The author of this epistolary masterpiece was born in the snowy night of December 19th, in 1981 in Donetsk. As you have probably guessed, I am obliged to my parents for this remarkable event.

It is possible to characterize both my childhood and adolescence as happy years. Certainly, there were some difficulties and messes in my life, but, in fact, I did not have to overcome serious problems or to deal with tragedies.

As soon as I learnt to walk, I also learnt to skate. In far Soviet times the Sport Palace “Druzhba” welcomed not only Valeriy Leontiev and Anatoliy Kashpirovskiy, but there was also a big ice rink. There I was training for 5 years until the ice on the rink melted completely. Till now my heart gives a start when I watch performances of my favourite skaters, who skillfully show difficult elements on the glassy surface. Till now I sigh: " May be, I could do that … ".

Already in a children's garden I demonstrated the signs of genius, with enthusiasm running empirical experiments on my little friends. After one of garden’s naughty children began to reveal his attention to me with a help of well-known method of pulling out the hair, I analyzed the situation and decided to use a counter-measure, which was laying down the huge toy lorry on the head of unlucky fellow.

In many respects, it is pleasant for me to recall my school (school ¹92, now - gymnasia of the Kirovsky district, which I entered in 1987) due to my first teacher Natalia Ivanovna . This wonderful lady taught us not to cram and not to give in to difficulties, but to think and to solve emerging problems. The whole our class had high results, and the relations between the classmates were also very close and friendly.

After five years of such an idyll (it is necessary to mention that I studied "normally" in contrast to many others. I didn’t "jump" over the fourth class) I voluntary decided to go to A-class which had profound study of English language. For this purpose I had the tutor for about half a year, then I passed examination and was accepted in a new surrounding. Here I met the first difficulties, first of all with English. My level of it was high enough, but not regular and compressed studies had their effect. Only about in a year I began to feel comfortably on the English lessons. From the eighth class we began to study also German, and after the ninth class our school even organized a trip to Germany, which appeared to be very fascinating. In last classes the pressure on learning of English strongly increased (to the detriment of some other subjects like chemistry, physics, biology, geography). The new subjects appeared: "The English literature", "The history of Britain", "Business English". The level of my own English also improved. In the eleventh class I tool the first place on regional Olympiad, and I was extremely proud of myself.

Simultaneously with the beginning of school life, I started to learn to play a piano, which I combined with playing on my neighbours’ nerves. At first, music school #3 kindly gave me a shelter, then school #8 welcomed me, when it was opened nearby. At both schools I had great teachers. First one was very kind woman, and in general the atmosphere at lessons was home like. Second one was a very interesting person, and I could even share with her my first poetic experience and discuss the problems of the main heroes of "The X files". Now I have a beautiful German piano at home, which, to my large regret, can be heard quite seldom. However the hope that once I will appreciate seven years which I spent in music school have not yet died.

During the last year of school several my classmates amd I began to participate in the program of Donetsk Youth Debate Centre "Debates", which allowed schoolchildren and students to discuss political and philosophical problems of the present days. That year our team became the winner of the regional competition in English-speaking group. Later, on the first year of university studies, another student of our faculty and I took the second place on the regional competition among high schools of Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

I finished school with a gold medal, which suited my charming evening dress perfectly.

The problem of choosing the university was solved automatically. It should have become the Donetsk State Technical University, where my parents studied. Economic faculty was the closest to my interests. As I did not want to lose acquired in school level of English, after the first year I passed the examination to enter so-called "English department", and I taken in group IE99à. During four years, which I spent with my groupmates a lot of things changed both in them, and in me. With some of them I managed to establish good relations immediately, with some of them I could do it much later. I know a lot about some of them and nothing about others. But I am glad, that I met each of them. Together we had millions of joyful, ridiculous and tragical moments (tragical were failed exams, certainly). I remember, how we missed lessons, how we got nervous before examinations, how we played words game during lessons, how we helped each other with cribs, how sad good-byes were, and how joyfully welcomes were. My relations with the teachers developed rather smoothly, just as with their subjects.

In the middle of the first year of studies I became a member of a non-government organization English Club Unique. At first I just wanted to have the opportunity to communicate in English in an informal environment, but with time the English Club turned into an essential part of my life. Here I taught English to a group of teenagers, here I celebrated traditional and some unusual holidays, here I meet some extraordinary people, and I dropped in here after the lessons. With English Club Unique and with other organization mentioned above (the Debate Center) I participated in many projects and programs, visited such seminars as "Human rights and civil initiative", "Leadership", "Projects writing", "Healthy way of living", "The Youth - for the future of Ukraine", was a trainer of the program "Children rights" in Slavianogorsk.

In the beginning of the fifth year I have decided to increase my practical knowledge and I went for a two months internship to Poland, where I worked in the international transport company "C.Hartwig-Katowice S.A. ". This trip appeared to be not only useful, but also pleasant. I got acquainted with functions of several departments of the company, mastered slightly Polish language and finally understood conditions of deliveries Incoterms 2000. I also got many new friends and visited several most beautiful cities of the country.

I chose the topic of my master thesis "Currency regulation and control in Ukraine" for several reasons: first, I conducted practice in Donetsk branch of "Ukrainian Export-Import Bank" and thus found out about some problems and restrictions existing in Ukrainian bank system; secondly, having accidentally chosen this topic for a report, I got interested when I found out, that Ukrainian exporters and importers have to take into account great number of aspects concerning currency legislation while realizing international business activities.

It's very difficult to talk about future plans especially taking into account that such plans often collapse because of the suddenness of human life. Of course, I would like to write a book, to shoot a film, to do a scientific discovery and to get into contact with nonterrestrial civilization. But this is only one thing I am sure about: in the nearest future I want to achieve a definite success in my professional life. May be I will try myself in different working spheres. I don't want to look ahead into more distant future. I hope that I will walk through a lot of good and evil days, and that I will joyfully meet the first ones and with dignity - the second.

Yours faithfully,

Victoria.