What makes a city feel like home? Initially, I wanted to write a story about Warsaw, to share the city through my own perspective. And I will – spoiler alert – but not this time. Instead, I want to reflect on something bigger. In my opinion, Warsaw is a great place to live, even with…
Author: Danka Markovic
Seven years of living in Poland: Part I
This November marks seven years since I moved abroad to Poland for work. I landed the night before my twenty-sixth birthday (always making somewhat of a big entrance). At the time, I knew only a few facts I remembered from my history and political science classes, and not a single word of Polish. Originally, the…
Reflections on World Mental Health Day
Yesterday was World Mental Health Day, so it is time to take something from my head and my phone notes and write about it here. Why is it that when someone breaks a leg, we treat it as an emergency and instinctively show compassion, but when it comes to mental health issues, many of us…
Embracing Change, Letting Go, and what happens in between
It’s been a minute since I last wrote something. August was chaotic, but fun. Just when I got the hang of brat summer, it was already ending. Now, September is here: very mindful, very demure, and one of my favourite months. Since childhood, I have always looked forward to September. To this day, for me,…
My Year of Restlessness and Relaxation
Restlessness is, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful words in the English language. My whole life has been defined by the inability to stay calm, to stay still – not out of nervousness, but from the curiosity about what comes next. Where will the journey take me? Always on the lookout, constantly…
Breaking free from titles
God knows I want to break free. Break free from the unbearable summer heat and the mosquitoes buzzing around, no matter how welcomed the season is. Break free from the expectation that this should be the most amazing summer. Break free from expectations altogether. Break free from everything I am supposed to be. Break free…
The unexpected adventure: 30, flirty and (not) thriving
When this elder millennial was growing up, the internet was still a novelty. (Gasp!) But for real – tell me how old are you, without telling me how old are you..I’ll go first – remember dial up? Squeaking phone noise and the cheesy pop soundtracks of the 2000s TV shows and romantic comedies. And suddenly…
This Must Be the Place: Tale of Two Cities
I was never the person who saw her life living in one place. From a young age, the idea of settling down in one city felt confining. There was always a part of me that was curious, chasing the thrill of new experiences, people, and opportunities. As fate would have it, my life has become…
The Truth About Job Searching in 2024
I recently had a conversation with a friend about job searching. Even though she is currently employed, like most of us, she is no stranger to browsing LinkedIn, always on the look out for new potential opportunities, and clicking that Easy Apply button. Despite her extensive experience and finding jobs where she is a near-perfect…
My Journey Through Imposter Syndrome
Have you ever felt like you are not good enough? Felt like a fraud? That you are only faking it, while everyone else has made it? Doubted all your accomplishments and your worth? Dismissed your success as the result of good timing or sheer dumb luck? If so, take a seat. Holy motherforking shirtballs, this…