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