The Power of Social Networking

Much has been said and written about the dark side of Social Networking. People usually complain how addicted to Facebook they are, how much time they waste on the Internet, how worse their eyesight gets because of that reason and how the virtual world is destroying their real lives.

All these thoughts, partly, may be right. But actually, the prospects of social networking can easily overwhelm all its other sides. In this post, I’m going to underline only one particular benefit of it – how easy, cheap and exiting it is to communicate with people who are far from you through social networks!

It’s been only a week since I’m in Siauliai and as I don’t yet know many people here, it’s utterly important for me to keep in touch with those in my home country. When you are far from them, you miss not only your family and friends, but even those people who used to annoy you before. Communicating with others is one of the hugest sources of happiness in life. You are only happy when you can share this happiness with someone else.

My voluntary project at Šiauliai Didždvaris Gymnasium will be lasting for 7 months. They used to have two or more volunteers for that project before, but this year it happened that I‘m the only one. Every evening, when I‘m all alone at home, I can just sign in Skype and be talking with and watching whoever I miss. Some of my close relatives live in Ukraine, my family is in Georgia and I‘m here in Lithuania. It is just amazing how by a simple click on video conference we can gather again as we used to do it before.

So, I started thinking about how difficult it was for people to go somewhere far from their homes in the past when there was no tools like social networks. There was a time when all people could do was just sitting, writing a letter which could get lost even without getting the destination. In the best case, when the letter had reached the right person, you had to be sitting, waiting for the answer that could take weeks or even more.

Later, you could make phone calls that were more convenient and practical than letters but they were (and still are) too expensive at the same time.

And today, we are lucky to have Facebook, Skype, Tweeter, all other social networks, and it would be so silly not to appreciate them!

Below, I’ll provide several quotes about social networking by the people from all over the world.

Ø  “I think the internet will help bring about world peace. If you have 10 facebook friends in a country, would you feel a bit different about bombing it? The line between "us" and "them" is getting blurry, and for many, it's already disappeared.” Dan O'donnell

 

Ø  “How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?” Seth Godin

Ø  “People live longer today than they ever have. They live happier lives, have more knowledge, more information. All this is the result of communications technology. How is any of that bad?” Tom Clancy

So, make a cup of hot tea or coffee, sit conveniently in your favorite easy-chair and enjoy your social networks!

Lali

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

Oslo here we come :)

Manana and I decided to go on one last trip together before we leave Lithuania - to Norway. As we both have never been to a Scandinavian country, Manana, I and another volunteer (who is currently doing EVS in Latvia but is originally also from Georgia), traveled to the capital city Oslo to spend a few days there.

As it happens, one of Mananas coursemates is currently studying in Oslo, and she agreed to host us while we are visiting the city and she was a great city guide :)

I guess I can speak for all three of us who went to Oslo and say, that we were all fascinated by the Norwegian nature, as it is incredibly beautiful. We were all a bit caught by surprise that Oslo wasn't how we imagined it somehow, but still, with it's access to the sea, very modern buildings, great public transport system and inhabitants who all speak and understand English, it is worth visiting it. We just would suggest everyone who decides to visit Norway, also to visit some more rural areas of the country, to experience the "real" Norway, as Oslo is an extremely multicultural city and you won't feel too much that you actually are in Scandinavia. :)

Nice view from the plane (by the way it takes just 1 hour and  15 minutes from Riga to Oslo)

living in Oslo city

Our Georgian friend in the most famous park of Oslo (with a lot of naked sculpture :D)

Manana, me and our host exploring Oslo in the evening

Hilly Oslo

I, our Georgian friend, and Manana sitting on the very modern opera of Oslo from which  you have a great view

Port of Oslo

At the sea side

Very cool University library :)

Rabea

Everyone Can Make a Difference

Another international project implemented by Šiauliai Didždvaris Gymnasium is over now and I think it's time to share some impressions.
"Everyone Can Make a Difference" was run by Didždvaris Gymnasium in cooperation with International School Ekola Wroclaw. The aim of the project was promotion of  international volunteering, to show to  young people how volunteering might influence their surrounding in a good way. In short, to see that Everyone Can Make a Difference! As an youth exchange project it had two parts. First part took place in Wroclaw, Poland in November 2011 and second one in Šiauliai, April 2012.

About the first part of the project we already wrote on our blog. http://radijoklubas.blogspot.com/2011/12/volunteers-week-in-wroclaw-2011.html

So now let me tell how was the second part :) This time 11 students from Poland came to Šiauliai to explore the importance of international volunteering with students from Didždvario gymnasia for one week. During this week we've visited several social institutions such as Elderly house, Daycare centers for infants and 7-16 years old children. Before going to this institutions we've prepared some activities together. For elderly house we prepared short concert and the Bingo game. For daycare centers we prepared some games which we thought might be interesting for children.

I think that the experience gained by participants during this volunteering activities is unique and meaningful. First of all they were working in international group. Second, they went to institutions to which they usually don't go and  the feedback of the residents of this social institutions, especially children's, clearly showed the importance of volunteering. And finally, they had fun, they enjoyed working together and they made a difference.

In the end of the week we went to Vilnius and visited some official institutions there like Vilnius Municipality and The Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania. In municipality we listened to presentations about volunteering made by different youth organisations. The visit in the Ministry was rather short :)

During this project we had some informal activities such as cooking, dancing and watching a movie but of course everything was related to the topic of our project. Our Polish participants have prepared the dish from Polish cuisine - bigos. It was delicious! Lithuanian participants prepared the cold soup (I totally love it) and ... [omg I don't remember the name of the dish.. Lithuanian participants, please help!] 
I guess our participants enjoyed the line-dancing evening. And we also watched the movie - All the invisible children. I think it's a must seen movie!

During the project participants created the video clip and radio show about volunteering. We will put the radio on air next week. And hopefully we'll be able to put the video clip online as soon as possible.

In the end I should admit that the atmosphere in group was simply great! Participants really liked each other, they were eager to work together that's why it was easier to work with this group. Of course during this week there were a lot of Dos and Don'ts and it was quite exhausting week for Rabea and me as we lead most of the activities and we were also involved in some organisational parts but at least the weather was nice :)))

The project was definitely successful and it wouldn't have been possible without effort that was made by organizes, participants and coordinators.

I hope that the partnership which exists between Siauliai Didždzvaris Gymnasium and Ekola school Wroclaw will continue in the future and next generations of students will benefit from it as well.

Manana

P.S.

Here are some photos from the project by Morta Nauiokaite:
:

Have you been where the Queen of UK has been?

Queen Elizabeth II on one of her trips abroad

BBC has launched a funny project concerning the Queen of England and her excessive travelling. So far, the British monarch has travelled to 116 countries! On this BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17826107 , you can compare the Queens travel experience with your own and find out what countries you have both visited. :)

r.s.

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17826107
picture source: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/XdMgrcNQrLk/Queen+Elizabeth+II+Visits+Canada+Day+6/R4s6r14rkFo

EVS - 2 weeks until the deadline - apply now!

I would like to remind you that there is one very cool program called EVS - European Voluntary Service. It's an opportunity for 18-30 years old people to go abroad and work as volunteers in different areas, to get local language curses (for free) to get accommodation and food, to gain working experience and just have fun. You just need sending and hosting organisations and MOTIVATION. As a volunteer you don't pay anything. Even travel expenses are covered by the National Agency. From the first sight the program sounds like impossible but IT'S POSSIBLE! I am EVS volunteer and believe me this is one of the coolest programs  for youth throughout the Europe. EVS is part of the Youth in Action -the program supported by European Commission. Now I'm not going to tell you what are goals and objectives of the program. You can find this information here ---> http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/european-voluntary-service_en.htm

Today I want to tell you how to apply for this program. (For example from Lithuania)

First of all you need to have some motivation to go abroad and work there up to 12 months. After you make sure with yourself that you are ready, you need to find the project in which you would like to be involved. But pay attention that if you want to go for volunteering for instance from September 2012 you need to apply now, before the 1st May deadline. 

How to find the project? There is a huge database of EVS projects and accredited organisations on internet :P http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm here you can find almost every project which are registered for EVS. BUT... on this website it's not very clear whether these organisations are looking for volunteers right now or not. That's why I would recommend to visit this website ----> http://www.youthnetworks.eu/ here you can find projects which start in September or October 2012 but are looking for applicants right not. I would recommend to start looking for the projects as soon as possible because if you wish to go for volunteering for instance from September 2012 you need to be selected by the hosting organization until the 1st of May 2012. Why? Because when the organisation selects a volunteer for the project they apply for financial support to National Agencies and this procedure takes a while. That's why usually you need to start looking for the project in advance. 

[Sometimes there are some projects which are already approved (they already have financial support) but they're still looking for volunteers for some reasons (selected volunteers changed their mind or something like that).. In this case the project might start after 2 months you found it and if you are ready to go after 2 months you can apply for this kind of projects.]

When you find the project which suits your interests and you think that you also suit the project send your motivation letter and CV to the contact person from this project. The contact information you can find in the descriptions of the project, usually they indicate it :) Well, it'll be better if you send your CV in  Europass format.. I would recommend to apply for different projects, not only for one. Then your job is done. You just need to wait... wait... wait until you get the positive response from one of the projects you've applied for. 

But to make EVS you also need sending organisation which will agree to send you abroad for EVS. The sending organisation should be from the country of your residence and you can find them in this database http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm. [When you select the country you get the list of projects which are in this country and the list of organisations that are running these projects. There you will find S H and C which indicate the type of the organisation like  Sending, Hosting and Coordinating. So you need the one which says S. It might be both S and H, it's not a problem] 

By the way Siauliai Didzdvaris Gymnasium is sending organisation for EVS so if you are the student of this Gymnasium it should be easier for you to make EVS. 

After you've been selected by the project they write to you and ask for the contact details of your sending organisation. Then they deal with some documentation and formal stuff together. You will need to sign some agreements.. f.e. the document that you have never did EVS before ect. (You can make long-term EVS just once in your life ) and they apply for financial support. Than again you have to wait a bit (1-2 months:D) and then you will get one more letter with positive or negative response about the financial support. That's it. Official part is over here. Then you just need to prepare yourself  for a long and nice experience of living and working abroad.:) 

If you have some questions, don't hesitate to ask :) The program is really very nice and I wish I could do EVS once more. 

P.S. Here is the video about EVS made by EVS volunteers in Georgia. Enjoy :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUGYtzahEoQ

Manana

Portuguese culture events in Siauliai (2012-04-04)

Today in Siauliai we will have two events about Portuguese culture. On 2012-04-04 at 15:oo the cultural attache of the Portuguese embassy in Lithuania and his student will present their poetry books. This event will take place in  P. Visinskis library in Siauliai.  

 

Later on at 18:00 in Centro Sokoladine cafe (which is located on Vilniaus gatve 134) will be an exhibition of the photos which Vita Grigutyte  has taken in Portugal.
As far as I know there will be also presentation about Portuguese wines :) 

I'm planning to join these events today and I also recommend you to join me :)

Manana