EVS FINAL

Hei! 

There have been so many things to share and tell that have happened recently, I can surely say that my life has definitely been changed in some better and positive way being through some ups and downs, but supported by Janakkalan Nuorisopalvelut, also all the children, teenagers, and teachers, I met during the last nine months of volunteering.The EVS project time is nearly over.

Mostly I managed to understand more about NGO’s work, some youth policies in Finland, and about the voluntary work and I’ve understood a lot of things: one of the most important EVS principle (written in EVS Charter within “Youth in Action” programme): to create benefit to local community. It means: project is supposed to support volunteers’ ideas by providing everything that can be helpful for the community (more particulary all the youngsters). In this way NGOs can make the difference, in this way EVS can be more than the replacement of any employment, more than the need to show appearance in some documents, more than stay fixed on a business mentality: because after all I regard the voluntary work is a gift. I learnt to give my time like a gift, and you will receive a lot of smiles. When in doubt, it is better not refuse an invitation and not resist the unfamiliar: whatever you achieve, there is always some positive teaching to remember.

In Youth work I found out that sometimes, limits can be opportunities. For example, each person is a fantastic show and a treasure: you can decide to sit down and just enjoy it, or you can decide to risk, share with him points of view and feeling, and try to suck as much as possible from this common experience. And even if it hurts, for sure it will be worth it.
Living in Finland taught me a lesson- make it simpler, repair, reuse, save, use your brain/imagination, be creative, try to invent, make fun of all of it and enjoy it! Make fun of yourself, your imagination, creativeness or stupidity, because all that happens for the main reason:LEARNING. For the same reason I think I developed my own way on how to read the people; but to look inside myrself for material, because this is something that honors subjectivity. Spending the time in five 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 learn better when there is an international 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, student fromVirala, and teenagers in the local youth cenre, 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 learning process in the classroom.

Additionally, I am very touched by the students and teachers from the small schools (Leppakoski, Virala, Tanttala) I've visited in Janakkala. In near future, I would welcome every opportunity to work with them again. Thanks to all of them I have now a clear view about my future professional position.

Finaly, I would like to quote one of my favorite writers Charles Bukowski: "Find what you love and let it kill you" he said. I think I did it. Volunteering is the answer to me. It is the best opportunity to be in Finland, find out about the job I want, people I need, the life I could experience. I was ready to wait and I did it in my time in America, so here I am have lived in Janakkala for nine months (the same time a child needs to be delivered). 
In conclusion, I cannot say good-bye to those whom I have grown to highly respect, for the memories we have made will last a lifetime and never know a good-bye.

Kind regards, KIITOS KAIKKILLE,
Monika Bozhilova (*M. Mutkainen~...:)



P.S. Pieni hetkinen!
Nyt Minä haluan kirjoittaa vahan suomeksi.Valitettavasti minun kurssi Hämeenlinnassa loppuu kevällä, huhtiuussa :( Minulla oli pieni ongelma ilmoittaa toisen kurssille. Älä välitä!
Minä opiskelin paljon tärkeitä asioita (Moniko Partitiivi on ihan vaikeaa!!) ja joskus ymmärrän hyvin (kuin he puhuvat hitaasti) mutta minä en voi sanoa kaikki suomeksi, koska minä en tiedä kielioppi tai sanoja. Haluan ymmärtä ihmisiä. Haluan myös olla ystävä suomalainen lasten kanssa. 
Onneksi, Janakkalan esikoulussa opin tosi uusia sanoja (oi, kamala partitiivi). Tarvitsen kielioppikirja (ja opettaja??), mutta en voi löytää Hämeenlinnassa. Nyt usein kun luen suomeksi en ymmärrä (hahaa). Tietysti, kaiki sanovat että Suomen kieli on ihan vaikea ja monimutkainen (minun lempi sana!!). Se on totta, mutta minä sanon että koska on tosi tosi erilainen kieli ja liian kiinostava. Minulla on aina hauskaa aikaa kun opiskelen jotain suomeksi.
Kesä tulee pian. Aurinko paistaa joka päivä ja on tosi lämmin ja valloissa. Kaikki on vihreä, keltainen ja kaunis. Kesäkuussa toivon olla leirikeskuksessa Mallinkaisilla. Toivottavasti, kaikki menee hyvin:)
Kiitoksia paljon, kaikkille! Moikka!

July Holy-Holidays~

So... 11 months already:) closing time of our project, but not the end of doing voluntary work for me. I will continue to spread the idea of helping each other in education, cultural communication, and healthy daily life in general, as well as looking for new opportunities for voluntary work in future (maybe I'll come back to Finland as a volunteer during the summer music festivals. Time will tell:)).

This month I had 3 weeks off, holy-holidays:) I stayed in Janakkala mainly, taking many walks outside, spending time with Lisa and Jaana: picnic at Harvialan Kartano, listening to some nice music (Some of the Bands: ChilliBillyBeans, Lannentie, Mr.H-lovely:);

also, having coffee, hot chocolate, and my favourite chai late at Talli Cafe in Tervakoski, little bit dark vintage style, I liked it!

 And to a concert "Limited Edition " in Hämeenlinna, Albertin Kellari. It was great to hear some of the music I like personally. 

Jaana took me to Turku one Saturday (Ruisrock music festival was on the way at the same time. Regreted not visiting it, but I had no money for it). Turku, The city is simply charming, heart-warming, and the people seemed friendly. It's on my top 3 of cities to live in... for now (1. Bilbao, Spain; 2. Burgas, Bulgaria; 3. Turku, Finland). I had wonderful time with my mentor Jaana, and discovered that I have maybe many things/interests in common with her:)

     

Now, one of the very funny happy nice things: I spent a week at Laineen perhee big safe comfortable house with their playful  friendly dog Roope (Ropsu :*:))!!! Roope is not simply a dog, he is a good friend!

Week 30, July, 2016: I got my YOUTHPASS officially ready, signed and stamped!
On Thursday, Sanna and Satu took me on a trip to the deep countryside, in the heart of the historical province of Häme, south of Finland, and close to Tampere region (Pirkkanmaa), Pirkkanmaa province. 
Honestly, one of The greatest and fuuuunniest thing I saw there were the brown-reddish curly hairy pigs!!! :D:D We ate badly delicious cakes in Keltainen Talo (The Yellow Romantic House). I had a little bit strange hamburger - with pineapple (!) in Hattula. After that I was suddenly attacked and bitten by a wasp on my face on the left side by my eye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God, it hurted so much for the first 5 minutes!! And I got a headache in the evening. Now, almost 24 hours later my chick and eye are still little bit swollen and puffy:(:( I was going to visit a tattoo art festival in Hämeenlinna, Verkatehdas, but I am obviously not going today in this physical appearance. Hopefully, tomorrow (Saturday, 30th of July). I will pack and clean my room on Sunday. 
On the 1st of August, I am leaving Finland and going back home, to Bulgaria. Happy and sad...

Mallinkainen Summer Camps 2016

In my EVS project the whole month of June I was doing voluntary work for the summer camps in Mallinkainen, Janakkala, Finland. I feel a bit tired now and some muscle pain...Here is the story about the camps shortly week by week, plus some pictures:

Week 23: camp with handcrafts in which kids made their own "Strange creatures" and had many outside activities. I had mainly night shifts and I was very comfortable with that, since I'm kinda "nighttime bird". Although I didnt get much sleep I enjoyed the Finnish midsummer evenings and light nights. In the mornings I had tasty warm porridge for breakfast.

THE NIGHT SHIFTS

DAY CAMP IN THE LOCAL YOUTH CENTER

Week 24: activities and workshops including travel back through the history of Finnish life and camps. The kids had to make decorations and they had a disco in the main hall, the dining room. That week I got badly sick and couldn't participate at all. So, I took antibiotics to avoid any bronchitis or pneumonia. But For the next two weeks I was still coughing, having a back pain because of that coughing and a little bit of sore throat, but in the end I got recovered. Nevertheless, as soon as I got home, I'm going to take a medical checkup, maybe x-Ray.

Week 25: camping into the green and wild nature, hiking trips and interesting handcrafts planned by Lisa, my EVS colleague. During this camp I had a morning shift and I participated in workshop in which the kids made ships out of nature materials and let their ships to float in the lake. They definitely had fun! I also enjoyed my time. Also, during this camp for me was interesting checking the mail and discovering a very suffisticated "alphabet" made up by three girls from the camp. Luckily, they revealed their secret letters to me. Here are pictures:

THE SCHEDULE AND ACTIVITIES

Week 26: The camp at that week was called Lapidarium. The name is not so important anymore, but what happened within the camp. I have planned some of the activities in this camp as well as implemented few art workshops (blackout poetry of course and painting stones. I got only two stones. One stays over the fireplace now in the dining room and says: "Mallinkain 2016"; the other one is made by one wonderful talented girl who I met in one of the schools in Janakkala, Tanttalan koulu. The teens also had handcraft activities in which 2 or 3 international leaders took part and made some art for themselves. 

BULGARIAN ~TRADITIONAL~ MARTENITSA

CAMPFIRE FUN AND THROUBLES:D

I'd like to share some personal impacts about the international workers sent by a Finnish educational institution Allianssi.

So, I had to work with 7 other international camp leaders. I think we didn't get on well very much. Yes, one reason is that the plan (schedule) I made has its flaws but it was open for any changes so we could work out any doubts or issues. That was taken correctly into consideration by the Finnish leaders in charge who helped me out and were supporting. I must say that in collaboration with the Finnish leaders I managed to go through the schedule successfully. I understand the Finnish style in working. 

Although, Most of the time I noticed so many judging looks without saying why, people looking at me, embarrassing me, estimating me with no clue about my personal background or skills; laughing at my back, calling me "cleaning lady" (which is not offensive for me but for them). When were supposed to clean up and tidy indoor area so the kids would feel comfortable The international workers started protesting "but why should we do it? Why 3 times when we did it in the morning?". Also, when they were asked to do cleaning tasks they didn't do their chores completely even when I signed a name on the schedule, assuming that this time they would do it. On Thursday they were given an opportunity to start an action independently (singing at the campfire) they declined saying: "no one else wants to start first, I can't no..." Or "I'm more advanced in singing, if I start first, then the teenagers won't sing"...

I blame nobody and nothing but they should have made more efforts to understand and participate. I trusted them too much, overestimated them maybe. I thought we gonna get more mature and professional people. They came more or less unprepared. I also arrived in Finland inexperienced but ready to learn, to listen and listen a lot, to accept, follow  and do what I'm told and after that to understand or ask. When I came to Finland no one told me what to do. It was really hard. But they give me a chance to decide, opportunities to use and change, and independence to do whatever I'm able and feel comfortable to help with. That's why I put the international workers in my shoes in Finland. I told them that we are all equal, we're all leaders and have to make decisions. I think that they chose the easy way to go with the flow for their own party and fake it. Lastly, I have to comment something on the general rules in Mallinkainen. I expected just a little bit a little bit of respect or that at least someone would remember what we said on the Orientation day. Rules are rules to be obeyed. Do not follow the schedule but regard the GENERAL RULES OF MALLINKAINEN! 

What I'm trying to say:

- using mobile phones to text and chat during working hours;

- One of the international leaders during workshop directly asked: can you guess what is the most famous drink for our country? It's an alcoholic drink very famous..."

My dear lord!! The kids started guessing :( 

- Another one read from a military book in their own language... :( Was it so hard to get anything else from your own country when you have been told to beforehand ?!

- no one of them (internationals) cleaned after their workshops and often misplaced the art supplies;

- no one kept or remembered the handwritten schedule which I gave it at the arrival on the Orientation Day (Lisa only kept and found 2 copies);

My last question is to Allianssi: how do they evaluate international camp workers objectives and skills? Do they?! If you ask me this year they missed that procedure for Janakkala, sadly. 

I feel bad I wrote this but I can't keep it in my head. 

The Good news:

- learned how to make a fire and keep it burning;

- spoke Finnish more than I thought I'm able to and was understood;

- the kids in the camp spoke English most of the time!!;

- everybody had a chance to relax and do what they like to;

- the kids participated in all the international workshops;

- the kids participated in my workshops as well;

- I practiced teaching some art and crafts ;

- I spent time with teenagers just chatting and found it pretty much like a good job;

I gave some hard time to the leaders but in the end we all survived, feeling very tired though. In the end we accepted everything with a smile. I saw lots of smiles and hugs, new friendships and... tears (of joy) :) 

..Peace ~..

June 2016 - Midsummer days and Moominland

The whole month of June was dedicated to the summer camps in Mallinkainen, Janakkala, a place of heavenly green and wild Finnish nature. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all had a short holiday from 24th - 26th of June, celebrating Juhannus (Midnightsummer Eve and Midnightsummer Day). I spent my time off hanging out outside, laying on the ground by the lake, drinking tea and coffee, picking and eating wild strawberries, wathcing the sky...

On Sunday, 26th, Janakkalan Nuorisopalvelut took us all together (EVS volunteers and the international camp leaders ALLI05 sent by Allianssi) to Naantali, Moominland!!! It was wonderful, wonderful:):):)

After that, week 26, started a new relaxing teenagers camp called Lapidarium, for which I have planned the timetable and certain activities. More about it on the next blog entry.