From April 13th to 17th, I took part in a Mid Training seminar, traveling there on my own, with a short stop in Warsaw along the way.
This training came at a right moment. Six months have already passed since the beginning of my project halfway through! It felt like a natural point to pause, reflect on what has been done, and begin to think more clearly about what comes next.
The seminar itself created a space for reflection. Through a series of personal and collective activities, we were invited to look back at our experiences, to become more aware of our present situation, and to start imagining possible futures. It wasn’t about finding clear answers, but rather about asking the right questions: What do I want to keep? What do I want to change? What matters to me now?
We also worked on identifying our values, expectations, and ambitions, while sharing practical tools to support both personal and professional development. The atmosphere was open and supportive, largely shaped by the presence of the trainers, who were attentive and available throughout the week.
One of the most valuable aspects of this experience was the group itself. I met people deeply involved in cultural and social initiatives !!people who create, organize, and take initiative in their own contexts!! Being surrounded by that kind of energy allowed for meaningful exchanges and a sense of engagement.
Beyond the training, this experience also deepened my understanding of social life abroad. I’ve come to realize how much I value calmness and a certain form of serenity in human relationships. I’ve learned to appreciate silence, not as an absence, but as a space where connections can exist without needing to be constantly filled. Relationships seem to grow differently here, often through a more mature presence, through deeper conversations, and more thoughtful exchanges. It makes me want to build social bonds that carry meaning, rather than just surface interactions.
Alongside these moments of reflection, we explored the city through a series of activities, including a treasure hunt that led us through museums and local stories. It offered another way of connecting to the place through its history and its cultural layers.
Exhibition / Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu
On a more personal level, this time away also brought a clearer understanding of my own needs. Stepping out of Krakow made me realize how important it is for me to find a balance between a rich cultural environment and a calmer, more spacious daily life. A setting that allows both stimulation and focus. I also had the chance to visit exhibitions at the contemporary art center and the city gallery, which offered a rich and diverse overview of the local artistic scene. These visits were particularly inspiring, allowing me to discover different approaches and to reconnect with visual practices in a meaningful way.
Conversations with other participants also highlighted the complexity of this kind of experience. While each of us faces different challenges, there is a shared sense that this project encourages growth, particularly in terms of adaptability, self-awareness, and the ability to navigate uncertain situations.
Alongside this 6 months experience, I’ve also been developing a personal website where I share experimental content that reflects these first six months in Krakow. https://coralineazabertheau.net/ Rather than focusing strictly on work or productivity, this space gathers fragments of my experiences, emotions, and perceptions, a way of documenting this period more intuitively. In parallel, I keep a notebook where I record the events I attend, traces of daily life that slowly build a broader narrative of this time abroad.
*** /// I will continue the next 6 months with a clearer perspective \\\ ***
