Deep thick forests; charming villages; vast wetlands; war monuments; beautiful women; amazing artists; birth place of painter Marc Chagall; unforgettable Minsk circus; spectacular ballet; warm people; vodka; delicious sour cream; controversial news about Belarusian politics in the international media; lack of litter and graffiti in streets; a plethora of orthodox churches. All these words and images pop up in my mind, when I reminisce about my numerous visits to Belarus during recent years.

In 2007, I spent more than two months in Minsk taking an intensive Russian language course and had the opportunity to get to know Belarusians firsthand. Their extremely warm hospitality and generosity won my heart. People often ask me, “Why would anybody ever want to travel to Belarus?” To that I respond, “Go and seek the answer to that question yourself.”