東歐

我們來到了歐洲，那個想像中最夢幻、最浪漫的區域。但等等，我們先從東歐講起，那可能就與想像的歐洲有點不一樣了。在聯合國的定義下，東歐總共有10個國家，其中某一個國家深深影響了另外9個，那就是俄羅斯。二戰後，東歐共產主義興起，不是曾經成為蘇聯加盟國，就是加入以波蘭為首的華沙公約組織。蘇聯解體後，東歐才緩步踏上其他歐洲國家的改革步伐。 在東歐，有些國家選擇繼續和俄羅斯親近，有些國家則頭也不回的加入北約和歐盟，更有些國家還找不到方向，在親俄和親歐之間搖擺不定。這裡是東歐，一個剛擺脫舊時代，準備找回屬於自己路線的地方。

We have arrived in Europe, the most magical and romantic region in our imagination. But wait, we are starting from Eastern Europe where the picture is slightly different from the imaginary Europe we usually envision. According to the United Nations, a total of 10 countries comprise Eastern Europe, with a single country that exerts tremendous influence over the remaining nine, Russia. After World War II, communism emerged in Eastern Europe with these countries either becoming a constituent of the Soviet Union, or joining the Warsaw Treaty Organization headed by Poland. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Eastern Europe finally began to slowly follow the path of reform that the other European countries had taken much earlier. 

Some Eastern European countries chose to maintain close ties with Russia, while others headed straight for the protections of NATO and the European Union without looking back. But there are still some that cannot decide and waver between being pro-Russia or pro-Europe. This is Eastern Europe: countries newly emerging from an old era and eager to embark on their own paths forward.