Zdravo svima, olá a todos, hello everyone!!!
Sometimes it feels as if I'm gone forever, but it's not true. I've been busy, busy, busy, and that is wonderful, because I have been filling my EVS calendar with great moments and experiences.
For now, I'll do as the last time, some updates with dates and words. One day I'll have time to dedicate to post pictures that I hope you'll enjoy.
So, After coming back from Christmas holidays, all the work for the Youth Exchange "Youth for Nature" needed to be done. Finding a partner leader for Serbian group, sending out the call for participants, selecting participants... and finally starting with the preparatory meetings that in total were 5 and took place during February and March.
Getting to know each other, intercultural learning, preparation of ecological workshops for the Youth Exchange, that's what we did during those sessions at the Ekološki Centar in Sremski Karlovci.
On the 30th of January, Ti u ackiji had a very successful Living Library at the Centar za razvoj kariere e savetovanje studenata, at the University Campus.
And the day after we had our first, crowded and great Book Releasing Party, at Stara Frida, an event aiming to launch/activate "Book Crossing" in Novi Sad. For this, we had the colaboration of Matica Srpska, the National library in Novi Sad, that donated 100 books to Ti u ackiji for this purpose.
From 3rd to 14th of February I was a trainer in a Training Course of the Youth in Action programme, that I mentioned on my previous post. The experience was quite strange, being the group a bit unusual for this kind of actions, because of the unexperience. All in all, there were some learning outcomes, but much less concerned to the aims of the training than expected.
To make it even a bigger challenge, I twisted my right ankle and partialy broke its ligaments. So, I came back to Novi Sad with "gips" on my leg (the white, hard thing).
In Novi Sad, there was so much snow! And my dear friends took very good care of me. I had to sleep at their place, first at Manue and Carmen's and then at Carmine and Irene's, because it was so close to the Klinica from Doctor Vladimir Galetić. This was a doctor that I found through a friend that adviced me, and that took care of me for the last 2 months. He was the doctor of Yugoslavia's national football team before 1992.
There was another Living Library in Radio Café, Novi Sad, on the 16th February, and another in Arka Barka, Belgrade, followed by a Book Releasing Party, on the 22nd.
Unfortunatly, I couldn't join Ti u ackiji for the Living Libraries in the south of Serbia, in Kruševac and Leskovac, because my movements were limited and I had to go everyday to therapy.
Then, Austria, Tulln. I was invited to represent Rota Jovem in a Training Course about Group EVS, from the 8th to the 14th of March. It was great to have this chance to meet more people, specially dedicated to Youth Work, Youth in Action and EVS. And it was a wonderful opportunity to share my experience as ex short term group EVS volunteer, in the World Sailing Games 2006, Neusiedl am See, Austria, and member of the coordinating team of short term group EVS, in the World Sailing Championship 2007, Cascais, Portugal.
Between meetings from Ti u ackiji and preparation for the Youth Exchange together with participants, a lot of fun and enjoyment, good company, snow...
From the 22nd to the 24th of March, Tania visited Serbia for the first time, for the Advanced Planing Visit of Youth for Nature. Short, full, exausting, but very rewarding and with good results.
Meanwhile, a report to write, from the training in Mostar... stress, some frustration... but somehow it was done.
And starting the practical preparations for the Exchange, first shopping for material and food, last meeting with participants...
Macedonia hosted the EVS Mid-term evaluation meeting, from the 30th of March to the 3rd of April. It felt a bit useless to spend my time there, when I had so much to do for the Exchange. But it was still worth it, because of metting again some people that I've met in the past months, and other new people. There was time to enjoy the sun, the lake, the walks... I was even inside the freezing lake!
Back to Novi Sad, a whole lot of stuff to think about, to organize, to do...
And then... going to Belgrade's airport on the 5th of April, to welcome the Portuguese particants of Youth for Nature.
A week full of new experiences, laughter, music (guitars and singing), remembering the Portuguese taste of food (cheese, chourico, ovos moles, pao alentejano, folar da Páscoa...) and sharing Serbian tastes (gibanica, plazma, eurokrem...)
Walking to Fruška Gora, making barbeque, playing games, sharing ideas about environmental protection, sharing challenges with team leaders (no water for 2 days), and above all, learning and enjoying each moment as the most precious in life, because that's how I feel it. Each moment a gift.
Now I've been planning the last travelling before the end of EVS. Luís will join on the 10th of May and together with Manue we'll go to Istambul, Bulgaria and Romania, from the 11th to the 22nd of May.
It's still not a concret date, because the flights were sold out and Cláudia is trying to help me with finding a good soluntion, but around the 30th of May I'll be landing home... :)
Until then, keep in touch and feel my hug
Always grateful,
Natureza
15 years ago
