.. June.

ehy guys!

Which kind of summer is this one?!? Where is the sun?! We are in the middle of June!
.. June. Already.
Unbelieveble how the time is running out. I remember the first time I wrote this blog.. Seems really to be yesterday, a scared girl lost in the strong winter! Here in Lithuania I experienced a totally unbalanced temporal dimension. Sometimes the past events seem to be far far away, sometimes I‘m shocked that all this time is passed so quickly. The point is that there are so many people to meet, things to do, to see, to experience, to feel.

But my six moths are almost gone. I realize it for the first time when my lovely flatmates flight back to Germany. Now I‘m here quiet alone [but with my WONDERFUL coordinator!] and i can take my time for chill out, think about my future decisions and arrange the last things to do here [like a huge amber shoppig–trip in Vilnius =D ].

And this stop it‘s also the best moment to think about all my EVS. It‘s just crazy, I learn so much! Starting from my English, in the beginning was so poor, I remember the feeling of being like in a cage, all the things I wanted to say couldn‘t find the right way for going out. Was frustrating. But speaking, and speaking.. it improved so much!

Also living by myself pushed me to learn a lot of things, from be responsible for a flat, to how to cook! After those months I can say that im a quiet good cooker! =D

And I will never forget my trips. I travelled so much, not only around Lithuania, also Sweden, Finland, Latvia and Estonia.. Wanderfull places, great experiences. Always on the road.

Because is this my way of life, or better the way I wanna live. On the road.

“What‘s your road, man? – holyboy road, madman road, rainbow road, guppy road, any road. It's an anywhere road for anybody anyhow..„

[On the Road – Jack Kerouac]

ciao people =)

yours,

Martini.*

Stockholm trip!

heeey! =)

.. a new month has started!

Last week I went for a 4days trip to Stockholm with Linda, Marie and Eduardo. I fell in love with Stockholm! It's a great city.
The weather was nice, it was always snowing! Many biiig white snowflakes. And it was quite warm, only -8! Now we are almost habit to -15\-20, so it was like spring for us! =) We spent 2days on travelling, and 2 days for the city tour.
We saw the most important sights:
the big City Hall near the sea, which has 3 golden crowns on the top, the Stockholm symbol;
the old city, Gamla Stan, the most untouched medioeval district in Europe, with beautiful narrow streets and nice cafes;
the Vasa Museum, which holds a big wonderful ship from 1600, sunk in the waters near the harbor shortly after the launch;
the Royal Palace, in GamlaStan, where the Swedish Royal Family lives;
the SoFo district, a great place for young alternative people, with a lot of BEAUTIFUL secondhand and vintage shops, trendy cafes..
the city centre, - the city centre of a real capital!- with huge shopping centres, a beautiful park and a lot of people in the streets!

About the people.. they're really friendly! Almost everybody speaks English and if they see that you are in trouble with something, for example if you are looking for the right direction to catch, they help you also without asking! There are a lot of young people, and not all look the same! they have great style and personality in the choice of clothes!

The shops in Stockholm are lovely! there's something to suit everybody's fancy! the only problem? this city is too expensive.. [and our luggage too small! =D]

I had great time in Stockholm. I wanna return there, maybe in summer.

ciao belliii!
MartinI.

.. Intercultural Evening!

Hi guys!! =)

I have been here for more than three weeks now, time seems to fly.
There are really a lot of things to do, many places to see.
I forgot the meaning of the word “boring!”.
For example, one of the most expected events of this month took place last week here in the Gymnasium: the intercultural evening. A beautiful – and successful! – attempt to bring together the diversity of habits, costumes and cultures of some European nations. Linda and Marie, my coworkers and friends, dealt with a great part of the organization of the event. I tried to help them as best as I could and to uplift their mood when the stress got them down.
They were great, and the result was spectacular!

At 4 on Thursday 21 January, after a morning of intense preparations, the show started. Two strange beings from another planet (Ernesta, a student, and Marie, dressed in a sparkling costume homemade) landed on the stage of the Hall of Didzdvario Gymnasium. Confused by the large variety of differences between the inhabitants of the globe, they asked "humans" for some explanation.

The first nation presented was Lithuania with a video made by students who showed some characteristics and peculiarity of this state. Unfortunately I was not able to understand much, because I don’t know the Lithuanian language enough. I think it was very appreciated ‘cause all the people were laughing! ;)



One after the other all the performances were shown: queen in nearly every country was the music. Some students sang in Russian, others entertained the audience with the British sound of a Beatles’s medley. The students of German class sang a famous song by Nena, 99 Luftballons, coloring the scene with funny red and yellow balloons that recall the colors of the German flag.

Eduardo, the physical education exchange teacher, was fundamental for the Portuguese presentation: he showed a video in which there was some of the most beautiful landscapes of his country.

Italy, thanks to the collaboration of the Italian teacher Dovile, showed a few of its most famous inhabitants and some stereotyping ideas that a lot of people all over the world have about Italy.

The student of French Class did a nice performance, declaiming some of the most famous French personality of the past, all accompanied by a wonderful video showing some of the most characteristics streets of Paris.

As a conclusion of this first part, some students showed Lithuanian typical dances. It was really wonderful to see their circling in different amazing choreography with a really fast rhythm.

The second part of the event took place in the Cafeteria: every nation presented some of their typical dishes. A lot of different delicious scents in the air: from the Italian pizza to the German apfelkuchen, and also French cheese, British cookies and tea, Lithuanian bread..
Colour and scent from all over the Europe [and everything was really great!] ..



Last but not the least, the fashion show!
The corridor was transformed into an haute – couture catwalk: some students prepared particular clothes which refer to every nation represented in the intercultural evening.
Last model was a child with a globe: great symbol of the whole event.




Ten in One.
A single evening, ten nations, ten different cultures.
Colors, scents, tastes, sounds and voices. All different, but all united, together.

Great!

Seee yaa!
MartinI. =D

heeey guys!

Hello everyone! =)

My name is Martina, I am 19 years old and I come from Italy. I've finished secondary school last June and in September I enrolled at University in Milano, faculty of Political Science. Today I start my European Voluntary Service programm in the Radio Station of Didzdvario Gimnazija. First task? make my personal blog: a place where I can talk about myself and my experience here.

My flight landed in Riga 4 days ago. I think that I'll never forget the cold air which overwhelmed me when I got out of the plane. Italy is famous for its warm weather and this cold it's so strange for me! But I'm already getting used to it.

A taxi was waiting for me at the airport and on the road to Siauliai I had my first encounter with an animal of this land: a little deer crossed the road in front of the taxi! I love them, so I took it like a very positive signal!
When I arrived at my EVS flat two beautiful girls were waiting for me: Linda and Marie, two German volunteers! They were - and they still are! - veeery kind to me! They have a lot of patience with me, 'cause my english is not very good! But they told me that it will improve. I hope so!

The day before yesterday Linda and Marie took me on a sightseeing tour through the city. The Golden Bboy is very very nice, and also the pedestrian street! We walked, or rather we slid!, on the frozen lake, very exciting! I've never see a frozen lake.. I'm very curious to see these things in summer, without snow. I`ll stay here until the first week of July, so I have the change to see them! However also the snow has its charm.. But I'm not well equiped for it! It's not a big problem, of course. The two girls will take me to go shopping!

Another problem is Lithuanian language.. sooooo difficult! It's strange and a bit stressful when all people around you are talking and you don't understand anything! Also at the supermarket.. you take something but you don't really know what you are taking! But it's only my fifth day here,I think that in the future everything will get better.

I'm very happy to be here. My adventure has begun!

Yours,
Martina*.