So, now about our second camp and we can compare with something. Long before we started our preparation for this camp. Contact different people, programs schedule, create menu and workshops. In our program were "how to make GIF", music, Halloween origami, mosaics, cooking and we had special guests from Sweden - girls from Young Ambassadors of Democracy. So, let me start talking about camp. And i will begin from Friday: our last day of preparation and first day of the camp. In the afternoon we bought a lot of food (as we understood later it was too much). Then we went to the ferry and there gathered with 2 boys from Föglö. And were playing games. With Laurie we had learned new card game - "Kung och slav"(king and slave). Maybe now you can catch yourself with thought that Swedish is pretty easy to learn but it doesn`t. For example "queen" in Swedish is "drottning". How they can call queen like that i don`t know or it`s problem with my imagination or just ukrainian way of thinking. For me "drottning" is more like some kind of iron stuff or it`s just my sick understanding. Let us return to the main subject - the camp! So, after ferry we gathered with more pupils from Kökar school. Then we had little instruction how to treat yourself in the camp and fika time before went to sleep or wathing film. This evening we made better choice and it was "Lemony Snicket". Saturday: woke up and went to kitchen to prepare breakfast for all and I had one more helper! After breakfast we had workshop about gif and everyone should do gif "how you understand word "borderless"". Then lunch and different workshops (origami, mosaics, cooking and so on).And really important study visit to Kökar bakery. Owner is really nice peson but he loves his job and it`s like passion for him. After all of these we started preparation for the Halloween party. We had: 2 dark "drottnings", one crazy russian guy, one kind of indian boy(?), Laura and characters from Moomins, Irish hatboy and me - girl from "The Ring". we were playing different games and eating sweets made by boys. Also I should mention that we had ghost walk. And then went to watch film about vampires but i didn't follow. Of course, of course I had a little history lesson! Now I know all about Föglö during two World Wars. And I can actually say that that small (for me) island was pretty important for all Ålanders hundred years ago. Tack så mycket Oscar! Sunday: woke up, breakfast then small presentation about what we had done in this camp. Then lunch and cleaning time. After small evaluation. And sayind goodbye. As one boy there said: " It`s also hard to say goodbye" but without that we would never meet new people and discover ourselves more. So, don`t be upset! We will meet again soon. I didn`t have a lot of time to talk with all as I wanted, next time guys! Well done guys! Looking forward to meet you again! And hope that Föglö and Kökar schools will see us soon! Hej då!
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We had an opportunity to visit Brändö and Majken, school teacher, hosted us during our stay. It was an opportunity because this visit allowed us to get to know pupils better than during one hour as a last time, and to discover their everyday life. Our mission : Create relation with the older pupils and try to discuss or play with them during break. Sounds easy, but in practice it's really different, and quite difficult. They were very shy, and I tried to understand a reason. I found two obstacles which could make it difficult our relation. First, usually they don't meet many foreigners in their island, and live among a population of 300 inhabitants which big part is member of their family. To me it looks like a cocoon. Second, we don't speak swedish and, although they have good level in english, speak foreign langage is sometimes a difficult exercice, cause it's taking the risk to be judge by others. Consequetly, it's difficult to have discussion with them, but it's challenge for what we are ready! Our host was perfect! She organized activities for us each evening, even if she had meeting or word later. We played badminton, cooked dinner with her and his collegue, ate meat of elk for the first time, visited church opened specially for us, visited another little municipality, discovered the Brändö cows who looks like bison. She was very interested by our presence and we were very interested to met an Ålander in her daily life. Good exchange of interest! We were very impressed by the welcome of all teachers. They included us in each lessons of each level, we were never forgotten or excluded. It was also a good way to understand the Finnish school system. This famous school system was one of the reasons to choose this country for our EVS project. But I think that the main risk is to idealize this system, it's why it was so important to me to be involved in this kind of school. Now I can compare with my own country, know wich is work well and wich is not. It was also a way for us to be closer to the pupils, because we shared the same life during a day. But this experience created also a lot of question in my mind: Does my presence is really interesting for them? Did I force too much to the opening? Did they like my games? Many question that will probably remain unanswered. This visit was really great. We could live cultural immersion that we can't live in our appartment.Furthermore, for the first time since the beginning of the project, I felt as a enriching ressource for the school. I look forward to returning! This is it, this famous end of the Kokkola's adventure! Time to take stock, to say good bye, and to feel alone also. Not a confortable moment. Moreover, we have been alone at Villa Elba during one entire day, because of our plane which was leaving Sunday afternoon. But this difference enable us to see another time a nothern light and this wonderful starry sky, lucky we are. Adventure like that is really nice because we realize that we are not alone in our little island. All around then main land of Finland, there are volunteer, agree to host us or to share another moment with us. They live almost the same experience than us and face the same difficulties and seek the same objectives. We are not alone. The plane takes us back in our lovely town, for a quiet week...we need emotional and physical rest... Laurie So, the same sheme. Sleep until last minute. Yes, All(?) were tired and wanted to sleep more but it was time for breakfast(free food=love). So, breakfast: I was soooooo sleepy and just took food, sit and forced myself to eat. Almost all people joined their "language group". Yap! I didn`t have a choice! So, forced myself to say few words to my tablemates, that was hard time for me as I think for all people around(?). After that we had super boring Finnish lesson. I wanted to kill myself, my eyes were so tired, so I just left the class and went to "sofa center" to lie down. But what? I saw there Laurie! She was sitting and writing something in French. Third person who joined us was Turkish girl (her nickname - sleeping girl). And more and more joined us later. For us it`s enought to count and read in Finnish. One more reason - Laurie and I are from only Swedish speaking region! Yes, Åland islands are part of Finland. So, Finnish is not our aim here! Then lunch time! FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! and TAAAAAAAAAALKING! I want to be focus on food but it isn`t right time for that now. (Maybe it`s not the main thing which I wanna tell you or I am hungry right now and don`t want to remind all this Villa Elba`s food paradise(I think the second is more truth). Afterward we had training "Split spot" where we could talk about Finnish people and their mentality. Also we talked about "Culture shock". What was interesting I found person who had the same feelings about culture shock as me! Always good person respect to you! And is it true that "Sauna is the best way to communicate with Finnish people"? Then we had a some kind of training "How to use you body and your own language to introduce your common problems". After that we have some practical information about "Youth Pass". Well, now it`s time to talk about my love - food! Time for dinner! We had kind of official dinner as compare for another. There were a lot of candles on the tables and glasses were full of milk and water. Let the pre-party begin as a French people say: "Apéroooo!". Everyone had really great mood and were playing on every stuff which we had seen on the table. It`s hard to called this "music" but it was some kind of sounds which can remaind music. Okay! PAAAAARTY TIME! International party! Everyone had to join people from her/his own country. Respect to all who was alone! France! They were first who presented their country. Video about kisses there and Brittany`s national dance. Yes, French people have a national dance! (but maybe they have only that one, maybe not. Who knows?). Then I clearly remember German birthday game(it was really fun). And yes! ITALIA! That was awesome! Italian can party! That crazy dance(melody is still playing in my head). Song from UK and Hungarian, Romanian dances! And Spain! Spain was really impresive! At least now I can dance "Macarena" in right way. And yap! My Ukraine! I was really nervous. I was forced to face more then 60 person. Hope that that funny Ukrainian dance was a good choice. Then Bulgaria, Slovenia and Lithuania was the last. Then we were partying in rest house! And the great mood coudn`t stop! NORTHERN LIGHT! We have seen northern light! I just wanted to jump and yelling but no(seems I am grown up(seems!)). But my teenage dream came true! CAME TRUE! So, I can say that was really impresive ending of our party. It`s like to see firework show in childhood. And yes, it was last night with all our new friends and you understood that in few hours you would say goodbye to everyone. So, I was a little upset before went to sleep. But it`s another story. So, that you all for that great party that you had done! I really proud that I met a lot of so kind and cool people! Hope I can see you again sometimes! Mykola This morning we must assit to the Finnish courses, even if we learn Sweddish language. It will be difficult. We realized with our first words learned that we are really lucky to learn another language that this one : "yksi kaksi kolme neljästä" isn't the same than our simple "ett, två, tre, fyra" sweddish. After lunch, the bus departed at 13.15pm to the Nanoq museum, which reflects the story about Artic expeditions and population of the North. A old Finnish village was reconstructed around this museum, stone house with a lawn roof, old church,... At the end of the visit, we discovered that the guide live in one of these houses! At the end of afternoon, we went to the traditionnal house to discover part of Finnish culture. Two women who wear historic clothes welcomed us for a coffee break. They told us the history of the city, and the country while we drank tea and coffee. Despite the rain, we left the warm of this lovely house for humidity of Kokkola's street. It was not the best moment to visit this city, but we choose this moment to have fun with our group of volunteers. With my goup, I found refuge in the bigger mall of the city, dry place, were we played a game of pool. After that, we need to reach us in the same address, a buffet restaurant where we can eat as much as we wanted. Jaaaa! But it's not finished ! A lovely sauna waiting for us at Villa Elba, and the sea always coldier day by day. This day, the evening snack was difficult, too much food ? Noooo... Laurie Huh, that was third day of our amazing tri. and in general it was great as all days there. So. woke up at 8 am or later(?) then breakfast and talk!talk!talk! with all people around you. I was still sleepy but force myself to not fall asleep again because a lot of kind people were talking with me. So, I tried and did it! Then we had trainings about "Volunteering in society" and "Me as a volunteer". Talking a lot about our responsibilities and rights and so on. It was kind of our working stuff but all of us was starving to know each other more. Well, not only about boring things. We also had fika (coffee break) and after that in 3 hours lunch. Have I already told you about our food? That was delicious and flavourful or I can also use "divine". And yeah, a lot of food! Even you were disappointed that you have so small stomach(kidding). In the evening we have more leisure time and we had also "Finnish movie culture" And we were watching movie about Joulupukki (Santa Claus). It was fun but we had also possibility to hang out with another volunteers in rest house after that. We were playing a lot of different international games like "Mafia" (yes, there were Italians guys, so we had more realistic atmosphere).And always good person - David (Spain) respect to you! And also "Mime" - really funny game. Or it was funny because of people which were there(?). And yeah! We were playing almost til 1 pm(2pm). It was time when you didn`t care about hours, you just wanted to hang out with all of those people. Mykola Woke up at 7am, some volunteers and us wanna try yoga time. Why not? Now I know. After sleeping only 5 hours, it's difficult to do somersaults half asleep. This morning, we have several activities wich are planned, and the subject of the day is : "Volunteering in Europe". We spoke about our responsabilities and right as volunteer within foreign organisation, what we are entitled to expect of EVS system and those who care for us. I understood for exemple that I'm responsible of my own education and I don't have to constantly expect to others or the school. The next workshop about informal education confirmed this, because we realized that we learn a lot of things outside the classroom, that's it the main goal of EVS experience. It was very interesting. To complete this subject, we finished with a key competences competition. Mykola forced me to write that his team won this game... At the evening, there was Workshop about sauna, theory before practice. We learned that in Finland, there is one sauna for three inhabitants. It's almost a religion! After work, a lot a Finnish people go home and join the sauna instead of watching TV. Crazy. As far as we are concerned, this activity was welcome, and the swimsuit was quickly put. It was relaxing and funny, because in addition to the sauna, we enjoyed of the sea between the two saunas! After a good shower and a party of game (Who am I), our bed has become our best friend. Laurie So, let the story begin! Woke up at 7 am and hurried up to packed all stuff to Kokkola. Hopefully Rebecca helped and picked up us to Mariehamn airport. Then 2 takes off and 2 landings and we reached our aim - Kokkola! First immpresion - the same place as Ålands but more colder and gloomy. Then airport taxi and yes! Villa Elba! It is a beautiful and peasful place in middle of Finland. Villa Elba is a youth center and gaming place. There are a lot of small cotteges and one huge main bulding in the middle. When we had come all another 60 volunteers were already there. Then we had lunch and after that - icebrakers! We were playing games and it was really fun to met new people around the Europe. So, let us introduce someone. Sorry but i just remember only Anna from Rominia and Olga from Russia. And yes, also guys from my cabin (Vicenzo(Italy), Ales(Slovenia), Nicolas (France), Mike (UK), Ringauds(Lithuania), Paolo(Italy)). After all games and talks we had dinner and then went to rest house to hung out with guys! And yes, I have a confession to make: there were a lot of food! It remainded me my home and parents. Well, it was first day of our little journey. 11 pm i went to sleep and I was big loser because all another volunteers(not losers) whom weren`t sleeping saw the northern light! So, yes! That is almost all. Mykola Impresive! Hundreds of students and all were doing something. These pupils were playing football another - tennis. There were dancing zumba, here - jogging. All Wiklöf arena was filled with chores and noise! WOW! HUUUUUGE respect to organizers! Also we met new interesting people and had a lot of fun there. Well, it was our third visiting to Ålands school and it was great! Teacher was welcoming. We had a chance to follow pupils during lessons. we saw handicraft and recycling classes. And we also had a lot of fun on the school yard, as a kids. We are looking for seeing you all again! |