I was wondering.. If I was still in Poland, if I didn't meet Mike, if I wasn't crazy enough to do all the things I did, would I be the same person? Would I be an artist, a photographer, a wife? (There is no way that on this Earth there is a man as naive as Mike who would marry me:)). I've learned so much about myself, sometimes the hard way. Suddenly I had to know what I wanted to do, where I wanted to be, what my goals were, and find a way to do it. I have a feeling that if I stayed in Warsaw I wouldn't be able to follow my dreams. I wouldn't have enough courage, which I have now only thanks to Mike. I wouldn't have the possibility to go to school, meet all these great photographers and learn from them, and what is most important, find and develop my own voice as a photographer. Here being unique, different, and having your own style is a plus. In Pl is not quite the same. Over there most people don't encourage you, support, give you advice or help. They only know how to criticize and put you down. It's already hard to believe in yourself when you see all these amazing pictures everywhere done by everyone but you. And then hearing all this negativity... It just hurts that this is the way people choose to live there. They need to improve their self- esteem by insulting others. I am kind of glad I am out of there. I am not strong enough like some of my friends to keep going in spite of this. Here I am given advice, support, ideas, and help. It's just nice when you can talk to someone and hear constructive, productive, and helpful advice. Even people with big names don't behave like they're gods of photography. You can always talk to them over a coffee or just email and they will always find a minute to give you something back. Just because that's the way people are here. I like it.
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