Day 1
Ironically, every good story carries a single burden—and no, it’s not the weight of the blissful “and they lived happily ever after” ending. The secret ingredient of a truly meaningful tale is a good backstory.
And the one I’m about to tell you is real—filled with hope for something new, something completely unknown. But why?
A thrill.
The thrill felt with every song that touches hearts; the thrill of two lovers’ faces; the thrill of a soul burning for knowledge; the thrill of seeing a shooting star; the thrill of a mother’s tear; the thrill of the rhythm of the rails; the thrill of stepping into a country new to you; the thrill of gazing at the blue sky, the stars holding hands…
And so begins our step beneath the European flag—ready for the adventure that awaits us in the coming days.
Our meeting with all the (almost) unfamiliar faces took place at the National STEM Center. Yes, the snowstorm raced against the timid voice of introduction and a trembling handshake—but it couldn’t outrun our shared laughter.
Giggles marked the beginning of our adventure, blurring the line between just a team and the start of a shared story—a memory of the thrill of a new dawn, a sight unseen by our eyes until now, but stubborn—ready to break every wall for the sake of satisfying the simple soul.
And of course, we messed up on the very first day. Sofia felt small to us, but the road between the café at NDK and the Diplomatic Institute certainly didn’t. Even the metro couldn’t save us from running after the ticking clock.
And I turned out to be the unlucky one—walking in heels at 6 km/h. Every drop of sweat, every dry mouth, every burning leg, and every “Ozanova” joke was worth it once we arrived at the Diplomatic Institute.
We were welcomed in the “Antarctica” Hall. Our lecturers opened for us—a bunch of small adults—a huge door:
Diplomacy – the art of peace.
The interest was indescribable, the questions—many, and the answers—satisfying our hunger for knowledge. The visit laid the foundation for the how.
How and why are we here now? Thanks to peace, to balance—the force that heals the human essence—and to the very purpose for which we are placed on this earth: to survive, whatever it takes.
With smiles and laughter we returned, our thirst for knowledge quenched, but not our hunger. Truly, some of our group were running on nothing but the sleepless night spent over rails and wheels.
With the first bite, our appetite grew—as did the chatter that drowned out clinking glasses and dishes. We were lucky to celebrate seven birthdays, sharing in others’ joy, because by now we were no longer strangers—we were a fellowship.
And now, late at night, not knowing how to turn on the light on the second floor, I—Bel, Danina, and Petar—are writing, editing, and sealing the prologue of our adventure.
Belinda Yakub Mehmed
00:55, 10.10
Sofia, Bulgaria
