Goodbye :)

After 9 month in Lithuanian, we two long term volunteers, Manana from Georgia and Rabea from Austria, are leaving Siauliai to go back to our home countries. Manana will continue her Master program at Tbilisi State University, and I, Rabea will start a Bachelors program at a University either in United Kingdom or in the Netherlands (I just can't decide :D ). 
Looking back on the past 9 months it is difficult to say, how many times we have been asked, why we two decided to live in a country so different from where we are from. Still we don’t exactly have an answer, but we are very happy that we came to Lithuania and that we had such a great time here. Siauliai surprised us with its clean environment, calm atmosphere and hospitality. We also feel almost like pilgrims after our stay here, as we visited the “Hill of crosses” quite frequently, showing this impressive sight to our friends and visiting family members. As we two lived and worked together for such a long time, we went trough all difficulties together and shared many nice and exciting experiences. We traveled across Lithuania, went to Poland, to Norway and several times to Latvia (Riga definitely is our favorite city apart from Siauliai). 


We experienced a very beautiful fall, and (for me and I guess also for Manana) extremely cold winter, and a short, but very refreshing and nice spring here. Of course we are a bit sad, that we will leave now, as summer finally started somehow and we got to know so many nice people. 
We both hope that more volunteers will get the chance to spend some time in Siauliai, working in Didzdvaris Gymnasium, as our and then also their mentor Sonata, and tutor Rasa, will welcome them as warmly and friendly as they welcomed us two.

For sure we will always look back happily on the time we have spent together in Siauliai, considering the friendly and kind people we met here, worked with and the one's with whom we became good friends.


Ačiū for everything :)


... some pictures taken during our stay here :)

Rabea and Manana