Wendy's on-arrival training

Cześć! / Hi! / Hoi!

Every long-term EVS volunteer - long-term being 2 months or more - has to join a so-called "on-arrival training". As the name implies, this training course takes place soon after a volunteer arrives in his/her new home. Since I arrived in Wrocław the first of May, it was my turn two weeks ago!

The hardest part of my training, no doubt, was Monday morning, when I had to get up around 3 AM in order to catch a bus to Warsaw at 5... Additionally, sleeping in a moving vehicle is not one of my talents, so basically I started the training with almost zero energy. But the sun was shining, the first activities were quite calm, just to get to know the trainers and the other volunteers, and after lunch I could sleep for almost two hours, so from Monday afternoon onward everything was fine.

Overall, the training course was instructive and inspiring, on many levels. The trainers asked us what we wanted or needed to learn and they adjusted the training schedule accordingly. As a result, some of the topics were more relevant to me than others. I really liked the team-building activities and the reflective moments, for example, and it was also very useful and interesting to talk about our situations (e.g., our EVS projects / accommodations / home countries / ...) with each other. On the other hand, the information on how to deal with culture shock was a bit irrelevant to me, because I've never experienced this kind of shock - but I might in the future. And in that case, I am totally prepared!

The training took place in Warsaw. It was my first time in this city and the third city I visited in Poland, after Wrocław en Kraków. Being the capital city of Poland, Warsaw definitely has some interesting sights and a lively 'buzz' to offer, so I'm glad I saw this place, but when it comes to beauty and atmosphere, Kraków and Wrocław knock Warsaw on its head. Sorry, Warsaw!

The on-arrival training is not only about learning, or sight-seeing, but also about socializing with other EVS volunteers. I already knew two of the volunteers in our group (one of them is my roomie Zorica) but all the other faces were new to me. Spending one intensive week together really speeds up the process of making friends, so by the end of the week I had fourteen new friends and two improved friendships. Not only does this make me feel more at home in this foreign country, it also makes traveling around Poland a lot easier. For example, this weekend Zorica and I are going to visit some friends in Gdynia: three volunteers we met during the training!

Na razie! / See you! / Tot de volgende!
~ Wendy

About Michael Bersky!

Let me introduce myself. I am Michael Bersky, 18 years old Czech volunteer in organisation named Semper Avanti established in Wroclaw.

When I was told that I am qualified and I will be volunteering in Wroclaw, I was just so incredibly happy - screaming, shouting and looking for new adventures. And now I am here. Out of my comfort zone, surrounded by different people in an unfamiliar environment. I will not forget the first orgasmic moments when it was certain that I will go to Poland. So now….How can I get angry, how can I get sad knowing that I am here, in Wroclaw, where my heart desired to be. Grateful to all of those people in organisation and Erasmus+.

There is a saying: Try to be a solution, not another problem. For me the main reason behind volunteering is to give without expecting anything back. I will try to follow those sentences and make them my life motto.

I study high school and this is my first long term out of the home experience. And I am curious how it feels live on your own. I hope, this will be a worthy experience which I will acquire during my EVS.

I will be working together with my amazing team in Wroclaw for 12 months, mainly focusing on projects connected to social topics (human rights workshops, discussion clubs and cultural evenings). I also would like to offer my contribution related to different activities besides the main schedule (as a laughter yoga sessions, good healthy habits sessions or something else), but will see how it goes :)

Spanish cultural evening!

Good morning! Dzień dobry! Buenos días!

Last Monday, 30th of July, was the Spanish Cultural evening, in the Spanish library of Wrocław called “Księgarnia Hiszpańska Wrocław” or “La Librería Española de Wrocław”.

 

This event was under the umbrella of the project “Multicultural Language Café” (MLC), powered by Erasmus+. The main idea was to show different aspects of the Spanish culture.

During the presentation, Spanish history was mentioned briefly (since the times of the Roman Empire), which was related with some interesting facts about the country. Spanish World Heritage sites were shown, including the Alhambra of Granada, the Teide’s national park, and the Mediterranean diet.

Speaking about Mediterranean diet, during this event the audience could eat some typical food: Spanish omelette, gazpacho (cold soup), and pà amb tumaca (bread with tomatoes).

 
Finally, we want to thank Księgarnia Hiszpańska Wrocław for letting us using their fantastic library during the evening, and also all the people who joined us.

Bests regards!

Georgian volunteer Avtandil sharing culture with polish children

Last month brought me a lot of good feeling and nice emotions. First of all, I had opportunity to be a volunteer in one polish kindergarten. During all may I have had cultural meetings with small children.

Children were so nice and well educated in this early age. They were really active. I could see that they were waiting for every next meeting, because they wanted to know more about my county.

I want to notice that Georgia and Poland has some similarities, for example both of countries have Christian religion, similarities in education system and so on…But we have so many differences. And my aim during these meetings was to show that differences help us to live life brighter, to develop, to explore this word.

First meeting we have started with animated presentation of my country and my travelling from Tbilisi to Wroclaw.

The most difficult part for children, I think so, were to understand Georgian alphabet and to learn Georgian song. On our second meeting I have just present them song that Georgian children generally sings in kindergarten. Can you imagine my surprise when I came to visit them in one week and they could sing it clearly….I noticed that teachers work really good with children, they supporting them a lot. That is why children have really good contact with teachers.