunting them. She’s researched by both the marine and the revolutionary army for her crimes, and she enjoyed teasing a certain revolutionary member with braided pigtails.

Chitaru: A bounty hunter who’s killing pirates. She’s sometimes working with the marine, but prefer to work as a freelancer, for her own justice. She’s looking for the pirate Angel Trumpet, to avenge the daughter of her teacher. Busoshoku Haki user.

Nio: A pirate who’s acting as a double agent in the marine. As the heir of her family, she inherited the Illusion Fruit, which is given to the future heir after the previous one died.

Sumireko: A shichibukai who’s secretly aiming to become the Pirate Queen. She views Haru as her ultimate rival and wants to defeat and kill her. Her father is still a CEO and she has the same backstory has in AnR, but here it’s pirates who tried to kill her. Sumireko became a cyborg and aimed to be the strongest, the true Queen, so that no pirates would dare to attack her again.

Banba: Part of Sumireko’s pirate crew. Used to be a simple criminal, but Sumireko took her in her care and gave her a better life by her side. Her backstory is the same as in AnR. She likes collecting various treasures, especially if she had to kill someone to obtain it. She calls those “relics” and they aren’t always conventional treasures, sometimes they are just random objects.

Yuri: A mysterious businesswoman who’s secretly influencing the marine, the revolutionary army and the pirate world. She has lots of allies in all three camps, and is a Celestial Dragon, even if she doesn’t live with them and it’s unknown to most people. She also possesses the Queen Bee power. Haoshoku Haki user.

During her journey Haru will meet all of them and somehow, they will gradually join her crew (even if she still doesn’t view herself as a pirate, and it certainly doesn’t help her reputation) even if most of them are there either to try to kill her, spy on her, or keep an eye on another crew member. Seems like Tokaku has a lot of work to keep her queen safe.

Other AnR crossovers: AnR/Danganronpa, AnR/Psycho-Pass, AnR/Harry Potter

#akuma no riddle #riddle story of devil #ANR #one piece #op #crossover idea #crack crossover

[fughtopia]

The Myth of World War II & The Power of Propaganda

In light of recent events, online activists and others have taken to posting pictures of troops storming the beaches of Normandy as a way to tie current anti-Fascist struggles to the defeat of Italian Fascism and German Nazism during World War II. The problem with this sort of reactionary protest is that it feeds the ongoing myths surrounding WWII: namely, the notion that the U.S. got involved in the war to defeat Fascism and Nazism.

The U.S. Empire, like all previous empires, does not engage in wars because it’s the right or moral thing to do. The U.S. Empire has interests. And its interests are not our interests. If within the scope of U.S. imperial interests something positive takes place, such as the defeat of Nazism, it’s a mere coincidence, not a calculated objective. The primary objective of nation-states are not moral crusades (though moral crusades under the guise of enlightened Christianity were commonly used to dominate people around the globe), the primary objective of nation-states is to consolidate and wield power.

Without doubt, the momentary defeat of Nazism and Fascism should be hailed, but not in the way in which it’s currently being lauded. Remember, the Communists defeated Fascism, not the Americans. Some estimates suggest that the Soviet Union lost close to 27 million people during WWII. The Communists bore the brunt of Fascism and Nazism. Yet, Americans revel in the myth that our 500,000+ deaths were the deciding factor in the war effort. Let’s also remember the hundreds of thousands of anarchists, communists, socialists, Jews, Gypsies and others who valiantly fought against Fascism.

Today, the myths surrounding WWII continue to haunt the American psyche, crippling our ability to critically examine U.S. history, ideology and nationalism. Most Americans have concluded that our war against Japan was just, and our efforts against the Germans and Italians righteous. Yet, as the late-great historian Howard Zinn notes in his classic work, A People’s History of the United States:

When Mussolini’s Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, the U.S. declared an embargo on munitions but let American businesses send oil to Italy in huge quantities, which was essential to Italy’s carrying on the war. When a Fascist rebellion took place in Spain in 1936 against the elected socialist-liberal government, the Roosevelt administration sponsored a neutrality act that had the effect of shutting off help to the Spanish government while Hitler and Mussolini gave critical aid to Franco.

Offner says:

“… the United States went beyond even the legal requirements of its neutrality legislation. Had aid been forthcoming from the United States and from England and France, considering that Hitler’s position on aid to France was not firm at least until November 1936, the Spanish Republicans could well have triumphed. Instead, Germany gained every advantage from the Spanish civil war.”

Was this simply poor judgment, an unfortunate error? Or was it the logical policy of a government whose main interest was not stopping Fascism but advancing the imperial interests of the United States? For those interests, in the thirties, an anti-Soviet policy seemed best. Later, when Japan and Germany threatened U.S. world interests, a pro-Soviet, anti-Nazi policy became preferable. Roosevelt was as much concerned to end the oppression of Jews as Lincoln was to end slavery during the Civil War; their priority in policy (whatever their personal compassion for victims of persecution) was not minority rights, but national power.

It was not Hitler’s attacks on the Jews that brought the United States into World War II, any more than the enslavement of 4 million blacks brought Civil War in 1861. Italy’s attack on Ethiopia, Hitler’s invasion of Austria, his takeover of Czechoslovakia, his attack on Poland-none of those events caused the United States to enter the war, although Roosevelt did begin to give important aid to England. What brought the United States fully into the war was the Japanese attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. Surely it was not the humane concern for Japan’s bombing of civilians that led to Roosevelt’s outraged call for war-Japan’s attack on China in 1937, her bombing of civilians at Nan king, had not provoked the United States to war. It was the Japanese attack on a link in the American Pacific Empire that did it.

So long as Japan remained a well-behaved member of that imperial club of Great Powers who-in keeping with the Open Door Policy- were sharing the exploitation of China, the United States did not object. It had exchanged notes with Japan in 1917 saying ‘the Government of the United States recognizes that Japan has special interests in China.’ In 1928, according to Akira Iriye (After Imperialism), American consuls in China supported the coming of Japanese troops. It was when Japan threatened potential U.S. markets by its attempted takeover of China, but especially as it moved toward the tin, rubber, and oil of Southeast Asia, that the United States became alarmed and took those measures which led to the Japanese attack: a total embargo on scrap iron, a total embargo on oil in the summer of 1941.

Leaving aside the justification for Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, it’s important to remember that prior to WWII, the U.S. had an atrocious track-record of defending struggles for freedom and democracy.

Ask the Libyans (1801-1805), Haitians (1791-1804. 1888, 1891, 1914, 1915-1934), Cubans (1814-1825, 1906-1909, 1912, 1917-1922, 1933) Filipinos (1899-1913), Mexicans (1806-1810, 1842, 1846-1848, 1859, 1866, 1873-1896), Puerto Ricans (1814-1825), Chinese (1843, 1854, 1855, 1866, 1894-1895, 1899, 1900, 1911-1941), Russians (1918-1920), Nicaraguans (1853-1857, 1867, 1894-1899, 1910-1925), Panamanians (1856, 1865, 1885, 1912-1925), Algerians (1815), Hawaiians (1870, 1874, 1889-1893),  or Guatemalans (1920) — just to name a few occasions when the U.S. military was used to protect U.S. interests and repress struggles for freedom and democracy.

Instead of glorifying state-sanctioned violence, activists in the U.S. would be wise to highlight the real heroes of WWII, people such as Gunnar Eilifsen, those who participated in the Warsaw Uprising, Irena Sandler, Lepa Radic, and countless unnamed others who defending their families and communities from Nazism and Fascism. They weren’t drafted. And they weren’t backed by the most powerful military empire in the world. They were true resistance fighters, and we should remember their sacrifices.

Meanwhile, we should do our best to challenge U.S. nationalism, historical myths and the fetishization of violence, which has reared its ugly head in light of recent white supremacist attacks on leftwing protesters.

In the end, WWII was the single-greatest tragedy in the history of the human species. And that’s exactly how it should be remembered.

Source: The Fetishization of Violence: Reflections on Charlottesville, WWII and Activism by Vincent Emanuele (CounterPunch)

#ww1 #amerikkka #roosevelt #lincoln #power #hegemony #nation of lawless nazi psychopaths #spain #ethiopia #charlottesville #fascism #nazism

[jbinbcn]

North Trip

06-09.12.2018

Pamplona - San Sebastian - Zumaya - Bilbao - Vitoria

Long weekend trip with ESN! I had never visited the North of Spain so when I saw the opportunity to go there with ESN, I bought the ticket :D And I needed to take a day off on Friday (6.12 is a holiday in Spain). SO GOOD SO GOOD!

4 days, 5 cities, more than 1300 km !

And I could see my lovely ocean after 2 years! <3 But for sure I’ll come back there! Still so many places to visit! Asturiuuunuuus are waiting XD So let’s start from the beginning.

06.12.2018 Valencia -> Pamplona

The meeting point was at 5 ! I slept 3h... and when I was walking to the bus I passed so many drunk people enjoying the night xD Why so early? Because it’s around 6h in the bus, we could leave Valencia even earlier to have more time for visiting. I slept like dead.. I got used to it, I just sit in the bus/train/car and I sleep. The bus stopped in the middle of nowhere for a break. There was a huge restaurant-shop to enjoy breakfast. I liked that place. Nice to have something like that, not only McDonalds and Orlen hot dogs.

At 8 I enjoyed from the bus the sunrise. It was really cool one, but yeah, photos through the window...

A few words about spanish landscapes. What I noticed, Spain is sooo empty. I mean, when you drive a car on the highway, there is nothing, no buildings, no forests, nothing. Just mountains in many parts, and windmills. I mean, for me is totally different from this what I see in Poland ;) Especially those mountains, but this in -> Chulilla.

We arrived around 12:00 to Pamplona. Our first city. ESN guys took us around the center doing their best city tour. 

---In the brackets I’ll write the name in BASQUE language!--- Probably you know about Cataluña, independence and catalán language. Spain is even more crazy. In the North of Spain there is a Basque Country (es: Pais Vasco, Euskadi) - yes, we are still in Spain. It’s an Autonomous Community (one of 17). But they have own language, spanish and basque are co-official languages there. You think, yeah sure language, probably it’s just dialect, he he, no xD Euskara It’s one of the languages which the etymologists can not find origins. For sure none of the European and is a language isolate to any other know ones. It’s like magic. My personal feelings (don’t take it serious): for me it’s a language of wildness, of woodsmen, of Vikings! Like big bearded guys xD sorry 🙈

Still don’t believe me?  So let’s have a look at the examples of the words, english - spanish - euskara

my favorite one: butterfly - mariposa - tximeleta  others: hello - hola - aupa  yes - si - bai no - no - ez kiss - beso - musua beach - playa - hondartza xDDD restaurant - restaurante - jatetxea father - padre - aita  I love you - te quiero - maite zaitut ❤

Sooo? Do you agree with me that is like viking? XD BASQUE MAN TRUE MAN!

If you still think that I chose only really different words, go to wikipedia, find some article (like famous one) and change the language to Euskara and enjoy ;)  BTW, The girl from Bilbao said that Eusakara is a difficult language to learn. There are 12 gramatical cases !!!! Ok hungarian still wins - 29...  For spanish speakers:

 For others, from 1:30:

----------

But let’s back to the trip. 

Pamplona (Iruña) 06.12.2018 In polish - Irunia - is a cute version of a name Irena ;)

It’s a capital city of Comunidad Foral de Navarra (Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea). So it’s not a “basque” city - I mean, autonomous community, but it’s in Basque Country as a region (Euskal Herria).

It’s really easy to notice when you passed the border of Spain and Basque region. Unfortunately we didn't stop to take some breathtaking photos, and from the window.. you know..

Mountains appearing in the fog...

For me it was amazing! But not on the photos. Sorry not sorry.

Do you know what Pamplona is famous for? ---Running of the bulls (encierro)--- During 9-day festival of Sanfermines (6-7 of July)  First run is on 7th, at 8 am. And then day by day till the end. It’s a good time to visit Pamplona second time ;) Then I can describe the whooooole tradition. Right now just some words. Origins: 14th century, men wanted to be faster and faster with transporting their bulls to the market square. They noticed that the best way is to make the bulls excited and frightened. After a while young boys and others started to making a competition between each other - who will be the fastest in the pens without being injured and overtaken. Because spanish people are crazy, the tradition expanded popularity and nowadays it’s preserved in many spanish cities. In Pamplona tradition is more touristic now, so maybe is better to go to another city to enjoy the old tradition. Enjoy - maybe it’s a wrong word, I don’t know if I would be strong enough to watch people running and getting injured and those poor bulls which will finish at the arena for a fight and dead at the end with a long way. In 1910 they began record-keeping and since then 15 people died. Last one in 2009. On wikipedia you can check exact data if you are interested. ----------

Step by step how we visited in few hours Pamplona (with many photos).

We started at the Plaza del Castillo, center of the city, social life, concerts, markets, events. The buildings around are really beautiful and reminded me Krakow ;)

The weather was like warm autumn.. ahh <3

El kiosko is a heart of the square.

Then we just followed ESN and enjoying the city. Of course we chose city tour in spanish, si si!

Around the cathedral there was a nice terrace to have a view of Pamplona from one side.

ESN guide tour we finished at Ayuntamiento. Baroque style, lions bearing coats of arms and a trumpet-blowing angel.

FREEEE TIME, means exactly food time.

---And now food story--- Vasco Pais is known as a land of pintxos. What’s that? Do you know tapas? Yes, the same “style”, just smaller. Pintxos - small “finger” foods. Like small sandwiches (takie kanapeczki koreczki). Slice of bread with a toothpick in the middle holding the rest together. They can be warm or cold. You enter the bar and in front of you there are all available pintxos, sometimes in the menu you can find more, which have to served warm. How to order? Depends, there are 2 ways. If the plate is on the counter and pintxos are easy to take, take the plate and put there whatever you want. If there are no plates or pintxos are behind the glass, just walk around, choose what you like and then ask a waiter to serve you them. In some bars they are all in the same price so you pay for how many toothpicks you have on the plate after all, or just you pay at the beginning when they are served. Funny fact: you enter the bar and you see it a little bit (or veeeery) dirty, like the floor is full of napkins. It means that the bar is good one, visited by many locals. Wtf?! It’s more hygienic to throw it than to keep it next to your food. In pintxos bars there are not places to sit. Pintxos are for standing socializing. You have a pintxo, you talk, you enjoy, you drink txacoli (sparkling, very dry white wine). You change the bar. It’s like pintxos crawling. Of course there are competitions which bars serve the best ones. ----------

So we knew what we want to eat - pintxos - claro que si. And the best for that is street called: Estafeta (on this street bulls run during the festival). But we found “the best ones” which won some prizes last year: Restaurante Baserriberri.

When we saw the prices there… 3e for a small pintxo xDDD

But then we saw that the waiters are serving something really interesting. In the menu we checked that this pintxo - bOOmveja -  won last year some prize. Look:

The form is not eatable. It’s printed in 3d printer. Inside I tasted some parkerhouse rolls (???? butter bread?) with (as we said) sheep cheese. It was amazing, so delicious, mmmm <3 

What I found about the ingredients? Read that xDDD But I can recommend. 3,5e, smaller than appetizer but was good XD

Then we went to the plaza de castillo to eat what we still had in our backpacks :D

Uncle Google recommended us to visit Ciudadela - 16-century fortress which from the top looks like an extraterrestrial star. In 18th century it was a prison, now it’s a park to chill. We took some stupid photos and it was time to come back to the bus. 

On our way we passed Baluarte Palacio de Congresos y Auditorio de Navarra - cultural center, modern art, art art art. And we stopped on Plaza de Toros next to Bullfighting Monument to take such an awesome video (I’m wondering how many people had the same idea).

So there was nobody! Finally some old people appeared so I asked them (I knew that it’s stupid idea) if some of them can take a short video of us (because I wanted to be in the video as well…). I prepared my phone, the old man, how to stand, what to click, we did our performance.

I checked what he had recorder... eh yes.. one more time please, again, preparing everything I even clicked the start… but he clicked the stop to early xD 

Well… at least he helped!

So bus time again. Pamplona - thank you and maybe see you in July. All day should be enough if you (like me) don’t visit all museums from inside. Next city!

San Sebastian (Donostia)

My favorite city in the northern Spain !! I’d live there just because of the view and location. The other aspects I don’t know ;)

We arrived to the “hostel”. Exactly we arrived to some place in the middle of something. And behind the hill we found our hostel. If you have a car or money for the taxi - is ok, they are able to reach the place. If not, like we, only big bus, we had to climb and then go down to find the hostel. It was already dark so even we didn’t know what we are doing, darkness. Of course, mess at the beginning who is with who in the room (sorryyyy Carlyne!). But finally we managed it to be together (5!) and 6th one scotch-italiano new friend ;)

Some free time and then all the group took a public bus to go to the center for a dinner, before party, party and after party depends on your strength.

So it was night sightseeing in San Sebastian.

Of course we went to eat pintxos. So much tourists. We entered to Senra Zaharrean.

Pintxos calientes ;)

It was a little bit crowded, but we waited like 5min to get a table. In this restaurant you take a plate, put what you want, pay. If you wanna beer, the waiter will bring you. Or if you’re going to the table you can pay later.

Next step we decided to buy some % and enjoy on the beach side. Of course hiding, drinking from the plastic bag.. 🙈

And then ESN and others came and we went to do BOTELLON ---------- I think I’ve never explained what is botellon. So it’s before party. Like we meet somewhere outside with a lot of alco etc, we enjoy, drink, have some social life before going to the clubs. Clubs in Spain are open mostly after midnight, people appear there more around 1-2 because during that time you don’t pay for the entrance, or you pay less. ----------

So our botellon was on the beach, under promenade. Good place, I recommend you to visit it during your stay in San Sebastian xD

And because I love the ocean so much I was in heaven. I haven’t seen it for 2,5 years! Ocean is the power, strength. It keeps me calm but gives me the energy at the same time. I’m in trance like I wrote once on fb ;)

I spend I think 1h looking at waves, were good/big enough. Satisfying ;) But because in Dec I didn’t have any winter clothes with me and north is quite cold during “winter” I started freezing so I came back to the Botellon. It was first and last time when I could see the ocean during the night. Hope to come back soon :D

To be honest I was so tired after this first day and night in the bus. Or I’m getting old too fast. :( But when ESN said that we have a free beer in the bar Bataplan, I went there to enjoy it xD #cebula

But it was one of the worst beers ever. Ble.. Carlyne took wine and it was even worse xD So it wasn’t worth but at least was warm. Erasmus had a karaoke party there and later they were supposed to go to the club to dance but no idea.

We decided to come back to the hostel. But because it was sooo f. away we had 2 options. Walk 3,5km oooor take a taxi. The problem was that we were 5 and nobody wanted to take us, and 2 taxis - too expensive come on xD So we walked xD 40min, up and down. I felt like in Porto od Gdynia, we go up, we go down, do it again again again, do it again again again. But it was ok, I did my steps. 

The hostel was ok, just the shower “perfect size”, like you enter and don’t move. And localization - terrible. For sure not for me, but for the big group works well.

Morning we started with of course breakfast but then city tour in San Sebastian. We had to move out, take our things to the bus, leave them there and enjoy San Sebastian during the day - the weather was perfect <3

So now it’s time for photos ;)

At the beginning we had a city tour with ESN. We started next to the beach to go up for the view.

Parte Vieja - old town, just walking and enjoying. 

Rumbo! XD Better version of it. (Rumbo is a club in Valencia which I don’t like and I don’t recommend). Una mierda.

Can you see a heart?

I read on the internet about this basque dessert so we tried. Like sweet rice pudding - good one!

Ayuntamiento - It’s kind of masterpiece, no? Before it was casino, you know, politicians, businessmen, etc. 

And around:

Urgull Mendia is a hill by the ocean. It’s a perfect chilling spot for enoying the view. AMAZING!

The flag of Basque Country.

Mamma mia !

ahhh my stupid pink-eye-make-up... Sad story behind :(

Heheszki

Yes, I’m happy :))

Museo de San Telmo - the oldest and the biggest in Basque Country. From prehistory to modernity. The original part of the museum it was a Dominican convent (XVI) so it’s like mix of the styles. Yes, I haven’t visited it inside.

Unfortunately we didn’t have time for many things!!! But I’m pretty sure they are worth a visit. :(

Monte Igueldo - The view has to be amazing. You can reach it by the antique funicular railway. On the top there is amusement park and tower - El Torreón.

La Catedral del Buen Pastor - 10 000 whistles in the organ - one of the biggest in Europe.

Isla de Santa Clara - to be honest - I’ve NOT seen it !!! Writing this I’m reading some stuffs and then I see on the photos the island, I’m like wtf, there was not any island! I checked my photos, yes, on mines the island “doesn’t exist”, because I was on the other side and for me it was just one land, one coast. Eh :(  Another reason to come back! 

There is a small cafe and a lighthouse. But you can access it only between 1th June and 30th September via ferry.

Paseo Nuevo - fuck my life. Another thing which I haven’t seen! It’s a new promenade around the Urgull hill, starts in Kursaal, and finishes in the port. It’s famous for the photos with huge waves. Come on, it’s my element (no byłabym w swoim żywiole!). Who wants to join me?

Peine del Viento - one of the best-known works by sculptor Eduardo Chillida. If you wanna a postcard from Donostia, probably it will be with those sculptures. We were supposed to go there, it’s on the opposite side of the beach (Playa de Ondarreta) but we didn’t have enough time so we came back to the old town. AND if we had gone there, we would have seen also the island… so bad so bad JB. Those sculptures are so heavy and there is story behind them, but I’m not gonna write about it, not yet! I’ll go, I’ll explore, I’ll learn, I’ll take pictures, then I can tell you more - my version :D

So when we noticed that there is no time for the sculptures,  we went to eat pintxos, how it could be different. And to be honest we found finally cheap <more or less> and good ones! Oh yeah! So I recommend this place in San Sebastian - Bar Gorriti.

On the floor there were a lot of napkins so it had to be good! In this one you say what you want and the waiter will put it on the plate, what has to be served warm, he will give you in 2-3min. Here I tried txicoli, yeah, sparkling and sour. But the way how they serve it, look!

I took some bowl, it was warm pintxo and really good one! It was my favorite one I think. Inside there was kind of mixed meat, maybe some smashed potatoes and it was fried - recommend!

Next step was - to chill xD I could see so many things but what I did? I went to sleep on the beach xD It was really good siesta, I just lied down on the wall and I was enjoying my dreams. And from there we had a view on the surfers - this is surfing, not like in Valencia, minimal waves, no adrenaline, etc (but they do it in Valencia! lol).

When I wake up (15-20min, true afternoon siesta), I went to say goodbye to the ocean. Calm me baby.

Then the bus and let’s go to another city!

Zumaya

We went there only for like 45min. Why? There is an amazing view spot. Some scenes of Game of Thrones were recorded there (I don’t know which ones, I don’t watch it, sorry not sorry). But maybe you can guess from photos:

But it was the only place where was raining and was soooo f*ck… windy! Omg xD 

But it was worth it. You know, act like nothing is happening, just for photos, and then run away before you fall off. But amazing, amazing! Basque landscapes - wow!

zmokła kura.

Next city!

Bilbao 07.12.2018

We arrived when was dark already, so like always, just run away from the bus (because it stopped where it shouldn’t), take the luggage and enter the hostel. This time the hostel was more or less in the center so walking time (probably we would have walked even if it had been located somewhere outside xD). We had some time to prepare, do shopping, before leaving for botellon.

So we did. A good shopping. Just look xD We wanted to be prepared, not like in San Sebastian, just one beer. HE HE XDD

That night ESN prepared for us a dinner, like tortillas de patatas, chips chips chips, chorizos, jamones, etc.

After that we had some drinking games and then let’s go! Botellon spot was next to Guggenheim Museum - artistic botellon! And here will be the story of Bilbao xD

I left my phone in the hostel, because I’m with big group, we have a lot of vodka, just to be sure that I won’t lose it. The hostel had 3 doors to pass, entrance - code, room area - code, room - code. Better because we were 12 (!!!) in the room so impossible to share one key (like in San Sebastian). I hadn’t known that, and when receptionist saw me fighting with the “room area” door, he gave me a card with all codes and with the address of the hostel. I put it to the pocket with thinking - it will be useful. We (5 of us) started drinking during the way to botellon (you know, like there is no time). And yes, for 2 of us it was a little bit bad idea XD And when ESN said that we have to go to the club to enter before 2 (because for free), I decided to take a friend home, another 2 stayed, one left with ESN. So it was like 15min walking, more or less 2 big streets. To remind - I didn’t have my phone with me, and the other person phone didn’t work - wtf! Like just stopped, all apps from Google just stopped. We were left without a map… I just knew one street at the beginning and that’s all. So ok, we will ask on the streets. I even didn’t remember the hostel name xDDD Buuut yes, a had an address!!! <3 First person to ask - young dustman. When he showed me the map, I was like, fuck, we are lost already, after 10min we were somewhere else than we were supposed to be. Ok, he said, go straight and at the end ask someone else. But I really needed to use the toilet, like really. And then I saw some cafe in the middle of some park, it looked like private party, but the door was a little bit open, I entered like without touching, like I’m matching perfect to this open door hole. I said - HOLA, my instinct just knew were to go to find a bathroom, I used, I came back to that door, I said - ADIOS. Easy xD We asked again some people in this park about the way. Then we again asked some young guys, they look at the map and like - oooookeeeey, maybe we will take you there. They knew about crazy Erasmus life. They understood those feelings. We were walking walking walking, then they said that it’s at the end of the street. You even can’t imagine how happy we were. But then we were lost again xD My friend because of hiccup was hiding behind - glass lift xD when I was asking some group of old people (+60) about the hostel. They were like, it’s here… And then I look around, I noticed Carrefour (where we did our lovely shopping). I can not explain those positive emotions which I had that time… That happiness! When I entered the room, the rest of the group was sleeping already.. how?!?! We were walking for 1,5h hour… Love you Bilbao ;*

In the morning, breakfast, shower (we had 1 shower for 12 people, good luck), and let’s explore what we explored during the night. No idea how was our path. I tried my best, but yeah.. We went first to Guggenheim Museum. Ok, I was fascinated (I think first time) because I read a book of Dan Brown - Origin (Początek) last Christmas and there were some of the actions.

Solomon Guggenheim was crazy about abstract art, his flat started being to small for all his collection, so he set a foundation up and established museum - Museum of Non-Objective Painting. But the place was also too small. Frank Lloyd Wright designed a new building. When you think about museum, probably you think about old building, you know artistic, wow, photogenic, wow, art, wow, majestic! This one was different, was destroying all the well-known rules. The collection was growing and growing and in 80s the contemporary director Thomas Krens decided to set branches up. That time Bilbao was a dying city. There was an economic crisis, the big industrial companies crashed. The Basque government asked Krens to build of the branch in Bilbao, he asked Frank Gehr to construct it. It cost a lot of money, but was built on time and budget. Has it helped Bilbao? A lot! Maybe that’s why you know that city. ~9000 workplaces, during first 2 years more than 2 600 000 people visited the museum!

The building is made of titanium and glass. You can see there fish, flower or a sailing boat, depends from which side you are looking at (or how “creative” you are ;) ). Around the museum you can find:

Puppy - West Highland terrier, 13m, 16 tonnes, tens thousands of flowers.

Maman - “mummy”, spider, almost 10m, includes a sac with 32 eggs, meaning: mother’s protection - soft for children, dangerous for others - many interpretations.

Fire fountain - from time to time 5 fountains blast flames into the sky - I haven’t seen :/

Tulips - bunch of 7 large tulips (5m) like a baloons.

Tall Tree & The Eye - 73 reflective spheres, too deep to write.

Fog - it appears from time to time.

The entrance: 16e, 9e (students <26). Better to check the hours and if that day is open. 

We had a headphones with the guide (in english). You clicked the interesting number and you could hear the story. Take the map with you. 

It’s really big but accidentally I went first to the room with sculpture of THE MATTER OF TIME. For me it’s sooooo fascinating! It was in the book of Dan Brown and it’s not art which you should go deep in, like think why it looks like that, what the author thought, no! Richard Serra is known as an artist whose sculptures you can’t feel, you can’t get them with your eyes only, you can’t look at them and understand them. It’s all about physical feeling. When he started, people didn’t like his art, it was ugly for them. It’s impossible to show his sculptures on the photos, because they mean nothing then. You have to walk through them, they will work for you physically (no w sensie, że nie fizycznie odczujesz co ziomek chciał przedstawiać, zacznie Ci się kręcić, w głowie, albo jakieś inne takie efekty specjalne). Maybe you know those blocks in front of the Museum of Holocaust in Berlin? He designed them. On the photos - hmm you don’t know wtf, but when you walk through you should start feeling lonely, uneasy, lost. This art I appreciate :D So what about The matter of time? 8 sculptures, the lightest piece weights 44 tons and the heaviest 276 tons - wow - together - 1034 tons - wow! In the room next to it you can find everything explained and small version of it to have a better look at the construction.

After the previous night I was a little bit dizzy, but when I passed all those sculptures I wanted to die. It seriously works! It makes you dizzy, you feel like it’s closing you inside, you lose the orientation, you are lost in time. Maybe it’s better to visit this room at the end, to feel better during walking on the 2nd and 3rd floor.

One more room was quite interesting on the 1st floor. In the middle there were kind of bowels (flaki, wnętrzności, takie jelitka czy ciul wie co). In one corner just phone recording you and showing it on a big screen - lol. Kind of strange tent - no idea. Some flying big balloons, salt xD

And 3 figures of dogs. Here I listened to the record carefully but when the guide said that it’s Maria and Jesus.. well.. I changed the channel.

Next floors (2nd & 3rd) - omg so boring (sorry art lovers). Paintings, paintings… no sense, no feelings, no. Aaaaa and it was forbidden to take photos :/ I noticed it too late xD

But this painting... wtf ! Or there was one, totally black, with one white corner. No.

And then we went to eat! Pintxos, claro que si! We just were walking with ESN, but because the group was too big, we entered to the next bar. Also recommended! I liked it.

Plaza Albia

I saw that they also have those balls so I took one. Hmm it was different, not that delicious buuuuuut

The sauce was so so so f. spicy! But good at the same time, like you keep eating mmm it’s perfect, but when you stop... better to not stop XD

mniam mniam mniam!

Napkins on the floor!

Then we walked a little bit and decided to come back to the museum (there was our meeting point) and chill there.

Bilbao’s architecture:

Then we had a city tour with guys from ESN Bilbao so we learnt more about the city from true basque people :)

Beautiful sunset!

We decided to eat for a dinner CAROLINA! It’s like another basque dessert. But on our way we found bubble wafer which I always wanted to try in Krakow so... (szału nie ma dupy nie urywa).

And we found carolinas! In Poland we have something similar for winters and we call it - warm ice creams - ciepłe lody. Mniam :D

On our way to the hostel... we passed the street to the right and we noticed 10min later when we were on the top of the hill... Bilbao <3

So this night was our! Like finally we wanted to end up in the basque club! Por favor xD But this time we needed to take metro and walk a little bit (~40min in total) and we had botellon just in front of the club. But what it was a club! xDDD When we were walking from the metro we were like in the worst part of the city, between some industrial buildings, garages etc. Like wtf. And then we stopped on the parking, and we were playing games and drinking (more careful than the day before). When I asked ESN where is the club they showed closed door to one of the garages XD And yes, it was this, around midnight the door opened and you could see that this can be a club. How it was? Typical spanish club, maybe not enough of reggaeton and music to dance, like to many songs of electro something, but at all - not bad. I was thinking to walk to the hostel but when I saw the area and everything, nope, metro. Even taxi doesn’t go there xD And when we were waiting for the club, spanish people started arriving and it was like “village need for speed shows” XDD You know chicos in the cars showing their best screech of tyres (no powiedziałabym sądeckie dresy popisujące się paleniem opon, no poczułam się jak w Nowym Sączu przez chwilę).

So party in the North - checked. At least once xD

In the morning, zombie packing and let’s go to the next city!

Vitoria (Gasteiz) 09.12.2018

It’s a capital city of Basque Country (nope, not Bilbao). It’s not big one but it’s cute. We started next to the new cathedral, again we had a city tour with a girl from ESN Vitoria. It was a good tour!

This place is like social life center. During the summer old people (like +60) meet here to dance. It has to be so cute :D When I pass my 60 I’ll go to Vitoria to dance the whole night :D

This is the new cathedral. Why? Where is the old one? The old one was damaging and the city needed a cathedral so they build new one. But as I heard they are not proud of it - it’s ugly.

We started a sightseeing from a new part. Look at the architecture.

Iglesia de San Miguel

Plaza Nueva It’s like Sunday spot for locals. In the past it was a market place and bull arena. Now it’s a place to meet, grab a drink, etc. Every Sunday children come here to exchange with some posters, stamps, coins etc (pamiętacie wymianę karteczkami? XD).  

Plaza de los fueros Before it was Plaza de Abastos - for selling fresh products. New one exist for >30 years. Fuero - forum, open spacec used as market.

In basque cities they have a cool way to put the names of the streets. I like it.

In the wall on the right (second photo on the left) there is a girl. She was walled up and people say that you can hear her sometimes, well.

El Portalon c. XV, traditional basque food, not cheap one.

In Vitoria you can find some nice graffiti.

We finished out tour. Free time for food and it’s time to go back to Valencia. This time I’ll surprise you, for the lunch we ate - kebab! XDDD Because it’s big enough for 6h in the bus and it costs like 2 pintxos so.. xD

Then we walked throught the city, enjoying it last time.

Locals call it - pussy.

In the Florida parkea - the park - there was a kind of Bethlehem. We were looking or a Jesus like 15min xD asking locals if they know, they didn’t, but we found it, it was so hidden!

Nice pig XD

Like in Barcelona.

Sooo that’s all from basque cities. We took a bus to Valencia.

Super trip! I’ll come back, for sure to San Sebastian! Thank you guys! :D

And you did it, you survived till the end XD CONGRATULATIONS!

//whatHappenedInTheNorthStaysInTheNorth

#erasmus #trip #valencia #basque #pamplona #sansebastian #zumaya #bilbao #vitoria