Hello from Clara!

Hey there,

I’m Clara. I am from Berlin, the capital of Germany and I’m 18 years old. This year I finished the High school and now I am a volunteer at Semper Avanti. I’m joining this project in Wroclaw, because I’m really interested by other cultures and like to improve my multicultural knowledge. In my volunteer year I also like to learn polish, more about the polish history and the city Wroclaw. I'm very excited to experience the life in Wroclaw and work together with people all over the world.

About myself:

I like to make music, I’m playing viola since 8 years. Beside I like to make sports and meet friends and use the amenity of a big city. I also love cooking and traveling. I’ really interested in politics, history and art. My main subjects at school were political science and German.
In school, I learned a lot about the European history and political situation of Europa now. That’s one reason why I think it’s very important to support and work in a European project/ organization like Semper Avanti and strengthen the European idea as well.

There I back again...

Brief story of the Young International Turk…

When the leaves have just began to falling the ground on the October afternoon, I was the one who cried within passion of breathing on the mercy hands of my nurse. I said “hello” to our present world, on the path of being good, adventurer and the wise one.  Years past so fast and I grown up in Istanbul. While ethernet connections were spreading every house, I was using that technological miracle for my own sake, aim to be ‘the international one’. Thus, since high-school period, I used to have intend to meet with foreigners and improve my mind through exploring their cultures, languages and behaviours as well…

I study at International Relations department in Ege University. But at the same time, I was building international relations around me through AIESEC and Erasmus students who came to study on our faculty. I have been hosted many foreign ones, have had amazing friends who will never be forgotten. During my university period, I was entrepreneur one who found many opportunity to work and earn money. I efforted to get mutual benefits mostly through using English. I was using my energy and potential for those who are not different than I am. But I would like to be different. Suddenly, I decided to participate Erasmus programme to the way of Bialystok/Poland, which I called that period as ‘the renaissance’.

Please assume that, you are a veterinarian who has allergy to any animal hair therefore can not operate on and cure them. Before having an abroad experience, studying International Relations meant the same to me. Erasmus in Bialystok flamed the ember inside me which belongs to the aim of being international one. I have travelled, been in many multi-lingual & multi-cultural athmosphere. All of these contributed positively to my personal skills, self-confidence and passion to explore more. Further, I would not be the same me on the past… During my days on Erasmus, I also travelled to your beloved city, Wroclaw, when I was exploring around Poland on my Erasmus period. Honestly, I fall in love with your pure & natural city. As I observed, it’s less crowded, noisy and fulfilled with colors of student life.

After my Erasmus experience in Bialystok, I back to Turkey. Study one more year, completed my bachelor thesis on the subject of “European Integration”. 

Before I graduated, I have an internship opportunity in Vilnius, Lithuania. So, I participate there to make Musninkai rural area more international. Preventing prejudices against foreigners, improve this area’s social conditions, making the youth ones’ more open-minded were some of my tasks on this internship. At the same time, we organized Youth Exchange Project which purposed to advice participants to live more healthy. I stayed with a Lithuanian family, so I learnt so much knowledges of their cultures and attitudes. Indeed, I still speak Lithuanian and react like one of them. During this internship period, I travelled further. Hitch-hiked from Paris to Amsterdam and only find a place though CouchSurfing. Gained amazing memories and unforgettable moments with my two closer friends. Specifically, I call my Erasmus internship period as a historical fact : my “reform”.

(Last summer, with our dear driver,

while we were hitch-hiking through Brussels - Amsterdam)

When I was in Vilnius, I considered to apply for EVS Project which announced by Semper Avanti. Thus, I would be the one who may organize educating events, workshops and some seminars to the youth who wish to be enlighted. I thought, I will feel like at home in Wroclaw at the same time, due to my previous experiences. So, afterwards a nice interview, I approved by dear Agata. Since then, I am trying my best to improve my Polish skills to communicate within every person whom I responsible to do somethings. There and back again to Wroclaw… Problems will be solved, barriers will be broken and targets will be reached.

The day may come, and I will call that EVS experiences as my “Enlightment period” as a whole. But till this day, I will effort to affect Polish youth’s mind positively to be more international, calm, tolerated and integrated among each other.

Dziekuje…

Hello from Murat!

I’m Murat, I'm 22, and I come from Tetovo, Macedonia.

I studied Medical High School in Tetovo. I decided to participate in this project because of few reasons. One of them is that I never been in Poland, I really like to experience new cultures, cuisines and learn new languages, also one of the reasons that I come to Poland for this project it’s because of the organization, it has a long time working experience in this field it is open to new people from all around Europe and give’s the opportunity to experience something that you will never experience again. My volunteering job back in my home country it was related to Multi-Culturalism and Human Rights and it’s totally what Semper Avanti as an organization is promoting.

I consider myself as open minded person, easy going, living life in my own rules and morals.

In my daily life I really like to listen a good music ex: Jazz, Blues, Soul and Opera, I really like to do movie marathons, walking and tasting and cooking different meals from different cuisines.

I’m going to be in Wroclaw for 1 year and I hope I’m going to learn the language to make my communication easier with the local people and try the treasures of Poland. 

Hello from Guiseppe!

I am Giuseppe Perretti, I come from a small town in the South of Italy called Potenza where I lived until I was 19 years old and I finished the school. In September 2009 I left my city and I started to study International and Diplomatic Science in Forlì at the University of Bologna. During my bachelor degree, I had the opportunity to take part in to an Erasmus exchange spending six months in Budapest in 2011. This was my first experience of living abroad and the Erasmus environment has been the best way to start this adventure knowing a new place, new culture and many people from different countries.

After the bachelor degree and thanks to my previous experience in Budapest I started a two years master focusing on the international relations, economy and history of Eastern Europe and former USSR area and in this framework I implemented another study exchange in Lithuania, at the Vitautas Magnus University of Kaunas. This time although it was a small town thanks to the university was also full of students from all over the world and again this was an amazing opportunity to know and enter in contact with new cultures and costumes and to visit other countries such as Poland, Russia and other Baltic Countries.

It was the study of conflict and international relation and the curiosity of knowing different countries that led me to go in Israel for a master degree in Conflict Resolution and Mediation at the Tel Aviv University. Here I approached the political, psychological and most of all cultural approach to conflict resolution and only living in a country in war I could understand that separation, prejudice and lack of dialogue are a fuel for conflicts.

Principally for this reason I decided to take part in EVS in Semper Avanti Organization, because only allowing to the new generations to know other culture it is possible to fight prejudice, the “fear of the different” and learn how to respect everyone. This is very important especially for the situation that we are living today, in an Europe where the multiculturalism is everywhere and where the overwhelming stream of immigration is feeding social frictions, political instability and most of all cultural separation.

Coming back on me, I can say I am not that serious in real life, I have a lot of hobbies such as playing the guitar, listening music, hang out with friends, cook and most of all to eat every kind of food. I love to travel everywhere and with everyone, I love also sport such as rugby or water-polo, tennis table and sailing.

Hello from Hamdi!

Hello,

My name: Hamdi TaLal Aslan.

Age: 20 years old .

I live in Palestine/Nablus:

It’s a big city in Palestine

 NABLUS famous with :

 1- Soap industry nabulsi. 

2- Palestinian Sweets (knafi).

From the old town:

I’m student in: An-najah national university

I studied graphic design and now I’m studying decoration so I will graduate next year.

I studied music (rhythm) when I was child for 4 years and now I play the drums in Hawia band.

My music band and Taxarango -a band from Spain- were playing in Palestine!

To play together and enjoy cultural diversity.

During my Highschool I won every year our highschool music competitions. This allowed me to play with a lot of bands. In addition I was able to play at weddings and festivals.

* I visited France 5 years ago to play at a Palestinian festival. The festival was 16 days long and it was about palestinianmusic/danceflSDSuklor

Now I teach children in a human supporters association in Palestine the Dabka dance.

This is a photo from one dance workshop 

Something about myself:

I'm volunteer since 7 years on my organization in Palestine and I work with many volunteers from all over the world. 

Easter in France !

I know that Easter is very important in Poland. I see it when I walk in streets or shops, and it's fabulous to see that Polish are happy to celebrate this period in family. In France, it's also important but not that much !

Easter is primarily a Catholic holiday widespread in France, where Masses and religious processions take place throughout. But I think that mainly people (and children in particular) know that it’s the period for endless meals with many dishes including the paschal lamb. 

Easter is a day of joy when families and friends get together and enjoy this festive moment to savor delicious food and of course, lots of chocolates!

Unlike many other countries, exept some French regions and overseas regions, Friday is not a holiday. The only holiday during the Easter holidays rest on Easter Monday. But the Easter festivities usually coincide with school holidays; what give children more time to eat chocolates.

Easter would not be Easter without tons of chocolate. Even adults; there is no age to be greedy !!! Probably because French people are very greedy, it's not just chocolate eggs that we use to eat during Easter, but also chocolate fish (in reference to April Fool April 1) and of course chocolate bells.

And so, here is a legend Easter almost exclusive to France:

Legend is that about the bells. Just the day before Easter, the bells of the Catholic churches should be silent in mourning.  All the bells of the churches leaves for Rome in the evening of Thursday where they are blessed by the Pope. On Easter morning, the bells come back in to announce their joy after Jesus' resurrection. At this moment, the bells peal again in the night. 

Before leaving Rome, they are loaded with Easter eggs and they put these eggs in their path in the gardens.  

Therefore, when the children wake up the Monday morning, they discover as many eggs in their gardens or apartments. But be careful because the bells are sometimes very jokers...

And here is a little joke from Easter to the very French humor :

When Jesus was Children, he comes at home after school with his quarterly notes.

His mom, Marie says:

Mathematics: 3/20 : "multiplies rolls and drinks"

Chemistry: 5/20 : "changes water into wine to entertain his classmates"

Sport: 4/20 : "walking on water during the swimming events"

Marie, very angry, look Jesus and said:

"Well, boy, your Easter holiday, you can make a cross on it !"

Let the festivities begin!

Happy Easter to all :)

Margaux

THE CHRONICLES OF LEO & FRIENDS: RAISING THE STAKE

It is a grey and cold day. Massive and threatening clouds darken the sunlight and from the bus you can get aware how intense the traffic jam was. Sitting down facing each other, Rosario and Natalia try somehow to kill the time. Smartphone is always a good resource. Standing in the back of Natalia, Leo is mentally browsing the plan for that day. One, two, three, countless times. Human rights workshop is undoubtedly the best, the most important task you can get as volunteer. It's a honor and, of course, a bargain. It is something hard even when you are confident and expert. It goes without saying that when it's your first time and you are, theoretically, in charge, it turns f.....g crazy. 

- OK, keep calm Leo. It's easy, you have already devised kind of a plan: introduction; video about  violations in the past and in the present times, worldwide; discussion; game; discussion once again, game, set and match. With the support of Rosario and the translation of Natalia everything will be right, you just have to not spoil everything as usual. Be smart! You can. Puff! Puff! -

The crew gets the destination, the school is a large, new building, clean and completely different from the usual Hogwarts-style school where they all are used to go. That really doesn't look like a primary or secondary school.

- Why there are just boys and girls, more girls actually, looking like 20s or similar? Where are the children? Wh...Rosario, Rosario please, ok, I got, you like the blonde, cute girl but not so loud, please, maybe they can understand Italian, please. Thanks! -

The situation gets bright soon enough. After the teacher leaves the room, the team can start. Twelve young women and men (just two, them) are staring at our guys. Rosario sits down in a side of the large, white and well enlightened room, Natalia and Leo are standing up in front of the blackboard. 

- The introduction round has been easy. They look like old enough to raise the stake. I am going to state, to stress that I dont't want to be a teacher, that I want discuss with them, achieving something like a team. For example, I would like to know what they expect from us and which is their own definition of human rights. Let's try! - 

From a quick glance, you can realize that the audience is composed by someone really interested (around 3 people), someone simply curious (the most) and someone that probably hope to get some better mark by the end of the year. The video catches the attention but the ladies and the few gentlemen resist to be involved in some kind of discussion. Leo and Rosario speak a lot, especially Leo. Actually Leo looks very comfortable to speak, even too much. Natalia tries her best to follow him and translating but she can barely remember how he started, after 10 minutes of monologue.

- Me cago en la puta! Don't you wanna join the discussion? Allright, I am going to blow your mind! -

History, politics, Nazi's, Eleanor Roosevelt, Wikipedia. The workshop encompasses a range of different examples. Basically, the Semper crew attempts to make people aware that, in spite of the differences all we have, as individuals, ultimately we are all human beings and just for that, there are rights we are granted from our birth. The speech is quite passionate but too one-directional, there is not reciprocity enough. Good, but perfectible.

- I tried my best but I have talked too much. Absolutely too much. I just hope they have seized something. I have to beg Natalia pardon for making his job so hard. Ok, you did it, chill bro, you did it, you did it. -

Still cloudy but darker and colder. The time went by and it's time for homecoming. At least it doesn't rain.

Leo & Co.

   

10 Places to visit in...... Azerbaijan

1.THE MAIDEN TOWER 

Maiden Tower (“Qiz Qalasi”) is the top tourist attraction of the city. It is the second most visited building of Baku, just right after the airport. As soon as you get to the top of it, you will be amazed with the spacious view of Baku and its all beauty. 

2.CITY BOULEVARD

Baku Boulevard (officially called Seaside National Park) is a place where you can observe the Caspian Sea and the most beautiful night view of Baku. Shopping malls, business centers, restaurants, ‘chaykhana’s (tea houses), sophisticated plants, main attractions will get in your way while walking there. Go to boulevard if you’re tired of the very hot weather of Baku and want to get some fresh air coming from the sea. Most importantly, take a boat tour and dive into the best feelings.

3.HISTORY MUSEUM

            Once the family house of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, the famous Azerbaijani oil magnate, now this building serves as historical museum and with its splendid view it will take you to the main historical period starting from historical times to recent history of Azerbaijan.The museum is divided into 3 sections. The first section covers prehistoric and medieval objects varying from ancient coins, wears, military objects to human bones and tombs. The second section covers the personal possessions of the famous people of Azerbaijan history. The third section holds the mansion of Taghiyev family.

4. MARTYRS’ LANE AND FLAME TOWERS

During the Soviet Union this alley was known as Kirov Park, named after the Soviet Bolshevik leader. After the massacre of 1990 by Soviet troops, which is annually commemorated by all Azerbaijanis on 20 January, this park has become an alley of martyrs (“Shahidlar Xiyabani” in Azerbaijani). Now it is a symbol of pride of Azerbaijan and its independence. From here you can get another beautiful view of Baku Bay and see the Flame Towers to its fullest and closest.

5. MUD VOLCANOES

Yes, you heard it right. Mud volcanoes. They lie about 10 km south of Gobustan. These volcanoes are quite unique as they are not as high as usual volcanoes, with height getting maximum 2 meters. Still, nearly half of the mud volcanoes in the world are located in Azerbaijan (more than 350 out of 800 in the world) and  the greatest mud volcano in the world is also in Azerbaijan (1000 meters high). The mud bubbles right from the inside of the volcano and it is usually cold, rather than hot as you might think. Also, the mud is said to be good for face and is commonly used for medical reasons.

6. HEYDAR ALIYEV CENTER

Built by Zaha Hadid, this center won the "Design of the Year" award  on July 1, 2014. The center includes memorial gallery of Heydar Aliyev (ruler of Azerbaijan during Soviet era in 1969-1982 and president of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003), art gallery, concert and library halls, restaurant and conference hall.

7. GOBUSTAN NATIONAL PARK

Gobustan is famous for its rock drawings dating back to 40,000 years. This site is considered as the one of earliest inhabited settlement of people in Azerbaijan and reflects the activities of ancient people such as dance rituals, hunting scenes, carpentry and the images of animals. It is located a bit further from Baku – 64 km to southwest of Baku.

8. YANAR DAGH 

Yanar Dagh is situated 25 km northeast of Baku. The reason that this place is worth checking out is its continuous fire, which never extinguishes. The flame derives from the gas reserves beneath the land and there are no pipes making it burn.

9. BAKU OLYMPIC STADIUM

Witness the birth of a sporting spectacle.The all new Baku National Stadium was opened last years (2015 June)

10. AZERBAIJAN CARPET MUSEUM

While a museum dedicated to carpets sounds like a stitch up,Azerbaijan Carpet Museum actually highlights the country’s turbuleny history through the medium of rugs and floor coverings.

See you soon in Azerbaijan!

Khumar

Germany Bucket List

1.   Berlin

The world's Techno capital and the biggest city in Germany. If you are in Berlin you are literally going through history. Get a taste of Berlin, because it is definitely worth it!

(Museumsinsel in Berlin)

2.   Dresden

Dresden is rich of young people and beautiful architecture. Cheaper than Berlin and definetly worth it to see!

(Castle in Dresden)

3.   Saxony Switzerland

It is the most beautiful national park in Germany and maybe in Europe. If you adore the nature this is the place to be! Enjoy long walks and sleep in the woods.

(Elbsandsteingebierge)

4.   Hamburg

Hamburg is the second biggest city in Germany. Hanse was a big association until the 17th century. This gave Hamburg huge power back in the days. That is why for some people Hamburg is the most beautiful city in Germany.

(Hafencity)

5.   Münster

 Münster is a beautiful student city. Very charming and with a nice vibe. If you are in Münster you are surrounded by nice cafes and beautiful architecture.     

(City Center)

           
6.   Castle Neuschwanstein

This is an awesome castle and the most beautiful one. Did you know that this castle is one of the biggest influences for Disney's castles.

7.   Rothenburg

This city is small and really charming. In addition this city this was the biggest influence for Pinocchio. Go to Rothenburg and you are in the real Disneyland.

8.   Nürnberg

A nice alternative to Munich. Full of medieval architecture and beautiful houses. During Christmas Nürnberg has the biggest and the nicest Christmas Market.

(Christmas Market)

9.   Rügen

If you miss the beach and just want to relax and take a sunbath, this is the place to be. Beautiful landscape for walks or biking tours. Rügen makes you 100% calm down and forget all the stress you might have.

          
  10. Frankfurt

You don’t have to go to America to have the feeling of Manhattan. Frankfurt is well known for it’s nice skyline. Moreover you have to visit this City!