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.

MAY 2016 - long story short

Earlier in March I missed the opportunity to travel to Norway with four people I met at the camp in Sopukka. Unfortunately, neither of them had the same chance to visit Kautokeino because (Quote from Facebook group): 

So, What happened later: on messenger I dealt with Lena (EVS volunteer) that I could travel with them in April when they decide to go by car (because one of the EVS guys has been provided with a car). What happened in the end: lack of communication, misleading or misunderstanding, the guy with the car wasn't interested and I turned out with another solution: to settle down my trip with Veselina and go to Oslo at any means. And I did it! Being in Finland taught me to confirm my plans more confidently and practically implement my ideas. 

Thanks to that Week 18 I spent traveling around Scandinavian capital cities, meeting my friend Veselina again (because she wanted to see The Northern Europe and it was also her turn to visit me in Finland). It took us a lot of preparation and anxiety to set up the right time according to the bus and train schedules but it was worthy. I settled my trip earlier on 28th of April in the evening taking the train to Helsinki to pick up Veselina as early as possible on the next morning from the airport (which wasn't the plan but... I do everything for a friend). As soon as she arrived we rushed to kamppi for the bus to Turku. Then by ferry we went to Stockholm and stayed there for the weekend. 

My university colleague friend Lili joined us and provided the board and accommodation in Norway (3rd of May). Also, had arranged a short boat trip Oslo-Copenhagen-Oslo for the three of us ;) yep!hurrah!!! so I could practice bike cycling in Copenhagen of course! Yeah:) we definitely had a wonderful lovely time! I don't have many pics to show. Actually, I didn't take many because I appreciate the moments when we're together and I'm not used to share or show those moments on the social networks and I just always forget posting and tagging. Well, honestly I don't like it. On Friday was time to go back-again we stayed in Stockholm for the weekend. 

Week 19 on Monday we arrived in Helsinki, locked our stuff at viking line terminal, and started the sightseeing. Veselina and I stayed in Helsinki under the warm northern sky and stars hanging around waiting for the sunrise, endlessly chatting. I'm glad we survived safe and sound. Helsinki is definitely a safe city. 

On Tuesday we had a delicious lunch at tori (The Main market square) and I escorted Veselina to the airport to send her back to Spain. Later, later In the evening I was in Turenki ready to go to bed cause I was working on the next day in a kindergarten. 

Week 20: kindergarten- board games, counting numbers in English, a lot of outdoor time, and physical activities/exercises. Finnish kindergarten is tough but at least you learn something in the end.

Week 21 and 22: Youth work and preparations for the summer camps with my EVS partner Lisa. 

On 24th of May: I started preparing some notes/ thoughts about my "work certificate" Youthpass. The same day in the evening: The Voice of Jallu !! Wonderful young singers and musicians from the local high school performed on stage. I'm mostly impressed by the song which two girls sang in Sami language.

Week 22 Youth Work, thinking about my Youthpass, some office work, collecting art supplies for the local summer camps, home errands - decorated my room, touched up my tutorials for the camps. Hope that all the papers I need could be printed soon. I had them ready on my laptop already in March, but forgot to print them, and posponed the printing because of my trips. In my defense I'll just say: It is not late. (One more thing: I didnt know that we wont have a printer on the camp.)

I am going to paint a t-shirt- my sweet TOFT :) It will be my memory t-shirt from Finland.

Next week-23 summer camps start. I'm excited and nervous. Hopefully everything and everyone will be ok, working properly. Let the Forest be with us!

MAY 2016 in Pictures

When I came back from my trip I started decorating my room. I brought some nature inside:) 

And now Here are some pictures from my Scandinavian travel with Veselina and Lilija:)

 And back in brighter and greener than ever Turenki, Finland. This is a sunset picture /through the open window/. On the wall after 10pm. I got this beautiful warm orange color:

 

Week 21 On Tuesday I went to "The Voice Of Jallu" - the annial local high school concert. It was fantastic, because fantastic talanted students performed. I was very nicely surprised by two girls who sang a song in Sami language! Amazing!

On Thrusday I went to an Ambient Jazz concert in Hameenlinna. For my big nice surprise the band (called Asketics) was from Russia! Never heard of ambient jazz before (but only dark ambient rock, dark wave...), I love it now. It worth it. Asketics have very mellow interesting sound :)

Time flies. My EVS project is very close to its final line. There are only two months left. Exciting!!!

Adventurous April 2016

Week 14 of April was scheduled for youth work. On Monday I visited Tervakosken yhteiskoulu and presented some interesting information about the traffic safety, transportation and driving license procedure in Bulgaria and USA. I repeated the information from posters I had made in advance but also added some more new things- some teachers asked me to say few things about Bulgaria and me. Then I also used the chance to "advertise" voluntary work (EVS, European Voluntary Service/ #EVS20) at schools, for any cultural events and society in general. Then Three girls met me on my way out of the classroom and asked about my name. They spoke excellent English. I understood that one of them is going to work with us for the summer camps in Mallinkainen. After the school I went to the local youth center for my evening shift. 

I think The youngsters there know me already and maybe feel at least little little bit comfortable with me. The next day I just had my Finnish language course. I got awesome feedback: on my written assignment the teacher stated that I'm ready and well prepared for the next level- Suomi 2. However, I'm not going to continue, because that course has already started in January and I had a problem when I wanted to sign up for it:(

(1st: problem with paper work - receiving the course bill too late that I had to give up attending the course at all. 2nd: Consequently: sad, disappointed a lil'bit, reality). 

For the rest of the week I was in the youth center and done some office work- I transferred part of the campers' paper information on the computer. I stayed alone for a while in the office. Two people came totally unaware of my unsophisticated Finnish language skills and sooo randomly asked me in Finnish, but I sooo surprisingly understood them and answered!!! That was awesome:)

On Friday in the youth center the youngsters sat around me at the table I often stay and talked random things. I didn't do what I planned for Friday evening because I saw that the teenagers wanted to talk, to be listened which is more more important than any other activities. So, I'm glad that they just unconditionally finally broke the ice themselves and stayed sooo close to me! That's great!

Week 15- my great holy holiday in Istanbul, Turkey where I met distant relatives of my grandpa and they saw my parents for the very first time on skype. They cried and laughed laughed a lot. It was very unique unbelievable touching moment for all of us. 

Later I departed to Spain and visited Bilbao, Pamplona, Roncesvalles (places, part of El Camino de Santiago), Perdon, and San Sebastián in the company of a very good friend of mine from my childhood, Veselina:) 

Weeks 16 and 17 were dedicated to youth work, educational games, and Mallinkainen camps refreshing and cleaning. I talked with some youngsters in English (week 16,Friday, meaningful conversation, explaining some rules, small talk about behavior). On that week I also let the kids in the youth center eat the sweets I got from Turkey. 

Week 18 - A trip around Scandinavian countries with Lili (university colleague who studies now in Oslo and will arrange the board and accommodation; and Veselina, who is going to join me directly from Pamplona in Helsinki!!! I can't can wait for it! Yes!!! Helsinki-Turku-Stockholm-Gothenburg -Oslo +back (*** + a small ferry adventure Oslo-Copenhagen-Oslo:):):))) And then in week 19 back Unbelievable!!! I'm on the road now!!! 

Peace;)

Week 12&13 Virala&Tanttala :)

Week 12 Viralan koulu

It was a little bit surprising to me that they were not aware of my visit to the school or they'd forgotten?! Nevertheless, I was quickly welcomed and accepted by the three teachers and their students. 

I told them about me, my country and its nature, and my personal interests. So, right away on the next day we wrote some "blackout poems". I presented my alphabet and wrote some names in Bulgarian as a sign of the cultural and linguistic difference. I left them few children's books in Bulgarian (as souvenirs). 

I felt there like I was a teacher assistant because I was checking homework, monitoring the class for any difficulties in maths, and assisting them in finding solutions. At the same time the head teacher was able to teach a new lesson. On the contrary I can't imagine that just one of the teachers is having 4 classes (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th) simultaneously, teaches the 3rd graders maths and 6th graders history! Well, in Viralan koulu that's possible but as the teacher confirmed:"It's tough." So I think they really need some additional school help. I'm ready to be that worker just to know. 

Additionally, I'm inspired by a freelance contemporary artist I met in Virala. She integrates dancing moves into educational experience and gave me some ideas for teaching numbers, letters, or literature and how to practice all that with students of different ages and learning abilities. Yes!

On the whole, it's definitely somewhat an unusual, very interesting, and important school. I'm glad I had the chance to spend some time there and honestly I look forward for any further meeting. I'm available for that school. I liked it from the first day. 

For Easter here I baked traditional Bulgarian sweet Easter bread called "kozunak" (well, I put also some Finnish fruit jam- puolukkahilo:))

Week 13 Tanttalan koulu 

I spent 4 school days in Tanttalan koulu, a very small unique place for its number of students and educational building. 

On Tuesday in the morning classes I presented Bulgaria and played traditional bag-pipe folk music for the students (4-6th grade). Later they decorated the classroom with lots of "color paper spring flowers" under my tutorial from the document camera (pictures above).

On Wednesday the school had a sport day. I showed  a game to the kids until the hall was ready for floorball and gymnastics. The game is called "kralju portalju" (king at the gates"). It's a very common and traditional game in Bulgaria:

On Thursday I helped in English classes when I played board games and used the school iPads for one vocabulary game with the students. I stayed until noon, because the head teacher was sick, so we all left school earlier. 

On Friday those wonderful kids (4-6th grade, about 18 pupils together) wrote "blackout poems"! in Finnish!! (I copied Hans C. Andersen's book of fairly tales I found in the old school library!!!) 

Overall, good week we all practiced and cooperated. Here are some of the results:

 What's next? In April: More exciting moments- traveling, lots of lots of traveling!!!!!!!!!!!!