4 months of doing EVS / PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

I have to clear 3 questions once. They may sound stupid, I do not CARE. I can't keep it inside my head anymore. I'll post it/ say it straightforward like no one will read it! I hate being judged by others. I hate "hating". We do not realize but at some point we all judge / compare / estimate everything and everybody. WHY?

I bumped into this (see the picture below) during one afternoon walk in Turenki. Well done :)

1.Why is it kind of... hard for me to be happy? 

2. Why Do I trouble so much about other people's opinion on me? 

3. Why do I need them to like me here and now?

The answers:

• - I critisize myself that I have to be better and try harder;
• - I'm not satisfied of my results and productivity;
• - I'm afraid something bad happens everytime I feel happy
• - I'm fatalist sometimes and can't help it :(
• - others (will) think I'm not serious or do not care much;
• - I've treated badly in my life, unrespected;
• - I've lost little bit of trust in positive living in this cruel world

2.&3.

• - because I don't want to disappoint others;
• - because I'm a "social creature" /Aristotle/ and need someone's affection;
• - I'm afraid of being rejected and left behind; /do not tell me "go home.take the next flight"
• - I'm afraid of being criticized, JUDGED, or described;
• - I've spent some tough time on my own;
• - I'm afraid there's no one waiting for me or helping me;
• (I need to make sure this is not the case in Finland. I have to trust in people again! The main problem occurs from the fact that I don't believe in myself sometimes. So, it makes it hard to believe in others. I need to trust other people more and accept their help! Indeed, in Janakkala I see some people really care. Not just because this is their job. I believe it's their native attitude, professional/personal experience and understanding). 

Finally, STOP thinking about what other people think about you! Just be a good person, don't hate what you don't understand, don't judge but silently accept it and let them live however and think whatever they want. Do no harm even when you know that at the end the love I receive is not equial to the love I've given and vise versa. 

Shortly, I'm grateful. I must be no matter what. I mean all the basic needs here are provided for a healthy life in general. The problem with me is that I'm not sure I can manage the means and opportunities I have been given because I'm not experienced enough. I don't want to be perfect. This is insane, impossible, and worthless. I simply need to be needed. So put myself together and focus on what can at least try to do as a volunteer. This is my biggest concern 2016. These are my Rules 2016:

Funny Finnish Language Lab

Here is a short video of what Finnish 
language sounds like to me sometimes:

To be continued soon... Have fun...

Happy very merry Christmas and
successful new 2016 :)

EVS 2015 Reflection

 Moikka!

It's three months of doing EVS since I came in Tirenki (Janakkala), Finland. Time flies! It has hapened a lot so far, so I can surely say that my life has definitely been changed in some better and more positive way by all the children, teenagers, and teachers I met.

Firstly, I understood need to trust people more and accept their help. Indeed, in Janakkala, regarding school work, learning process, and teenagers' free time, I see that the people really care and work hard for better results. Not just because this is their job. I believe it's their native attitude, professional and personal experience and understanding. I'm grateful I can learn from professionals. Actually, on one side are the teachers, youth workers I met, try to help, and observe their work; on the other are all the young people (from preschool to lukio) I meet every day here. 

I'm happy to be in schools and around the students. Spending the time in three different schools and youth center Satama taught me that the biggest  and most demanding part of "my volunteering work" is to listen and let the others to talk and teach me how, what, when, or maybe why. I observed that younger students, especially preschoolers, 1st and 2nd grareds learn better when there is someone extra person like me to pay additional attention on them.

For example, they become more curious to speak to me and eager to learn and practice in English, maths, or doing some art or trying some crafty thing. I really do assure them they are good in English, because they really are. Having a "blackout poetry" class with 8th graders from Turenki is the most confident proof for that. It also shows, that I presented something very new, original, and educational to Finnsh students, which made us all happier, more excited and satisfied of doing an entertaining and educational task in English. It was my real time of being a teacher, who presents totally new subject, mentors and facilitate the class.

Additionally, I am very touched by the students and teachers from one small school I've visited recently. In near future, I would welcome every opportunity to work with them again. I don't know them very well still and I maybe don't know how serious and special their learning or personal needs are but at some moment I wanted to ask some of the head teachers if I could work there for real, so I can work with those students. I would say that to all the teachers and students I will be meeting during my EVS project because I'd like to work for better educational, social and healthy life for young people, and because I want a meaningful professional development.  

Also, I went to my first autumn camp with teenagers and youth leaders in Mallinkainen in October. It was great that we could talk for any changes, if  any issues occur can discuss, compromise and find common language. We speak different languages but there's always a way for common understanding. Mallinkainen camp showed me that a lot of patience, energy, and open-mindness are needed for understanding other's point. I've learned to regard positively all the difficulties I might encounter in future. I will smile and try to stay entirely wide open-minded.

Last, but not least, maybe the most important thing indeed that I'm highly glad about it is that I already know some of the full names of the youngsters, who visit the youth center I work. We just look at each other quickly, smile shyly, and I wrote their name in a notebook. I know little bit about them. I wish they knew me too.

Shortly, volunteering so far around three schools, autumn camp, and youth centers is helping me with answering to my questions:

What is my mission?                                       

Can I do that as a volunteer?
How and Can I make a difference? 

What does it mean to make a difference?
So, I simply know: the more I practice the better I can manage in my future tasks.  

Kiitoksia,
Monika B

Living in Finland - 3 months

Have you ever loved something without understanding it? Unreservedly...? This is my relationship with the Finnish language. Yes, I came to Finland to figure it out. I'm now making some fun of my learning process and continue to guess the words' meaning and usage while eventually my I end up following my imagination. For example, when I watch tv I make up some parts of the conversations or commercials I don't get. It's funny but still difficult to unredstand ALL the words they say :( But WHO DOES?

I signed up for a new Suomi language course. It will get tough... :|

Close my eyes, wish myself good luck like I'm taking live-saving pill and dive in the deep!

Nähdään pian!

Leppäkosken koulu / Haukankallion koulu

My very first week at Leppäkosken koulu / Haukankallion koulu was from 5.10 - 9.10.2015.
I'm now happy to be back there! (don't feel good phisically though, flu and muscle pain, tired, coughing a lot. All that means we should try to be best at our worst, not giving up!)

I don't know why but I really missed the students somehow. I'm curious to go back and see their reactions. In fact, I'm bit dissapoined that my schedule has been changed and now I'll spend a week in Leppäkoski instead of two /according to older timetable/. I mean two or more weeks in a row at school for instance will develop better connection between teachers, students, and me. Simply because we will have little bit more time to send together.

In Leppakoski I learned that the biggest  and most demanding part of "my volunteering mission" is to listen and let the others to talk and teach me how, what, when, or maybe why. It is strange because I've always wanted to be heard, which is the reason to be become a teacher (preacher?!).
I realized maybe it is the opposite. To the botom line:

In reggards to "my mission", I want to share my impacts from my first week at Leppäkosken koulu/Haukankallion koulu in Leppäkoski. 

I am very touched by the students I met in Leppäkoski and I would welcome every opportunity to work with/for them and their teachers again. I don't want to exaggerate (it was only my very first days with them. I don't know them very well unfortunately. I really don't know how serious and special their needs are) but at some moment I wanted to ask some of the head teachers if I could work there for real! No really, I would say that to all the teachers and students I will be meeting during my EVS project because I want to assure my future and find a meaningful professional development. Oh, In one sentence: I'm looking for a job in education or non-profit section in Finland. I said it finally. 

In general, being in Leppäkoski for a week hepled me with answering to my questions:

What is my mission?                                       

Can I do that as a volunteer? 

How and Can I make a difference? 

What does it mean to make a difference?

I received my answers on Friday, Oct.9 :) Here a long version:
The school has organized an outdoor event in the forest near small lake (Riihtu? I can't remember:/) where all can celebrate the beggining of the Autumn Holiday "burning"/"smoking" some sausage, lihapiirakka pies (Lihapiirakka I love them! Maмо, you have to bake some!), or keksi. I'm sayng literally burning and smoking because this is what the students did and deffinitely had a great deal of fun, chasing in the forest, moving trees from one of the trails, some runny noses, and lots of smilies! In the end my clothes smelled like burned/smoked wood, because I stayed close to the fire to warm my frozen hands:)

You should ALWAYS USE YOUR THUMB to track

The answers now: On the way to the lake, one of the teachers (Tiina) told me they needed me to stay for longer (Sari also told me, the students hadn't met a foreigner before and they are curious), so we can get used to each other, our personalities and interests with the students, so they will know me better. Tiina said that one of her students (the sweet little girl, Henna:)) told her: "Tiina, now I have to learn to speak English, so I can talk to Monika!". The most important fact that Tiina noticed is that now Henna has a real personal reason/desire to learn a new language and before that Henna just had no choice because of the school curriculum. This is making a difference, isn't it!! Henna has changed her mind for new positive experience. This is perfect! I'm speechless! This is the best thing to know!

 

Next We were Back at school at noon for a "smelly toilet game" (like a Hangman, but the more mistakes you make with letters or words, the closer you get to getting into the picture of the "smelly outdoor toilet") and short story about Jali ja suklaatehdas (nothing is the same in Finnish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl & illustartions by Quentin Blake. They are just awesome. I found some of their educational reading/writting activities I will use for my master thesis). 




So, before we went to the classroom Aato, 5th grader, came to me and said: I like you Monika!
For some seconds I didn't know what to say, put myself together quickly, smilled and replied: Great! I like you too! Hight five! So unexpected... or maybe not. Maybe our friendship has begun in the forest when he walked next to me and told me he hated the stupid boy in front of us. (Hmm, surprise) I replied: sometimes you don't like something or someone but don't hate. Don't hate. It's useless.


Why not daring to be different? Love what you hate when you don't want it!
Thank you, all for the greatest lessons in my life!
M.Б.

8th Graders' "Blackout poetry"

8th greaders from Turengin Yhteiskoulu wrote their "blackout poems" on Thursday, week 46. For the very first time I think*. It was my real time of being a teacher, who presents totally new subject, mentors and facilitate the class. Funny, but No black markers had been used at all because we didn't have any in the classroom for some strange reason.
(What an irony. Life is full of irony sometimes.)

Now, I think it is more correctly to say: here are the pictures of students' literature and art works. At first we all wonder what? how? to start, but once you do it, you can't stop getting papers with new textts from teacher's desk. I was kind of strange and very unusual practice for the students. 

Indeed, we found out some really deep statements and some totally surprising (very personal maybe) facts from 8th grade students of age 13-15 after "blackout poetry" class. I haven't expect that from 14-years old. It just showed me how less I know about the secret life of teenagers. After the class they had a chance to upload their "poems" on the official world wide website http://newspaperblackout.com/submit where people from all around the world take pics and upload their works. Please look at the
Turenki students' art works here:

"PEOPLE NEVER LEARNED TO UNDRESTAND HIM THE WAY I DO" from "To Kill A Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee

"WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IT, HE SAID, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD  REMEMBER A WHOLE NIGHT. "DO YOU REMEMBER, OH YOU WERE SENDING RINGS TO A GOD"

Peonies and Forget-Me-Nots by Georgi Gospodinov

Translated from Bulgarian by Magdalena Levy and Alexis Levitin

“And Other Stories”, translated by Alexis Levitin and Magdalena Levy, Northwestern University Press, 2007

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY STARS CAN SEE TIRED PEOPLE WE CAN BE WINNERS IN OUR PLACE /from "Love is a dog from hell" by Bukowski

DEEP LAUGH CAN SAVE BAD MORNING / from "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien

CAT'S TALK ABOUT BOXES WHO WORK IN EARTH GOD SEE ALL PURPOSE CERTAINLY IN WORLD; YOU'RE MEAN ON A PARK WITH THE GODS, NIGHTS WITH FIRE FIGHT /from "Cat's cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut

                                 

"I'M HAPPY BROKEN OUT OF WIZARD PRISON AND I WISH THE BOY COULDN'T KNOW THAT AT THIS VERY MOEMENT HIS TIME WAS WOKEN NOT KNOWING SMALL THINGS THAT HAPPEN UNDER THE INKY SKY" /from "Harry Potter" by J.K. Rowling

The students indeed acted like artists who write and writers who draw, sketch, or paint. They made their "poems" pictures and created pictures, which can still be read. I'd like to THANK YOU so much for the great work you've done for me!!! for your entire attention on me, dear students. I'm very greatful to the teacher Anu-Maria, who trusted me and agreed that we should try Austin Kleon's way. 

Here, I'll briefly try to sum up the benefits of using "blackout poems" for teaching language or literature in mother tongue or second language:

1. grammar check-up

2. word order practice

3. improving vocabulary

4. reading comprehention

5. developing writting skills

6. better collaboration with teacher

7. will to practice more/start again. If you think you've made a mistake, you can always start with another piece of text.

8. increases curiosity. New ideas and Questions come up more often. What to do? How to do? This way or another?

9. usefully spent time in class

10. soft skills development - when present the work on a stage or in front of the class

11. critical reading (?)

12. getting new ideas out of "scribling"

13. works for first or second/foreign language classes and art classes

14. teacher and students get to know more about each others' personality, interests, views in life in general.

15............................................. 16............................................. 17. more.................................?

I think we should definitely try it with other students! I cannot wait!

*I'm somewhat surprised they haven't tried before or that the teachers are not aquainted much (or not at all). So, I'm actually very lucky and feel great that I had the chance to show them something new, modern, very alternative independent, quite open-minded way of reading and writing at once, very popular from USA, something educational, thought-provoking, non-traditional, and interesting. (I know no semi-colons anywhere, but check what Kurt Vonnegut said about it. So, I follow his view)

                                   *  **     **  *     **  *    **  *    ***    **  *    **  *    ** *
AUSTIN KLEON
BE CREATIVE !
IDEAS ! ! !

Tove Jansson in November

I feel such respect to all of you (in alphabetical order: A, J, K, L, M, S, S) that I'm almost scared and afraid not to disappoint anyone! I'm like a child between the awe and fear, respect and reverence of the parents' influence, importance, and maybe control...

I repeat now like Peter Pan "I believe, I believe" there are still some good people in this world. On Wednesday I received 6 presents at once! I'll keep them as my most valuable treasure. It is so strange... And soft moist delicious smooth mango/strawberry cake, and it was Wednesday, the middle of the week:) I dont know what to say but "thank you"...

It was late in the autumn in Finland...

М.Б

Youth work. Carefully consider teenagers' life

This week I'm trying to help with preparing some decorations (and decorating maybe) for Halloween at the youth center I voluntery work. But I think I went a little bit far with some of my ideas that now I realize that I should consider more carefully some situations and young people around me. The thing is that I do not know them well, so I can understand if anything troubles them why and what. I'm trying to say that you never know about bumping into other people's skeletons from their closet. Especially, when you're involved in working with some vulnerable teenagers around. I feel bad I do not speak Finnsh and can't approach them anyway in their native language. Because as Nelson Mandela said:

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

I want to talk from my heart and there must be another way to do it! That way is ART in my case. I can't help it. For me ART is more bearable than life and its disgusting true hard reality sometimes. There is a lot of dying and death in my old skrap art trials but this is my way to conquer personal pain and lost of beloved ones. I protest and mock over prosaic daily life by art. Also, I know I can't keep my black sense of humor inside. It is unfortunately, very often misunderstood.

To the second botom line of this entry:

On Monday (Oct, 26th) I painted some fakе styrofoam "gravestone" and then I think I went a little bit (a little bit!) far into tricky, weird, or spooky Halloween spirit, painting "see you soon" on it, when there are some quite young people sick enough with their difficult life and probably don't need such mocking over life anyway. I apologize if I offended anyone. I did not mean ti at all.

However, I painted something for the first time since 2 years and 3 months (july, 2013). I stoped any painting or drawing when I went to US. I couldn't. I lost all kind of inspiration. Back at home in august 2014 'til now I haven't done any sketch or something... until now. Strange... I feel I want to start painting as my hobby and passion again... 
Thanks, Turenki!

..~..:SNUFKIN:..~..

I love Snufkin. I found some personal similarities in his character. 

Here's my favorite except of conversation between Moomin and Snufkin from cartoon episodes:

- You're thinking about going away again, aren't you, Snufkin?

- Mhuumm...

- When are you leaving Snufkin?

- Oh, I haven't decided yet. 

- You know where you're going?

- No

- It must be fun... traveling...?

- YES MOST OF THE TIME.  

   IT'S THE BEST WAY OF MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND STILL BEING ON YOUR OWN.  

 

***

But Snufkin, how can you have "old friends" when periodically meet new people? 

 

AND:

 

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HE DOING IN THE SOUTH???  

 

I so highly admire to know the answer.  

 

 

FINNISH NATURE'S POETRY

Finland has the most unbearably beautiful nature's landscapes. It could be just a green lawn, berch trees in a row, or dirty pond reflecting the last rays of autumn sunshine. It is NATURE'S POETRY and I love poetry (yes, I almost always speak or write methaphorical. It always has to be abstract). 

I went for a walk around Turenki in the afternoon and I "read" some nice "poems" drinking valkoinen tee. It was a sweet short moment of happiness on my own. Maybe I can stay for a longer time here...?

SATAMA

 HITCHCOCK BIRDS

Понякога искам да се махна от "Системата" и "Обществото" и да живея в гората като езичник по законите на Майката Природа.

M.

HEL{L}SINKI !! ;)

HELL-SINKI-OUT OF BREATH. BECAUSE IT'S BREATHTAKING!

I visited Hel(l)sinki last Saturday!! I can't believe it I did. The feeling was like dreaming though still awaked. I felt somewhat stange, unsecure, little bit sad indeed. I'll tell why. Accidently passing by Helsingin yliopisto brought back some painful memories. About 5 years ago during my Bachelor studies I applied for Erasmus student exchange in the University of Helsinki. I badly wanted to study, to continue my university years or put it off until later time somehow. The same year 2011 I received my green card to USA. I had to think more pracmatic which means to consider what was best for my parents and our finacial status. 

So, I went to States to find a job, work, save, and hopefully get a chance to be in Finland by any other way (or next life). Hard, hard decision, ughhhh??????????????????????!@@##%$^%^&&**(&(*

But that's the true hard reality. End of the story. 

I am greatful now though moving from country to country might be harder than I've imagined. Adjusting is very difficult and complicating, switching your mind to another language, totaly independent state of people's mind and  culture, building new habits or some kind of routine in a changeable curcumstances is very very challenging, little bit scary, 'cause I'm not so experienced as I wish I were, but it definitely worths all the "troubles"! I am ready.

I do not feel sorry. Put even braver face and keep   ahead no matter what or how  it hurts. Because Here is the result 7 years later. Pictures talk a thousand words, right ;)

MY FAVORITE BOOK IN FINNISH SERIOUSLY! WHAT A GREAT LINE "Satan comes/ is coming or arrives to Moskow" - Сатаната идва в Москва.. Заглавието наистина си го бива хаха. И тая котка!! Страхотна е!

He must be Johan Ludvig Runeberg

The End. In the evening I watched my favorite Disney princess, Anastasia, and had some
hot tea after "the hel-l's-inki" trip. (Anastasia is everything else but "disney", but that's another story.)

Mallinkainen / Maлинкайнен / малинкайненски- "горно-малински"* работи...

We were on autumn camp in Mallinkainen, Janakkala from Mon, Oct 12 to Wed, 14. I had "Mallinkainen"butterflies in my stomach on Monday before the camp. It was my first camp with teenagers (doestn't matter they were 6 people only) as an adult, trying to supervise them or help with... whatever is told to do. 3 days, which passed like 3 seconds helped me actually to find out what's difficult in doing voluntary youth work.

It is difficult to follow strictly a time schedule and consider all teenagers needs and demands, when they are not very enthusiastic about some of the planned activities. It is difficult freely to decide what and how to do a certain task. It was also difficult, because we all (volunteers, youth leaders...) still do not know each other working style, pace, or personality. For the former reasons in fact Mallinkainen camp is a big step in achieving some basic knowledge about workshops and activities, or "know-how"/"know what" to do experience for my future participation in the project.

Additionally, I have to get used to being/working/living with another person, my work pather, Lisa. We are opposite in personalities, both come from very different background/culture/state of mind and behave/react differently/oppositely. Frankly speaking, I find it hard sometimes, challenging my feelings/hopes/goals/self-esteem maybe, but it's great, beacuse it is the only way to find out who still I am as a person and worker. Mallinkainen camp showed me that a lot of patience/ energy/open-mindness is needed for understanding other's point. I've learned to regard positively all the difficulties we might encounter in future. I just smile, forgive and forget, entirely wide open-minded. 
Live and let live.

I'm glad that all went well in general. I'm very thankful for the understanding, patience, attention, explanations to my incomplete/unclear questions, the time and respect I receive from (in alphabetical order) Anni, Kitta, Sanna ja Satu. They are my high professional teachers in life and work. Nyt ja Aina oikeasti.

It's great that we can talk for any changes, if  any issues occur can discuss, compromise and find common language. We speak different languages but there's always a way for common understanding. This is how we dealt about timing and lunch on Wed I think. So, I simply know: the more I practice the better I can manage in my future tasks (taking everything for pretty difficult and serious makes me very anxious, clumsy, and useless:/:/ Maybe I just have to be more relaxed, not nervous, so I can handle my time and tasks efficiently with no anxiety or any doubt).

Last, but not least - leirilaiset! Here is some piece of their art:

 

I don't know them well but I can say they are friendly, full of beans and crazy ideas and not shy. They also speak some English.

Thanks to Anni, who controlled them, they tried to pay attention on me for the international outdoor game "Get lost in the forest" ("get lost" mainly because of my unclear instructions or no instructions for someones. Oh, I will be more experienced and prepared next time!).

The second part of my activity was "find a friend in need and help". That is the tittle and my main idea. I know I didn't succeed maybe and I am perfectly fine with that. But I heard one of the boys told the girls where to find a missing part from their game and I felt so happy for 10 seconds. Yes, that was my hope! Thank you! Youngsters are not robots, they won't folow the intructions exactly the way they've been told to. I understand that and greatly appreciate the fact that they have participated in general. The greatest thing was that they actually collected Bulgarian letters and sorted the alphabet! There was just one letter missing, but it is totally fine! Bulgarian alphabet is too long anyway (he-he). Why do we need 30 letters and 36 phonetics? The rest - the maps I drew were for fun. I kept one for me as a nice memory from Mallinkainen Syksy 2015. 

(I don't know why everytime I post it it is up-side down !?! told you it's a tricky silly map!)


*I just played with the words in the tittle, because "malinkaisten or malllinkainen" resembles in sound "malina or malinski", my Bulgarian hometown (Gorna Malina).

Northern Lights! A night to remember!

 I'm not the most the most excited person in the world now! Indeed I can't /I don't feel the ground on my feet! I'm completely sweetly drown in the sky of the Northern Lights I saw tonight. 


From the moment when the lights showed themselves again more visibly brighter I was really like loosing the gravity. I was also scared a little bit. I don't know why. Didn't know what was happening because they vaguely had gone into a mist or foggy dim veils shyly hiding behind the trees and somehow slowly waving in the sky. 

Then the Lights suddenly appeared again and I felt like a kidnapped by aliens!! The Lights started moving and dancing, just a little bit glimmering and shining, twisting between light purple/lilac, some pink, electric yellow and white and then gray. I imagined them running around and chasing like very happy playful baby reindeers from a fairly tale. Yeah, I'm sure I saw some reindeers in the sky!

I was looking up up into the sky and felt somewhat scared of such an immense unpredictable nature beauty. Yeah, it's definitely enchanting fascinating experience. 

Hmmm, and it made me questioning about heaven. 

Should it be in the sky? 

* честит рожден ден, Ради! 7.10

International Teachers' Day, Oct.5th / Leppäkoski, Haukankallion koulu ja Leppäkosken koulu

I have just read that today is the World Teachers' Day
According to a Japanese proverb, "Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher."
There’s truth in those words, as anyone who has ever had a great teacher will know!
October 5 is an International Teachers’ Day, a day to celebrate educators around the world. Teaching is incredibly difficult (and sometimes maybe thankless) work, yet it is just the world’s most important job I think. Teachers can and do change lives every day. They inspire generations of students to think, learn, create, and accomplish things they never believed they could do.
I am very grateful that I have the real opportunity to visit schools in Finland during my European Voluntary Service
 I want to say THANK YOU for your time, patience, attention, listning, and unredstanding to all the teachers I have met so far and will meet in future. This week I am in Leppäkoski, Haukankallion koulu ja Leppäkosken koulu.

On #WorldTeachersDay, hardworking teachers tell us what's wrong with public education. In one word, if you ask me: politicians.

#iwishmyteacherknew  I love that. Brilliant idea!!

#NelsonMandela "Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world" 

One Month

It has been One Month since I came in Turenki, Finland and I call the place I live now "home".

My favourite question is "why did you come to Finland?"*. Today I started a list and I will fill out one reason every day. I need some paper now. Hyvää yötä! 

On-Arrival EVS Camp in Kokola and some reflection

This is Just a reflection of what I’ve felt and done (or haven’t) written by my stream of thoughts regardless of grammatical rules on the first day of our EVS training (if I can so).

Now Pictures literally speak here:

Reflection

Volunteering in Europe. Problems - advantages - differences - difficulties... Me as a Volunteer?

Volunteering in France

Volunteering in Hungary

And my Favourite - some outdoor activities :) Spirit spot, playing "international" voleyball, looking for questions and answering to them into the forest, making toys out of forest materials, whatever the mother Nature gives us. I felt special when we were learning how to dance some old Portugese folk dance. I felt like Elizabeth Benneth!

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES :) Yes!

Spirit-sand-spot, Sand volleyball, sand soccer, sand socks, sand feet, sand in the hair, sand in the shoes, sand in the cottage....

Yes, this is an absolutely outdoor museum!

Meanwhile in my "spirit spot" on the next day: Seriously?! Is that some kind of sick joke please? I'm going back to the beach.

We had some nice tea and chat with the Spannish ladies (Ana, Lupe,...and forgive me I forgot your name...)

Randomly put here, not on purpose. It belongs to Nanoq Museum. I just had some fun with the name;)

 Nanoq Grandpa still lives here. This is not a well in front.

I am hungry.

When I enjoyed the most, I had to leave. I wish I could stay some two or three more days, really. There are a lot of blueberries to be picked! My spirit is probably still roaming into the forest....