Mid-term training camp

First of all, in the beginning of the year I'll start with a new personally achieved skills: listening proficiency and remarkable patience. In Finland I experienced the saying "Silence is golden/talking silver" and indeed learned to appreciate it more because it means that you are really listening to person next to you not replying in a casual conversation when you have nothing to say or help. Following this "golden" lesson we appreciate our own competence and utilise it. So I will be as concise as I can. On the last day before leaving they asked as to summarize our future plans and hopes in one sentence. In one sentence this is what I expect:

Having my home and income, working either with children in an international kindergarten/preschool when support education and educational reforms and rights in public schools and nonprofit sector in Europe or my home country. 

I also have a dream about starting my home based learning center or at least something like a reading room, a place for art and crafts for parents and children:) where my mom can run her dreamed healthy home bakery. Of course my father will build the center cause his dream is a small construction company to help other people building their own dreams. But those are just dreams! 

I'm now concern about continuing with the youth work. It's not my field, but it's very important as experience- professional and personal development. I would look at it as developing psychologist skills for "reading " teenagers better when I'm around them in the youth center. They are at very complicated (monimutkainen) age so there are pretty many ways to "read" them. 

Just wish myself some more confidence and good luck whatsoever is going to happen!

Here are my ups and downs regarding doing my EVS in Janakkala, connected mainly to my Youth work experience, which is the newest experience in my life, a big deal for me and I assume it will be even more meaningful and important (a bit stressful sometimes) in 2016; my private shared life in Vapari and still getting used to share it indeed:

Some pictures of the beautiful landscape of Sopukka:

#EVS20 

Peace and hope,
M.

Wonderful Holidays and sick on the first days of 2016

I had wonderful holidays! Many things happened at once

The most important lesson learned sounds like following:

Only as we live, think, feel, and work outside the home, do we become humanly developed, civilized, socialized. I spent a very good thoughtful time during my winter break (Dec, 20- Jan,7). My parents flew for the first time by plain in their life to Finland to see me. I am really glad that we had our own very comfortable warm place and nice personal time together for Christmas. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm very thankful to Jaana and her interest in meeting my family. I felt so much respected:)

Many thanks to The very important people from my EVS in showing their and sending greetings to us and giving me presents for Christmas. In a week later "my poor old people" came back home safely. Here's the golden piece/lesson I gained: Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the (dis)advantages that you’ve had or having in your life. I also reminded myself again an older lesson: no judging, no labels, no stamps.

 

 

 

On last Tuesday of December I went to Stockholm, Sverige to spend the New Years' days with our very close family people. I had a full crazy very busy week with three little energetic playful kids!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wandering experience: 

 

I set up my biggest trip starting from Turenki to Helsinki by train, then traveling by bus to Turku, so I can get a ferry to Stockholm, my final destination. 

In TURKU: I just have no idea how I managed to get to the Satama in Turku! I had printed the route to guide me but at that dark evening in the real city all of the streets' names were different. My only clue was useless. No one roaming the streets to be asked for information at that time, public transport's driver shacked shoulders and said "sorry", only one available taxi cab, but only 12€ in cash with me (I had more in Swedish krones). I kept to my original plan- walk on foot no matter what. The bus from Helsinki stopped at Helsinginkatu where I noticed the traffic signs for roads like E18 or something or something else and SATAMA hamnen. That's it I found it- I followed the traffic signs for Turku Satama. It took me about 2 hours to get to Viking line ferry terminal. I was very tired and freezing which helped me to feel immediately warm, comfortable, and ready to sleep in my cabin. 

Then in Stockholm I spent New year's eve with my relatives. We saw lots of endless fireworks and smoke in the sky that night. The first two days of 2016 I walked around Gamla Stan, Stockholm's Old Town; visited Moderna Museet and a great expensive cup of coffee (Damn, it was like heaven, lovely tasty coffee) and bought very nice sweet earings for me as a memory from Sweden:)

On my way back I got sick already I knew it. I came back be train from Turku throu Toijala to Hameenlinna where Jaana drove me home and saved me from freezing and boredom in Toijala. 

 

 

 

I was in bed 2 hours and half after midnight and 6 hours before my first work day 7.01.2016. I made it to wok eup and be in time for work coughing loudly, spitting nasty things from my lungs maybe I dont know. Luckily, I got Friday off, so stayed home to rest, drink lots of tea, cough syrop and heal myself anyhow with whatsoever I can find healthy. I got scared because I didnt get on the mend during the weekend and stayed home 2 days more to ger rid of the nasty spits, red dry spots on my face, swollen eyes and sore throath. 

 

No more details, no matter how I feel now, I'm putting a brave face and start 2016 as best as I can. 

 

Peace and hope,

M.