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....

Life For Child / + Some Thoughts about music and life

I’m glad I can write/share something about Elämä Lapselle 2015 

(or I just made it up shortly ELC) in Helsinki, Hartwall Arena on 16^th of Sep. Ihana ilta =)

It was a Lovely night for all at Hartwall Arena, I think. 

 

Music is such an universal language that gathers so diversive types of people to have some fun together for a noble cause such as saving children’s life in general. This is why I appreciate the most the fact that I participated to an annual charity event in Finland. I’m sorry I didn’t buy anything because I’m just an EVS vapaaehtoinen, but after this event I became more empathetic as well as the other people in the concert, so we already had made the world a better place to be for no cost. Also, during the concert I’ve noticed myself to be smiling more often, but still it was a thought-provoking night showing a lot of pain and tears. It slightly more confirmed my decision to work for children’s better health and education.

Another strange thing is that I have been listening to the most famous Finnish pop stars for 3hrs for the first time in my life. I meant, I have been listening to POP music ha-haa! I’m kinda nicely surprised to say that I unconsciously enjoyed it. I like the first performance; Kasmir (that guy w/ the beard. He looks sooo Santa genuinely!) and Sanni, maybe, very sweet girl; and I saw Jussi from The 69 Eyes!!! Yeah, a big deal, big deal ;)

In conclusion, I still quite don’t understand the Finnish lyrics of the songs, but I get the meaning of the event this way: it is about taking care of the children, taking responsibility for healthier society members and showing sympathy and generosity. 

But, Of course the main part is the music! All the songs I heard can make you feel very like dancing, bouncing, jumping, screaming “Isaaaac” / “Liiiip- stiiiiick” la-la-la-laaa – aalaaa…. etc., make you believe life is such a fun, full of happiness and fortune,  and it is always time for a crazy party. It was too happy for me he-he.

 

ELC in one sentence: I am happy when other people are happy and healthy around me.

 I can't translate it to myself literally, but she is so sweet. She is simply showing me that I know I did something meaningful by just being there with the all the kids/youngsters from Janakkala ;)

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P.S. I cant wait to visit some Finnish rock/metal festival. 

That would be really great. Loistavaa, loistavaa…

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Suomen kieli

Moikka!

I started my Finnish language classes today! It's absolutely unique language.
Accidentally (or not) I found that today is the International Literacy Day, established by United Nations to encourage universal literacy. This day has been observed since 1966 by all countries and organizations that are part of the UN system. International Reading Association and Japanese publisher Shoichi Noma (Noma Prize) award prizes to litetacy programs and organizations that have made a significant difference. Great! In other words, read people, read! Please encourage your children to read every day. It is rewarding!

Moreover, what I learned today is:
to make myself available to someone in need of a friend. I'll try to keep it in my mind.
Also, not to turn anyone away even if I'm busy, not in a mood, or under weather.

Chances are the person, who comes to you needs the advice and support that only you can offer. Listening and watching don't take that much energy, and that may be all that's required.
I had some quite tough moments living in US and my trust in good-willing people was about to fail little by little. Then I came back to my family in Bulgaria and applied for EVS in Finland to change my attitude. Here I am now face to face with perfectly new horizon.

M.

Making a difference

On Thursday evening we were at youth center in Tervakoski (It's called Varikko. Sorry, I do not have a picture. It was raining - not the best time for a sunny pic). Being there didnt seem like hard working, but still it consumes time, enegry and a lot of coffee:) I think it is mainly about paying attention on young people, taking care, or only just listening to them, drinking and making coffee.
Because simple things in life are the most meaningful indeed.

*"dare to be different" - the bus stop at Turengin yhteiskoulu and Janakkalan Lukio. I like the message and I personaly, have always been;)

Youth centers and laws

Mad world (a song by Gary Jules; the original one belongs to Tears for Fears, I'm not sure, not important). This song was in my mind when I woke up today.
If this world is mad, I truly hope it is for good! We've done some office work today and I honestly enjoy it, because it was about me - my hopes, my goals, my impacts, me, me...! My EVS about me!

But what about Mad world? It is about Wednesday afternoon at Satama youth center.
Some Finnish politicians or some kind of the that people were seriously expected to visit the center, but they didn't show up at all. Politicians are too busy for youth work!? I don't think so. Don't they have children? Why not think about it?

I wasn't acquaintant with the Finnish youth policy (something like this, in general http://www.youthpolicy.org/factsheets/country/finland/), which seeks to support young people’s growth and independence, employment, non-discrimination, gender equality, education and health. I didn't even know I belong to youngsters, according to that Finnish law - it defines youth as those under 29 years of age.
What I understood is that its purpose is to encourage young people to become responsible members of society and help them participate in decision-making processes and international activities.
I am part of all this now, thanks to doing an EVS in Finland.
Unfortunately, there is no such law in Bulgaria. We don't have youth centers. It is worse - we build malls :( Dissapointing... Mad world...